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This study is the first investigation of parasites and other pathogens present in Sunda leopard cats (Prionailurus javanensis) in Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines. With the nature of wild carnivore sampling, four (4) wild Sunda leopard cats were captured in Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines for a period of nine (9) months. Of these, three (3) were considered for blood and fecal examination due to the poor condition of one animal. Rapid diagnostic kits were used to detect the presence of selected pathogens in blood samples while fecal samples were examined for parasite fauna and diet contents. Nine (9) parasite species were identified namely: Toxoplasma gondii, Ancylostoma sp., Capillaria hepatica, Echinostoma sp., Hymenolepis nana, Isospora felis, Physaloptera sp., Trichostrongylus sp., and a fasciolid. Chlamydophila felis, a bacterial pathogen was also detected in the blood. No individuals were found to be positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, feline infectious peritonitis virus, and feline leukemia virus antibodies. Six (6) small mammal prey species were identified from the feces of Sunda leopard cats namely: Palawan spiny rat (Maxomys panglima), Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi), Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans), house mouse (Mus musculus), Southern Palawan tree squirrel (Sundasciurus steerii), and Palawan treeshrew (Tupaia palawanensis). Sunda leopard cats in Aborlan, Palawan, may be highly infected by parasites primarily due to their diet of small mammals such as rodents. Transmission is also possible through environmental contact with contaminated water or soil or direct physical contact with infected domestic animals. This paper contributes to the knowledge on host-parasite systems in wildlife ecosystem in the Philippines which is extremely poorly understood.

40. Southern Palawan Tree Squirrel Sundasciurus steerii French: Ecureuil de Steere / German: Siidliches Palawan-Hérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla meridional de Palawan Taxonomy. Sciurus steerii Gunther, 1877, “Balabac” (Philippines). This species is monotypic. Distribution. SW Philippines, in S Palawan, Bancalan, Matangule, and Balabac Is. Descriptive notes. Head-body mean 200 mm (males) and 199 mm (females), tail mean 161 mm (males) and 156 mm (females); weight mean 257-1 g (males) and 222.5 g (females). Dorsum of the Southern Palawan Tree Squirrel varies from chestnut to light brown, and venter varies from chestnut to dull brown. The Southern Palawan Tree Squirrel is similar to the Northern Palawan Tree Squirrel (S. juvencus) but is more rufous. Habitat. Lowland forests, coconut groves, and banana plantations. Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species. Breeding. There is no information available for this species. Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Southern Palawan Tree Squirrel is diurnal. Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Southern Palawan Tree Squirrelis locally abundant, and considered a garden and crop pest. Forest conversion to rice paddiesis a potential threat, and although hunting is widespread, it is unlikely to be a major impact. Bibliography. Esselstyn et al. (2004), Heaney et al. (1998), Ong, Tabaranza, Rosell-Ambal, Balete & Heaney (2008d), Thorington et al. (2012)., Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Sciuridae, pp. 648-837 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 725, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6840226

Sundasciurus steerii (Günther, 1877). Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1876:735 [1877]. TYPE LOCALITY: "Balabac" [Isl, Philippines]. DISTRIBUTION: Balabac and S Palawan Isis in lowlands (Philippines). COMMENTS: Subgenus Aletesciurus. Member of the steerii group, which contains 1-3 species; see Heaney (1979)., Published as part of Robert S. Hoffmann & Charles G. Anderson, 1993, Order Rodentia - Family Sciuridae, pp. 419-465 in Mammal Species of the World (2 nd Edition), Washington and London :Smithsonian Institution Press on page 452, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7353130, {"references":["Heaney, L. R. 1979. A new species of tree squirrel (Sundasciurus) from Palawan Island, Philippines (Mammalia: Sciuridae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 92: 280 - 286."]}

Syphacia (Syphatineria) oceanica sp.nov. is described from the squirrel Sundasciurus steerii juvencus. It is closest to S. transafricana Chabaud & Biocca, 1955, differing from it in having a cephalic vesicle, an isthmus between oesophagus and bulb, and in characteristics of the gubernaculum. Syphacia (Syphacia) critesi sp.nov. is described from S. steerii juvencus and the flying squirrel Hylopetes nigripes. It is closest to S. thompsoni Price, 1928, differing from it in lacking cephalic vesicle, alae, and cervical papillae; in having a long oesophagus and shorter gubernaculum Syphacia (Syphacia) magnispicula sp.nov. is described from H. nigripes and S. steerii juvencus. It is characterized by having a spicule 312–338 μm long, much longer than any species yet reported. Syphacia (Syphacia) coli sp.nov. is described from H. nigripes and the rat Rattus exulans luteiventris. It is closest to S. critesi sp.nov., differing from it in sizes and shapes of oesophagus and gubernaculum, in having lateral alae, and in egg size. Syphacia sp. is reported from Rattus exulans luteiventris; Blattophila sp. is reported from the skunk Mydaus marchei; and Allodapa sp. is reported from Sundasciurus steerii juvencus.The authors wish to express their appreciation to Dr D. S. Rabor, Silliman University, Dumageute, Negros Oriental, Republic of Philippines, for general support in field activities and for tentative host identifications; Mr Max Thompson, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, for assistance in collection of hosts and Dr David H. Johnson, Research Curator, Division of Mammals, U.S. National Museum Washington, D.C., for final host identifications. Thanks are extended to Dr W. G. Dyer and Dr P. D. Leiby, Minot State College, for technical assistance during the course of this work, and to Dr W. W. Becklund, Beltsville Parasitological Laboratory, for the loan of specimens for comparative purposes. Special thanks are due to Mrs MayBelle Chitwood, whose efforts greatly improved the quality of this work.

Sundasciurus steerii (Gunther, 1877). Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1876:735. TYPE LOCALITY: Philippines, Balabac Isl. DISTRIBUTION: Balabac and S. Palawan Isl. in lowlands (Philippines). COMMENT: Member of the steerii group, which contains 1 -3 species; see Heaney, 1979, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 92:280-286. ISIS NUMBER: 5301410002033007001., Published as part of James H. Honacki, Kenneth E. Kinman & James W. Koeppl, 1982, Order Rodentia (Part 1), pp. 345-382 in Mammal Species of the World (1 st Edition), Lawrence, Kansas, USA :Alien Press, Inc. & The Association of Systematics Collections on page 373, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7353023, {"references":["Heaney, L. R. 1979. A new species of tree squirrel (Sundasciurus) from Palawan Island, Philippines (Mammalia: Sciuridae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 92: 280 - 286."]}

Rictularia whartoni Tubangui, 1931, is redescribed from the squirrel, Sundasciurus steerii juvencus (Gunther, 1876). Other species reported are Rictularia paradoxuri Tubangui and Masilufigan, 1937, from the palm civet, Paradoxurus philippensis; Physaloptera maxillaris Molin, 1860, from the skunk, Mydaus marchei; Migonella sp. (?) from the bat, Scotophilus temmnicki; Dipetalonema sp. and Trichuris sp. from the squirrel, S. steerii juvencus. All specimens were collected on Palawan, P. I. in 1962. Among the parasites collected by the second author and his associates of NAMRU No. 2 on the Silliman University-Bishop Museum Expedition to Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, were several species of nematodes reported herein. Materials and methods were reported previously (Schmidt, Myers, and Kuntz, 1967). Further host and ecological data may be obtained from the second author by referring to the PP (Parasites, Philippines) numbers cited in the text. All measurements are in microns unless otherwise indicated. Rictularia whartoni Tubangui, 1931 (Figs. 1-4) Seven nematodes, six females and one male, were found in the small intestines of three squirrels, Sundasciurus steerii juvencus (Gunther, 1876), at Terabanon Concepcion, Republic of the Philippines. These are considered conspecific with R. whartoni Tubangui, 1931, originally reported from the brown rat Rattus norvegicus from Manila. Since the male of this species has not been described, and Tubangui's specimens were destroyed during the Second World War, it seems advisable to redescribe the species.