A fragment of 875 bp of the 18S rRNA gene was studied in 12 samples of Mesocestoides tetrathyridia from small mammals of 7 species collected in geographically distant localities. Five haplotypes were identified, differing from each other by 27 nucleotide substitutions in 24 sites. It has been found that the 18S rRNA haplotypes belong to two genetically distinct haplogroups. Molecular diversity indices were calculated for each of them. The conducted analysis allowed to suggest the following: 1) Mesocestoides sp. haplogroups A and B belong to two different species, but do not belong to any of the confirmed species of the genus; 2) the deletion of bp 729–747 and the insertion at site 761 of guanine can be regarded as a genetic marker for the species Mesocestoides litteratus.
Bat flies (Nycteribiidae) were collected during bat ringing in Vladimir Province in 2016–2023. A total of 1308 bats belonging to 11 species were examined, and 3 species of bat flies were found on them: Basilia nattereri Kolenati, 1857, Penicillidia monoceros Speiser, 1900, and Nycteribia kolenatii Theodor et Moscona, 1954. The most abundant and common species was N. kolenatii.
Insectivores (order Eulipotyphla) are an important component of terrestrial ecosystems. They are active consumers of small animals, primarily arthropods, and the main pathogen carriers in a number of natural foci of tularemia, epidemic hemorrhagic fever, and leptospirosis; they may also be infected with the plague microbe. The arthropods that parasitize insectivores may be infected with these pathogens and serve as their vectors. In this paper, we have analyzed the taxonomic diversity, distribution pattern, and host-parasite relationships of the flea species recorded as parasites of Eulipotyphla in the Caucasus. Insectivores and their fleas migrated to the Caucasus from Southern Europe, Asia Minor, and West Asia in the Pliocene and Pleistocene simultaneously with the migration of floral complexes.
This paper explores the specific features of the fauna of fleas (Siphonaptera) of Karelia, as part of a larger geographic region comprising Northwestern Russia and Fennoscandia. Our analysis included information from the available summary reviews and data from the PARHOST1 information analysis system on the world flea fauna, hosted by the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and supplemented regularly since 2001. At present, 28 flea species of 13 genera have been recorded for Karelia, amounting to about 35
Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are the most significant arthropods of medical importance because of the burden of diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, and West Nile fever, that they transmit to humans. In 2017, the most recently published checklist of mosquitoes from Saratov Province included 34 species representing six genera. This article provides a review of historical and recent studies on the fauna of blood-sucking mosquitoes in Saratov Province. Based on the analysis of literature data, the checklist of mosquitoes has been updated. The updated checklist includes 37 species of five genera.
Trematodes Diplostomum von Nordmann, 1832 are widely distributed parasites with complex life cycles involving freshwater snails as the first intermediate hosts, various fish species as the second intermediate hosts, and fish-eating birds as definitive hosts. Metacercariae of Diplostomum spp. are important fish pathogens with problematic morphological identification. The present research of Diplostomum larvae in the eyes of the freshwater bream Abramis brama was carried out within the framework of the long-term parasitological monitoring of fish in Lake Syamozero. The study has provided molecular and morphological characterization of Diplostomum spathaceum metacercariae from the lens of the freshwater bream. The partial cox1 mtDNA sequences used for molecular identification of the isolates were identical with those obtained previously, but morphological features of the metacercariae matched the literature data only in part. Comparison of different dimensions of parasites by discriminant analysis suggests that Diplostomum rutili is a junior synonym of Diplostomum spathaceum. New and archival data on diplostomids from bream’s eyes demonstrate a long-term increase in the infection prevalence.
Pediculosis caused by the Pediculus capitis (De Geer, 1767), is a major public health concern worldwide, including in Iran. Policymakers must be well-informed on the relevant evidence through comprehensive studies. No study has been done concerning trends of Pediculus capitis infestation in provinces of Iran, geographic and climatic regions, seasons, location of meridians and tropics areas, together with the distribution and stratification. Therefore, a study of the mentioned objectives was conducted. The data on P. capitis infestation levels and factor impacts on P. capitis infestation levels in Iranian people were extracted and summarized from 126 articles. The trends of P. capitis infestation have increased in about half of the country’s provinces over the previous two decades. These provinces are located mostly in the southern Caspian Sea shores, the central plateau, and the south coast. Pediculus capitis infestations are in the range of -ꝏ–-0.40, -0.40–-0.20, and -0.20–0.00 in the regression coefficient regarding the distribution and stratification. For the first time in this study, the impact of the meridians and the tropics that pass through Iran was also evaluated on P. capitis infestation. Based on the intensity of P. capitis infestation, the order of the influence of the factors that affect infestation is estimated. Interaction modeling demonstrated that primary school has a synergistic impact on time trends. In addition, the Western mountains, the central plateau, and the southeast showed synergistic effects with time trends on the incidence of the outcome. The findings provide the national baseline data to initiate steps for national pediculosis intervention programs.
The first discovery of merocercoids of the cestode Paradilepis scolecina (Rudolphi, 1819) in the Angara River, the basin of the Yenisei River, has been described. Three encapsulated merocercoids were found in the liver of the roach Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758). The description and measurements of one of the discovered merocercoids are presented.
The features of Myxobolus pronini location in Prussian carps (Carassius auratus gibelio) were described and the relationships in the parasite–host system analyzed. Large spore masses surrounded by a connective tissue capsule were found in the body cavity. The development of vegetative M. pronini forms was observed to start in exocrine tissue of the carp pancreas.
Sartoriana spinigera is an edible freshwater crab species that plays an important role as an intermediate host of Microphallus indicus and Paragonimus westermani. P. westermani, the lung fluke, has been reported from northeastern India bordering Bangladesh and other parts of India. Nonetheless the existence of P. westermani in Bangladesh is yet to investigate. Therefore, the objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of lung flukes in Bangladesh. During the survey, the metacercariae of food-borne trematodes were investigated from a total of 261 fresh-water crabs collected from different locations in Bangladesh. Only the metacercariae of M. indicus were recovered. The overall prevalence of M. indicus metacercariae was 26% with intensity of 1–63 per crab. The highest prevalence was recorded from Naogaon district (83.33%), followed by Sirajgonj (57.5%), Rajshahi (40%), Brahmanbaria (16%), Narsingdi (15%), Faridpur (10%), and Sunamgonj (7%). None of the crabs from Rangpur, Thakurgoan, Jashore, Meherpur, Magura, Barguna, Sylhet, Kishorgonj, Cox’sBazar, and Bandarban were infected. Among the water bodies, the highest number of infected crabs was found in the rivers (56%) followed by haor, canal, and ditches (5%). To the best of our knowledge, this study reports M. indicus for the first time from Bangladesh.
Ichthyoparasitological studies of fish caught in the Lyutoga River (southern Sakhalin) have been carried out. 12 species of fish were discovered, six of them were examined for the first time: Carassius gibelio, Hypomesus nipponensis, Salvelinus curilus, Gasterosteus sp., Eleginus gracilis, Megalocottus taeniopterus. According to the results of original research and literature data, 42 species and undefined forms of helminths were noted, including monogenes 6, cestodes 9, trematodes 14, scrapers 3, nematodes 10.
Among all vectors of natural focal infections, fleas are the most active. In this respect, entomological and epizootological monitoring has always been of great importance. This article, based on the material collected from the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus, presents the results of a study of flea species diversity, the landscape and geographical area of their distribution. The goal of this work was to determine the diversity of flea species, their distribution and abundance based on the results of epizootological studies conducted in areas with different landscapes in the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan. The material for the study was obtained during epizootological studies and observations conducted in the spring and autumn seasons of 2020–2023. in the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan (Bozchol, Mil-Mugan, Eastern and Western Jeyranchel, Gobustan, Absheron, semi-deserts of Kilazi, Sitalchay). Collection, packaging, transportation, and marketing of the material were carried out on the basis of relevant biosafety rules and delivered for further study to the Special Dangerous İnfections Control Center. In total, 61,087 nest tracks were examined, and 7,939 fleas were collected and delivered. The material was processed and identified in the laboratory in accordance with the current regulatory and methodological document on the safety of working with pathogenic biological agents (PBA) of pathogenicity groups I–IV. As a result of sample identification, the species composition of fleas was determined and grouped by geographical areas and landscapes. Research was also carried out (using the PCR method) for the presence of the plague causative agent - Yersinia pestis. According to the results of the study, it was found that, regardless of the biocenotic and climatic characteristics of individual sectors of the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan, there may be enough carriers of infectious diseases and their growth increases over the years. The frequency of occurrence of the prevailing genera of fleas - Xenopsylla and Nosopsyllus- depends on the natural and climatic conditions of the focus being studied. The analysis for the presence of the plague causative agent among all fleas caught and studied did not give positive results. For the timely detection of epizootics among wild rodents and bloodsuckers, it is important to conduct regular epizootic surveys in enzootic areas for plague.
The helminth fauna of the Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola was studied in the territory of Mordovia (European Russia) for the first time. Twenty-five specimens of waders were examined using the incomplete helminthological necropsy in April 2019, 2020, 2022. Nine helminth species were found in woodcocks: Lyperosomum alaudae, Scolopacitrema cubrensis, Anomotaenia clavigera, Fuhrmannolepis scolopacina, Aploparaksis pseudofilum, Dispharynx nasuta, Hadjelia truncata, Tetrameres dubia and Agamospirura macracanthis, juv. Among them the trematode L. alaudae, nematodes D. nasuta, H. truncata and A. macracanthis, juv. were recorded in S. rusticola for the first time. We provide morphological descriptions and photos of these parasites.
The activity of proteases and subclasses of proteases in small intestines of the herring gull (Larus argentatus (Pontoppidan, 1763)) chicks were determined. Changes of the protease activity in chicks infested by cestodes Tetrabothrius erostris (Loennberg, 1889) (Cestoda: Tetrabothriidae), Microsomacanthus ductilus (Linton, 1927) (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), Wardium cirrosa (Krabbe, 1869) (Cestoda: Aploparaksidae), Arctotaenia tetrabothrioides (Loennberg, 1890) and Alcataenia larina (Krabbe, 1869) (Cestoda: Dilepididae) were studied. The activity of serine proteases decreased in the small intestine of gulls at the sites of cestode parasitism with high infestation values (M. ductilus in the proximal segment, W. cirrosa in the distal segment, A. tetrabothrioides, T. erostris and A. larina in the medial segment). The activity of cysteine proteases increased in the sites of localization of cestodes M. ductilus, W. cirrosa and A. larina. All the studied cestodes adsorbed proteases on the surface of the tegument, most of those were represented by serine proteases. Cestode homogenates of W. cirrosa, M. ductilus, A. tetrabothrioides, T. erostris and A. larina inhibited the activity of host proteases and the activity of commercial trypsin.
The paper describes the method and algorithm for creating the sketch-maps of hydrolandscapes to solve practical tasks of forecasting and controlling the number of mass species of blood-sucking insects such as gadflies and mosquitoes. The hydrolandscape method consists in dividing the regions into zones by content, distribution and conservation of moisture as the most important ecosystemic component. The method evaluates the influence of insufficient or excessive moisture content on the life activity of amphibiotic insects. Landscapes similar by moisture content, relief, mesoclimate, soils, vegetation and groups of blood-sucking insects are combined into hydrolandscapes. This method has been applied for different regions of the North-West of Russia (the Novgorod, Leningrad and Pskov Regions), as well as for the Komi Republic. The paper illustrates this experience. Using the hydrolandscape method, the specialists can forecast the species composition and relative abundance of blood-sucking insects in remote areas before they get developed by humans.
The origin of the common evolutionary branch of soft and hard ticks is dated to the later Permian, approximately coinciding with the Permian extinction, and divergence of the common branch of Ixodoidea into ancestral forms of Argasidae and Ixodidae occurred in the Triassic. Ancestors of the common branch of Ixodoidea (Ixodidae, Argasidae, Nuttalliellidae) were not bloodsucking arthropods and were closely related to modern representatives of Holothyridae. Bloodsucking and, later, temporary ectoparasitism had developed only after divergence of the main branches (Ixodidae, Argasidae and Nuttalliellidae), independently in each group. At early stages of the soft tick evolution, bloodsucking was a short-time process, long-time feeding had developed later in larvae and promoted dispersal of ticks. Maintenance of the short-time feeding can be explained by adaptation to dwelling in bird nests or in shelters visited by birds, and later, also in mammal burrows. Displacements of gnathosomе to the ventral side of idiosome hampered combing of a parasite from the host during short-time bloodsucking. Short-time feeding resulted in maintenance and development of coxal glands as the main organ for removal of superfluous liquid during bloodsucking. Adaptation to shelter habitats (nests, burrows, rock crevices, under dead tree cork, etc.) promoted development of polyphagia and adaptations for long-term starvation.
The fauna of gastrophylids was studied based on the collection of eggs and larvae of the 1st-3rd stages of development of bot fly of the family Gasterophilidae from kiang and horses of the Przhevalsk steppe scientific station “Orenburg Tarpania” and domestic horses of the village of Sazan. The Orenburg Province is inhabited by G. haemorrhoidalis (Linnaeus, 1758), G. inermis (Braurer, 1858), G. intestinalis (De Geer, 1776), G. nasalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and G. pecorum (Fabricius, 1794). We found G. intestinalis and G. nasalis. G. intestinalis is the most common species parasitizing solidungulate host animals. The infestation intensity for Przewalski horses and kiangs was low, the prevalence was 100%. Morphological features of the preimaginal forms in parasitic flies G. intestinalis and G. nasalis were caused by extreme conditions in the mammalian digestive tract.
Morphological and molecular genetic data about Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758, collected from pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758) in the European North of Russia (Pinega river) in 2022, were presented. Molecular genetic studies were carried out based on the analysis of COI mtDNA, 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA gene sequences. A significant genetic distance for the COI gene from individuals of the same species collected in other territories (China, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Austria, Argentina, Pakistan, Iran, India, Japan, Romania, Egypt and Western Siberia) was revealed, which indicates the existence of a cryptic species L. cyprinacea in the European North of Russia. Analysis of 28S rDNA sequences showed the presence of two substitutions fixed in the population, which may indicate a fairly long-standing divergence of sister species. The 18S rDNA gene fragment is less suitable for identifying L. cyprinacea due to low variability compared to the other two gene regions.
Representatives of the gerbil subfamily (Gerbillinae) are the main components of biocenoses in deserts and semi-deserts. They are the hosts of many flea species and the main vectors of the causative plague agent in a number of natural plague foci. The taxonomic diversity, distribution pattern and host-parasite relationships of flea species noted as parasites of gerbils in the Caucasus are analyzed. Gerbils and their fleas entered the Caucasus from southwest Asia in the Pliocene in parallel to the migration of floral psammophilic complexes. In the Holocene, semi-desert and desert Turanian plants were introduced from the northeast to the Pre-Caucasus, and the fauna of gerbils and their fleas was replenished with several species and subspecies. In accordance with the settlement of carriers and vectors, sandy natural plague foci in Transcaucasia could have existed already in the Pliocene, and in the Pre-Caucasus they were formed no earlier than the Holocene.
