We studied the helminth fauna in birds 35 species of birds from Passeriformes, Piciformes and Caprimulgiformes in the Smolny National Park and its surroundings in 2018–2022. In total, 23 species of helminths were identifi ed in birds: 8 trematodes, 10 cestodes and 5 nematodes. We presented taxonomic position, host range, rates of infection, and geographical distribution for each helminth species. The most diversity of helminth fauna is in Turdus phylomelos (10 species) and Turdus merula (7). In Parus major and Fringilla coelebs, six and fi ve species were recorded, respectively. The helminth faunas in Anthus trivialis and Ficedula hypoleuca are poor (4 species each). In total, three species of parasites were found in Erithacus rubecula, Poecile montanus, Sylvia atricapilla, Ficedula albicollis and Dendrocopos leucotos. One species, the trematode Morishitium polonicum, was revealed in birds of the Russian fauna for the fi rst time (in Coccothraustes coccothraustes and T. merula). Four cestode species, Capiuterilepis naja, Birovilepis sobolevi, B. spasskayae and Monopylidium passerinum were recorded for the fi rst time in the Middle Volga region. New hosts were identifi ed for nine species of parasitic worms. One species, the nematode Physocephalus sexalatus, found in the birds of the Smolny National Park and its surroundings have veterinary and medical signifi cance as potential pathogen of dangerous helminthiasis.
Ecological analysis of the helminthofauna of common shrew Sorex araneus L. from Samarskaya Luka (Samara Region) has been carried out. Twenty-three helminth species are found including 3 species of trematodes, 8 cestodes, 10 nematodes, and 2 acanthocephales. Dependence of the structure of helminthofauna on the host age is revealed.
In this study, we present our dataset containing up-to-date information about occurrences of trematodes in small mammals in the Middle Volga region (European Russia). The dataset summarizes micromammals’ trematode occurrences obtained by long-term field helminthological studies of soricomorphs, erinaceomorphs, bats and rodents during a period of more than 20 years (1999–2022). Our studies of trematodes in micromammals were conducted using the method of complete helminthological necropsy. The dataset includes 7470 records of trematode occurrences in micromammals with 4483 digenean records in Samara Oblast, 2986 records in Republic of Mordovia and one trematode record in Ulyanovsk Oblast. Our dataset presents the data on 43 trematode species from 21 genera and 9 families found in the region studied. The data on trematodes from 28 species of micromammals belonging to 14 genera are presented. In total, the number of collected trematode specimens in our dataset is 153,050. Each occurrence record contains the trematode species name, basis of record, locality of finding, host species, site in host, date and authors of the record and species identification. All occurrence records are georeferenced. The dataset is based on the research of the staff of the Institute of Ecology of the Volga River basin of RAS and the Joint Directorate of the Mordovia Nature Reserve and National Park “Smolny”. The distribution and diversity of trematodes of small mammals in the Middle Volga region has not been completely studied, and further investigation may reveal both new occurrences of trematodes and new host records.
Features of reproductive structure of the Thominx neopulchra hemipopulation from Daubenton's bat from Zhiguli State Reserve are studied. It is established, that females and males of Th. neopulchra have different dynamics of coming in the host population. Males of the parasite invade the of Daubenton's bat population during all the year, while females infest the host only from May to November. Maturing of helminthes become slowed in winter period. Only about a half of of the host population is involved in the forming of the reproductive structure of Th. neopulchra hemipopulation.
Abstract The National park “Smolny” (Republic of Mordovia, Russia) is located in the Basin of Alatyr River, a second-order tributary of the Volga River. Favorable conditions are created for the development of helminths and infecting reptiles with them in floodplain biotopes. In 2018–2020 in this Protected Area we examined 25 individuals of the common viper Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) by the method of complete helminthological dissection. We studied only road-killed vipers and reptiles killed by local residents. In total, eight species of helminths were registered in vipers: Leptophallus nigrovenosus, Telorchis assula, Alaria alata , larvae, Rhabdias fuscovenosa, Oswaldocruzia filiformis, Physocephalus sexalatus , larvae, Physaloptera clausa , larvae and Agamospirura minuta , larvae. Larva of spirurid nematodes Ph. sexalatus, Ph. clausa and A. minuta were recorded in the common viper for the first time in Russia. We found these nematode juveniles in walls and lining of stomach and intestine of snakes. We gave original drawings and morphological descriptions of these nematodes. Vipera berus was noted as a new host for Physaloptera clausa . Currently the helminth fauna of Vipera berus of the Russian fauna includes 15 species. Helminth infection of Vipera berus strongly depends on habitat and, especially, on the diet features. Snakes that live in dry habitats and feed on mouse-like rodents, as a rule, are weakly infested by helminths. Conversely, helminth infection is higher in vipers living in near-water habitats and feeding tailless amphibians. Participation of paratenic hosts in the helminth life cycles plays an important role in the distribution and preservation of parasites in the wild, and increases the invasion probability of the final hosts.
Abstract The morphological variability of the nematode Oswaldocruzia filiformis Goeze, 1782 from five reptile species ( Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara, Anguis fragilis, Natrix natrix, Vipera berus ) was studied in 2018-2020 in the Smolny National Park and the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. We analyzed the morphological characters traditionally used in the taxonomy of Oswaldocruzia spp. A wide morphological variability of nematodes has been found, both in different host species and within the same host species. Variation of the morphological characters of O. filiformis from different reptile species was due to the host-induced variability. The morphological variability of nematodes from the same host species could be due to the phenotypic plasticity of O. filiformis .
