[Assessment of Nanophyetus salmincola schikhobalowl (Skrjiabin et Podjiapolskaja, 1931) infestation of salmonlike fishes in the rivers of the Khabarovsk Territory].

: Parasitological investigations of 529 specimens of 7 fish species from the water basins of the Khabarovsk Territory in 2009-2013 revealed the high extensity (11.7 to 100%) and intensity (as many as 9341 larvae per fish) of invasion with N. s. schikhobalowi metacercaria in salmonlike fishes from the mountain tributaries (Khor, Anyui, and Manoma) of the Amur river. The examined specimens of four salmonlike fish species (Thymallus tugarinae, Hucho taimen, Brachymystax tumensis and B. lenok) showed an increase in all indicators of infestation: invasion extensity (IE), invasion intensity (II), and abundance index (AI) with age. Moreover, IE peaked just in a 3-4-year-old fish (and in 1-year-old B. lenok) and further remained virtually unchanged. N. s. schikhobalowi metacercaria accumulated in the fish trunk with age, by maintaining their viability. With very high II, practically 100% infestation in B. lenok makes the population run the maximum risk of Nanophyetus infection with the dietary intake of this fish species if it is not disinfected. Examination of the distribution of N. s. schikhobalowi metacercaria in the trunk of Thymallus tugarinae showed that over 50% of larvae were detectable in the kidneys. This peculiarity of their localization could propose a simple method to determine II for Nanophyetus larvae in salmonlike fishes. Recommendations for reducing the risk of human infection with trematodes are given.