| Abstract: | The results of long-term investigations (1994-2003) of an infection rate of trematodes of the family Prosthogonimidae in the first intermediate hosts (snails of the family Bithyniidae) and in the final hosts (birds) from a basin of the Chany Lake (Western Siberia) are discussed. A total of 1824 specimens of Bithynia tentaculata (L., 1758) and 7166 specimens of Opisthorchophorus troscheli (Paasch, 1842) have been collected from eight rivers and two lakes in the south of the Western Siberia. Data of incomplete helminthological dissection of 225 young water-fowl of 18 species were analyzed. Birds were obtained in July, August and September, 1996-2003 from the Chany lake basin. Maritas of the trematode family Prosthogonimidae were revealed in bursa Fabricii (26.12%) of seven bird species of two orders (Anseriformes and Gruiformes): Grey Lag-Goose Anser anser (L.) (Infection rate-28.6% +/- 12.1), Mallard Anas platyrhynchos L. (27.5% +/- 6.2), Shoveler--A. clypeata L. (22.2% +/- 13.9), Pochard Aythya ferina (L.) (51.7% +/- 9.3), Coot Fulica atra L. (28.6% +/- 5.6), Tufted Duck A. fuligula (L.) (1 case), Wigeon A. penelope L. (1 case). Average intensity of invasion is 5.8 marita specimens per infected bird. The maximal number of parasites (37 maritas), and also the highest average intensity of invasion are recorded for the Coot. The 342 maritas of the family Prosthogonimidae belong to three species: Prosthogonimus ovatus (Rud., 1803) (49.7%), P. cuneatus (Rud., 1809) (32.8%) and Schistogonimus rarus (Braun, 1901) (14.6%); these trematode species have been recorded in 35, 12 and 8 bird species, respectively. Grey Lag-Goose, Shoveler, Pochard and Tufted Duck are new host records for P. cuneatus in for Western Siberia. Parthenitae of trematodes (Prosthogonimidae) were revealed from eight populations of bithyniid snails. The infection rate of the trematodes (parthenitae and cercariae) in population of bithyniid snails from lake ecological system varied 6.55-54.4%, and in river ecological systems in was 0.6-4.2 %. The infection rate of trematodes (parthenitae and cercariae) of the first intermediate hosts was 2.64% that is significantly lower than that of the final hosts from the Chany Lake basin. Both O. troscheli and B. tentaculata were noted as the first intermediate hosts of prosthogonimid trematodes of three species: P. ovatus, P. cuneatus and S. rarus. All three species of trematode were found in three water reservoirs: Ob River (B. tentaculata), Kargat River (O. troscheli) and Chany Lake (O. troscheli). Thus it is found out that 39 bird species can be the final hosts of prosthogonimid trematodes. About a quarter of nestlings is infected with these trematodes. The infection rate of parthenitae in snails from the lake ecosystems is significantly higher than in the river ecosystems. |
