IMPACT OF INVASION GYMNOPHALLUS DELICIOSUS (TREMATODA: GYMNOPHALLIIDAE) ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF HERRING GULL LARUS ARGENTATUS
An adults and nestlings of herring gulls Larus argentatus were investigated. The indicators of infestation by the trematode Gymnophallus deliciosus (Trematoda: Gymnophalliidae) were determined. The biochemical parameters in plasma and liver of gulls were measured. The concentration of total protein, albumin, total lipids, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, cholesterol, urea and bilirubin, and the activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, amylase and cholinesterase were examined in the blood plasma of the infected and uninfected birds. The intensity of lipid peroxidation, the content of total carotenoids and vitamin A were determined in the liver of the infected and uninfected birds. The intensity of infestation of G. deliciosus of the nestlings made 2-78 ind. (19.0 ± ± 5.4 ind.) and the adult gulls from 1 to 53 ind. (17.1 ± 2.5 ind.). The birds that infected by G. deliciosus had the enlarged gall bladder irrespective of age. Analysis of biochemical parameters showed that the invasion of G. deliciosus in the organism of adult herring gulls and nestlings changed in the functioning of the gall bladder and bile ducts (increase of concentration of total bilirubin and activity of amylase and alkaline phosphatase in blood plasma) and disrupted in lipid metabolism (decrease of concentration of total lipids and triacylglycerols). A proteolytic function of the liver cells in adults' gulls, the infected gymnophallidae, reduced (decrease in the content of total protein and albumin). It is established that the invasion of G. deliciosus in the gallbladder herring gulls does not lead to severe disorders of liver function