Study of Helminth Fauna of the European Bison in the Kaluga Region
This article describes the study of the parasitic fauna of the European bison in the national Park "Ugra", the Kaluga Region. In the Russian Federation, this species has an official status of endangered species, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. In the Kaluga Region, there are several areas where the bison lives; in this work, the study area was the Dzerzhinsky District. The aim of the study was to detect and differentiate helminths, and provide therapeutic and preventive recommendations. The experiments were carried out using methods of flotation and sequential washings. Six species were selected as study helminths from three main classes of parasites: 1 species of helminths Dicrocoelium lanceatum from the class of trematodes (Trematoda). This parasite is localized in the liver and gall bladder. Three species of tapeworms from the class of cestodes (Cestoda): Moniezia expansa , which affects the small intestine, Cysticercus taenuicollis ( Taenia hydatigena ) and Cysticercus bovis ( Taeniarhynchus saginatus ), which can affect the musculature of animals. Two species of the parasite from the class of nematodes (Nematoda): Oesophagostomum radiatum and Nematodirus helvetianus , which are mainly localized in the small intestine. The topic of helminth fauna of the bison requires further study, since these animals can be the main sources of invasion. They live in the same biotopes as other ruminants, therefore they can cause infection of cattle and small ruminants that are in nearby territories for grazing.