The occurrence and ultrastructure of Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) lewisi (Kent, 1880) Laveran and Mesnil, 1901, the parasite of rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Poland.

This study reports the light and electron microscopic examination of Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) lewisi (Kent, 1880) Laveran and Mesnil, 1901, isolated from rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Poland. Bloodstream trypomastigotes were identified morphometrically from 100 specimens collected from three naturally infected rats Rattus norvegicus. Body length ranged from 15.45-23.64 microm and width from 1.3-2.32 microm while the free flagellum was 8.1 microm long. Electron microscopic study of bloodstream trypomastigotes exhibited typical ultrastructural features similar to those of other stercorarian trypanosomes. The presently determined morphological data have been compared with those provided by other authors.

Gregarines (Apicomplexa) and microsporidians (Microsporidia) of native and invasive gammarids (Amphipoda, Gammaroidea), occurring in Poland.

The goal of our study was to recognize microparasites of alien gammarids inhabiting Polish inland and coastal waters versus those infecting local species. Twenty two localities including the Vistula, Oder and Bug Rivers, Vistula Lagoon, Goslawskie Lake, littoral of the Baltic Sea, as well as small rivers draining directly to the sea were investigated. In total, over 5000 individuals of 14 species of gammarids were collected and analyzed using light and electron microscopy. The studies have revealed five named and seven unnamed species of gregarines (Apicomplexa, Gregarinidae) as well as three named and seven unnamed species of microsporidians (Microsporidia, Nosematidae, Thelohaniidae) infecting six native and four invasive gammarid host species. All the above microparasites were new to Poland. Four species of gregarines (Uradiophora ramosa, U. longissima, Cephaloidophora similis, C. mucronata) and four microsporidians (Nosema dikerogammari, N. pontogammari, Thelohania sp. 2, Thelohania sp. 5) were associated with hosts of Ponto-Caspian origins. Evidently, these microparasites were transported to the area through the range expansion of their invasive hosts. Gregarines Cephaloidophora sp. 1 and Uradiophora sp. 1 were registered only in North American Gammarus tigrinus. Uradiophoera ramosa infects Ponto-Caspian (P. robustoides, D. villosus) and North-Americah hosts (G. tigrinus).

The new locality of Ixodes apronophorus Schulze, 1924 in Biebrza National Park, Poland.

The new locality of Ixodes apronophorus Schulze, 1924 in Biebrza National Park, Poland is recorded. The study was conducted in open wet-meadow habitat (Caricetum appropinquatae), in April 2007. The small mammals were caught in live-traps placed at permanent trap stations. The ectoparasites were collected from the fur using combing out method. The adult female, nymphs and larva of Ixodes apronophorus were found, feeding on the common shrew Sorex araneus.

[Systematics meanders of microsporidia]. / Meandry systematyki mikrosporydiów.

Meanders of systematics of Microsporidia. Taxonomical questions of Microsporidia, its systematic position and evolutionary relationship with other Eukaryota are discussed. Utilizations of modern methods of investigations of microsporidians cause new taxonomical troubles. At the present time it is difficult to create a clear hypothesis concerning the phylogeny and evolution of Microsporidia. Most likely they are representatives of a new kingdom of Eukaryota. Existing problems will not be dissolved until new detailed data concerning the new and common species are obtained.

The parasitic fauna of the European bison (Bison bonasus) (Linnaeus, 1758) and their impact on the conservation. Part 1. The summarising list of parasites noted.

During the current century, 88 species of parasites have been recorded in Bison bonasus. These are 22 species of protozoa (Trypanosoma wrublewskii, T. theileri, Giardia sp., Sarcocystis cruzi, S. hirsuta, S. hominis, S. fusiformis, Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium sp., Eimeria cylindrica, E. subspherica, E. bovis, E. zuernii, E. canadensis, E. ellipsoidalis, E. alabamensis, E. bukidnonensis, E. auburnensis, E. pellita, E. brasiliensis, Babesia divergens), 4 trematodes species (Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Fasciola hepatica, Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha, Paramphistomum cervi), 4 cestodes species (Taenia hydatigena larvae, Moniezia benedeni, M. expansa, Moniezia sp.), 43 nematodes species (Bunostomum trigonocephalum, B. phlebotomum, Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostomum radiatum, O. venulosum, Dictyocaulus filaria, D.viviparus, Nematodirella alcidis, Nematodirus europaeus, N. helvetianus, N. roscidus, N. filicollis, N. spathiger, Cooperia oncophora, C. pectinata, C. punctata, C. surnabada, Haemonchus contortus, Mazamastrongylus dagestanicus, Ostertagia lyrata, O. ostertagi, O. antipini, O. leptospicularis, O. kolchida, O. circumcincta, O. trifurcata, Spiculopteragia boehmi, S. mathevossiani, S. asymmetrica, Trichostrongylus axei, T. askivali, T. capricola, T. vitrinus, Ashworthius sidemi, Onchocerca lienalis, O. gutturosa, Setaria labiatopapillosa, Gongylonema pulchrum, Thelazia gulosa, T. skrjabini, T. rhodesi, Aonchotheca bilobata, Trichuris ovis), 7 mites (Demodex bisonianus, D. bovis, Demodex sp., Chorioptes bovis, Psoroptes equi, P. ovis, Sarcoptes scabiei), 4 Ixodidae ticks (Ixodes ricinus, I. persulcatus, I. hexagonus, Dermacentor reticulatus), 1 Mallophaga species (Bisonicola sedecimdecembrii), 1 Anoplura (Haematopinus eurysternus), and 2 Hippoboscidae flies (Lipoptena cervi, Melophagus ovinus). There are few monoxenous parasites, many typical for cattle and many newly acquired from Cervidae.

The parasitic fauna of the European bison (Bison bonasus) (Linnaeus, 1758) and their impact on the conservation. Part 2. The structure and changes over time.

During the last century the recorded parasite fauna of Bison bonasus includes 88 species. These are 22 species of protozoa, 4 trematode species, 4 cestode species, 43 nematode species, 7 mites, 4 Ixodidae ticks, 1 Mallophaga species, 1 Anoplura, and 2 Hippoboscidae flies. There are few monoxenous parasites, the majority of parasites are typical for other Bovidae and Cervidae species and many are newly acquired from Cervidae. This is an evident increased trend in the parasite species richness, in both the prevalence and intensity of infections, which is associated with the bison population size, host status (captive breeding or free-ranging) and the possibility of contact with other ruminant species. In light of the changes to parasite species richness during the last decades, special emphasis shall be given to new parasite species reported in European bison, their pathogenicity and potential implications for conservation.

Wild and farm breeding cervids infections with Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

The main goal of our study was to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in wild cervids living in north-eastern part of Poland. Material used in the study was gathered between the years 2004- 2008. The blood samples from 106 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 32 sika deer (Cervus nippon hortulorum), 130 fallow deer (Dama dama) and 31 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were collected. DNA was isolated using Genomic Mini AX blood kit (A and A Biotechnology). Molecular detection of A. phagocytophilum was based on nested PCR amplification of a species-specific 16S rRNA fragment gene of A. phagocytophilum. The highest prevalence of infection was detected in Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Cervus nippon hortulorum, there were 50.9 percent, 38.7 percent, 34.37 percent of infected animals, respectively. The lowest rate of infection was found in fallow deer (Dama dama) - ony 1.5 percent.