Intraspecific variability among NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 sequences of Taenia hydatigena.

This paper describes intraspecific variability of the partial sequences of the mitochondrial ND1 gene among isolates of Taenia hydatigena from pigs in Poland, Ukraine and Wales. The differences between studied isolates ranged from 0.4 to 5.5%, which exceeds the variability within the same fragment between the different genetic variants of Echinococcus multilocularis and is comparable with the variability between the most closely related strains (G5/G6/G7) of E. granulosus. The biggest difference (5.5%) was found between the geographically most distant Ukrainian and Welsh samples of T. hydatigena while the samples collected from the neighbouring locations in Poland, were most similar to each other.

[A survey of parasite influence on the condition of fish]. / Pomiary wplywu pasozytów na kondycje ryb.

A brief description of the fish condition indices is provided together with proper formulae, and examples of their application in parasitological studies. Author argues that, since some indices react comparatively slowly upon parasite-induced stress, and some respond quite rapidly, a whole set of indices should be used in order to provide researchers with complete picture of fish-parasite interactions.

Where have all the fleas gone? Low levels of Blue Tit Parus caeruleus nests infestation.

Prevalence of flea infestation in nests of Blue Tit Parus caeruleus was analyzed and compared with these of other hole-nesting birds. Nests were collected from nestboxes prior to youngs fledging. It was found that prevalence of fleas was very low in comparison to other studies of Blue Tits nests and to other bird species. The possible reasons of this low prevalence are discussed.