Ascarididae nematodes of genera Toxocara and Toxascaris are of significant epizootic relevance among predatory mammals from families Canidae and Felidae. Localization of these nematodes in the definitive hosts, their morphology, as well as the measurements of eggs and adult worms are similar. Recently, molecular techniques have provided alternative approaches for the identification of ascarid species. A common feature of the life cycles of these generally monoxenous nematodes is the significant participation of small rodents. In case of Toxocara spp., the rodent plays the role of paratenic host but optional intermediate host for T. leonina. Several studies indicate co-occurence of both T. canis and T. leonina in domestic and wild canids as well as T. cati and T. leonina in felids. Although the infections of humans with T. canis and T. cati are common worldwide, larvae of T. leonina has the potential to cause human disease as emerging zoonosis.

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Parasitic helminths were the probable cause of death of 41 passeriform birds (29 adults and 12 juveniles in their first year of life) caught in the net during the spring and autumn ringing (1986–2010). The birds (1 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, 1 House Martin Delichon urbica, 2 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus, 9 Great Tit Parus major, 3 Willow Tit Poecile palustris, 1 Great Reed Acrocephalus arundinaceus, 1 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, 3 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, 2 Dunnock Prunella modularis, 1 Magpie Pica pica, 5 Robin Erithacus rubecula, 9 Common Blackbird Turdus merula and 3 Song Thrush T. philomelos) were caught in the environs of Přerov (Czech Republic). The helminths: trematodes, tapeworms, nematodes and hook worms, were located in the intestine, glandular and muscular stomach, cloaca, rectum, gall bladder, liver, pulmonary cavity, air sac, nasal and orbital cavity and subcutaneous tissue of the hosts. The intensity of invasion with different species of parasites was up to 734 per host. Some parasites Brachydistomum ventricosum, Mosesia sittae, Aprocta cylindrica, Diplotriaena tridens were acquired at the wintering grounds. All the helmniths were heteroxenous, with development cycle involving intermediate hosts (invertebrates) which are part of the birds’ diet.

80 SummaryDue to their specific biology and behaviour, rodents could play a role as an intermediate, definitive or paratenic host for many helminth species, as well as for species of zoonotic significance such as Toxocara spp. or Echinococcus multilocularis. The aim of our preliminary study was to investigate the nematode fauna of rodents collected from recreation grounds located in the vicinity of Wroclaw, and to determine their role in the transmission of toxocariasis in this area. During a one-year period, 90 individuals belonging to three rodent species, i.e. Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis and Myodes glareolus, were collected. The overall prevalence of infection with nematodes amounted to 63.33 ± 10.15 % and differed between hosts. Toxocara spp. larvae were located in livers and brains of A. agrarius (12.9 %). Our results indicate a role of rodents in the circulation of toxocariasis in sub-urban areas, which serve as recreation grounds for the city of Wroclaw.

A comparison of external parasitic infestations among inhabitants of Legnica, Wałbrzych, and Wrocław districts, in the Lower Silesia region of Poland showed a direct relationship between the high incidence of scabies and low standard ecological indices, as well as social economic setting of the communities. In the years 1990-1997, the highest mean incidences of scabies per 100,000 people (80 and 46) were noted, respectively, in the Legnica and Wałbrzych districts, compared to only 7.9 in the Wrocław district. Infestation was correlated with percentages of the population with higher education (4.8; 4.2, 10.1, respectively) and the number of patients per physician (795, 632, 288, respectively), and the percentages of degraded land/and land threatened by degradation (10/37, 5/16, 0.7/10, respectively), forest stands damaged by gases and particulates (99.4, 99.4, 58.8, respectively), and air pollution emission indices in the towns of Legnica and Wałbrzych (30 and 21 tons/km2) and Wrocław (16). Scabies infestation was highest in children and teenagers (0-19) and was gender-associated (in all age groups, women were more often infested than men). A decreasing rate of scabies infestation, especially from the mid-1990s, was noted for both scabies and pediculosis in Wałbrzych district; in the 0-19-yr-old inhabitants, it varied from 0.75% in 1994 to 0.41% in 1996.

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31 SummaryExotic reptiles, among them snakes, are a novelty in the world of pets. A total of 28 snakes housed in the City Zoological Garden in Wrocław and 23 snakes from zoological wholesale were examined for the presence of endoparasites. Both parasitological sections of dead reptiles and coprological examination were done. Endoparasites were detected in a total of 13.7 % of snakes, including 21.7 % of those coming from the zoological wholesale and 7.1 % of the zoo-kept snakes. Two groups of protozoa were detected: Choleoeimeria sp. and Ciliata, as well as nematodes: Kalicephalus sp., Dioctowittidae and a pinworm (Oxyurida). The zoo snakes were also found to carry pseudoparasites.

Three male specimens of the eyeworm, Oxyspirura chabaudi, were found during the post mortem examination of one individual of Turdus merula L. (Passeriformes). This is the first record of Turdus merula as a host for O. chabaudi.