Expansion of the Asiatic parasite Ashworthius sidemi (Nematoda, Trichostrongylidae) in wild ruminants in Polish territory

Abstract

The abomasa of 40 wild ruminants (18 red deer, 9 roe deer, 13 European bison) shot in the Bieszczady Mountains and another 8 European bison shot in Bialowieza Primeval Forest, were examined for worms. Ashworthius sidemi was found in all of the animals from the Bieszczady Mountains, and the intensity of infection was usually massive. In Bialowieza Forest few specimens of A. sidemi were noted among three bison. Wild ruminants were infected by A. sidemi from June to September. The nematodes originating from this infection only attained sexual maturity in June of the following year, and from September the process of expelling the parasites of that generation began. From June to autumn, two generations of nematodes, one consisting of mature individuals from the previous year and the other of the current year comprising fourth stage larvae as well as juveniles, occur in these hosts. In the winter and spring periods until June, only one generation of the parasite, arrested fourth-stage larvae and juveniles, occurs in the hosts.

Parasitofauna of European bison Bison bonasus (L.) in Borecka Forest

“…Wraz z tym jeleniem nicień został introdukowany do wielu krajów dawnego Związku Radzieckiego, również na Ukrainę, ale także do Słowacji, Czech i Francji (21,23,24,28). Należy przypuszczać, że źródłem inwazji tego nicienia w Polsce są miejscowe jelenie, które mogły przenieść tego pasożyta z sąsiedniej Ukrainy lub Słowacji (15). Po raz pierwszy w Polsce A. sidemi został wykryty w 1997 r. w Bieszczadach u wszystkich badanych tam żubrów, jeleni i saren (13)(14)(15) Przy użyciu badań histopatologicznych stwierdzono w przewodzie pokarmowym zarażonych żubrów rozległe zmiany zapalne, martwicze i zanikowe, które były najsilniej wyrażone u cieląt przy wysokiej intensywności inwazji (27).…”

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

“…The sources of the parasites were local red deer, which brought the parasite from neighbouring Ukraine and Slovakia (Dróżdż et al 1998(Dróżdż et al , 2002. A special case involves parasites typical for elk, recorded in high numbers or for the first time during the recent decades (Dróżdż et al 1989(Dróżdż et al , 1994(Dróżdż et al , 2003Demiaszkiewicz and Pyziel 2010). This occurrence can be associated with two processes -the restitution of B. bonasus in Białowieża Primeval Forests, and simultaneously with the reintroduction of elk (A. alces) to this same terrain, after their absence during the first half of the 20 th century.…”

The first detection of nematodes Ashworthius sidemi in elk Alces alces (L.) in Poland and remarks of ashworthiosis foci limitations

“…In the subsequent years the focus spread to other Forest Districts in Bieszczady: Stuposiany, Brzegi Dolne, Baligród and Komańcza, where A. sidemi was noticed in all examined 40 wild ruminants (18 red deer, 9 roe deer and 13 European bison). The maximum intensity of infection in roe deer was 656 nematodes, 570 specimens in red deer and 4,000 in bison (Dróżdż et al 2003). In the subsequent examinations, 10 roe deer and 5 red deer from Komańcza and Cisna Districts were found to be infected with nematodes A. sidemi.…”

“…Migrating red deer carried this parasite to neighboring countries as well as to Polish territory, namely the Bieszczady Mountains. In the years 1997-1999, 100% of wild ruminants (European bison, red deer and roe deer) were found to be infected in the Bieszczady Mountain region (Dróżdż 2001;Dróżdż et al 1998Dróżdż et al , 2000Dróżdż et al , 2003. Then, in 1999, single specimens of this worm were detected in one bison in the Belarusian part of the Białowieża Forest (Kochko, 2003), and in 2000, an invasion of several specimens was found in one bison in the Polish part of the Forest.…”