DYNAMICS OF HORSE INFECTION WITH THE TREMATODE SCHISTOSOMA TURKESTANICUM SKRJABIN, 1913 IN KARAKALPAKSTAN

Abstract

The dynamics of infection of horses with the trematode Schistosoma turkestanicum Skrjabin, 1913 in Karakalpakstan was studied. We carried out scientific research in various regions of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in 2016–2020. When determining the infection of horses with trematodes in the districts of Karakalpakstan, we used methods of complete and incomplete helminthological dissection by K. I. Skriabin (1928). A total of 143 horses were examined by the complete dissection method. The article presents the results of studies carried out on the territory of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Helminths were found in all 143 horses examined during the study. The trematode Schistosoma turkestanicum Skrjabin, 1913 was among the identified helminths, which is very common in this region. The parasitic worms Schistosoma turkestanicum were found to belong to the Plathelminthes type, the Trematoda class. The study results indicate that the simultaneous presence of mixed (associative) invasions by trematodes was observed in horses. It was established that trematodes found in horses parasitize on blood vessels of the bile ducts, gallbladder, liver and intestinal mesentery. The prevalence of the trematode Schistosoma turkestanicum in horses was 18.8%, and the intensity of invasion was 3876–12538 specimens. The trematode Schistosoma turkestanicum, depending on the development cycle, develops in the presence of an intermediate host. Freshwater mollusks Lymnaea auricularia, belonging to the family Lymnaeidae perform the function of an intermediate host.