EPIZOOTIC SITUATION OF DIROFILARIASIS OF WILD CARNIVORES OF THE NORTH-WESTERN CAUCASUS

Abstract

The North-Western Caucasus is a territory permanently disadvantaged by dirofilariasis both among domestic cats and dogs, and among wild carnivores. In order to control and predict dirofilariasis, we conducted parasitological monitoring of 10 species of wild carnivores living in various landscape-geographical zones of the region from 2015 to 2021. As a result of the conducted studies, it was found that out of 10 species of wild carnivores examined, 8 species were infected to varying degrees with two species of dirofilaria Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens. At the same time, we have registered both monoinvasias and their associations, including with other types of helminths. For the first time in the region, Dirofilaria immitis was detected in wolf and American mink. During the analyzed period, there was a significant increase in the extent of invasion among various species of wild carnivores from 22.2 to 25.0%. On average, depending on the species of carnivores and their habitat, the extent of invasion (EI) of Dirofilaria immitis ranged from 20.8% in forest cats to 46.8% in jackals, and the intensity of invasion (II) ranged from 4 to 36 specimens. The extent of Dirofilaria repens invasion ranged from 10.6% in jackals to 15.3% in badgers, and the intensity of invasion ranged from 1 to 13 specimens.