FORMATION MONITORING OF PARASITE FAUNA IN STABLED ANIMALS OR ANIMALS IN ENCLOSED GRAZING AREAS

Abstract

Monitoring studies were performed on biological diversity of parasite fauna in domesticated animals at the territory of the Joint Russian-Armenian Scientific Experimental Centre, within the piedmont zone of Armenia with moderate continental climate at 900-1200 m above the sea level. The study species were large and small ruminants, rabbits and hens. All the animals except sheep were kept indoors (stalls). We found 3 trematode species, 4 cestode species and 5 nematode species based on seasonal coproovoscopic and larvoscopic examinations, as well as an incomplete helminthological dissections of 5 sheep. The infection of sheep and cattle with hematophagous parasites was also detected and the infection of hens and rabbits with helminths and protozoa was found. Oribatid mites Scheloribates sp. were isolated from the studied soil samples. We also found and studied land and freshwater molluscs, intermediate hosts of a number of important parasite species for the infection. The land molluscs were found to have naturally-acquired invasions with larval forms of Protostrongylidae and Dicrocoeliidae. In total, we found 20 helminth species, 5 ixodid ticks, 1 oribatid mite and 7 protozoa, and vectors: 2 species of freshwater molluscs and 1 species of land molluscs.