Helminthofauna and biopotential of <i>E. Granulosus Batsch cysts, 1789</i> in yaks of the North Caucasian ecotype

Abstract

The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is a two-humped hoofed mammal from the genus of true bulls. In 1973-1974, domestic yak was imported from the Alai Valley (Kyrgyzstan) and to the North Caucasus, in particular, to Kabardino-Balkaria, KarachayCherkessia, Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia-Alania. In Russia, yaks are found in animal husbandry in Tuva (more than 20 thousand heads), in Buryatia and Altai, in Karachay-Cherkessia (upper reaches of the Ullu-Ezen River) - more than 1.5 thousand heads, in Kabardino-Balkaria (Bezengi tract). 30 heads of animals were examined. All studies were performed by methods of complex helminthoscopy, in accordance with GOST R 54627-2011 "Agricultural ruminant animals. Methods of laboratory diagnosis of helminthiasis" Monitoring of the helminth fauna in yaks of the North Caucasian ecotype showed the presence of 24 species: trematodes - 3, cestodes - 5, nematodes - 16 species. Upon opening the internal organs of 30 individuals, 9 heads (30.0%) turned out to be infected with worms’ helminths, which is recorded with fluctuations in occurrence rates from 8.0 to 30.0% with a variation in abundance from 2.0 ± 0.3 to 547.0 ± 19.2 copies. per individual. The extent of echinococcal invasion in yaks of the North Caucasian ecotype was 10.0 % with an average invasion intensity of 13.6 ± 1.2 specimens. on the head. In the liver and lungs of yaks, all 66.2% of echinococcal cysts in the liquid sediment contained protoscolexes, and 33.8% of the cysts were acephalocysts without protoscolexes. Literature data confirm the without protoscolexes. Literature data confirm the simultaneous detection of a cystic form of echinococcosis of the liver and lungs caused by Echinococcus granulosus Batsch, 1789 (with protoscolexes and acephalocysts without protoscolexes) in yaks of the North Caucasian ecotype, which causes the likelihood of the formation of natural foci of echinococcosis in the highaltitude zone of the Caspian Sea with the participation of stray dogs and wild predators (wolf, jackal, etc.).