INTESTINAL PARASITES OF DOGS FROM SE-YAKHA (YAMAL) IN CONTEMPORARY

Abstract

Archaeological work is actively carried out on the territory of Yamal, while traces of invasion are also found in coprolites and the cultural layer, and therefore, it is of interest to compare modern and ancient parasite fauna. Combined and sedimentation methods were used to analyze 11 stool samples of domestic dogs collected in 2021 during the expedition in the Se-Yakha settlement. Prevalence was established – 54.55%, while the dominant parasite was Sarcocystis (27.27%), T. leonina was detected less often – 18.18% and tapeworm – 9.09%, trematode invasion was not recorded, although opisthorchiasis is constantly recorded in the region. Morphometric studies of the eggs of the tapeworm and sporocysts were carried out. The tapeworm eggs are 61.50±1.3 µm long; egg width 41.7±1.03 µm; the width of the mouth is 22.20±0.88, which most closely matches the description of D. nihonkaiense (syn. D. klebanovskii). The eggs of the tapeworms are a frequent archaeological find, but the species is not established. According to morphological and ecological characteristics, protozoa (length 14.40±0.30 µm; width 10.25±0.18 µm; shape index 1.40±0.04) correspond to the description of S. grueneri. Most likely, dogs in ancient times also had them, but due to their small size and thin shell, they were not preserved.