[Argas reflexus (Fabricius, 1794) as a cause of acarosis in people]. / Argas reflexus (Fabricius 1794) przyczyna akarozy u ludzi.

The studies were carried out between 1997-1999 within the administrative district of Torun. Forty sports pigeon breeders together with their pigeonswere understudy annually. The collected material allowed noticing the following issues: in 1997 and 1998 the Argas reflexus (Fabricius, 1794) was present in dovecotes (individuals) and t he breeds' owners were pricked. In 1998 numerous specimens of the A. reflexus were obtained from the material from the sanitary-epidemiological station. The specimens were collected from the bodies of the people, family members and from their flat located on the highest third floor of the old house. In the mite-infected dovecotes and in the old houserooms, the following steps were suggested: mechanical cleansing, whitewashing, disinfecting, and triple disinsecting, with fourteen-day-long intervals. The people with the symptoms of acariosis were subjected to treatment with calcium, anti-allergic, and anti-fever mixtures, and, in some cases, cortisone ointments were applied. In spite of a considerable growth in the symptoms, the used methods turned out to be successful in all the studied cases.

[The studies of the invasion of Alaria alata (Goeze,1782) in the Province of Kuyavia and Pomerania]. / Badania nad inwazja Alaria alata (Goeze, 1782) w województwie kujawsko-pomorskim.

The studies were conducted between 1999 and 2001 in two hunting regions. Larval alariosis was revealed in the boars only in one of the studied regions. In this region, the results of the parasitological studies, conducted towards A. alata in the direct host (domestic dogs) and indirect hosts (snails: Planorbis planorbis and Anisus vortex as well as frogs: Rana temporaria and Rana terrestris) were also positive. The lack of the host snails A. alata in the other region might have resulted from no presence of the parasite in the boar.

[The case of dermatitis in the human as a result of the influence of the cercaria of the bird schistosome]. / Przypadek dermatitis u czlowieka wywolany przez cerkarie ptasich schistosom.

There are numerous cases of dermatitis described world-wide and resulting from the influence of the furcocercaria of the bird schistosome. The host snail species of the schistosome, producing thousands of furcocercaria are common in our country. But, because of too general symptoms of dermatitis resulting from the influence of the schistosome of the larvae, there are many unrecognisable cases. The reaction described was typical of a twenty-seven-year-old man collecting snails in the Piechota Bay in Gostynin (the Province of Kuyavia and Pomerania). In that reservoir, individuals of Lymnaea stagnalis were found, which were infected with sporocysts and furcocercaria of Trichobilharzia ocellata. In the laboratory conditions, a high expulsion of cercaria was observed, which amounted to over 8000 larvae per snail.

[Invasion of Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) in poultry farms in the Torun region]. / Inwazja Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778). W fermach drobiu w rejonie Torunia.

The studies were conducted in three big fully automaticised egg-laying farms within the boundaries of Torun Voivodship, where Dermanyssus gallinae (DE GEER 1778) was present. The increased invasion of the parasite on one of the farms resulted in the presence of all clinical symptoms of dermanyssosis. A considerable decrease in the body weight, anaemia and organism exhaustion were observed. A growth in the hens' death rate from 1% (when they were not contaminated) to 4% was observed. There was also a decrease in egg-laying, particularly in its top phase. When breeding farms are not contaminated, egg-laying amounts normally to 91-93%, whereas in the contaminated farm the percentage lowered to 80-82%. The hens' death rate, a decrease in the egg production as well as a fall in the productive cycle by two months resulted in economical losses suffered by the farm owner. Having excluded the treatment costs, the sum amounted to c. 36,000 PLN in a single production cycle. To fight the parasite effectively, cleansing frequency, desinfecting with Wirkon and Pollena Jod K or caustic soda, and disinsectization with Neguvon and Alfasep 10WP were increased.

[Economic losses in pheasant breeding evoked with endoparasites]. / Ekonomiczne straty w hodowli bazantów wywolane pasozytami wewnetrznymi.

Parasitical invasions constitute a serious veterinary-economic problem in pheasant breeding. The studies were carried out between 1995-1997 in a big breeding centre situated in the Middle Pomerania region, where the basic flock amounted to 1000-1200 bird individuals. The aim of the study was to determine a condition of the pheasants' affliction with nematodes, reasons for the invasion and possibilities of a decrease in the losses thus brought about. In the subsequent years, the flock affliction reached the following proportions: 40% in 1995, 42% in 1996, and 68% in 1997. Between 1995 and 1996, the findings revealed eggs of the nematode Capillaria sp (C. anatis and C. phasianina) in their faeces, with less frequent cases of Trichostrongylus tenuis, Heterakis isolonche and Syngamus trachea. Between 1995-1996 40% deaths in the afflicted flock were brought about by Syngamus trachea whilst in 1997 syngamosis resulted in 80% deaths among the afflicted birds. To determine reasons for the confirmed nematode invasion in the studied period during which all the requirements were fulfilled in the pheasant breeding, conclusions were drawn on the basis of the study. Also, preventive measures were suggested to stop any further appearance of syngamosis or losses due to other endoparasites, as those in 1997.

[The case of acaridosis in African ostrich (Struthio camelus) breeding]. / Przypadek akarydozy w hodowli strusi afrykanskich (Struthio cahelus).

The aim of the study was to determine a reason for failing health eondition and deaths among the ostriches in the newly-established breeding farm situated within the boundaries of Torun Voivodship. Both initial observations and examinations of three alive and two dead birds presupposed an appearance of ectoparasitical disease. The autopsies were performed and the specimens for bacteriological and parasitological studies were subsequently obtained. The ectoparasitically-directed studies were the only positive result; the individuals of Cnemidocoptes mutans and unrecognised Acarina species were found. Although the overall treatment (Ivomec) and breeding-rooms extermination of vermin (Neguvon 2%) were held, health conditions of the ostriches failed to improve and, as a result, all the birds died. The breeding farm was closed down wich the owner having suffered financially. The study allowed to draw conclusions concerning reasons for Acarina invasion and subsequent deaths among the birds.