[The case of the nematode Setaria equina found in the vaginal sac of the stallion's scrotum]. / Przypadek obecnosci nicienia Setaria equina w jamie pochwowej worka mosznowego ogiera.

The nematode Setaria equina usually reside in body cavities and do not cause clinical symptoms. From time to time, however, these parasites can be located in the scrotum and spermatic cord inflicting pain and edema in these body parts. The aim of the study was to describe the case of the nematode Setaria equina found in the vaginal sac of the stallion's scrotum. During the study, thorough examination of 50 isolated testicles of 25 stallions was conducted. The horses were obtained post-slaughter from the local slaughterhouse near Krakow. In one of examined stallions, two females of Setaria equina of 80 and 110 mm in length were found attached to the surface of the testicle. A part of one of the nematode was found in the space between the surface of the testicle and the epididymis. During the examination of the testicle sections, chronic inflammation (orchitis chronica) and focal necrosis perivascularis were found.

[The first record of the lungworm, Metastrongylus asymmetricus (Noda, 1973), in the wild boar from Poland]. / Metastrongylus asymmetricus (Noda, 1973)--nicien plucny po raz pierwszy notowany u dzika w Polsce.

A total of 17 wild boars (Sus scrofa) shot in the Miechów hunting area (southern Poland) during two consecutive winters of 2008, were surveyed for the presence of lung nematodes of the genus Metastrongylus. The animals were necropsied, their lungs removed, divided into smaller parts and examined along the bronchial tubes. The parasites found were identified based on their morphologic characters. The prevalence of the lungworms reached 76.5%, and all of the 13 infected animals harboured two (one boar) or more parasite species. The mean number of parasites in an individual boar was 58.7, ranging from 6 to 250 specimens. Out of 250 identified lungworms, 48.8% was identified as M. pudendotectus, 32.8% were M. elongatus, and 14.0% belonged to M. salmi, whereas 4.4% (i.e. 10 females and 2 males) were M. asymmetricus. Until recently, only four Metastrongylus species have been recorded from Poland, namely M. elongatus, M. pudendotectus, M. salmi and M. confusus. The presently reported finding of M. asymmetricus constitutes the first record of this species in Poland.

[Dynamics of endoparasite infections in rabbits at different rearing regimes]. / Dynamika zarazenia królików endopasozytami w róznych warunkach chowu.

This study was intended to evaluate the occurrence and seasonality of infection of coccidian and helminth parasites, in three rabbit warrens differently managed. Mothers stayed with their offspring on deep litter (farm A, 90 dams), in boxes cleaned weekly (farm B, 30 dams) or on slatted floor (farm C, 10 females), whereas all the young after weaning (1 to 5 months of age) were kept in cages with slatted floor. Animals were fed a complete balanced pelleted feed (warrens A and B) or traditional forage (herd C). Antiparasitic treatment involved coccidiostatic drugs. Robenidine (alternately with Lerbec in farm A) was added to food in the first two farms, whilst Sulfatyf mixed with water was given once after weaning in farm C. A total of 203 individual faecal samples from females of breeding stock, and 133 pooled samples from young animals, were collected on an annual cycle during 2007-2008 (February-January), and analyzed according to a modified concentration McMaster method. Coccidians were identified based on sporulated oocysts. A number of coccidian species (Eimeria perforans, E. media, E. magna, E. irresidua, E. exiqua, E. coecicola, and E. piriformis) were observed in all farms. The most pathogenic species--E. intestinalis was found both in farm A and B, whereas E. flavescens and E. stiedae--only in the former. The level of infection was high, especially in young rabbits, with the prevalence of 94.9 to 100% and mean intensity from 11,161 to 28,871 oocysts per 1 g of faeces (OPG) in a particular warren. The highest intensity of infection was observed in May, when the mean output increased to 29,454, 56,952, and 23,815 OPG in warrens A, B, and C, respectively. A nematode, Passalurus ambiguus, was detected in all searched farms, with the prevalence from 14.1% to 27.5%, depending on a farm. The species was more often seen in the first part of year. The other helminths (Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Graphidium strigosum, and Trichuris leporis) were found only in rabbits of warren C. In this warren, the forage of farm origin was suggested to be prepared in a proper way in order to protect it from nematode transmission. The presence of coccidia and their specific composition has been continuously monitored in all farms, to estimate the efficiency of prophylactic measures undertaken.

Morphometric identification of equid cyathostome (Nematoda: Cyathostominae) infective larvae.

The prevalence of infection with cyathosthomes of horses is high worldwide. Identification of species on infective larvae based on available morphological keys is not fully accurate and the aim of the present study was to provide a reliable identification key of cyathostomes infective larvae. At the abattoir, horse large intestines were examined and the cyathostomes females extracted and identified. The eggs from uteruses of identified cyathostomes females were used for breeding the infective larvae. Morphological parameters of Cyathostominae infective larvae, i.e. the length of the larvae with sheath, length of oesophagus, intestine, end of the intestine to the end of the larvae body, and finally the body breadth measured and the cells arrangement of the intestine cells (A-D) noted. These morphological parameters of the third infective larvae were determined of the following cyathostomes species: Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicostephanus goldi, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cyathostomum pateratum, Cylicocyclus ashworti, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cylicostephanus calicatus and Coronocyclus coronatus. The qualitative assignment into A, C and D intestinal type and then the combination of morphological measures allows specific identification for most species.

[Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum (Marcone, 1901) Alicata, 1935--a new for Poland parasite of swine]. / Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum (Marcone, 1901) Alicata, 1935--nowy dla Polski pasoiyt swin.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Large intestines of five slaughtered sows, aging 10 months to 3 years and originating from different herds of southern Poland, were examined parasitologically according to an agar-gel method. The intestines were uncoiled and divided into three sections: section 1--caecum and the first 0-20% part of colon, section 2-20--60% of large intestine and section 3--60-100% length of gut. Adult worms of Oesophagostomum were differentiated on the basis of species and sex, using the shape of buccal capsule and oesophagus, the length of male spicules, and the distance from vulva to anus as well as from anus to the tip of tail of females. RESULTS: In the case of two sows, in 30% of the contents from the section 1 of large intestines a total of 10 specimens of Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum (Marcone, 1901) Alicata, 1935 were found. This is a new nematode species in the parasitic fauna of Poland and the present record enlarges its geographical range. The infection with O. quadrispinulatum seems to be more dangerous from that of O. dentatum--the most common porcine nodular worm.

[The communities of cyathostomes (Cyathostominae) in year-old and two-year-old Pure Blood Arabian mares]. / Zgrupowania slupkowców malych (Cyathostominae) u rocz- nych i dwuletnich klaczek czystej krwi arabskiej.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the strongyles species in 34 Pure Blood Arabian Horses: one-year-old mares (n = 12) and two-year old mares (n = 22) from the horse stud in 2005, kept under housed-pastured system and dewormed systematically, twice a year using the ivermectin compounds. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The practical method of in vivo determination of strongyles species in horses is collection of these nematodes from the feaces after treatment. Nematodes were collected 24 hours after deworming from 1000 g sample of feaces, then were classified to appropriate species and relative abundance of strongyles community was determined. RESULTS: In the feaces of horses after treatment 10 species of cyathostomes was determined: Cyathostomum catinatum (CAT), C. pateratum (PAT), Cylicocyclus nassatus (NAS), C. ashworti (ASH), C. leptostomus (LEP), C. insigne (INS), Cylicostephanus longibursatus (LNG), C. goldi (GLD), C. calicatus (CAL) and Coronocyclus coronatus (COR). No large strongyles (Strongylinae) was found. The relative abundance was the highest for following cyathostomes species: NAS (22%), CAT (18.1%), INS (17.7%), PAT (13.8%), LNG (9.1%) and LEP (8.2%). The relative abundance of cyathostomes species was similar in both group of mares. On the other hand CAL (15.8%) was common for the one-year-old mares and INS (25%) for the two-year-old mares. In vivo diagnositic of the infection is important from the perspective of individual small strongyle infections dynamics in horses and because of possible different pathogenicity of individual species of these nematodes.

Occurrence of roundworm (Parascaris equorum) in horses from small farms based on necropsy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of roundworm infection in working horses slaughtered for meat. In these horses anthelmintics had not been used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Roundworms were collected post-mortem from small intestines of 83 horses. RESULTS: The mean prevalence of roundworm infection was 12% and intensity--46.7 specimens per horse. Infection was found only in foals; 10 animals were infected (45.4%) among the 22 examined. Due to common occurrence of roundworms (Parascaris equorum) in foals this nematode control should focus particularly on regular anthelmintic treatment of young horses, providing proper hygienic conditions for them and checking the infection level by coproscopical methods.

[Gastrointestinal parasites of rabbits in coproscopic investigations]. / Pasozyty przewodu pokarmowego królików w badaniach koproskopowych.

BACKGROUND: Parasitological screening was carried out in a breeding herd of the New Zealand White rabbit breed in 2004. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mothers, together with their offsprings, were kept in boxes on deep litter, whereas young rabbits were transferred to cages with slatted floor. All the animals were fed a complete balanced pelleted feed with two coccidiostats added alternately (Lerbec, Robenidine), and droplet watering system was applied. No anthelmintic was used in the rabbitry. A total of 170 individual samples of fresh feces from females of breeding stock, and 55 pooled samples in the case of young animals 2-4 months of age, collected on a month intervals, were analyzed according to a modified concentration McMaster's method, using saturated salty water with sugar as a flotation fluid. RESULTS: The presence of several species of coccidia was evaluated, with Eimeria stiedae, E. perforans, E. media and E. magna being found in great numbers. The dynamics of infection showed that both adults and young animals were affected by coccidia mostly in May (mean intensity reached at that time 24000 opg in young rabbits), and then until August the infection lasted on a high level. As regards coccidiosis, parasitism could be considerably cut back in the herd by frequent changing of the straw litter, which should also always be dry. Only Passalurus ambiguus was found from nematodes, and only in the feces of adults, probably due to the modern forage and watering system applied, which broke the other worms' life cycles.

[Intestinal parasites infection of horses from riding clubs in Kraków area]. / Inwazje pasoiytów jelitowych u koni w klubach jezdzieckich z okolic Krakowa.

The studies were carried out in 2001 and 2002 on horses from riding clubs in Krakow area. On the basis of McMaster method EPG (eggs per gram) and prevalence of infection (%) was evaluated. The most common parasites were strongyles (Strongylidae). In the first year of study in dynamics of strongyles eggs output of horses kept on paddocks two peaks were observed: in May (450 EPG) and January (427 EPG), in comparison with horses under pasture system where the highest level of strongyles eggs output were in May (832 EPG), from August (420 EPG) to October (385 EPG) and in March (482 EPG). In the second year of study seasonal mean prevalence (from April to October) as well as EPG were higher in horses under pasture system (73.9% and 781 EPG) than in horses on paddocks with grass (42.1% and 251 EPG) and horses on paddocks without grass (19.2% and 157 EPG).

[The evaluation of Trichuris vulpis infection of stray dogs in Kraków area]. / Ocena zarazenia wlosoglówka (Trichuris vulpis) psów bezpanskich z rejonu Krakowa.

The evaluation of Trichuris vulpis infection of unwanted dogs in Kraków area. The aim of this work was the estimation of the infection with Trichuris vulpis of dogs in Cracow's Shelter for Stray Animals. A coprologic examination carried out between January and November 1999-2000 showed the prevalence of infection from 6.8% to 15.1% and EPG from 88 to 913.