Helminths of wild ungulates living in different regions of Belarus
Authors: Polaz S. V. 
Published: March 2022

The purpose of the research is to study of the features of the fauna of wild ungulates helminths on the different regions of the Belarus.Materials and methods. The research was carried out in the State Research-Production Association "The ScientificallyPractical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for bio-resources" and in forestry farms of Belarus. The distribution of ungulates in winter was studied using winter route counts. GPS receivers were used for a reliable assessment of biotope confinement. We used the method of counting game animals by year-round mapping of encounters and tracks with the help of thermal imagers. To assess the seasonal distribution, the structure of the biocenosis was compared with the distribution of wild ungulate species on it. To assess the species selectivity of a certain biocenosis, the share of the species in the biotope and the share of this biotope in the farm were determined. The G-test was used to analyze the obtained materials. Animal feces were examined using the McMaster, sedimentation, and flotation methods.Results and discussion. It is determined that in the model forest areas, the red deer dominates in the structure of ungulates. Biotopes with stand density above 0.6 ungulates sem. Reindeer are used to an insignificant extent (K = -0.2, G = 42.7, P = 0.03). The biotopic distribution of roe deer in spring and autumn does not differ significantly (G = 116.7, P = 0.01). At this time, animals prefer areas with a predominance of broad-leaved species (D or.) (K = 0.86, G = 53.1, P < 0.01). During the rutting season, pinemoss forests are preferred (G = 37.4, P < 0.01). In the warm season, the red deer prefers forests with a predominance of pine trees in the stand (K = 0.6, G = 37.4, P < 0.01). Bilberry pine forests are preferred by females in spring and summer (adults and semi-adults) (K = 0.42, G = 32.4, P <0.01), males – mossy pine forests during the growing season (K = 0.22, G = 28.91, P = 0.03). In the parasitological situation in the red deer population, representatives of the Cestoda class are replaced by representatives of the Trematoda class. Representatives of the class Nematoda, genus Dictyocaulus sp. remain dominant. Representatives of the genus Strongylata, Trichostrongylus and Protostrongylus are constantly present. The genera Chabertia, Neoascaris, Cooperia are replaced, of the Nematoda class into the following genera: Oesophagostomum, Capillaria, Muellerius capillaris of the same class. The coefficient of common species composition of red deer and European roe worms is 46%, European roe and elk – 18, red deer and elk – 22%. On the territory of the Republic of Belarus, a rich species composition of helminths was revealed in European bison and a high degree of occurrence of helminths in this host. More than half of the animals in bison populations are carriers of infection with helminths: Belovezhskaya – 51.3, Polesskaya – 89.05%. Moreover, most of them have one type of helminths (from 50.0 to 66.7%) or two types of helminths (from 25.0 to 38.0%). Three or more types of helminths recorded simultaneously are rare. Representatives of the Nematoda class are 6 times superior to other classes of parasitic helminths (G = 39.8; Р < 0.01).