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Dirofilariosis is caused by nematodes Dirofilaria repens Railliet et Henry, 1911. This parasitosis is widely distributed in south Europe among dogs, cats and wild carnivorous. It occurs also in Asia and Africa. Adult nematodes D. repens locate in nodules, in subcutaneous or intramuscular connective tissue of dogs. The mosquitoes from genera Anopheles, Aedes and Culex are the intermediate hosts and vectors of mentioned parasites. The finding of 6 adult nematodes belonging to the species D. repens in scrotum under tunica vaginalis, during the castration of the dog, which has never been abroad, tended us to undertake presented studies. In August and September of 2009, 64 genuine dogs age from 1.5 to 12 years originated from 3 kennels in central Poland were examined. Dogs did not show any pathological symptoms of infection. Blood samples were examined for the presence of infection and a number of microfilariae. Species of microfilariae was determined after staining on the basis of morphological characters. In examined blood samples from dogs microfilariae belonging to the species Dirofilaria repens were found. Mean prevalence of infection in all examined kennels was 37.5% and mean intensity 32 microfilariae in 30 microl of blood. Microfilariae of D. immitis were not found in any examined blood samples. The results of presented studies show that native dirofilariosis of dogs caused by D. repens is common in central Poland. The result of our investigations lets us suppose, that the range of occurrence of D. repens will spread significantly towards north Europe.

The task was to establish the foci of ashworthiosis. The locations were: Białowieza Forest and Bieszczady Mountains. The wild cervides including: 52 red deer and 15 roe deer as well as domestic ruminants: 17 cattle and 18 sheep were examined parasitologically. Also, the examination was extended to neighbouring and additional areas. Contents of abomasa after multiple decantation were conserved with 2% formaldehyde. All nematodes were isolated from the contest, cleared in 70% ethanol with 5% glycerol and determinated to the species on the basis of structure of bursa copulatrix. Intensity of invasions of red deer oscillated from 3 to 296 specimens of A. sidemi and of roe deer from 42 to 545 nematodes. There were found none of domestic ruminants infected with this nematode in areas neighbouring with woods in both foci. Examinations showed that relatively new (found in 2000 year) focus of ashworthiosis in Polish part of Białowieza Forest has not dispersed yet beyond the limits of this forest complex. However, focus of ashworthiosis found in Bieszczady Mountains in 1997 year initially in Lutowiska Forest District expanded on the area of neighbouring Bieszczady forest districts: Komańcza, Cisna and Baligród and also on the area of Forest District Krasiczyn lying in Pogórze Przemyskie. So it is necessary further monitoring of status of A. sidemi infection of wild and domestic ruminants in neighbouring of both till now found foci.

Background: The aim of these studies was to determine the level of infection of European bison by nematodes belonging to the genus Setaria., Material and Methods: From February 2006 to February 2007 21 bisons from 6 months to 20 years old shot in Białowieza Forest have been examined. During the necropsy pleural and peritoneal cavities were macroscopically examined for the presence of nematodes. The parasites were removed from tissues and fixed in 70% ethanol with 5% addition of glycerol and then identified to the species. Samples of blood were taken from shot bison and after centrifugation in microhaematocrit tubes directly examined to confirm the infection., Results: Nematodes Setaria labiatopapillosa were found in 71% of examined bisons. They usually laid freely in peritoneal cavity and sometimes also in pleural one. Accidentally single nematodes were observed in omentum on the surface of omasus and on the surface of liver surrounded by connective tissue. Intensity of bison infection by S. labiatopapillosa varied from 1 up to 24 specimens. Both young and old animals were infected with these nematodes. Observed after 3 years period over 30% rise of prevalence of nematodes S. labiatopapillosa, occurrence of these nematodes in all age groups of this host, and high intensity of infection are alarming. Although these nematodes in their typical localization and low level of infection do not evoke visible symptoms, the pathogenity of this species of nematode is not yet sufficiently recognized, and it is the reason, that monitoring of this infection in bison is necessary.

28 European bison of both sexes and in different age shot in Białowieza Primeval Forest in January 1984, (10 animals), January 1992 (10 animals) and in January and the beginning of February 2001 (8 animals) have been necropsied. The examined animals in mentioned years were of similar age. There were examined abomasa and duodena of shot animals. All necropsied bison were infected with gastro-intestinal nematodes. The highest intensity of infection with nematodes of abomasum was found in 1992 year and with nematodes of duodenum in 2001 year. In the examined period were found as many as 21 species of gastro-intestinal nematodes, and 15 of them occurred in 1984, 16 in 1992 and 17 in 2001; 12 species, namely: Trichostrongylus axei, T. capricola, Ostertagia ostertagi, O. lyrata, O. leptospicularis, O. kolchida, Spiculopteragia boehmi, Cooperia oncophora, Nematodirus helventianus, N. roscidus, N. europaeus and Aonchotheca bilobata occurred in all 3 examined years. The highest mean intensity of infection and the percentage index of intensity of these 12 species of nematodes showed O. leptospicularis which was 45% to 47% of all Ostertagiinae. Beyond of these 12 species of nematodes which occurred in all examined years, there were found 9 species more: Ostertagia antipini, Spiculopteragia mathevossiani, S. asymmetrica, Mazamastrongylus dagestanicus, Cooperia surnabada, C. punctata, C. pectinata, Haemonchus placei and Ashworthius sidemi. They occurred sporadically and in low density. During the examined period, bison have adapted 10 species of parasites from Cervides. Mazamastrongylus dagestanicus - parasite primary typical for moose, was for the first time found in bison.

Fecal samples from red deer from polish and belorussian parts of Białowieza Forest were examined by Baermann method. First stage larvae of three species of lung nematodes were found. In polish part in 100% of samples were larvae of E. cervi, in 50% V. sagittatus and in 21% D. noerneri, and in belorussian the level of infection was lower and larvae were in 92%, 36% and 12% of samples respectively. In significant part of samples were met mixtured invasion of two or three species. Finding of larvae of E. cervi is the first registration of this species in belorussian part of Białowieza Forest, and V. sagittatus is a new species for the fauna of Byelorussia. Nematodes E. cervi are dangerous for domestic ruminants.

Four free living European bison from Białowieza/Caucasus line shot in February 1997 within Lutowiska Forestry District in the Bieszczady Mountains were used in investigations. All examined animals were infected with helminths. There were found 10 species of parasites. Five species of them Ostertagia leptospicularis, O. kolchida, Spiculopteragia boehmi, Cooperia pectinata and Ashworthius sidemi are thypical parasites of Cervides, and from them were infected bison in Bieszczady. In all necropsied animals was found invasion of nematode A. sidemi, with mean intensity 1542 specimens. It is the first registration of A. sidemi in Poland and European bison is a new host for this parasite. It seems that the source of infection A. sidemi in European bison in Bieszczady is the local population of deer, which during their migrations could bring this parasite from neighbouring Ukraine and Slovakia, where this nematode have been introduced together with deer Cervus nippon. There are also presented results of coproscopic examinations of 17 fecal samples from free living European bison in Bieszczady.

Two females of beaver from north-east Poland were necropsied. Moreover, 15 samples of feaces were examinated. Both necropsied beavers were infected with 46 and 362 specimens of trematode Stichorchis subtriquetrus (RUDOLPHI 1814). In stomach of one beaver were found 2800 specimens of nematode Travassosius rufus Khalil, 1922. It was the first registration of this species in Poland. Coproscopical examination showed eggs of S. subtriquetrus in all 15 fecal samples and eggs T. rufus in 5 samples.

Rintal 2.4% premix (Bayer) in single dose 7.5 mg of active substance on kg body weight was given to the calves of red and fallow deer. Effectiveness of deworming against nematodes from family Trichostrongylidae was 85.2% in red and 97.8% in fallow deer. Against namatodes from genus Trichocephalus the effectiveness was higher extending in red deer 98.1%, and in fallow deer 99.5%. Anthelmintic was not effective against nematodes Varestrongylus sagittatus and Elaphostrongylus cervi.

In the Białowieza Forest the parasitological autopsy of large intestine of 6 bisons was made at the beginning of winter of 1987-1988, and 9 dissections were made in the latter part of both seasons. Four species of nematodes were found to occur together: Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Oe. venulosum and Trichocephalus ovis. At the end of wintering in bisons the invasion of Ch. ovina appeared in high percent of animals, but the intensity of it was low. However, the extensity and intensity of invasion of three remaining species of nematodes distinctly arose. In comparison with bisons in closed reserves, free living bisons assimilated Oe. venulosum and Ch. ovina. It is likely that the winter quarters are the source of invasion. It can be explained by the permanent accumulation of feaces with invasive forms of nematodes, and by feeding bisons on the great amount of hay, in which the invasive forms of nematodes may also occur.

Parasitological autopsy of 31 european bison , 9 red-deer and 3 roe-deer was made in Białowieza Forest in the period 1983-1988. Together 20 species of nematodes were found, from them as much as 18 in bison , 6 in red-deer and 8 in roe-deer . The highest intensity and 100% of extensity was shown by nematodes from subfamily Ostertagiinae. Four species of this subfamily (O. leptospicularis, O. kolchida, S. boehmi i S. mathevossiani) have been permanently adapted by bison from cervids, however two species of nematodes typical for bison and cattle (O. ostertagii and O. lyrata) have not been adopted by deer . Besides, bison adopted from deer the following species of nematodes: T. capricola, C. pectinata, N. roscidus, N. europaeus and from moose N. alcidis. Bison gave to red-deer only C. bilobata, and roe-deer have not adopted any nematodes from bison . B. trigonocephalum and S. dagestanica found in roe-deer are in Poland typical parasites of moose .