Helminths of mustelids (Mustelidae) in Lithuania

Abstract

The helminths of the mustelids have been studied in various parts of the world for many years. However, the diversity of the helminths parasitizing mustelids has been studied in Lithuania over 40 years. For this reason, the aim of the study was to explore the helminths of mustelids today. In all 25 mustelids (4 stone martens (Martes foina), 9 American minks (Neovison vison), 2 pine martens (Martes martes) and 10 European polecats (Mustela putorius)) were collected from different places within Lithuania between 2011 and 2014. The material was analyzed using standard parasitological procedure. All mustelids organs were separated, opened longitudinally, and their contents rinsed out into individual glasses. The collected helminths were kept in 70% ethanol. Morphological identification includes temporary preparations of glycerin (nematodes) and longterm preparations of Canada balsam (flatworms). The endoparasitic fauna of the mustelids in Lithuania is characterized by the presence of 9 taxa of helminths, namely: nematodes Eucoleus aerophylus, Aonchotheca putorii, Crenosoma schachmatovae, Molineus patens and one unidentified nematode species; trematodes: Isthmiophora melis and Strigea strigis mesocercaria and cestodes: Mesocestoides lineatus and one unidentified cestode species. I. melis in European polecat had the highest mean abundance (A=391.3), and prevalence (P=90%). It was also found in American mink (A=19.4, P=66%). High rates of infection are observed for flukes S. strigis in European polecat. In many cases the distribution of the helminths among the population of mustelids was aggregated (s2/A>1). The highest aggregation index was determined for I. melis (s2/A=635.5).