[Forming of gastro-intestinal nematodes fauna of free ranging European bison in Bialowieza Primeval Forest during last 17 years (1984-2001)]

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.

[Infection of red deer with lung nematodes in Polish and Belorussian parts of Białowieza Forest]

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.

[Travassosius rufus (Trichostrongylidae)--new for Poland nematode of beavers and comments about helminthfauna of these animals]

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.

[Helminth fauna of free living European bison Bison bonasus (L.) in Bieszczady Mountains (Karpatian Mountains, Poland)]

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.

[Attempt of deworming of red and fallow deer in deer farm with rintal premix]

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.