[Taxonomic, topical and quantitative structure of the community of intestinal flukes (Digenea) of mallards, Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 from the area of Szczecin].

Taxonomic, topical and quantitative structure of the community of intestinal flukes (Digenea) of mallards, Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 from the area of Szczecin. A total of 55 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos L.) from the area of Szczecin were examined for the presence of intestinal flukes (Digenea). This study covered the taxonomic structure (specific composition and taxonomic affiliation of the parasites), topical structure (parasites' distribution within the host's organism), and quantitative structure (infection intensity, abundance, prevalence, and infection index "Z"). Flukes were found in 69.1% of the birds studied. The highest intensity of infection and prevalence exhibited species of the family Echinostomatidae (Echinostoma revolutum, Echinostoma miyagawai, Echinostoma sp., Echinoparyphium recurvatum) and Notocotylus attenuatus of the family Notocotylidae. The mallards surveyed hosted 15 species of flukes, representing 6 families. Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932 has been found for the first time in Poland. The present findings of Psilotrema similium and Prosthogonimus ovatus in mallard constitute new host records for these parasites.