[Intestinal digeneans of birds (superfamily Diplostomoidea) of the masurian lakes].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to complete the information on digenean fauna of birds on the basis of the collection of diplostomid digeneans gathered in 1994-1970 during the field investigations directed by prof. Wiśniewski in the region of Masurian lakeland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total number of 742 birds from the lakes: Gołdapiwo, Mamry Północne, Swiecajty and Dargin, belonging to 27 species (8 families) were examined.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

335 specimens (45.1%) of infected bird hosted 30 species of intestinal digeneans belonging to the family Diplostomidae (Codonocephalus urniger, Conodiplostomum spathula, Diplostomum baeri, D. commutatum, D. pseudospathaceum, D. spathaceum, Hysteromorpha triloba, Neodiplostomum spathoides, Posthodiplostomum brevicaudatum, P. cuticola, Posthodiplostomum sp., Tylodelphys clavata, T. excavata, T. podicipina), Cyathocotylidae (Cyathocotyle prussica, Holostephanus dubinini, Paracoenogonimus ovatus) and Strigeidae (Apatemon gracilis, Apharyngostrigea cornu, Australapatemon minor, Cotylurus brevis, C. cornutus, C. hebraicus, C. raabei, Ichthyocotylurus erraticus, I. pileatus, I. platycephalus, Ophiosoma patagiatum, Parastrigea flexilis, Strigea falconis). Their specificity and frequency (prevalence, mean intensity and abundance), as well as domination status of these species are also discussed. Cotylurus brevis Dubois et Rausch, 1950 is recorded for the first time in Poland.