infection and muscle distribution in free-living martens ( spp.) from the Głęboki Bród Forest District, Poland.

nematodes occur in many carnivorous and omnivorous animal species in the sylvatic cycle. Due to their widespread occurrence throughout Poland and diet, free-living Mustelids can act as a potential reservoir for nematodes of the genus and play a role in their circulation. The study was designed to determine the presence and predilection sites for nematodes in martens ( spp.) from the Głęboki Bród Forest District, Poland. larvae were detected by molecular methods in 17.54% examined martens (prevalence: 41.67% among pine martens and 13.88% among spp.). The intensity of infection varied from 0.17 to 37.29 larvae per gram (LPG) (mean 5.43; median 3.4). The highest larval burdens were detected in the tongue in pine martens () and the diaphragm in spp., respectively; the lowest levels were found in the masseter in pine martens and the tongue in spp. No statistically significant difference in the intensity of infection was observed between males and females in either group. Our findings indicate that is present in martens from the Głęboki Bród Forest District, and the predilection sites for the nematode may differ between males and females. However, due to the low number of examined animals, further studies are necessary to confirm whether they are an important element in the maintenance of nematodes in the examined area.