Small mammals as hosts of vector-borne pathogens in the High Tatra Mountains region in Slovakia, Central Europe.

Rodents and insectivores are significant reservoirs of many zoonotic pathogens, contributing to the transmission of diseases affecting human and animal health. This study investigated the prevalence and diversity of vector-borne pathogens in small mammals within the High Tatras region of Slovakia, an area with substantial recreational activity and protected zones. A total of 156 small mammals, comprising ten species, were screened for pathogens such as spp.

Population structure of Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Digenea) with new data on haplotype diversity of flukes from Slovakia and Italy.

The fluke Clinostomum complanatum, a parasite of piscivorous birds, but also reptiles and rarely mammals, has established several foci in the western Palaearctic regions. Previous studies pointed out the complicated taxonomy of the genus, but broader population genetic analysis of C. complanatum has not yet been carried out.

Assessing the benzimidazole resistance in equine strongyles by in vitro methods.

The study aimed to conduct a survey on the occurrence of benzimidazole (BZ) resistance in strongyles by in vitro egg hatch test (EHT) and larval development test (LDT) and to identify the effective indicators of early resistance detection on horse farms with associated risk factors analysis appraisal. In total, 203 horses from 8 farms underwent the fecal sampling of which 77 horses were selected for in vitro testing. Simultaneously, 18 horses were chosen to analyse the results of in vitro tests compared to the in vivo fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT).

Helminth diversity in brine shrimps () from Ukraine.

Brine shrimps ( spp.) are aquatic crustaceans known as important intermediate hosts for a wide range of helminth species. From 2011 to 2021, 4,347 individuals of brine shrimp were collected for this study, investigating the diversity and infection rates of helminth species in spp.

RARE AND ENDANGERED ROVE BEETLES OF UKRAINE: EMUS HIRTUS LINNAEUS, 1758 (COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE).

In Ukraine, Emus hirtus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) is protected by the national Red Book. The species is widely distributed in all natural zones of the country but occurs sporadically. Almost everywhere in Ukraine E.

Revision of the Aspistomella group of genera (Diptera: Ulidiidae: Pterocallinae: Lipsanini).

Twenty-three species of the genera Aspistomella Hendel, 1909, Polyteloptera Hendel, 1909, and Ulivellia Speiser, 1929 occurring in South America (Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil) form a monophyletic lineage sharing certain combinations of plesiomorphies and apomorphies with similar larval biology. The name Aspistomella Hendel, 1909 is a new senior subjective synonym of Paraphyola Hendel, 1909. The group of genera is extended by the addition of six known species, Aspistomella angustifrons (Hendel, 1909) comb.

Descriptions of two new species of Bactrocera Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae: Dacini) from the Philippines with distinct orange medial stripes on the scutum.

Two previously undescribed species of Bactrocera Macquart with distinct orange medial stripes on the scutum were collected in multi-lure traps baited with cue-lure during a fruit fly survey carried out in the Philippines in 2019. We describe Bactrocera youngi sp. n.

Helminth Parasites of Invasive Freshwater Fish in Lithuania.

Freshwater ecosystems in Lithuania are threatened by the introduction of invasive fish species including , , , and . Data on helminth parasites of these fishes have not been comprehensively studied, with only two reports on parasites of from the Curonian Lagoon and Baltic Sea, Lithuania. We examined 278 fish individuals representing 4 invasive species from 13 waterbodies.

The occurrence of Borrelia miyamotoi in Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine.

Borrelia miyamotoi spirochete is carried by Ixodidae ticks and causing Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), a relapsing fever illness reported worldwide, often in the same geographic areas where Lyme disease is endemic. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of B. miyamotoi infection in Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks collected within the boundaries of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine.

Wolbachia in Antarctic terrestrial invertebrates: Absent or undiscovered?

Interactions between a host organism and its associated microbiota, including symbiotic bacteria, play a crucial role in host adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Antarctica provides a unique environment for the establishment and maintenance of symbiotic relationships. One of the most extensively studied symbiotic bacteria in invertebrates is Wolbachia pipientis, which is associated with a wide variety of invertebrates.

Contribution to host diversity, genetic diversion, and epidemiology of Trichinella pseudospiralis in Slovakia, central Europe.

Trichinella pseudospiralis belongs to the non-encapsulated clade of the genus and its epidemiology is influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors. The role of different animal species in the spread and epidemiology of the parasite is still not well understood and further research is needed in the areas where its occurrence has been recorded. In Slovakia, T.

Micromammals as a reservoir for the zoonotic nematode (syn. ) in recreational areas of Slovakia.

The hepatic nematode is a zoonotic parasite primarily parasitising small mammals, but it can infect a wide range of mammal species, including humans. Due to its specific life cycle and transmission pattern, it is one of the least studied helminths in the world. The only documented findings of from Slovakia (former Czechoslovakia) come from the 60s and 70s of the 20th Century, including nine human cases of the infection reported .

Effectiveness of benzimidazole treatments against Haemonchus contortus in sheep and goats - Do they produce similar responses?

The primary aim of this study was to compare the in vivo responses to orally administered doses of albendazole (5 mg/kg body weight) between experimentally infected sheep and goats. Fifty-four Improved Valachian lambs and 54 Saanen goat kids were split into six groups of nine animals. The sheep and goats were infected with larvae of the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus containing 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 % of the isotype-1 β-tubulin gene codon 200 alleles previously shown to be associated with benzimidazole (BZ)-resistance.

Present and future distribution of the European pond turtle versus seven exotic freshwater turtles, with a focus on Eastern Europe.

Freshwater turtles are often used as terrarium pets, especially juveniles of exotic species. At the adult stage they are often released by their owners into the wild despite their high invasion potential. In Europe these thermophilic potentially invasive alien species occupy the habitats of the native European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), with new records from the wild being made specifically in Eastern Europe (Latvia and Ukraine) during recent decades.

Countrywide screening supports model-based predictions of the distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Ukraine.

The chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a widespread fungus causing amphibian declines across the globe. Although data on Bd occurrence in Eastern Europe are scarce, a recent species distribution model (SDM) for Bd reported that western and north-western parts of Ukraine are highly suitable to the pathogen. We verified the SDM-predicted range of Bd in Ukraine by sampling amphibians across the country and screening for Bd using qPCR.

Cretaceous crown male ant reveals the rise of modern lineages.

Most described Mesozoic ants belong to stem groups that existed only during the Cretaceous period. Previously, the earliest known crown ants were dated to the Turonian (Late Cretaceous, ca. 94-90 million years ago (Ma)) deposits found in the USA, Kazakhstan, and Botswana.

Revisions of the and species groups of the genus Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Syrphidae).

This study focuses on the lineage within the genus , exploring morphological, genetic, and distributional aspects of two related assemblies within this lineage: the and species groups. An integrative taxonomic approach was followed to ensure comprehensive species identification and validation, using adult morphology, wing geometric morphometrics, and genetic analysis of the mtDNA COI gene. In the group, seven species were identified, including three new species: Vujić, Radenković & Likov, , Vujić, Radenković & Likov, , and Vujić, Radenković & Likov, In the group, our revision revealed a new species, Vujić, Radenković & Likov, , and the revalidation of Gil Collado, 1929, Macquart, 1842 is redescribed.

Strongylids of Domestic Horses in Eastern Slovakia: Species Diversity and Evaluation of Particular Factors Affecting Strongylid Communities.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the species diversity and structure of the strongylid community in domestic horses in Eastern Slovakia. Also, an analysis of the impact of age, sex, and collection location factors on the strongyid communities was performed.

Methods: Twenty-seven horses 1.

US-wide equine strongylid egg count data demonstrate seasonal and regional trends.

Equine strongylid parasites are ubiquitous around the world and are main targets of parasite control programmes. In recent years, automated fecal egg counting systems based on image analysis have become available allowing for collection and analysis of large-scale egg count data. This study aimed to evaluate equine strongylid fecal egg count (FEC) data generated with an automated system over three years in the US with specific attention to seasonal and regional trends in egg count magnitude and sampling activity.

Nuclear gene introgressions in hybrid populations of water frog Pelophylax esculentus complex: geographical analysis of the phenomenon and its interpretation.

Reproduction of water frog hybrids Pelophylax esculentus (Pelophylax ridibundus x Pelophylax lessonae) is associated with hemiclonal reproduction and backcrossing. The hemiclonal mode of reproduction occurs within P. esculentus allodiploids.

Records of common species of amphibians and reptiles widespread in northern, central, western and southern Ukraine.

Background: The dataset includes records of amphibian and reptile species from northern, central, western and southern Ukraine made by Ukrainian herpetologist O. D. Nekrasova during her field trips in the period from 1996 to 2022.

Biodiversity surveys of grassland and coastal habitats in 2021 as a documentation of pre-war status in southern Ukraine.

Background: This paper presents two sampling-event datasets with occurrences of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens collected in May-June 2021 in southern Ukraine. We aimed to collect high-quality biodiversity data in an understudied region and contribute it to international databases and networks. The study was carried out during the 15th Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) Field Workshop in southern Ukraine and the Dark Diversity Network (DarkDivNet) sampling in the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park.