Review of the Helminths of Carnivora (Mammalia) in Ukraine: Composition and Structure of Helminth Fauna

Abstract

In the present review, we summarised the information on helminths of 14 species of wild carnivorans (a total of 260 individuals examined) from Ukraine based on an investigation of collection materials. Additionally, helminths of the domestic dog, Canis familiaris L. (n = 73) and domestic cat, Felis catus L. (n = 11) were reviewed. Helminth species and main helminth taxa (Cestoda, Trematoda, and Nematoda) were classified according to their occurrence (prevalence of infection). Helminth fauna composition and structure in host families Canidae, Felidae, and Mustelidae and in separate host species were analysed. Sixty helminth species were found in wild carnivorans in Ukraine, including 18 species of cestodes, 11 species of trematodes, and 31 species of nematodes. In wild Canidae, 45 helminth species were recorded. Nematodes were a predominating group of helminths in the red fox, Vulpes vulpes L., cestodes predominated in the wolf, Canis lupus L., and trematodes occurred more often in the raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray. Mustelidae (40 specimens of 8 species) harboured 25 helminth species; nematodes predominated by their occurrence and number of species. In the American mink, Neovizon vison Brisson, however, trematodes appeared to be the predominating group of helminths. The wolf, the red fox, and the domestic dog showed maximum similarity in the helminth fauna composition. A rather high similarity was observed between the helminth faunae of the raccoon dog and the American mink (IS = 0.42), both hosts being introduced species in the fauna of Ukraine.