SPECIES COMPOSITION OF HELMINTHS OF DOMESTIC CARNIVORES DETECTED IN THE SOIL OF URBANIZED TERRITORIES OF THE NORTHERN PART OF BELARUS

Abstract

There are not so many comprehensive studies for helminthological contamination of urbanized environment of the northern part of Belarus with eggs of helminths of carnivores including domestic ones. The routine examination for environmental contamination by helminth eggs carried out by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Services is limited to foci of incidence in humans. This determines the need for constant monitoring of parasitic contamination of environmental objects on urbanized territories of the northern part of Belarus. The article contains data on the species diversity of helminths in domestic carnivores found in the soil of the selected area. 813 soil samples were taken and analyzed. Twelve helminth genera were identified, namely, Toxocara spp., Toxascaris spp., E. granulosus, Taenia spp., Dipylidium spp., Ancylostoma spp., Uncinaria spp., Strongyloides spp., Trichocephalus spp., Capillaria spp., Mesocestoides sp., and Alaria sp., which belong to three classes, Trematoda, Cestoda, and Nematoda. The highest prevalence in both urban and rural areas was observed for representatives of the genus Toxocara. The helminth species diversity in urban areas exceeded that in rural areas. The found species were represented by bio- and geohelminths. Eight of the species found belong to the group of zoonotic helminths: T. canis, T. leonina, D. caninum, A. caninum, U. stenocephala, T. vulpis, E. granulosus, and A. alata.