<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This study presents the helminthological data on three mustelid species with overlapping ecological niches in Lithuania. In general, 14 helminth species or higher taxa were reported from all mustelids: <italic>Isthmiophora melis</italic>, <italic>Strigea strigis</italic> metacercariae, <italic>Pseudamphistomum truncatum</italic>, <italic>Alaria alata</italic> mesocercariae, <italic>Phyllodistomum folium</italic>, <italic>Opisthorchis felineus</italic>, <italic>Metametorchis skrjabini</italic>, <italic>Mesocestoides</italic> sp., <italic>Taenia martis</italic>, <italic>Aonchotheca putorii</italic>, <italic>Crenosoma schachmatovae</italic>, <italic>Eucoleus aerophilus</italic>, <italic>Molineus patens</italic>, and Nematoda g. sp. The largest number of helminths was detected in <italic>M. putorius</italic> (11) and <italic>N. vison</italic> (10) from wetlands; 7 helminths were detected in <italic>M. putorius</italic> from forests, and 8 in <italic>N. vison</italic> and 4 in <italic>L. lutra</italic> from water bodies. Habitat-related differences were found in the abundance and prevalence of <italic>E. aerophilus</italic> in <italic>M. putorius</italic>. <italic>M. putorius</italic> has higher indices of infection by <italic>I. melis</italic>, <italic>S. strigis</italic> metacercariae, and <italic>E. aerophilus</italic> compared to <italic>N. vison</italic> in wetlands. Differences in the abundance and prevalence of <italic>P. truncatum</italic> among <italic>N. vison</italic> and <italic>L. lutra</italic> in water bodies have been observed. Helminths detected in <italic>N. vison</italic> in the present study are native European parasites.</p></abstract>

This study presents the helminthological data on three mustelid species with overlapping ecological niches in Lithuania. In general, 14 helminth species or higher taxa were reported from all mustelids: Isthmiophora melis, Strigea strigis metacercariae, Pseudamphistomum truncatum, Alaria alata mesocercariae, Phyllodistomum folium, Opisthorchis felineus, Metametorchis skrjabini, Mesocestoides sp., Taenia martis, Aonchotheca putorii, Crenosoma schachmatovae, Eucoleus aerophilus, Molineus patens, and Nematoda g. sp. The largest number of helminths was detected in M. putorius (11) and N. vison (10) from wetlands; 7 helminths were detected in M. putorius from forests, and 8 in N. vison and 4 in L. lutra from water bodies. Habitat-related differences were found in the abundance and prevalence of E. aerophilus in M. putorius. M. putorius has higher indices of infection by I. melis, S. strigis metacercariae, and E. aerophilus compared to N. vison in wetlands. Differences in the abundance and prevalence of P. truncatum among N. vison and L. lutra in water bodies have been observed. Helminths detected in N. vison in the present study are native European parasites.

Helminths of mustelids with overlapping ecological niches: Eurasian otter <italic>Lutra lutra</italic> (Linnaeus, 1758), American mink <italic>Neovison vison</italic> Schreber, 1777, and European polecat <italic>Mustela putorius</italic> Linnaeus, 1758

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Helminths of mustelids with overlapping ecological niches: Eurasian otter  (Linnaeus, 1758), American mink  Schreber, 1777, and European polecat  Linnaeus, 1758

This study presents the helminthological data on three mustelid species with overlapping ecological niches in Lithuania. In general, 14 helminth species or...

Helminths of mustelids with overlapping ecological niches: Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758), American mink Neovison vison Schreber, 1777, and European polecat Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758

Published Online: Mar 06, 2019

Page range: 66 - 74

Received: Aug 06, 2018

Accepted: Oct 12, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2018-0035

Keywords
helminths

© 2019 D. Nugaraitė et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Helminths of mustelids with overlapping ecological niches: Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758), American mink Neovison vison Schreber, 1777, and European polecat Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758

Published Online: Mar 06, 2019

Page range: 66 - 74

Received: Aug 06, 2018

Accepted: Oct 12, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2018-0035

Keywordshelminths

© 2019 D. Nugaraitė et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
helminths