ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE BIODIVERSITY AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE HELMINTHES OF DOMESTIC RUMINANTS IN THE SOUTHEAST OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS

Aim. The aim of the research is to analyze the biodiversity of helminths of domestic ruminants in the south-east of the North Caucasus; indicators of infestation of cattle grazing on different types of pastures; environmental factors affecting their population structure and the formation of combined foci of bio and geo helminthiasis.Methods. We used classical research methods adopted in contemporary parasitology: helminth - larvoscopia, complete helminthological autopsy of animals and humans by KI Scriabin, cultivation of the larvae, opening of invertebrates, flotation, and feces washed successively.Results. 30 years of research revealed that the domestic ruminants in the south-east of the North Caucasus are infected by 64 species of helminthes: sheep 54, cattle 55, buffaloes 49. Common to domestic ruminants are 39 species of helminths. The causative agents zoonozis are Fasciola hepatica L., 1758, F. gigantica (Сobbold, 1856), Dicrocoelium lanceatum (Stiles et Hassal, 1896), Taeniarhynchus saginatus (Goeze, 1782) larvae, Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786) larvae, Trichostongylus axei (Cobbold, 1879), T. vitrinus Looss, 1905, Haemonchus contortus (Rud., 1803), and Gongylonema pulchrum (Molin, 1857).Conclusion. Infestation by helminthes of ruminants varies the extensity of invasion (EI) 0,8-67,5%, intensity of invasion (II) 1-1260 species. Animals are infected with helminthes in plain and foothill zones from April to the end of November, and in the mountains 2500 meters above sea level from July to the end of September. In the plain belt, ecological grassland can be divided into four types: steppe, semi-arid, saline, low-lying wet lands where we can find combined foci of helminthes with different quantitative and qualitative characteristics. The species composition of helminthes, their population is dependent on the environmental factors. In combined foci, ruminants are always infected with mixed invasions of helminthes, from 4 to 17 species