Intestinal digeneans of Gavia stellata [Pontoppidan, 1763] and Gavia arctica [Linnaeus, 1758] from West Pomerania, Poland

. In 2000 and 2006 a total of 20 divers including 15 Gavia stellata and 5 Gavia artica from Pomeranian Bay and Szczecin Lagoon were examined. G. stellata were found to be infected with 3 digenean species: Stephanoprora pseudoechinata (Olsson, 1876), Cryptocotyle concava (Creplin, 1825) and Diplostomum gavium (Guberlet, 1922). G. arctica were host to Echinochasmus spinulosus (Rudolphi, 1809). This is the first record of Stephanoprora pseudoechinata in G. stellata and Echinochasmus spinulosus in G. arctica in Poland. The prevalence of S. pseudoechinata infection (46.7%) was higher than that of other digeneans

Actitis hypoleucos (L., 1758) - nowy w Polsce żywiciel przywr Plagiorchis nanus (Rudolphi, 1802) i Leucochloridium perturbatum Pojmańska, 1969

In July-August of 2005–2008, 47 digenean trematodes were examined from 7 specimens of the common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos (L., 1758). The digeneans were collected during a study on the food composition of the common sandpiper. The research was conducted near Lisewo Malborskie (near Tczew, Żuławy Wiślane, Gdańsk seacoast), at a resting site on the birds’ migration route. The foods ingested were extracted from live birds by draining their alimentary tracts with a nasogastric tube. Two digenean species were identified: Plagiorchis nanus Rudolphi, 1802 (Plagiorchiidae) and Leucochloridium perturbatum Pojmańska, 1969 (Leucochloridiidae). Actitis hypoleucos is the host for these new records in Poland. The P. nanus individuals isolated from A. hypoleucos differed in terms of the visible uterus and the extent of the vitellaria in the posterior part of the body

Taxonomic structure of Digenea in wild ducks [Anatinae] from West Pomerania

Parasitic fauna of birds connected with water environment, including digeneans, is relatively well researched in Poland. The exception, however, is West Pomerania, where those birds were not frequent objects of parasitological research until recently. The purpose of this work is to determine the taxonomic structure of the Digenea, parasitising wild ducks living in West Pomerania. The research material was 124 individuals of wild Anatinae (Anseriformes) belonging to 8 species: Anas strepera, A. crecca, A. platyrhynchos, Aythya marila, A. fuligula, Melanitta nigra, M. fusca and Mergus merganser. The ducks were obtained in the years 2001–2006 from small ponds near Szczecin, Lake Dąbie, the Szczecin Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. The research showed the presence of 29 species of digeneans from 11 families: Paracoenogonimus ovatus Katsurada, 1914; Diplostomum mergi Dubois, 1932; D. parviventosum Dubois, 1932; D. phoxini (Faust, 1918); D. pusillum (Dubois, 1928); Ornithodiplostomum scardinii (Shulman in Dubinin, 1952); Echinochasmus spinulosus (Rudolphi, 1808); Echinoparyphium cinctum (Rudolphi, 1802); E. recurvatum (Linstow, 1873); Echinostoma miyagawai Ischii, 1932; E. revolutum (Fröhlich, 1802); Hypoderaeum conoideum (Bloch, 1782); Stephanoprora pseudoechinata (Olsson, 1876); Cryptocotyle concava (Creplin, 1825); C. lingua (Creplin, 1825); Leucochloridiomorpha lutea (von Baer, 1826); Catatropis verrucosa (Fröhlich, 1789); Notocotylus attenuatus (Rudolphi, 1809); Paramonostomum alveatum (Mehlis, 1846); Metorchis xanthostomus (Creplin, 1846); Prosthogonimus ovatus (Rudolphi, 1803); P. rarus Braun, 1901; Psilochasmus oxyurus (Creplin, 1825); Psilostomum brevicolle (Creplin, 1829); Psilotrema simillimum (Mühling, 1898); Bilharziella polonica (Kowalewski, 1895); Apatemon gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819); Australapatemon minor (Yamaguti, 1933); Cotylurus cornutus (Rudolphi, 1808)

Digenean trematodes from six species of birds (Passeriformes, Piciformes and Strigiformes) from north-western Poland

Ten species of digeneans were found in a survey of six species of terrestrial birds associated with woodland and urban habitats of north-western Poland carried out in 2006–2009: Leucochloridium paradoxum Carus, 1835 (Leucochloridiidae) from the Cyanistes caeruleus (L.) and the Parus major L. (Paridae); Leuchochloridium perturbatum Pojmańska, 1968 (Leucochloridiidae) from the Turdus merula L., (Turdidae) and the Corvus monedula L. (Corvidae); Leucochloridium sp. (Leucochloridiidae Poche, 1907) from the Asio otus (L.) (Strigidae) and P. major; Strigea strigis (Schrank, 1788) (Strigeidae) from the A. otus; Morishitium elongatum (Harrach, 1921) (Cyclocoelidae) and Psilotornus confertus Machalska, 1974 (Psilostomidae) and Leyogonimus postgonoporos (Neiland, 1951) and Lutztrema attenuatum (Dujardin, 1845) (Dicrocoeliidae) from the T. merula; Plagiorchis maculosus (Rudolphi, 1802) (Plagiorchiidae) from the C. caeruleus; Prosthogonimus ovatus (Rudolphi, 1803) (Prosthogonimidae) from the Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus) (Picidae); Zonorchis petiolatus (Railliet, 1900) (Dicrocoeliidae) from the T. merula and the C. monedula. Five species and one genus of digeneans: L. paradoxum from the C. caeruleus and the P. major; Leucochloridium sp. from the A. otus and P. major; P. confertus from the T. merula; P. maculosus from the C. caeruleus; P. ovatus from the D. major and Z. petiolatus from the C. monedula represent new Polish host records. S. striges and L. postgonoporus represent new Polish locations

Digenea in Melanitta fusca and M. nigra [Mergini, Anseriformes] from the Baltic Sea

Ten individuals of Melanitta fusca and M. nigra (Mergini, Anseriformes) each, wintering at the Polish Baltic coast, were examined for the presence of parasites. M. fusca yielded a total of 197 helminths, including 20 digeneans and 177 nematodes. The M. nigra individuals examined were found to support 923 helminths, including 62 digeneans, 860 nematodes, and a single cestode. M. fusca were hosts to the digeneans: Cryptocotyle concava, Notocotylus attenuatus and Psilostomum brevicolle. Digenea found in M. nigra represented: C. concava and Paramonostomum alveatum. The prevalence of P. brevicolle infection (60%) was higher than that of other digeneans; the maximum infection intensity was 40 C. concava individuals in a single M. nigra

Digenea of Haliaeetus albicilla [Linnaeus, 1758] and Pandion haliaetus [Linnaeus, 1758] from middle and north-western Poland

In 2003–2008 eight white−tailed eagles and two ospreys from middle and north−western Poland were examined for the presence of parasites. Nine birds were infected with 5 digenean species: Conodiplostomum perlatum, Paracoenogonimus ovatus, Strigea falconis, Metorchis crassiusculus and Nematostrigea serpens. M. crassiusculus was found for the first time in an eagle from Poland