TERRESTRIAL MOLLUSKS OF UZBEKISTAN - INTERMEDIATE HOSTS OF PROTOSTRONGYLIDS (NEMATODA: PROTOSTRONGYLIDAE)

Abstract

Objective of research: To determine the intermediate hosts of nematodes and their role in the distribution of causative agents of animal protostrongylidosis in Uzbekistan. Materials and methods: Research was conducted in 2010-2015 in biogeocenoses of Fergana valley (Namangan, Fergana, Andijan regions), in the north-west of Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Syrdarya and Zhizzakh regions). Natural invasion of land mollusks - intermediate hosts of helminths was investigated under field conditions. To identify the species belonging of land mollusks, we carried out a standard anatomization of reproductive system of mollusks using Magnifier MBS-9. 10554 individuals of land mollusks were investigated by the method of Azimov et al. and by compressor method of Boev. To conduct a morphological study of third-stage protostrongylid larvae, feet of infected mullusks were separated and placed into artificial gastric juice where the cap was destroyed and infected larvae released. Results and discussion: Terrestrial mollusks of 11 genera Vallonia, Gibbulinopsis, Pupilla, Pseudonapaeus, Bradybaena, Angiomphalia, Xeropicta, Deroceras, Candaharia, Maсrochlamys and Succinea were identified as intermediate hosts of Protostrongylidae in Uzbekistan. Their infestation with protostrongylid larvae was on average 21,0 %. Among the mollusks examined, X. candaсharica (33,3 %) proved to be the most infected with nematode larvae. In plain and foothill-mountain zones, protostrongylid larvae are detected in these mollusks in May. In plain, the peak of invasion was registered in July (18.3%), in foothills and mountain range characterized by two rises in July (38.2%) and October (43.5).

Keywords

• протостронгилиды
• наземные моллюски
• промежуточные хозяева
• личинки
• зараженность
• protostrongylids
• terrestrial mollusks
• intermediate hosts
• larvae
• infestation