Helminthfauna and protozooparasitology of Brown Bear

Abstract

In book chapter:
I.V. Dykyy, M.G. Shkvyria, P.B. Khoetcky, E.M. Ulyura, Ye.B. Yakovlev, N.P. Koval. 2015.
Present Day Brown Bear Population in Ukraine: Distribution Pattern and Ecological Features; Population and Research Methods / Brown bear (Ursus arctos): problems of conservation and studying of population in Ukraine : monograph // I. V. Dykyy, M. G. Shkvyria (eds). - Kyiv: PLC "SIC Group Ukraine", 2015. - P. 36-72

Full text

Helminthfauna and protozooparasitology of Brown Bear.
Study of helminthfauna of Bears (Ursidae) is important for determination of their role in
spreading and life cycles of helminths in considering with diet features – feeding on Ungulates, fish,
carrion, roots of plants and insects living in soil (Heptner et al., 1967). This issue is still
insufficiently studied because of the special protected status of brown bear which makes widespread
systematic studies using a full Helminthological section impossible. Helminthovocoproscopy
methods (flotation and sedimentation) are most acceptable, allowing to estimate the level of
contamination of animals by bio- and geohelmints which excrete eggs with the feces of infected
animals. As the definitive host, the brown bear is a potential and a direct epizootic and
zooantroponozic threat because of such helminthiases: baylisascaridiasis, ancylostomiasis,
toxocarosis; trematodoses such as dicroceliasis or opisthorchiasis, etc. Bear can play an essential
role in the accumulation and transfer of trichinosis and echinococcosis, which is dangerous to
humans, as a result of the use of bear meat as food or subcutaneous fat as “medicine” (Sobanskyy,
Zavatskyy, 1993, Ustinov, 1993; Pozio, Rossi, 2008). Considering the hundreds of animals are
illegally held (Shkvyrya et al, 2013), low culture of the use of anthelmintic drugs actually
uncontrolled by Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of Ukraine flow of bears seized from wild of
Belarus and Russia to replenish illegal zoos (M. Shkvyrya, on "Holos", 2014; K. Polyanskaya, on
"Promin’ ", 2014), the extent of the threat to wildlife and human health Ukraine can not be
estimated without special studies.
In U. a. arctos in situ in Europe (Belarus, Estonia, Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) and
European part of Russia were reported twelve genera of nematodes (Ancylostoma sp.;
Baylisascaris spp.; B. transfuga (=Toxascaris transfuga) (Rudolphi, 1819) Sprent, 1968;
Capillaria sp.; Ca. plica (Rudolphi, 1819); Crenosoma spp.; Cr. vulpis (Rudolphi, 1819);
Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856); Dir. ursi Yamaguti, 1941; Physaloptera spp.; Gongylonema
pulchrum (=Spiroptera ursi) Dujardin (Roret’s, Suite et Buffon), 1844; Eucoleus (=Thominx)
aerophilus (Creplin, 1839); Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782); To. mystax (=To. cati) (Schrank,
1788); Trichinella spiralis (Owen, 1835); Tr. nativa Britov et Boev, 1972; Tr. britovi (=Tr. nelsoni)
(Britov et Boev, 1972); Trichuris (=Trichocephalus) vulpis Froelich, 1789; Uncinaria stenocephala
(Railliet, 1854)), two genera of trematodes (Dicrocoelium spp.; Dic. lanceatum Stiles et Hassal,
1896; Opisthorchis felineus (Rivolta, 1884)) and three genera of cestodes (Echinococcus granulosus
(Batsch, 1786) (cysts); Mesocestoides lineatus (Goeze, 1782); Taenia spp. (Slovakia, Poland); new
species Taenia sp. in Finland), two species of coccidians (Isospora fonsecai Yakimoff et
Matschoulsky, 1940; Cryptosporidium spp.) (Rogers, Rogers, 1976; Kozlov, 1977; Merkusheva,
Bobkova, 1981; Yushkov, 1995; Sikó Barabási et al., 1995; Dick, Pozio, 2001; Jones, Pybus, 2001;
Maslennikova, 2005; Major et al., 2009; de Ambrogi et al., 2011; Lavikainen et al., 2011; Selva et
al., 2011; Mircean et al., 2012). In North-East of European part of Russia (riv. Kyma) in feces of
animals were found adult ascarids, probably B. transfuga (Ustinov, 1993).
In Europe ex situ following parasites of brown bear were found: Russia (Leningrad Zoo) –
Eimeria ursi Yakimoff et Matschoulsky, 1935 (probably Isospora lacazei (Labbé, 1893)), Czech
Republic (Prague) - B. transfuga, Denmark (Copenhagen's Zoological Garden ) – Taenia ursina
Linstow, 1893 (type specimen were lost, probably misidentification; nomen dubium in Abuladze,
1964) and Germany (Westfälische Zoologische Garten, Münster) – Bothriocephalus ursi Landois,
1877 (presumably described incorrectly, status of species needs further definition) (Landois, 1877;
Abuladze, 1964; Jaros et al., 1966; Rogers, Rogers, 1976; Levine, Ivens, 1981).
In the wild of Ukraine such species of brown bear parasites were recorded - in muscle tissue
– Tr. nativa; in feces – oocysts of Isospora sp., eggs of Baylisascaris spp., B. transfuga and
Strongylus sp. (probably misidentificated species and belongs to U. stenocephala) (Didyk, 2007,

Kuzmina, 2012; Yakovlev, 2013). In animals ex situ were reported: in feces – oocysts of
Isospora spp., eggs of O. felineus, unfertilized eggs of Toxocara sp., In the blood of one of the
animals – not identified larvae of Strongylida (Yakovlev, 2012, Yakovlev, 2014-2015 (unpublished
data)).
Considering the lack of knowledge about helminthfauna of brown bear in Ukraine and
Europe in general, it is important to provide a receipt mechanism of dead animals which have been
killed by poachers, shot down on traffic or found dead in nature, to specialized scientific institutions
in cooperation with the veterinary inspection service.

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Інтернет-джерела
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http://promin.fm/quote.html?item_id=1084
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