The biodiversity of helminths of domestic reindeer in the Murmansk region

Abstract

The  Murmansk  region  is  an  important part of the Russian Arctic Zone, and reindeer husbandry there is one of the leading branches  of  agriculture,  which  employs  the  local population, including indigenous peoples of the North. The success of domestic reindeer husbandry largely depends on the health of the reindeer. Since the previous fundamental study of reindeer infestation with helminths was  carried  out  by  Soviet  scientists  in  the mid-twentieth  century,  there  is  an  urgent need to revise the helminth fauna. Therefore, the aim of our work was to study the biodiversity of helminths of domestic reindeer in the Murmansk region. The study of 31 fresh samples  of  domestic  reindeer  (Rangifer tarandus) feces was carried out using complex helminthoscopy methods in accordance with  GOST  R  54627-2011  “Agricultural ruminant  animals.  Methods  of  laboratory helminthology  diagnostics”:   examination, larvoscopy  according  to  Vajda,  flotation ovoscopy  according  to  Darling,  sedimentation ovoscopy using the method of successive washings, cultivation of parasitic nematode larvae from their eggs.  The intensity of invasion  was  determined  using  a  VIGIS camera from the “Diapar” kit. Helminths of two  classes  were  discovered:  trematodes  – the genus Paramphistomum and nematodes – the order Strongylida (in particular, the genus Ostertagia), the genus Dictyocaulus and the  species  Elaphostrongylus  rangiferi.  Prevalence rates were: 26% for Paramphistomum,  19%  for  strongylids,  3%  for  Dictyocaulus and 52% for E. rangiferi.  Helminths were found both on their own and in associations:  dictyocaulus  +  strongylids  +  paramphistoms,  elaphostrongylids  +  strongylids, elaphostrongylids + paramphistoms.  Among the normal larvae of E. rangiferi, there were deformed  individuals:  with  pathological swellings  in  different  parts of  their  bodies. The  intensity  of  invasion  in  all  cases  was low.