THE UNFAVORABLE EPIZOOTIC SITUATION ON NEMATODE INFESTATION OF POPULATIONS OF THE SABLE MARTES ZIBELLINA AND THE PINE MARTEN M. MARTES IN WESTERN SIBERIA

Objective of research: to study the nematode infestation of the sable and pine marten inWestern Siberia.

Materials and methods: Altogether 169 individuals of the sable and 18 – of the pine marten were investigated using the method of partial dissection of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs. Animals were caught according to the hunting license in 2009-2011 and 2014-2015, in 8 areas ofWestern Siberia from the south taiga to the northern forest-steppe.

Results and discussion: We have found four species of parasitic nematodes, two of which (Crenosoma petrovi, Filaroides martis) were localized in lungs and two species (Capillaria putorii, Strongyloides martis) – in the intestine of the sable and the pine marten. Prevalence of lung nematodes was 80 %, intestine nematodes – 40 %. Intensity of infestation ranged from 26 to 358 nematodes per animal. F. martis is the most pathogenic and most common helminth in martens inWestern Siberia. 53,3 % of pine martens and 26,5 % of sables were infected with this nematode species. Nematode S. martis is the most abundant in the intestine. In pine martens the extensity of invasion was 42,8 %, the abundance index– 8.29 helminths per animal; in sables - 9,1 % and 1.18, respectively. Pine martens were infected by F. martes and S. martis more than sables (p ˂ 0,05).  Prevalence increases in the direction from the North East (taiga) to the South West (sub-taiga), which determines the intensity of the helminthiases focus in biocenoses ofWestern Siberia. Infection of pine martens in the forest-steppe was not detected. In 2014–2015 compared with the previous study period (2009–2011) the extensity of invasion with intestinal nematodes increased by 1,5–2 times, and with highly pathogenic lung parasites – by 3 times. The increase in the helminth infestation may be explained by the growth of animal population density.

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