The first case of autochthonous subcutaneous dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria repens) in a dog from Białowieża (NE Poland) and possible threat posed to inhabitants of Białowieża Primeval Forest area

AbstractWe present the first case of dirofilariasis in a dog from Białowieża village located in the primeval European forest—Białowieża Primeval Forest (NE Poland). Molecular analysis of adult nematode specimens isolated from subcutaneous tissue confirmed the infection with Dirofilaria repens. An adult male dog has not travelled out of the Białowieża village for at least five years; therefore, we assume this is the autochthonous case of the disease. We discuss possible inter- and intra-species transmission routes of dirofilariasis on this territory, which is inhabited by diverse community of wild carnivores, domestic animals, and humans. We also discuss the likely sources of the disease in this, highly biodiverse unique European forest complex. We underline the lack of attention to this problem and its importance for veterinary, wildlife, and human health safety.

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Multispecies reservoir of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothridae) in carnivore communities in north-eastern Poland

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-020-04431-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Eliza Kondzior ◽

Rafał Kowalczyk ◽

Małgorzata Tokarska ◽

Tomasz Borowik ◽

Andrzej Zalewski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hot Spot ◽

Subcutaneous Tissue ◽

Infection Intensity ◽

Complex Life Cycle ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Primeval Forest ◽

Ne Poland ◽

North Eastern ◽

Białowieża Primeval Forest

Abstract Background Spirometra erinaceieuropaei is a diphylobothriid tapeworm with a complex life-cycle including definitive, intermediate and paratenic (transport) hosts. Multiple routes of parasite transmission often make it impossible to determine what type of host a specific infected animal is considered to be. Spargana larvae cause sparganosis, a severe food- and water-borne disease mainly found in Asia. In Poland, Spirometra sp. was reported in large carnivores in Białowieża Primeval Forest for the first time in the 1940s and was recently confirmed as S. erinaceieuropaei in several mammals and snakes using molecular methods. Methods In total, 583 carcasses of 9 carnivore species were necropsied between 2013 and 2019 in north-eastern (NE) Poland. The larvae of S. erinaceieuropaei (spargana) were isolated from subcutaneous tissue, counted, and preserved for genetic analyses. We calculated the prevalence and intensity of infection. To assess spatial variation in S. erinaceieuropaei infection probability in NE Poland, we applied a generalized additive model (GAM) with binomial error distribution. To confirm the species affiliation of isolated larvae, we amplified a partial fragment of the 18S rRNA gene (240 bp in length). Results Spirometra larvae were found in the subcutaneous tissue of 172 animals of 7 species and confirmed genetically as S. erinaceieuropaei. The overall prevalence in all studied hosts was 29.5% with a mean infection intensity of 14.1 ± 33.8 larvae per individual. Native European badgers and invasive raccoon dogs were characterized by the highest prevalence. An analysis of parasite spread showed a spatially diversified probability of infection with the highest values occurring in the biodiversity hot spot, Białowieża Primeval Forest. Conclusions Our study revealed that various mammal species (both native and non-native) can serve as S. erinaceieuropaei reservoirs. The frequency and level of infection may differ between selected hosts and likely depend on host diversity and habitat structure in a given area. Further studies are needed to assess the distribution of the parasite throughout Europe and the environmental and biological factors influencing infection severity in wild mammals.

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Blastocystis occurrence and subtype diversity in wild European terrestrial mammals – The case of Białowieża Primeval Forest (NE Poland)

International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife ◽

10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.08.010 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Adam Kaczmarek ◽

Wojciech Sobociński ◽

Maria Wesołowska ◽

Elżbieta Gołąb ◽

Marta Kołodziej-Sobocińska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primeval Forest ◽

Terrestrial Mammals ◽

Ne Poland ◽

Białowieża Primeval Forest

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Human Dirofilaria repens infection in Serbia

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x09341346 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 129-137 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

A.M. Džamić ◽

I.V. Čolović ◽

V.S. Arsić-Arsenijević ◽

S. Stepanović ◽

I. Boričić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Subcutaneous Tissue ◽

Human Infection ◽

Dirofilaria Repens ◽

Temporal Region ◽

Chain Reactions ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Polymerase Chain Reactions ◽

First Case ◽

Pcr Product ◽

Frequent Site

AbstractHuman infection by Dirofilaria repens in Serbia has been increasing steadily. The first case was reported in 1971, presented in the form of a single subcutaneous nodule on the back of a young boy. As established by a literature search, eight additional cases were reported until mid-2001. The most frequent site of infection was subcutaneous tissue, with the exception of two cases, in which parasites were found in subconjunctiva and epididymis. Our study, conducted from 2001 to 2008, encompasses 19 new cases. Most of them (63.1%) presented as ocular or periocular infections, in which the parasite was typically found under the conjunctiva. In other cases a parasitic nodule was localized in the temporal region of the head, epididymis, testicle, abdomen, breast or arm. The diagnosis was made by morphological and histological analysis of the extracted intact worms and parasite sections from the tissue. Morphology of the filarial worms was well preserved in more than half of the cases (12/19) and there was never more than one parasite found inside the lesions. Adult worms and immature nematodes were observed in nine and seven cases, respectively. Furthermore, in two cases microfilariae were discovered inside the pseudocoelom, sections of the female reproductive tubes filled with clearly visible larval stages. Dirofilaria repens infection was diagnosed by its morphological features (17/19) or by performing polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using paraffin-embedded tissues (2/19) in the cases where the morphology was insufficient for identification and the parasites had been determined initially as Dirofilaria spp. The amplified 246 bp PCR product showed that the worms were D. repens.

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Post-fire macrofungi in the burnt area in the Jelonka reserve (Białowieża region, NE Poland)

Acta Mycologica ◽

10.5586/am.2001.010 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 149-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Beata Sumorok

Keyword(s):

Nature Reserve ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Burnt Area ◽

Primeval Forest ◽

Ne Poland ◽

Frequent Species ◽

Successional Stages ◽

Białowieża Primeval Forest

In the burnt area of the Jelonka nature reserve near Białowieża Primeval Forest mycological studies were carried out in the years 1994-1999. Carpophores of all macrofungi were identified and counted on 7 permanent observation plots repesenting different successional stages before the fire. Altogether 250 species of macromycetes were found, among them 16 species of post-fire fungi. Pholiota carbonaria and Tephrocybe anthracophila were the most abundant and frequent species occurring in the first years after the fire. It has be~ revealed that the presence of carbonised substrate is a limiting factor for the occurrence of post-fire Basidiomycetes.

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New data on the distribution, biology and morphology of Asemum tenuicorne Kraatz, 1879 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), with new records from Poland

Entomologica Fennica ◽

10.33338/ef.82920 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. M. Gutowski ◽

J. Kurzawa

Keyword(s):

Current Distribution ◽

New Records ◽

Wing Venation ◽

Southern Europe ◽

Southern Sweden ◽

Morphometric Measurements ◽

Primeval Forest ◽

Ne Poland ◽

Białowieża Primeval Forest

We report the discovery of the pyrophilous species, Asemum tenuicorne (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Białowieża Primeval Forest (NE Poland) in 2009 and 2016. This species was previously known only from Southern Europe and one locality detached from the main range on the island of Gotska Sandön in Southern Sweden. Information on its northern spread and current distribution is summarized and critically analyzed and new data on its biology are provided. The morphology of A. tenuicorne adults was studied using 46 specimens from different localities and compared with 63 specimens of the widely distributed Asemum striatum. Differences between the two species are presented and illustrated using external features, morphometric measurements, shape of the male copulatory organs and wing venation.

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First report of Dryadaula caucasica (Zagulajev, 1970) from Central Europe and records of further rare tineids (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) in Białowieża Primeval Forest

Polish Journal of Entomology / Polskie Pismo Entomologiczne ◽

10.2478/v10200-011-0066-4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 73-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tomasz Jaworski ◽

Radosław Plewa ◽

Jacek Hilszczański

Keyword(s):

Central Europe ◽

New Records ◽

Distribution Map ◽

First Report ◽

Adult Moth ◽

Primeval Forest ◽

Białowieża Forest ◽

Ne Poland ◽

First Time ◽

Białowieża Primeval Forest

First report ofDryadaula caucasica(Zagulajev, 1970) from Central Europe and records of further rare tineids (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) in Białowieża Primeval ForestDryadaula caucasica(Zagulajev, 1970) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae: Dryadaulinae) is recorded for the first time in Central Europe. Two specimens were collected in Białowieża Forest, NE Poland, by rearing from the sporocarp of bracket fungus and by intercepting the adult moth with the use of a barrier trap. This record ofD. caucasicafrom Poland is the fourth known locality of this species, and is situated more than 1700 km the nearest other known location. Characteristics of the species' habitat, notes on its biology, and a distribution map are presented. New records ofAgnathosia mendicella(Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775),Montescardia tessulatellus(Zeller, 1846) andTriaxomera fulvimitrella(Sodoffsky, 1830) from Białowieża Forest are also given.

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The maturity index for Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) communities as an indicator of human-caused disturbance in selected forest complexes of Poland

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1007/s10493-021-00607-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Agnieszka Napierała ◽

Jerzy Błoszyk

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

National Park ◽

Reproductive Strategies ◽

Nature Reserves ◽

Maturity Index ◽

Primeval Forest ◽

New Methods ◽

Precise Evaluation ◽

Białowieża Primeval Forest

AbstractThe necessity of monitoring changes occurring in soil compels us to look for new methods that will allow easy and precise evaluation of the soil quality in a given area. One proposed method is the maturity index (MI) – an index that is based on the distribution of species along the r-to-K continuum in examined populations. In this study, mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) were examined for their appropriateness in MI-based assessments of soil quality. The first aim of the study was to establish the criteria on the basis of which the evaluation of the r-to-K reproductive strategies was conducted for Uropodina in the examined communities. The second aim was to evaluate the performance of the maturity index of communities of Uropodina as indicator of human-caused disturbance in five areas that are legally protected in Poland. The selected areas were: Białowieża Primeval Forest, Gorce National Park, and three nature reserves: Jakubowo, Las Grądowy nad Mogilnicą, and Cisy Staropolskie im. Leona Wyczółkowskiego. We found that as many as 68 out of the 96 analyzed Uropodina species in Poland are K-stategists. The highest values of the maturity index were recorded for the nature reserves Cisy Staropolskie im. Leona Wyczółkowskiego and the Białowieża Primeval Forest.

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Challenging Presentations of Seven Cases of Gastrointestinal Basidiobolomycosis in Sudan: Clinical Features, Histology, Imaging, and Recommendations

Journal of Laboratory Physicians ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1721149 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (04) ◽

pp. 281-284

Author(s):

Sawsan A. Mohammed ◽

Azza A. Abdelsatir ◽

Mohamed Abdellatif ◽

Suliman Hussein Suliman ◽

Omer Mohammed Ibrahim Elbasheer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Fungal Infection ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Subcutaneous Tissue ◽

Case Series ◽

First Case

AbstractsBasidiobolomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Basidiobolus ranarum which affects the skin and subcutaneous tissue and rarely the gastrointestinal tract. We report seven cases of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis with interesting clinical, radiological, and histological presentations. To our knowledge, this is the first case series of abdominal basidiobolomycosis to be reported from Sudan.

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