HELMINTH FAUNA OF CAVICORNIANS (ARTIODACTYLA: BOVIDAE) IN NORTH-WESTERN UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

Northwestern Uzbekistan occupies a large area in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya. The region is distinguished by peculiar natural and climatic conditions. Most species of wild artiodactyls of the order Artiodactyla are represented here, and sheep, goats and cattle are also raised here. However, the helminth fauna of the study groups of mammals in North-Western Uzbekistan covering the territories of the Khorezm Region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan remains poorly studied to date. We have studied some features of the helminth fauna in domesticated and wild cavicornians, Bovidae Gray, 1821, of North-Western Uzbekistan. The species composition of helminths of the studied animals consisted of 26 species belonging to 3 classes, Cestoda, Trematoda and Nematoda. The helminth fauna of cavicornians turned out to be uneven. Twenty six species of parasitic worms were recorded in cattle, 23 species in sheep, 17 species in goats, 15 species in saigas, and 16 species in goitered gazelles. The total helminth infection rate was 100% in sheep, 75% in goats, 95.0% in cattle, 55.0% in saigas and 61.5% in goitered gazelle. The intensity of invasion in the studied animals ranged from single to several dozen specimens. At the same time, in most cases, mixed invasions of various combinations were detected.