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A new species of virgulate cercaria is described. The morphology and chaetotaxy of cercariae are studied. The new type of virgule organ is described. Every description is illustrated by drawings.

The results of the parasite fauna research represent peculiarities of formation and ecological, faunistic and zoogeographical characteristics of parasite fauna of the small redfish Sebastes viviparus Krayer. 1845. This species is distinguished among the other North Atlantic Sebastes by the richest fauna of myxosporidians, trematodes, nematodes and acanthocephalans. The parasite fauna of S. viviparus is formed mainly of boreal species and to a lesser extent of Arctic-boreal species. According to the vertical zonality of parasites in fishes of the North Atlantic they are mainly represented by mesobenthic and epicontinental species. The parasite fauna in small redfish possesses significantly more pronounced geographic specificity than that of other North Atlantic Sebastes species.

Adult trematodes Paralecithodendrium chilostomum (Mehlis, 1831) were detected in the roundleaf bat Hipposideros sp. and in the African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus from Tana Lake, Ethiopia. The catfish is an accidental host for P. chilostomum. This is the first record of P. chilostomum from Ethiopia. The description and figures of P. chilostomum from both host species, Hipposideros sp. and Clarias gariepinus are given.

Samples of Zooplankton collected in waters of the Prostor Gulf (Iturup Island) were examined. Metacercariae of Brachyphallus crenatus were found in copepods Pseudocalanus newmani and Acartia longiremis. This is the first record of the second intermediate hosts of this species in the North Pacific.

For the first time the data on helminths in piscivorous birds (the great cormorant and the Mongolian gull) in Mongolia were obtained. Surveys yielded 11 species (Cestoda--2, Trematoda--6, Nematoda--3). The cormorant hosted 5 helminth species, the herring gull--6 species.

The daily cercarial output of freshwater trematode Plagiorchis multiglandularis from naturally infected snail Lymnaea stagnalis were studied. The snails were collected in the Chany Lake (South of West Siberia). The daily cercarial output from the snail of different size was determined. The average daily cercarial output ranged from 4641 ± 1829 at the snail with shell length 29 mm to 14022 ± 5198 at the snail with shell length 44 mm. The positive correlation between the average daily cercarial output and the shell of snail host was found (p ≤ 0.001). The maximum of P. multiglandularis cercariae release from the snail during daytime, that coincided with period of activity of the second intermediate hosts. Temperature-mediated increase in cercarial output of P. multiglandularis in temperature range 23-24.5 degrees C was found. The cercarial output was inhibited over the temperature optimum.

Infection of molluscs Succinea putris by trematodes Leucochloridium paradoxum was studied in the region of Vyritsa (Leningrad Province) during the period of 2008-2014. On the basis of the obtained data, seasonal dynamics of infection of molluscs can be presented as follows. Infection of S. putris occurs during the whole warm period from May to August. Young sporocysts of L. paradoxum overwinter and the metacercariae that develop in their extensions mature during spring becoming infective for birds. In the second half of summer, sporocysts start degenerating and die in late August-September. Each sporocyst can form 2-3 mature broodsacs (maximum 5) simultaneously. In cases of multiple infections, their number can reach 19. Several cases of independent release of sporocysts from molluscs were observed. They survive in environment for about an hour, retaining the ability to infect definitive hosts. Additionally, birds can be infected by pecking of horns of infected snails.

Stable isotope ratios of carbon (13C/12C, δ13C) and nitrogen (15N/14N, δ15N) in snail-host tissue (the foot and hepatopancreas) and trematode parasites on two stages of their life cycle were analyzed. Trophic structure in co-occurring trematode larvae was examined in the following species: five species of cercariae (Echinoparyphium recurvatum, Hypodereum conoideum, Plagiorchis mutationis, Diplostomum chromatophorum and D. volvens) and two species of metacercariae (Cotylurus cornutus and Echinoparyphium recurvatum) within two closely related snail hosts Lymnaea stagnalis and L. tumida using stable isotope analyses. Snail and parasite sampling was conducted in a riverine portion of the Kargat River of the Lake Chany basin, in the south of Western Siberia (54 degrees 37'76"N, 78 degrees 13'07" E), in August 2009. Four out of five studied cercariae species were depleted in 15N as well as in 13C relatively to snail hosts tissues (foot and hepatopancreas), supporting our previously published data for Plagiorchis mutationis and Echinoparyphium recurvatum cercariae. Such fractionation of cercariae is untypical of the commonly observed relationship between consumers and their food. D. chromatophorum cercariae had demonstrated an insufficient enrichment in δ15N volume in relation to the hepatopancreas. Both two species of metacercariae (C. cornutus and E. recurvatum) showed a significant enrichment in δ15N volume relatively to the host tissue consumed (fractionation values ranging from 1.5 to 4 per thousand depending on the species). The differences in δ15N and δ13C volume between cercariae and metacercariae observed in this study illustrate the complexity of the host--parasite trophic relationships. Such isotopic differences between cercariae and metacercariae can probably be explained by selective consumption of specific amino acids or lipids or by changes in metabolism associated with the life cycle of the parasite. The present study represents the first comparative analysis of trophic relationships between the host and the endoparasite at different life cycle stages. It demonstrates the potency of the stable isotope analyses for understanding trophic relationships in multispecies parasite communities.

A total of 12 fish species were studied for the invasion of P. cuticola (Nordmann, 1832) metacercariae in the Chany Lake estuaries, river and lake systems during different periods of water level. All infected individuals were represented by juveniles of the family Cyprinidae, except for adults of the dace Leuciscus leuciscus. (L.). Under an average water level (2010) the highest rate of fish invasion was revealed in the estuary zone, where the prevalence of infection (PI) constituted 37.5%, 13.4%, and 5.9% for the gudgeon Gobio gobio, the roach Rutilus rutilus (L.), and the dace L. leuciscus (L.), respectively. An infested carp Cyprinus carpio L. (Heckel) (PI - 13.5%) was recorded in the lower Kargat River, and the goldfish Carassius auratus (L.) (PI - 3.2%), in the lake system. Mean intensity of infection (MI) constituted 1.3, 1.4, 2.5, 2.6, and 1.0 in gudgeon, roach, dace, carp, and bream (Abramis brama L.), respectively. During dry season (2011) with high water salinity only two fish species were infected with P. cuticola metacercariae, the goldfish (PI - 7.9%) and the roach (PI - 1.5%). No correlation between PI and fish density was revealed. It is assumed that the high degree of water salinity is a limiting factor regulating the efficiency of cercariae transition from the first intermediate host (Planorbis planorbis (L.)) to the second one (Pisces, Cyprinidae).

Behavioral responses of D. chromatophora cercariae to light were studied in laboratory experiments. Cercariae demonstrated positive phototaxis that was especially pronoun- ced during the first hour of cercarial free life in the environment. After 6 h, the photoreac- tion is weakened but it retains the character of positive phototaxis. The photo-orientation helps cercariae to localize themselves in the areas of the water body ("host-space") where contact with the second intermediate host (fish fry) is most likely. It is assumed that the increase of the locomotory activity in D. chromratophora cercariae under sudden shading or lighting should be considered as a case of manifestation of the "fifixed behaviuor" trigged

A new trematode species, Gonocerca pectorali sp. n. was revealed in the collection of fish trematodes from the Pacific Ocean (Kuril Islands region). A brief review of publications on the species composition of the genus Gonocerca is given and points of view of some researchers on the genus structure were analyzed. The description of G. pectorali is given together with the differential diagnosis of the new species and the discussion on its position in the structure of the genus.

New data on Ospey parasites in Karelian Republic are given. One specimen was investigated. Two parasite species--Nematostrigea serpens and Diplostomum pseudospathaceum were found. Trematoda D. pseudospathaceum was recorded in Osprey parasite fauna for the first time.

The histological study of the trematoda sporocysts Leucochloridium paradoxum confirmed the presence of three morphological zones in it: 1) central part (reproductive), where embryos are forming, 2) narrow tubes through which the embryos penetrate in colored broodsacs (3), where the development of metecercaria completes. It was found that germinal mass only is the reproduction organ of the sporocysts, located in reproductive zone. There are young (without embryos), mature (with embryos) and degenerated germinal masses. So, in the process of sporocysts development the centre of multiplication of germinal elements was changed. The old parts of central part are degenerated, but the new ones with young germinal masses appear. The multiplication of generative elements does not take place in the broodsacs which are breeding cameras functionally.

In this study parasitological data were analyzed by different methods of revealing the structure of time series, namely auto-correlation analysis (ACA), Fourier spectrum analysis (SA) and singular spectrum analysis (SSA), and the results of these analysis were compared (SSA makes it possible to present non-stationary time series as a sum of independent components and to determine the contribution of each component into the dispersion of the initial series--Golyandina et al., 2001). This case study was based on the result of 10-year-long monitoring of changes in the prevalence of Cryptocotyle concavum and Bunocotyle progenetica trematode parthenitae in intertidal snails Hydrobia ventrosa at the White Sea (in total, 45 observations). ACA did not reveal any statistically significant oscillations in the analyzed series. The application of SSA and SA allowed us to reveal at least two quasi-periodical components. In addition, SSA made it possible to reveal a significant dome-shaped trend in the prevalence of B. progenetica parthenitae, which were described by SA as an oscillation with a period equal to the duration of the study, as well as to give proof that there was no trend in the changes of C. concavum parthenitae prevalence. The components (modes) extracted by the SSA described the changes in the prevalence better that the harmonics extracted by the SA. In particular, SSA modes (contrary to SA harmonics) reflected that the amplitude of oscillations of the B. progenetica prevalence increased as the prevalence grew. The sums of SSA modes correlated more with initial prevalence series that the sums of SA harmonics. A possible interpretation of the trends and modes extracted by the SSA in the light of the transmission features of the investigated trematode species in the study area was proposed.

The data on trematodes of the orders Brachylaimidae, Cyclocoelida, Echinostomatida, Notocotylida, and Opisthorchiida from the Middle Volga region are given. Records of different authors are supplemented with the results of our own research. Reliable records are confirmed for 61 trematode species. The following characteristics for each parasite species are given: the systematic position, the host spectrum, locality, collecting sites, biology, degree of host specificity, and the geographical range. Morphological descriptions and original figures of 3 trematodes species are given.

Co-evolution between parasites and their hosts can involve adaptations on the individual and population levels likely to be especially prominent in the systems where parasites have a direct strong impact on the hosts fitness, as is the case with castrating trematodes and their gastropod hosts. We studied populations of the rough periwinkles Littorina saxatilis in the White Sea infested by castrating trematodes to determine whether spatial and temporal variations in the trematode prevalence affect the demographic structure of the host population. Sex, age, reproductive status and infestation of L. saxatilis from 19 populations with different trematode burdens (from < 1 % to 30-50%); in two of these 19 populations (RI and KLN) a long-term monitoring over the period of 15-20 years was also performed. These analyses showed that (1) the average age of gravid females did not correlate with the trematode prevalence of the population, (2) the ratio was skewed towards females, (3) the trematode prevalence in females tended to be higher than in males, (4) the proportion of the non-infested gravid females of the younger ages classes (2-4 years) did not correlate with trematode prevalence of the population. The proportion of young non-infested females that were not reproducing ("idlers") decreased significantly with increasing infestation prevalence when compared among different populations of L. saxatilis, but remained relatively stable within two heavily infested populations RI and KLN despite the year-to-year fluctuations of the infestation prevalence. Thus, a demographic mechanism to compensate for the parasite pressure in L. saxatilis populations may involve the maintenance of a relatively constant proportion of uninfected gravid female ("toilers") at the expense of uninfected, but not reproducing females of fertile age ("idlers"); the latter can be viewed a reproductive reserve of the population tapped into under the conditions of high infestation prevalence. This mechanism, in combination with the previously described elevated individual fecundity of females in heavily infested populations, may compensate for the parasite-induced decrease in the reproductive potential of the host population and ensure the stability of the host-parasite system.

The data on species diversity of trematodes from bats collected in the Middle Volga Region are summarized. According to original and literary data, 20 trematode species were recorded in bats of the region examined. Plagiorchis elegans, Lecithodendrium skrjabini, L. rysavyi, Prosthodendrium hurkovaae, and Pycnoporus megacotyle are specified for the bat fauna of Russia for the first time. For 11 species of parasites, new hosts are recorded. The analysis of bat helminthes demonstrated that the fauna of trematodes of the northern bat (12 species of trematodes), of the pond, and of the Brandt's bats is the most diverse, constituting more than 10 parasite species per bat species. The largest number of final hosts in the Middle Volga Region is characteristic of Plagiorchis koreanus and Prosthodendrium chilostomum; the latter species were revealed in 8 and 7 bat species, respectively. Trematodes of bats possess a high degree of host specificity. 17 species parasitize exclusively in bats out of 20 parasite species registered for the order Chiroptera. Only 3 species (Plagiorchis elegans, P. vespertilionis, and Prosthodendrium chilostomum) show wide degree of specificity, being found in other animals. Taxonomic position, the circle of hosts, collecting sites, and brief data in biology and geographical distribution for each helminth species are specified. Morphological descriptions and original figures for all the trematode species revealed in bats of the Middle Volga Region are given.

Composition of the fauna of organisms associated with Mytilus edulis in the Kandalaksha and Onega Gulfs of the White Sea has been examined. The following 8 symbiotic species were revealed: Choricystis sp. (Chloro[hyceae), Peniculistoma mytili, Ancistrum mytili (Ciliata, Oligohymenophorea), Urastoma cyprinae, Paravortex sp. (Platyhelminthes, Rhabditophora), and metacercaria of Cercaria parvicaudata, Himasthla sp., and Gymnophallus sp. (Platyhelminthes, Trematoda). Besides, different free-living organisms were found in the mantle cavity; 6 species of nematodes, the planktonic copepod Microsetella norvegica, undetermined copepods, isopod Jaera sp., sea mites of the family Halacaridae, and chironomid larvae. Parameters of infestation and places of localization in the host are given for each group of organisms. Some regularities in the horizontal and vertical distribution of organisms associated with M. edulis are noted.

Data on trematodes of the orders Fasciolida, Hemiurida, Paramphistomida and Strigeida from 11 amphibian species of the Middle Volga region are given. Literature data for the last 30 years are reviewed for the first time; these data are supplemented by our own material. Reliable recordings are confirmed for 23 trematode species. Two of these species are new for amphibian trematode fauna of Russia. New hosts were revealed for 12 trematode species. Trematodes of the new for the region amphibian species, the edible frog Rana esculenta Linnaeus, 1758, are recorded for the first time. Two trematodes from freshwater fishes are shown to be temporary or occasional parasites of amphibians. The following characteristics are given for each parasite: it's systematic position, the spectrum of hosts, localization, collecting site, biology, geographical range, and the degree of host specificity. The morphological description and original figures are given for 9 species of parasites.

The results of our own long-term helminthological investigations (1980-2010) of wolves in Belorussian Polesie are presented. 87.2% of wolves were infected by helminths according to helminthological autopsy, and 98.5% by coproscopical data. 26 species of helminths were found: 5 trematode species, 9 cestode species, 11 nematode species and 1 acanthocephalan species. The wolf is a new host for nematode Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856) in Belarus.

Trematode fauna of waterfowl birds of Karelia comprises 23 species; 8 of them are described from the region for the first time. Descriptions and figures of Urogonimus macrostomus, Neoeucotyle zakharovi, Hypoderaeum conoideum, Echinostoma robustum, Orchipedum tracheicola, Prostogonimus cuneatus P. ovatus, and P. rarus are given.

Dynamics of reproduction of the Notocotylus imbricatus (Notocotylidae), Echinostom caproni (Echinostomatidae), Sphaeridiotrema globulus and Psilotrema tuberculata (Psilostomatidae) rediae was examined. Forming of germinal mass in trematodes is considered and discussed on the base of literary and original data.

Dynamic of the reproduction of the trematodes Notocotylus imbricatus (Notocotylidae), Echinostoma caproni (Echinostomatidae), Sphaeridiotrema globulus and Psilotrema tuberculata (Psilostomatidae) parthenites was observed. The formation of generative cells takes place only as a result of undifferentiated cells proliferation and following differentiation. These processes and early stages of embryogenesis are taking place only in the special reproductive organ--germinal mass. The germinal mass is always formed at the posterior part of the body. The process of reproduction had been finishing to the beginning of the generating of cercariaea of new age by parthenites. Rediae of different generations in fact stop producing new generative cells with the beginning of the appearance of a new generation.

The morphology and chetotaxia of Cercaria metagonimus sp. Manafov, 1991 of the Azerbaijan have been studied. The structure of glandular apparatus is of especial importance for the description of this group of cercariae. On the basis of the original and literary data the taxonomical significance some morphological characters of Heterophyidae cercariae are discussed.

Pictures and descriptions of morphology and differential diagnosis of two new species of cyathocotylid cercariae--Cercaria agstaphensis 37 and Cercaria agstaphensis 38 are given. Special attention is paid to the structure of the glandular apparatus, excretory system, tegument armature, and other individual peculiarities of cercariae.

The analysis of literary data and own investigations of gastropod molluscs on existence of cercariae of trematodes in Belarus was carried out. 13 856 specimens of 11 species and 2 species complexes of freshwater gastropod molluscs were examined on infection with cercariae of trematodes in 2010 by the authors of this article. Total infestation was 13.1% and infection of some molluscs species varied from 0.4% (Dnieper River, Gomel region) to 66.7% (Lukomskoe reservoir, Vitebsk region). The cercariae of 90 trematode species were found. The majority (51 species) at the adult stage parasitize birds. The cercariae of 14 trematode species have medical significance.

The influence of insulin on the contamination of the carp Cyprinus carpio with the monogenetic fluke Dactylogyrus vastator is studied. Fishes reacted to the introduction of the hormon by the decrease in the degree of intensity of infection and by the increase in the number of lifeless parasites on gills, by contrast to control fishes and fishes processed with stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol). We assume that the decrease in the abundance index in live monogenetic fluke and the increase in the number of lifeless oness is caused by the deficiency of nutrients accessible for the growth and development caused by activation of hormone-induced anabolic processes and stimulation of mechanisms of immune protection.

The pygmaeus-species group is composed of close related species from the genus Microphallus in which metacercariae develop inside daughter sporocysts without encystment. Infection of periwinkles Littorina (Neritremna) spp. with intramolluscan stages of a new species of this group (Microphallus kurilensis sp. nov.) was recorded on the coasts of Sakhalin and Kuril islands, north of the Sea of Okhotsk and Chukchi Peninsula (the Bering Sea). Application of molecular methods allowed us to establish that M. kurilensis metacercariae are conspecific with one of the morphotypes of microphallid adults obtained from the intestine of the Pacific common eider (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum), which was shot in the north of the Sea of Okhotsk (Galaktionov, Olson, and Blasco-Costa, in press). The adults of the same morphotype were recorded in the Pacific common eider from the northwestern part of the Bering Sea (Chukchi Peninsula). In the course of experimental infection of the slaty-backed gull Larus schistisagus chicks with metacercariae of M. kurilensis, few microphallid adults were obtained. These adults were identical in their morphology with specimens of the microphallid morphotype from the Pacific common eider, which had been identified as M. kurilensis based on molecular data. Morphological description of metacercaria and adult of M. kurilensis and list of their differences from the same developmental stages of other species from pygmaeus-group are provided. It is concluded that M. kurilensis is transmitted in the host system including periwinkle Littorina (Neritrema) and seaducks (predominately, Pacific common eider). Most probably, distribution of M. kurilensis is not limited by the north Asiatic coast but expanded to the North American coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Description a lecithodendroid cercaria, Cercaria rhionica II (Galaktionov, Dobrovolskij, 1987) (Plagiorchiida: Lecithodendroidea) from the freshwater mollusk Melanopsis praemorsa (L.) from the Kura River in Azerbaijan is given, including figures, morphological data, and differential diagnosis. Special attention is paid to the structure of excretory system, secretory apparatus, tegument armature, inclusions in parenchyma, topography of sensilla (chaetotaxy) and some peculiarities of cercarian biology. The paper also includes some data on the life cycle of the parasite, including figures and descriptions of experimentally obtained cysts and metacercariae.

Trematode fauna of the herring gulls from Kola Bay (Barents Sea) was investigated in March, May, June, and September 2005. The data on the trematode species composition and indices of the invasion of gulls with trematodes are given for each season. It was established, that trematode species composition is increased from spring to summer, and intensity of the gulls' invasion with some trematode species is increased from summer to autumn. Ecological factors causing seasonal differences of the trematode fauna in gulls are discussed.

Comparative study of lipid metabolism parameters in amphipods (Gammaridae) of the White Sea infested by helminthes Podocotyle atomon (Trematoda), Levinseniella propinqua (Trematoda) and Hymenolepis microsoma (Cestoda) during different seasons was performed. It is shown that increase in the parameters of infestation induced amplification of the defense reaction of host organism, which exhibited itself by the shift in the contents of the basic membranous lipids and by the increased activity of membrane-bound enzymes, such as cytochrome P-450, at the level of the biochemical parameters examined. Since autumn increased content of phosphatidylcholine and ratio phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine in crustacean lipid composition was recorded. The role of phosphatidylcholine in the change of liquid-crystal state of membranes and its role as an effector of peroxidase activity of cytochrome P-450 in the amphipods infested by helminthes are discussed.

Distribution of Aspidogaster conchicola Baer, 1827 in the organisms of its hosts Colletopterum spp. from the Chivyrkuiski Gulf of Lake Baikal was investigated. The number of A. conchicola in the organism of Colletopterum spp. was found to decrease along the row pericardial cavity-mantle cavity-gills-kidney. The pericardial cavity of Colletopterum spp. is the most favorable habitat for A. conchicola with 72% of the helminthes parasitizing in it. In the pericardial cavity the largest number (61%) of A. conchicola was found in its posterior part.

Sporocycts of the "pygmaeus" microphallides (Microphallus piriformes) are localized in hepatopancreas and gonads of Littorina molluscs causing total parasitic castration. A histological study of penial glands in Littorina saxatilis and L. obtusata males infested with trematodes M. piriformes has been made. Copulatory organs of noninfested molluscs, molluscs after recent contamination (with not completely formed daughter sporocysts), and molluscs containing mature metacercariae inside daughter sporocysts were examined. Based on the data obtained, probable dynamics of the histological structure of infested glandular apparatus was established. It was shown, that the trematode infestation have an influence on the muscular and secretory parts of penial glands. The wall of the penial gland muscular capsule becomes more fine in infested L. saxatilis. On the contrary, this wall is vastly thicker in infested L. obtusata, as compared with noninfested individuals. Glandular cells of the molluscs' penial glands decreases the amount of granular secret in both species. In L. obtusata the number of secretory cells is shown to be reduced up to their total disappearance. The above pathological changes probably prevent normal function of penial glands.

Morphology of the Helicometra fasciata Rud., 1819 parthenogenetic generation from the Black Sea gastropods Gibbula adriatica (Phil.) was studied for the first time. Data on seasonal dynamics of the hemipopulation of daughter sporocysts are given. Daughter sporocysts of H. fasciata infest 10 +/- 0.2 % of G. adriatica (mainly specimens of larger size and elder age classes). As a rule, local microhemipopulations of daughter sporocysts castrate mollusc hosts. Reproduction of H. fasciata daughter sporocysts is asynchronous: daughter sporocysts born specimens of next sporocyst generation during autumn and winter, and then they begin producing cercaria. In winter development of the cercaria embryo is blocked. Second change of the character of the each sporocyst' posterity is impossible because of the annual life cycle of G. adriatica. Endogenous agglomeration of the H. fasciata daughter sporocysts is extremely little: individuals of next sporocyst generation develop from no more than 2 % of embryonic balls. Energy resources of the mollusc host are used by the H. fasciata daughter sporocysts mainly for producing cercaria; this fact can be interpreted as an adaptation of H. fasciata to using medium-sized, short-living mollusc hosts.

Estimation of the invasion character and distribution of the Diplostomum huronense metacercariae depending on the fish host age has been carried out in roach of Lake Ladoga. Distribution of D. huronense in the young roach (up to age 5+) is negative binomial. Aggregation of the parasite is caused not only by individual differences in the fish host resistance to the metacercariae invasion, but by a high mortality of hyperinfected fishes as well. In older individual hosts the host-parasite system is destroyed, and the parasite distribution approximates to normal. The parasite system of the diplostomids in roach is characterized by the spatial asymmetry, when most part of parasites inhabit few individual hosts, and probability of the case when a parasite get into previously infected host is higher than that of the invasion of parasite-free host. Thus, the Diplostomum huronense metacercaria is an important factor regulating the fish fry number both in direct (death of infected fry) and indirect (elimination of hyperinfected fishes by ichthyophagous birds) way.

According to our research there are two species of trematoda of genus Aporocotyle: A. simplex and A. theragrae in the far eastern seas.

Swimming activity of cercariae in the trematode species Cryptocotyle lingua, Himasthla elongata, Maritrema subdolum, and Cercaria parvicaudata (Renicola sp.) is studied using video microfilming. The larvae of C. lingua demonstrate a typical intermittent swimming with regularly alternating periods of active movement and passive floating. The duration of both periods during the first 30 min of cercaria's life retains equal, and later the passive period becomes longer. In 15 h the duration of the active period is 0.5-1 s and the passive one--20-30 s. The cercariae of H. elongata during the first 10-15 min of their free life make short stops (1-2 s) in every 10-15 s of swimming. Later these stops become rare and their duration reduces to 0.5-1 s. The cercariae of M. subdolum and C. parvicaudata are continuous swimmers, having left the molluscan host they move persistently. If stops take place they are very rare (one case in 5-15 min) and very short (0.5-1 s). The movements of cercariae body and their tail during swimming are similar in all species studied. The proximal part of the tail undulates in lateral plane, and the middle and distal parts of this organ in the top view circumscribe a figure of eight. In the side view the middle and distal parts of the tail being rotate form a figure like a screw. The cercariae move along the screw axis. The linear swimming rate in the beginning of cercariae's life is 4.8 mm/s for C. lingua, 2.4 mm/s for H. elongata, and 0.35 mm/s for M. subdolum and C. parvicaudata. By the aging the cercariae swimming rate decreases down to the full cease of swimming activity, and the larvae sediment onto the bottom. The age dynamics of swimming rate is different in cercariae of different species and is determined by the morphological functional features of the larvae.

Infection rate of the cercariae Diplostomum volvens in molluscs of the genus Lymnaea in natural conditions (Western Siberia) was examined in 1990-1994. Experimental studies have shown that light and water temperatire are main factors regulating rhythmic of diurnal production of cercariae by molluscs.

The material represented by 75 specimens of minnow of the age 2-2(+) was collected according to the standard technique in the Chovju River (tributary of the Vychegda River, a region of the settlement Nizniy Chov, district of Syktyvkar town) during the period June-September 2000. The quantitative estimation of the structure of the component parasite communities was performed by calculating errors of the equation of regression for each species group separately, with subsequent summarizing of means of errors by all parasite groups comprising the community (Dorovskikh, 2001 6; 2002 B). In order to have a possibility to get data complementing each other, the calculation of variety indexes and other indexes have been made for metazoan parasites only and for the whole community, including the protozoan parasites. In both cases, i.e. considering only metazoan parasites and the whole composition of parasite species, three states of the component parasite community have been recognised: the formed community (June), the community in destroying (July and August), the community in the process of formation (September). In the course of working on the total species composition we recorded the beginning of community destroying on 30th of June, and the beginning of community formation in August. Considering only the metazoan parasites, the community is defined (after: Pugachev, 1999) as the mature (balanced) one in June, while in July, August and September, it was unmature (off-balance) by its characteristics. Regarding the protozoan parasites, the community in June, August and September was characterized as the mature one based on indices of parasite biomass, and as unripe one based on the number of parasite individuals; however in July, both groups of indices allowed to refer it to the unripe state. However, these unripe states are essentially different. In July, it is the result of dieing out the parasites of the past generation; in August and September, it is the result of the appearances of new generations. Therefore we recognise three states of parasite community named above. Considering the whole species composition of parasites we noted the greater difference of index values based on the parasite specimen numbers and their conventional biomass, that was in the case of the metazoan parasites only. It is particularly noticeable in the middle of the June, in the period of the formed community. This fact, together with high errors of the equations of regression and the presence of the high number of Apiosoma, points to the disturbance in the structure of component parasite community in the minnow from the Chovju River. This is easily explicable, because the Chovju River is the polluted reservoir, and pollution comes from agricultural fields, Verhny-Chov settlement, pigsties and cow-sheds. The pollution is a seasonal factor here. The most powerful pollution was noted at May-June, and then it decreased along the beginning of rains in the end of August; in September it increased again. It is important to point out that the monitoring of the metazoan parasites only allows to reveal the general dynamics of the community during the period of observation, but does not allow to catch the beginning of its destroying and developing and to notice possible disturbances in the community structure caused by pollution of reservoirs, particularly, if this pollution is a seasonal factor as in the Chovju River. Three named states of the component community of the fish parasites take place in other periods of year than this observed in the intestional parasite communities of fish helminths of the temperate climate zone. The developing of parasite communities of the intestinal helminths of the Anguilla anguilla in England (Kennedy, 1997) and of Leuciscus idus from the Rybinsk reservoir (Zhohov, 2003) starts in the beginning of summer. In May, their species diversity is minimal and in August is maximal. In conditions of the middle stream of the Vychegda River, the species diversity of parasite community associated with the minnow is maximal in June and minimal in August, when it only begins developing.

Protective reactions of molluscs are traditionally considered in cell and humoral aspects. The paper analyses original data and recent reference data oncell (phagocytic) reactions of gastropod molluscs. The main attention is paid to peculiarities of hemopoiesis, cell elements of hemolymph, and dynamics and mechanics of encapsulating the parasites.

A morphological description of Sanguinicola armata cercaria is given. This larva belongs to the group of brevifurcate and apharingeal cercariae. Mouth opening is on ventral surface of the anterior organ. The body and branches of the furca bear a membrane. The body/tail ratio is much more than in other cercariae of the family Sanguinicolidae. The gland apparatus of the larva is represented by several types of secretory cells. The penetration glands form a group of 5 pairs of cells on the ventral side. Their ducts form a single bunch directed anterior, go through the anterior organ and open terminally on the proboscis, which is able to turn outside. Other gland cells apparently represent specialized cytones of the tegument. Excretory formula: 2[(1 + 1) + (1 + 1)] = 8. The external surface of the larva bears a small number of sensilla. Some similarities of the families Sanguinicolidae and Schistosomatidae in the cheatotaxy of cercaria have been noticed.

The hypothesis of the origin and evolution of the hamuli in monogeneans is proposed. It is suggested that the hamuli originated as the adult attachment organs of protomonogeneans inhabited the gills of the first vertebrates. Primarily they were represented by two lateral pairs of large hooks disposed anterior to the larval haptor. The fundamental direction in the evolution of monogeneans was the concentration of all attachment structures on the growing haptor. It the course of this evolutionary process, the hamuli onchoblasts migrated to the haptor, in which they had reached the position in the hind part of the haptor. The neotenic evolution of the Dactylogyridea and Gyrodactyloidea resulted in the forming new hamuli pairs. The hooks of opposite sides of the haptor are joined in a single complex within each side by the transverse plates (bars). So the presence of 4 hamuli is plesiomorphy for all the monogeneans and the presence of the transverse bars and new hamuli pairs are apomorphy for the Dactylogyridea and Gyrodactyloidea, whose evolution was linked with that of the Teleostei. The origin of the new hamuli pairs and transverse bars in the Dactylogyridea and Gyrodactyloidea appears to be a convergence.

Metacercariae of Cyathocotyle bushiensis Khan, 1962 (Digenea) were found in populations of seven species of gastropod snails collected from lakes and rivers in the south of West Siberia (Russia). This is the first record of C. bushiensis in Russia. Five species of snails, Lymnaea stagnalis, L. palustris, L. tumida, Planorbis planorbis (Pulmonata) and Viviparus viviparus (Prosobranchia) were recorded as new hosts for the metacercariae of C. bushiensis. The infection rate of Bithynia tentaculata and Opisthorchophorus (= Codiella) troscheli (Prosobranchia), the main hosts of C. bushiensis metacercariae, was analyzed in regard to the sex and shell length of molluscs. It was revealed that infection rate and mean intensity of metacercariae increases with the shell lengths. Drawings and descriptions of excysted metacercariae from naturally infected snails and adult worms from experimentally infected domestic ducklings are given.

The morphology and fine structure of the female reproductive system of allassogonoporid trematode Allassogonoporus amphoraeformis have been described for the first time. The ovary consists of the germ cells being at various developmental stages and supporting cells of two types. The oviduct, seminal receptacle with its short duct and the proximal portion of Laurer's canal are lined by flattened cellular epithelium with lamellae and cilia on its luminal surface and well-developed basal infoldings. The distal part of Laurer's canal and metraterm are tegumental in structure and are characterized by sparse secretory inclusions and lacking of spines. Mehlis' glands of two types open into ootype. The uterus wall is composed of highly flattened epithelial cells surrounded by basal lamina and sparse muscle bundles. Vitelline lobules consist only of the vitelline cells at various developmental stages. The mature vitelline cells contain two types of inclusions: vitelline droplets and rarely scattered lipids. Vitelline ducts are lined by cellular epithelium with highly folded luminal surface and devoid of cilia. Presented results are compared with earlier obtained data on other lecithodendrioiden trematode Prosthodendrium ascidia ([symbol: see text], 1990).

Brought description trematodes Psilotrema acutilostris Oschmarin, 1963 received as a result experimental studying a life cycle. Installed that in conditions of Primorye land a role of intermediate host trematodes execute snails of Parafossarulus spiridonovi and P. manjuricus. The most further development trematodes goes with formation adolescaria. Adult worms P. acutilostris were growing in the chicken.

The effect of gravity and light on vertical distribution of Cryptocotyle concavum (Heterophyidae) and Maritrema subdolum (Microphallidae) cercariae in the water column was experimentally studied. Maximal larvae concentration was found in zones where the highest probability of contact with potential host is considered.

The trematiode Lecthodolfusia anatina Kchotenovsky, 1967 is redescribed. Experimental study has shown, that in the Primorye land, the first intermedial host of this trematode is a mollusk Boreoelona contortrix ussuriensis, and the second ones are larvae of the may fly Ecdyonurus aurarius and caddis flies Semblis phaenoides and Groerodes sp. Adult worm were reared in chickens.

12 rocky shore populations of Littorina saxatilis from three islands of Chupa Inlet (Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea) were examined for infection with trematodes. Morphometric characters (6 indexes of the shell and aperture shape) of molluscs were investigated for all these populations. Exposed and sheltered sites were considered at every island and high and low littoral samples were fulfilled at every site. Seven species of trematodes, Podocotyle atomon, Cryptocotyle lingua, Renicola sp., Himasthla sp., Microphallus piriformes, M. pygmaeus, M. pseudopygmaeus, were found. Uneven distribution of trematodes was confirmed by log-linear analysis. Sheltered populations of L. saxatilis have the greater infection prevalence than exposed ones. This is due to the heavy infection with M. piriformes and M. pygmaeus. The prevalences by these trematodes are up to 52.97% and 27.16% respectively in sheltered populations of the host. The prevalence of M. piriformes tend to be higher at the upper shore level of sheltered sites. In a contrast, the prevalence of M. pygmaeus is significantly higher at the low part of such sites. Factor analysis shows a significant association of the indices of L. saxatilis shell shape with three factors. The first one is associated with the "elongation" of a shell and reveals L. saxatilis from the exposed rocky shore to be more elongated than the molluscs from sheltered sites. The second one is connected with the "aperture shape" index. There is an association of this factor with the shore level position of samples. The third factor reflects the affect of trematodes on the shell shape. The molluscs infected with M. piriformes show "elongated" shell shape and relatively smaller aperture. Shall peculiarities of the hosts infected with M. piriformes and M. pygmaeus are somewhat different. The results of the factor analysis is justified by the series of analysis of variances on the values of shell indices (MANOVA) according to the factors "exposure", "shore level" and "infection".

Daughter sporocysts of Sanguinicola armata are represented by several generations, changes of which goes synchronously with the changes of year seasons. Young individuals beginning the reproductions form exclusively cercariae. The old sporocysts begin to produce sporocysts only. These young sporocysts do not quite the organism of the old sporocyst. Therefore, series of sporocysts inside other sporocysts are often observed in hystological cross-sections. Germinal masses of daughter sporocysts of S. armata have some specific characters, which are not observed in analogous organs in daughter sporocysts of other trematode species.