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Patagonian maras, rodents endemic to South America, are classified as a near-threatened species. Various factors affect their health including parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was to perform morphometric, molecular and phylogenetic characterisation of one such parasitic disease agent, the nematode Graphidioides affinis, specimens of which were found in captive Patagonian maras.

Among gastrointestinal nematodes, Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi) Cobb (order Strongylidae; family Trichostrongylidae) is one of pathogenic and economic importance in domestic and wild ruminants, including the European bison, Bison bonasus Linnaeus (order Cetartiodactyla; family Bovidae); a species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Carabus granulatus Linnaeus (order Coleoptera; family Carabidae) is one of the most prevalent species of ground beetle, inhabiting a wide range of terrestrial ecosystems in Poland. Twenty‐six ground beetles of this species inhabiting the Białowieża Primeval Forest in eastern Poland were screened for the presence of DNA of pathogenic gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants. Extracted DNA was sequenced and compared to reference sequences. In six insects, the presence of H. contortus DNA was detected. The obtained nucleotide sequences were homologous to each other and to the majority of the published DNA sequences of H. contortus isolates. The sequences were also identical to a sequence of H. contortus isolated from European bison in Poland. The study provides the first molecular evidence of the presence of H. contortus DNA in C. granulatus. The finding suggests that ground beetles may play a role in the transmission dynamics of this parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective. Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by a protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. Raw or undercooked venison may be a source of infection in humans. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in wild boar from the Strzałowo Forest Division of the Warmia and Mazury Region of Poland. Materials and method. A total of 90 samples were collected from 50 wild boar: 40 from both tongue and diaphragm muscles, 4 from diaphragm muscles and six from tongue muscles. Samples were analyzed using the commercial PrioCHECK® Toxoplasma Ab porcine ELISA, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results. T. gondii antibodies were detected in 24 of 50 (48%) tested animals. T. gondii antibodies were detected in 40 of 90 (44.4%) tested samples (21 of tongue muscles and 19 of diaphragm muscles). In the 40 wild boar that provided samples of meat juice from the tongue and diaphragm muscles, specific antibodies were more prevalent in the tongue (20 of 40 animals - 50%) than in the diaphragm muscles (17 of 40 animals - 42.5%). Conclusions. The study revealed a high percentage of wild boar seropositive to T. gondii. Muscle samples to obtain meat juice are easily available and simple to collect, even on the hunting grounds, which makes them suitable material for detecting T. gondii antibodies in wild boar. Wild boar are essential to T. gondii circulation in the environment, and raw or undercooked venison may be a source of human infections with this parasite [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]