Research Article

Comparative study of cestode and nematode fauna of the gastrointestinal tract of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos L., 1758) from three different Polish ecosystems

Małgorzata Nowak, Katarzyna Kavetska, Katarzyna Królaczyk, Agata Stapf, Sławomir Kornaś, Marek Wajdzik, Marta Basiaga

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 11(4), 2012, 99‒106

Abstract. The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most acquired and, at the same time, the most common wetland game birds in Poland, occurring on the territory of almost the whole country. The habitat of this bird is constituted by most shallow water reservoirs, rivers, lakes and ponds situated in mid-fields. The aim of this study was to compare the composition of cestode and nematode fauna of the gastrointestinal tract of Mallards acquired from three different Polish ecosystems (BzuraValley, the area of Warta Mouth National Park and reservoirs around Szczecin). The research material was constituted by tapeworms and nematodes found in gastrointestinal tracts of 211 Mallards. Fixed slides of tapeworms stained with acetocarmine were made, and nematodes were cleared in lactic acid. 30 species of parasites were determined - 23 tapeworms and 7 nematodes. Differences were indicated between helminth faunas of Mallards from the whereabouts of Borów, Słońsk and Szczecin. The most helminth species were noted in the gastrointestinal tract of Mallards acquired near Szczecin, and the least from Mallards from the whereabouts of Borów.

Keywords: Anas platyrhynchos, helminths, Mallard, Poland