The role of anurans in the prophylaxis of helminthiasis

Abstract

This work is based on helminthological data of anura amphibians, collected since 2012 until 2024, in the Republic of Moldova. The investigations on anura amphibians were conducted in the laboratory of Parazitology and Helminthology of the Institute of Zoology. One of the most common parasitic diseases in ruminants is fasciolosis, caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica species. The results of parasitological research showed that adult cattle were infected with fascioles in 66.4% of cases, and young cattle - in 46.1% of cases. This is largely due to the grazing of animals of different species and ages in limited areas.The presence of the trematode species Haplometra cylindracea was established in 78% of cases in the amphibians in the Ranidae and Bufonidae families (Pelophylax ridibundus, Pelophylax lessonae, Rana temporaria, Bufo viridis). The results of laboratory helminthological investigations have shown that the relationships between the Fasciola hepatica miracidium and the Haplometra cylindracea miracidium are antagonistic. Amphibians of the Ranidae and Bufonidae families (Pelophylax ridibundus, Pelophylax lessonae, Rana temporaria, Bufo viridis) infested with Haplometra cylindracea tremateda may play an important role in the prophylaxis of fasciolosis.