Research Article

Helminth Infections of the Common Shrew (Mammalia, Soricidomorpha) on Reclaimed Areas

Vladimir Vasilievich Shimalov

Department of General Educational Disciplines and Teaching Methods, Psychological and Pedagogical Faculty, Brest State University, Brest, Belarus.

Editor | Muhammad Imran Rashid, Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

Received | August 24, 2023; Accepted | September 20, 2023; Published | December 10, 2023

*Correspondence | Vladimir Vasilievich Shimalov, Department of General Educational Disciplines and Teaching Methods, Psychological and Pedagogical Faculty, Brest State University, Brest, Belarus; Email: shimalov@rambler.ru

Citation | Shimalov VV (2023). Helminth infections of the common shrew (mammalia, soricidomorpha) on reclaimed areas. J. Adv. Parasitol. 10: 22-29.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jap/10.22.29

ISSN | 2311-4096

 

 

Copyright: 2023 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

INTRODUCTION

The common shrew (Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the representatives of the mammals of the family Soricidae (order Soricidomorpha) that lives in various terrestrial biocenoses. It inhabits drainage channel banks on reclaimed areas.

There are many reclamation systems with drainage channels in the world, and I am the only one who conducts helminthological investigations of common shrews inhabiting the banks of such channels. Two periods of helminthological investigations of common shrews living on drainage channel banks in reclamation systems of Brest Polesie (Brest, Zhabinka and Malorita districts of Brest region; South-West Belarus; western part of Belorussian Polesie) were carried out in 1996–1999 and 2005–2010. 10,500 trap-days were worked out on drainage channel banks passing in mixed forests, on arable lands, pastures and along roads, 233 common shrews were caught (the number was 2.22 individuals per 100 trap-days), in which 32 species of helminths were found, and their infection was 95.3 % for the first period (Shimalov, 2001; Shimalov, 2007). After this study, I proposed ecological and helminthological (ecological and parasitological) monitoring of the helminth fauna of shrew mammals inhabiting of drainage channel banks. Monitoring conducted in 2005–2010 (the second period of research), when 5000 trap-days were worked out, showed that the number of the common shrew was 3.02 individuals per 100 trap-days (151 specimens were caught), 27 species of helminths were identified, and the infection was 97.4 % (Shimalov, 2012).

The nematode Eucoleus oesophagicola (Sołtys, 1952) (syn.: Thominx oesophagicola) prevailed in the infection of this animal in the first period (62.2 % were infected) (Shimalov, 2001; Shimalov, 2007), the cestodes Monocercus arionis (Siebold, 1850) ((syn.: Molluscotaenia crassiscolex (Linstow, 1890)) and Neoskrjabinolepis singularis (Cholodkowsky, 1912) in the second period (infected 57.6 % and 50.3 %, respectively) (Shimalov, 2012).

I drew attention to the increased anthropogenic pressure on drainage channels mainly due to periodic mowing of their banks and slopes by humans during the second period of research, and also suggested that this may affect the species composition and abundance of shrews and their helminths (Shimalov, 2012).

The aim of the study is to conduct a helminthological investigation of common shrews inhabiting on drainage channels banks on model reclamation systems in Brest Polesie, to establish the species composition of helminths and their infection of these animals under conditions of increased anthropogenic pressure on the channels associated with periodic mowing of their banks and slopes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The material for this report was collected during 2015–2019 in the western part of Belorussian Polesie. The common shrews were caught by mousetraps placed in line (25 traps over 4 days = 100 trap-days) along the banks of drainage channels in mixed forests, on arable lands, pastures and along the roads in Brest, Zhabinka and Malorita districts of Brest region (Brest Polesie). The total number of trap-days was 4,000 (1,000 at each place of passage of the drainage channel). If the banks and slopes of channels passing through arable lands, pastures and roads were periodically mowed down by humans, then the banks and slopes of channels in mixed forests were not. A total of 127 common shrews (62 males and 65 females; 21 adults and 106 immatures) were investigated.

The animals were examined by complete helminthological autopsy according to Skrja­bin (1928). Identification and synonymy of helminths was carried out with the aid of keys to the trematodes and cestodes (Keys to the cestode parasites of vertebrates, 1994; Keys to the Trematoda, 2008), monographs (Arzamasov et al., 1969; Genov, 1984; Sharpilo and Iskova, 1989; Anderson, 2000) and articles (Gulyaev and Kornienko, 1998; Tkach, 1998; Karpenko, 1999; Kornienko et al., 2006; Kirillova and Kirillov, 2007; Kornienko and Binkiene, 2008; Binkiene et al., 2011; Nikonorova et al., 2018).

The percentage of animal infection by helminths, the prevalence of infection by each species of helminth, the minimum, maximum and total number of helminths found and overall mean of helminth specimens were calculated during statistical processing of the material.

The number of investigated and infected by helminths common shrews examined on drainage channel banks in Brest Polesie is illustrated in Table 1.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The number of common shrews on drainage channel banks was 3.18 individuals per 100 trap-days. It ranged from 2.4 individuals (channel banks in mixed forests) to 3.7 (channel banks along roads) and 3.8 individuals per 100 trap-days (channel banks on pastures) (see Table 1). The number of common shrews living on drainage channel banks of passing on pastures and in mixed forests is approximately the same as in 1996–1999 (3.49 and 2.05 individuals per 100 trap-days, respectively) (Shimalov, 2007). But the number of these animals on drainage channel banks of on arable lands and along roads was significantly lower in 1996–1999 than in 2015–2019 (1.50 and 1.41 individuals per 100 trap-days, respectively) (Shimalov, 2007). It should be noted that the number of common shrews was higher even with periodic mowing of vegetation on the banks and slopes of drainage channels in 2015–2019. It should also be taken into account that the populations of the common shrew in the first 2 periods of research were subjected to a certain anthropogenic stress associated with the removal of some number of animals (384 specimens) for scientific research. However, this did not prevent the animals from restoring their numbers to about 3 individuals per 100 trap-days.

The total rate of helminth infection of common shrews was 98.4 % in 2015–2019. This is slightly higher than in the first and second periods of my helminthological research. The percentage of infection of common shrews with helminths is quite high on drainage channel banks passing in different places (Table 2). It can reach up to 100 on drainage channel banks on arable lands and along roads, where the average intensity of infection is 21.7 and 24.8 individuals, respectively. Although the highest average intensity of infection of common shrews was recorded on drainage

 

Table 1: The number of investigated and infected by helminths common shrews examined on drainage channel banks in Brest Polesie (2015–2019).

Place of passage of the drainage channel	Number
	investigated				per 100 trap-days	infected
	males	females	adults	immatures		males	females	adults	immatures	trematodes	cestodes	nematodes
Mixed forest	11	13	7	17	2.4	10	13	7	16	14	23	19
Arable lands	11	17	7	21	2.8	11	17	7	21	16	24	25
Pastures	19	19	6	32	3.8	19	18	6	31	19	35	27
Along roads	21	16	1	36	3.7	21	16	1	36	28	37	22
Total:	62	65	21	106	3.18	61	64	21	104	77	119	93

 

Table 2: Helminth infection of common shrews living of drainage channel banks in Brest Polesie (2015–2019).

Helminth species	Place of passage of the drainage channel								Total, n=127
	mixed forest, n=24		arable lands, n=28		pastures, n=38		along roads, n=37
	preva lence, %	no. helminths (min-max; total; mean)	preval ence, %	no. helminths (min-max; total; mean)	preval ence, %	no. helminths (min-max; total; mean)	preva lence, %	no. helminths (min-max; total; mean)	preva lence, %	no. helminths (min-max; total; mean)
Trematoda
Brachylaimidae
Brachylaima fulvum Dujardin, 1843	16.7	1-3; 9; 2.25	25.0	1-4; 17; 2.4	18.4	1-8; 20; 2.9	43.2	1-9; 47; 2.9	26.8	1-9; 93; 2.7
Panopistidae
Pseudoleucochloridium soricis (Sołtys, 1952)	16.7	4-52; 75; 18.75	7.1	1-5; 6; 3.0	–	–	16.2	1-7; 20; 3.3	9.5	1-52; 101; 8.4
Strigeidae
Strigea sphaerula (Rudolphi, 1803), larvae	–	–	7.1	3-16; 19; 9.5	7.9	1-18; 35; 11.7	2.7	2; 2; 2.0	4.7	1-18; 56; 9.3
Diplostomidae
Alaria alata (Goeze, 1782), larvae	8.3	1-1; 2; 1.0	3.6	2; 2; 2.0	–	–	2.7	1; 1; 1.0	3.2	1-2; 5; 1.25
Dicrocoeliidae
Prosolecithus danubica Tkach et Bray, 1995	4.2	32; 32; 32.0	–	–	5.9	2-13; 15; 7.5	5.4	1-3; 4; 2.0	3.9	1-32; 51; 10.2
Omphalometridae
Neoglyphe sobolevi (Schaldybin, 1953)	16.7	3-12; 27; 6.75	10.7	1-3; 6; 2.0	15.8	1-38; 62; 10.3	29.7	1-88; 184; 16.7	18.9	1-88; 279; 11.6
Rubenstrema exasperatum (Rudolphi, 1819)	20.8	1-6; 15; 3.0	32.1	1-4; 16; 1.8	36.8	1-10; 43; 3.1	48.7	1-14; 42; 2.3	36.2	1-14; 116; 2.5
R. opisthovitellina (Sołtys, 1954)	–	–	10.7	1-2; 4; 1.3	7.9	2-3; 7; 2.3	13.5	1-5; 10; 2.0	8.7	1-5; 21; 1.9
Cestoda
Hymenolepididae
Ditestolepis diaphana (Cholodkowsky, 1906)	62.5	2-240; 692; 46.1	14.3	1-12; 16; 4.0	13.2	1-22; 53; 10.6	2.7	6; 6; 6.0	19.7	1-240; 767; 30.7
Lineolepis skutigera (Dujardin, 1845)	20.8	1-8; 17; 3.4	26.0	3-12; 34; 4.9	13.2	1-5; 14; 2.8	24.3	3-24; 66; 7.3	20.5	1-24; 131; 5.0
Neoskrjabinolepis singularis (Cholodkowsky, 1912)	50.0	1-28; 89; 7.4	50.0	1-82; 257; 18.4	65.8	1-48; 204; 8.2	64.9	1-58; 307; 12.8	59.1	1-82; 857; 11.4
Soricinia infirma (Žarnowsky, 1955)	8.3	1-4; 5; 2.5	–	–	–	–	2.7	6; 6; 6.0	2.4	1-6; 11; 3.7
Staphylocystis furcata (Stieda, 1862)	16.7	1-8; 11; 2.75	21.4	1-3; 10; 1.7	21.1	1-8; 27; 3.4	29.7	1-16; 45; 4.1	22.8	1-16; 93; 3.2
Urocystis prolifer Villot, 1880	8.3	3-8; 11; 5.5	7.1	1-8; 9; 4.5	5.3	3-8; 11; 5.5	–	–	4.7	1-8; 31; 5.2
Vigisolepis spinulosa (Cholodkowsky, 1912)	8.3	2-2; 4; 2.0	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.6	2-2; 4; 2.0
Paruterinidae
Cladotaenia globifera (Batsch, 1786), larvae	–	–	–	–	7.5	2-12; 24; 8.0	–	–	2.4	2-12; 24; 8.0
Dilepididae
Dilepis undula (Schrank, 1788)	4.2	1; 1; 1.0	3.6	1; 1; 1.0	–	–	–	–	1.6	1-1; 2; 1.0
Monocercus arionis (Siebold, 1850)	37.5	1-34; 79; 8.8	53.6	1-8; 59; 3.9	47.4	1-10; 71; 3.9	59.5	1-12; 88; 4.0	50.4	1-34; 297; 4.6
Nematoda
Capillariidae
Aonchotheca kutori (Ruchljadeva, 1946)	4.2	6; 6; 6.0	17.9	1-2; 7; 1.4	2.6	4; 4; 4.0	2.7	2; 2; 2.0	6.3	1-6; 19; 2.4
Calodium soricicola (Yokogawa et Nischigori, 1924)	–	–	–	–	7.9	2-4; 8; 2.7	2.7	2; 2; 2.0	3.2	2-4; 10; 2.5
Eucoleus oesophagicola (Sołtys, 1952)	37.5	1-3; 12; 1.3	35.7	1-5; 26; 2.6	31.6	1-10; 38; 3.2	29.7	1-5; 22; 2.0	33.1	1-10; 98; 2.3
Liniscus incrassatus Diesing, 1851	20.8	1-16; 24; 4.8	14.3	1-5; 12; 3.0	31.6	1-18; 59; 4.9	18.9	1-7; 19; 2.7	22.1	1-18; 114; 4.1
Strongyloididae
Parastrongyloides winchesi Morgan, 1928	–	–	–	–	2.6	3; 3; 3.0	–	–	0.8	3; 3; 3.0
Heligmosomidae
Longistriata depressa (Dujardin, 1845)	62.5	1-22; 72; 4.8	67.9	1-18; 100; 5.3	29.0	1-28; 71; 6.5	29.7	1-10; 43; 3.9	44.1	1-28; 286; 5.1
Ascarididae
Porrocaecum depressum (Zeder, 1800), larvae	8.3	1-1; 2; 1.0	3.6	1; 1; 1.0	10.5	1-2; 5; 1.25	–	–	5.5	1-2; 8; 1.1
Porrocaecum sp., larvae	16.7	1-1; 4; 1.0	–	–	–	–	5.4	1-2; 3; 1.5	4.7	1-2; 7; 1.2
Spirocercidae
Ascarops strongylina (Rudolphi, 1819), larvae	4.2	1; 1; 1.0	10.7	1-3; 5; 1.7	2.6	1; 1; 1.0	–	–	3.9	1-3; 7; 1.4
Acuariidae
Skrjabinoclava soricis (Tiner, 1951)	–	–	3.6	1; 1; 1.0	2.6	1; 1; 1.0	–	–	1.6	1-1; 2; 1.0
Total:	95.8	1-240; 1190; 51.7	100	1-82; 608; 21.7	97.4	1-48; 776; 21.0	100	1-88; 919; 24.8	98.4	1-240; 3493; 27.9

 

channel banks in mixed forests (51.7 individuals with 95.8 % of infected animals). Attention is drawn to the fact that 4.3 times (from 23.3 % in 1996–1999 (Shimalov, 2007) to 100 % in 2015–2019) increased the infection of common shrews living on drainage channel banks of running along roads. Although in other places where the channels run, it already exceeded 95 % in 1996–1999 (Shimalov, 2007).

The following trend persists from period to period of research: males are more intensely infected than females, and adults than immature ones (Shimalov, 2001; Shimalov, 2012; data from 2015–2019 research years).

But in the percentage of infection of common shrews with trematodes, cestodes and nematodes, there are differences in the periods of research. Nematodes and cestodes dominated in infection (78.1 % and 71.2 %, respectively), while trematodes were found only in 34.3 % of common shrews examined in the first period (Shimalov, 2001). Cestodes were more common than nematodes and trematodes in subsequent study periods. The prevalence of cestodes, nematodes and trematodes in common shrews was 92.1 % and 93.7 %, 75.5 % and 73.2 %, 47.0 % and 60.6 %, respectively in the second study period (Shimalov, 2012) and in 2015–2019. If in the second and third (2015–2019) periods of research, the percentage of infection of common shrews with nematodes and cestodes was approximately the same, then the percentage of infection with trematodes increased by almost 1.3 times.

Infections by 2–14 of helminths were found in 92.9 % of common shrews examined in 2015–2019. These indicators have increased in comparison with the first period of research, when 2–8 species of helminths were localized in 78.1 % of animals (Shimalov, 2001).

The animals are host for 28 species of helminths: 8 trematode species, 10 cestode species and 10 nematode species (Table 2). A total of 3,493 parasites were found with the average intensity of infection being 27.9 specimens. The range of trematode intensity was 1–88 specimens and overall mean was 9.4 specimens, cestode was 1–240 specimens and overall mean was 18.6 specimens, nematode was 1–28 specimens and overall mean was 6.0 specimens.

The largest number of helminth species in one individual was found in common shrews caught on drainage channel banks passing on arable lands and pastures: 12 species (adult male; channel bank on pasture) and 14 species (immature female; channel bank on arable land).

The nematode E. oesophagicola gradually lost its dominant position in the infection of the common shrew in 2005–2010 (Shimalov, 2012) and 2015–2019, which dominated in the infection of this animal in 1996–1999 (Shimalov, 2001; Shimalov, 2007). The prevalence of this helminth was the highest and amounted to 37.5 % only on drainage channel banks in mixed forests. This indicator in other places where the channels passed was in the range of 29.7–35.7 % (Table 2).

The cestodes N. singularis and M. arionis dominated in the infection of the common shrew, as in the second study period (59.1 % and 50.4 %, respectively). The nematode Longistriata depressa (Dujardin, 1845) was their subdominant (infected 44.1 % of common shrews examined).

In general, the cestodes M. arionis and N. singularis dominated the infection of the common shrew on drainage channel banks in Brest Polesie, as in 2005–2010 (Shimalov, 2012). They were dominant or subdominant in the infection on drainage canal banks running in different places. The nematode L. depressa dominated in the infection of the common shrew which lives only on drainage channel banks in mixed forests (62.5 %) and on arable lands (67.9 %). This nematode belongs to the subdominant of the above cestodes. 42.4 % of common shrews were infected with it in 2005–2010 (Shimalov, 2012), and 44.1 % in 2015–2019 (Table 2). The cestode Ditestolepis diaphana (Cholodkowsky, 1906) dominated in the infection of the common shrew only on drainage channel banks in mixed forests (92.5 %). The cestodes M. arionis and N. singularis were its subdominants there.

Rubenstrema exasperatum (Rudolphi, 1819) and Brachylaima fulvum Dujardin, 1843 are background species among trematodes in infections of common shrews. The prevalence of the first trematode species ranged from 10.7 % (first period of research) (Shimalov, 2001) to 36.2 % (data of 2015–2019), and the second trematode species from 12.9 % (first research period) (Shimalov, 2001) to 26.8 % (data of 2015–2019).

The trematode Prosolecithus danubica Tkach et Bray, 1995 is a new helminth species for the fauna of Belarus. True, I found it back in 1998 and mistakenly identified it as Skrjabinoplagiorchis polonicus (Sołtys, 1957) (Shimalov, 2001; Shimalov, 2007). The discovered trematode fully corres­ponded to the description of P. danubica, which is noted in the article (Shimalov, 2022).

The nematode Skrjabinoclava soricis (Tiner, 1951) appeared in the helminth fauna of the common shrew, which was absent in previous research periods (Shimalov, 2007; Shimalov, 2012). One specimen of it was found in the stomach of immature female common shrew caught on July 22, 2017 on the reclamation system located in the vicinity of the village of Semisosny (Brest district; drainage channel bank on arable land) and in immature male common shrew caught on August 19, 2018 on the reclamation system located in the area of 20–21 km of the Brest–Kovel highway (Malorita district; drainage channel bank on pasture). This is a nematode species of the common shrew known for the fauna of Belarus (Arzamasov et al., 1969).

In addition, the species Porrocaecum depressum (Zeder, 1800) was identified from the group of nematodes of the genus Porrocaecum. Larvae of this nematode were found in 5.5 % of common shrews examined.

Also, a more detailed study of cestodes from the common shrew, which I identified earlier (Shimalov, 2012) as a species of Soricinia soricis (Baer, 1928), convinced me that this is a species Soricinia infirma (Žarnowsky, 1955) (syn.: Insectivorolepis infirma). The cestode Staphylocystis tiara (Dujardin, 1845) found in common shrews (Shimalov, 2007) should be assigned to the species Staphylocystis furcata (Stieda, 1862).

Thus, to the 28 species of helminths that I found in common shrews in 2015–2019, we should also add the trematode Neoglyphe locellus (Kossack, 1910), the nematode Gongylonema soricis Fain, 1955, larvae of the nematode Physocephalus sexalatus (Molin, 1860), the cestode Sacciuterina paradoxa (Rudolphi, 1802) (syn.: Polycercus paradoxa), the larvae of trematodes Echinostomatidae gen. sp., Strigea strigis (Schrank, 1788) (found in the first period of research) (Shimalov, 2001; Shimalov, 2007) and Strigea falconis Szidat, 1928, the cestode Neomylepis magnirostellata (Baer, 1931) (syn.: Vampirolepis magnirostellata) (found in the first and second periods of research) (Shimalov, 2001; Shimalov, 2007; Shimalov, 2012).

Taking into account these data and a critical assessment of the species composition of helminths, a total of 36 species of helminths (12 species of trematodes, cestodes, and nematodes each) were found in the common shrew living on drainage channel banks of over three periods of research.

It should be noted that the common shrew is involved in the life cycles of helminths whose obligate definitive hosts are birds (trematodes S. falconis, S. sphaerula, S. strigis, cestodes Dilepis undula (Schrank, 1788), Cladotaenia globifera (Batsch, 1786), S. paradoxa, nematodes P depressum (Zeder, 1800), Porrocaecum sp.), carnivores ((trematode Alaria alata (Goeze, 1782)) and non-ruminant artiodactyls ((nematodes Ascarops strongylina (Rudolphi, 1819) and P. sexalatus)). The trematode A. alata have medical and veterinary significance. At different stages of development, it can parasitize humans, domestic pigs, dogs and cats. Larvae (mesocercariae) of this helminth were found in common shrews in the second and third periods of research. They infected 0.7 % of animals in the second period of research (Shimalov, 2007) and 3.2 % of animals in the third period of research (Table 2). The number of larvae varied from 1 to 2. The nematodes A. strongylina and P. sexalatus are of veterinary importance as parasites of domestic pigs. The last species of nematodes was discovered by me in the first period of research (infected 2.6 %, the number of larvae varied from 1 to 60) (Shimalov, 2001), and the penultimate one in all periods of research (infection of 1.3 %, 0.7 % and 3.9 %, respectively was recorded for the periods; the maximum number of larvae of 20 specimens was revealed in the first period, in the second there were 8, in the third 3).

Species of helminths that I found in the common shrew are typical parasites of shrews and have been found in various European countries (Genov, 1984; Binkiene et al., 2011; Nikonorova et al., 2018). Only the presence in the common shrew the metacercaria of a trematode not defined to the species and assigned to the family Echinostomatidae was noted in Belarus (one metacercaria was enclosed in a cyst with a diameter of 0.5 mm and localized in the intestinal wall of an adult male caught on April 12, 1998 on the drainage channel bank passing through a pasture in the floodplain of the Mukhavets River in the city of Brest; in metacercariae, a circumoral headcollar was visible, the ventral sucker was larger than the oral sucker). The species affiliation of the metacercaria of this trematode and the ability of larvae of trematodes of this family to parasitize shrews require study. The fairly diverse composition of the family Echinostomatidae includes 91 nominal genera (Kostadinova, 2005). Most of the species parasitize birds, mainly associated with the aquatic environment. The floodplain of the Mukhavets River in the place of my research abounds with waterfowl.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The common shrew inhabits of drainage channel banks running in mixed forests, on arable lands, pastures, along roads in meliorated territories. It adapts to the conditions of existence, maintaining an average number of about 3 individuals per 100 trap-days.

2. Periodic mowing of vegetation on the banks and slopes of drainage channels does not contribute to a decrease in the number of the common shrew on the banks of drainage channels, its percentage of helminth infection and a radical change in the number and species composition of dominant helminths. Only the nematode E. oesophagicola, which dominated in infection in the first study period, gradually lost its dominant position in the second and third study periods. Cestodes M. arionis and N. singularis, nematode L. depressa, trematode R. exasperatum have become common in the infec­tion of common shrews. A high percentage of helminth infection of the common shrew is noted, regardless of the location of the drainage channel and the level of anthropogenic impact associated with mowing the banks and slopes of the channels. The variety of helminths includes 36 species (12 species of trematodes, cestodes and nematodes). The 2015–2019 study showed that the prevalence of helminths is high and amounts to 98.4 % (were found 28 helminth species). It can reach up to 100 % on drainage channel banks on arable land and along roads.

3. The common shrew is involved in the life cycles of helminths who obligate defi­nitive hosts are birds (8 helminth species), carnivores (1 trematode species) and non-ruminant artiodactyls (2 nematode species). Of these, 3 species (A. alata, A. strongylina, P. sexalatus) are important for medical and veterinary science.

4. A new species of helminths for Belarus (trematode P. danubica), nematode S. soricis, previously not found in the common shrew on drainage canal banks were identified, and the nematode P. depressum was identified from the group of nematodes of the genus Porrocaecum in 2015-2019.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am highly indebted my father Vasiliy Timofeevich Shimalov (one of the first scientists who investigate the helminth fauna of wild carnivores in Belarus) who back in 1996 supported me on study of shrew helminth diversities living on drainage channel banks in Brest Polesie and advise to continue these works in the XXI century.

FUNDING

This research did not receive any specific funding. If a sponsor is found, I can conduct the 4th period of such a study during 2025–2028, and publish the results in 2029.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The author states that there is no conflict of interest.

NOVELTY STATEMENT

There are no analogues of such a study in reclaimed territories in the world. The data obtained can be used in planning and carrying out land reclamation works in regions where there are center of zoonotic diseases.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION

Shimalov V.V. collected and identification the material, conducted a microscopical examination of the samples, contributed to data analysis and table orientation, wrote and corrected the manuscript.

REFERENCES

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