Parasitology

The study is as continuation of the long-term investigation of feather mites parasitizing birds in the Lower Don (Rostov Oblast, Russia). The first part of this study considered feather mites parasitizing passerines (Passeriformes), while the present work analyses the parasite fauna of remaning avian orders occurring in the region. In the period of 2001–2024, were examined 930 individuals of non-passerine birds belonging to 94 species, 67 genera, 26 families and 18 orders, which cover about 80% avian species, regularly nesting in the region explored or migrating through this territory. On 66 host species, were recovered 81 feather mite species belonging to 43 genera, 16 families of the two superfamilies, Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea. The detailed analysis of the taxonomic content of the feather mite fauna has been carried out. The feather mite families Alloptidae, Avenzoariidae and Pterolichidae are most diverse taxonomically and represented by 10, 20 and 16 species, respectively. Among recovered feather mite species, seven species have been recorded for the first time in the fauna of Russia: Aetacarus leptotrichus Gaud, 1983, Megninia moreli Gaud, 1965, Ingrassia lymnocrypti Mironov et Haarder, 2025, Hieracolichus ramosus (Gaud et Mouchet, 1959), Epoplichus ateles Gaud, 1981, Grallobia perforata Gaud, 1968, and Thecarthra vicarius Dabert, 2003. Three species of the genus Ardeacarus associated with various herons (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae) are supposedly new for the science. New host associations have been recorded for six feather mite species. Faunistic complexes of feather mites associated with all examined non-passerine avian orders and their peculiarities in the examined region have been analyzed. Based on the data on feather mite numbers accumulated during our long-term study, quantitative indices of the feather mite invasion (intensity of infection and prevalence) have been inferred for each mite species from each examined avian host.

The marine damselfish Chromis chromis (N = 203) collected in 1994–2025 from the Black Sea coasts off Sevastopol (Crimean Peninsula) were examined for metazoan parasites. For the first time in the Black Sea, parasites of 6 species have been recorded from this fish host. Parasitic crustaceans Gnathia Leach, 1818 have been registered on the gills; larval stages of endohelminths were also found: metacercariae of Galactosomum phalacrococaris Yamaguti, 1939, Stephanostomum pristis (Deslongchamps, 1824) Looss, 1899 and Cardiocephaloides longicollis (Rudolphi, 1819) Dubois, 1978 trematodes; third-stage juveniles of Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802) Deardorff & Overstreet, 1981 and Contracaecum rudolphi Hartwich, 1964 nematodes. Based on the quantitative infection indices, we suggest the damselfish to be accidental intermediate host for all of the helminths listed. The core of Ch. chromis helminth fauna in biocenoses studied consists of G. phalacrococaris met. The parasitic fauna of Ch. chromis in the Black and Mediterranean Seas does not overlap.