Pierwsze w Polsce przypadki inwazji nicieni Setaria tundra u łosi

The nematodes from Setaria genus are not well known in Poland. The aim of this work is the presentation of the first case of S. tundra nematodes in elk (Alces alces) in Poland. Parasitological necropsy of 10 elk found in November 2010 was performed under the authorization of the Ministry of the Environment that allowed hunting them for scientific purposes in Augustowska Forest and in the Biebrza Marshes. Moreover, 2 young elk which died as a result of traffic accidents in Kampinoska Forest and 1 from in Białowieża Forest were necropsied. The research found that three elk were infected with Setaria tundra nematode, so the prevalence was 23%. Two of the infected elk came from Kampinoska Forest, the third from Białowieża Forest. In both elk from Kampinoska Forest 3 specimens of S. tundra were found in the peritoneal cavity, 7 specimens of nematodes were found in the abomasum of the elk from Białowieża Forest. On the basis of literature the adherence and pathogenicity of the nematodes species of the Setaria genus that occur in the country was discussed.