Water fungi and fungus-like organisms isolated from surface waters situated in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest using the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica L. of European Bison bonasus L. as Bait

Water fungi and fungus-like organisms as a biological factor of ecological water systems have significant influence on the environment and its modification. They decompose necrosis substrates found in water bodies. Fungi also can act as facultative parasites and then frequently occur on their hosts. The main aim of the present study is to investigate which of the fungi and straminipiles can grow on the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in the River Narewka and in natural ponds of Białowieża village. In order to isolate fungi and fungus-like organisms, fragments of adults and eggs from liver flukes were introduced as bait into samples from each water body. The occurrence and growth of aquatic fungi and fungus-like organisms on Fasciola hepatica was investigated in laboratory conditions. The liver fluke F. hepatica used in this study was collected from free-living European bisons, Bison bonasus, which were killed in Białowieża Primeval Forest. The adult liver fluke F. hepatica turned into the habitat for seventeen species of fungi and straminipiles. They were Achlya polyandra, A. prolifera, Apodachlya brachynema, Aphanomyces laevis, Ap. irregularis, Catenaria anguillulae, Dictyuchus monosporus, Leptolegnia caudata, Leptomitus lacteus, Pythium debaryanum, Sirolpidium zoophtorum, Saprolegnia diclina, S. glomerata, S. hypogyna, S. monoica, S. ferax and S. parasitica. Six fungal species such as Achlya prolifera, Aphanomyces irregularis, Myzocytium zoophthorum, Catenaria anguillulae, Saprolegnia ferax and S. parasitica were found on F. hepatica eggs. The majority of fungi which were marked on F. hepatica were animal parasites or necrotrophs (13).