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Unfed adult Ixodes persulcatus ticks from five regions of Russia were examined to analyze the distribution and diversity of Borrelia miyamotoi. DNA of B. miyamotoi was found in 1.8% of ticks from Leningrad Oblast, 2.9% from Sverdlovsk, 4.5% from Novosibirsk, 2.3% from Irkutsk Oblast, and 2.5% from Khabarovsk Krai. The molecular typing of the B. miyamotoi DNA was based on the partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA, р66, and glpQ genes. The only genetic variant of B. miyamotoi was detected in all samples of ticks collected from these five territories.

A new species of blackflies, Montisimulium birzhankolum Yankovsky, Isakaev et Khasanova, sp. n., is described from male, female, and pupa specimens collected in Pavlodar Province of Northeastern Kazakhstan. The new species differs from all other species of the genus Montisimulium by morphology of pupal gills.

Morphological variability of the cestode Proteocephalus longicollis from the smelt Osmerus eperlanus L., which was spontaneously introduced into the Syamozero Lake, has been studied. It was established that P. longicollis became an abundant element of the smelt parasite fauna during last 20 years, thereby showing the absence of host specificity. It was revealed that morphological polymorphism of P. longicollis from smelt combines features of ecological forms characteristic for aboriginal host species, namely white fish Coregonus lavaretus L. and vendace Coregonus albula L. Cestodes from smelt are more similar to ecological forms from white fish by the characteristics of variability. It is concluded that colonization of a host species, which is new for a given water body, is accompanied by the forming of a new group of host, which contributes to the maintenance of the parasite number and to its population stability under changing conditions of freshwater ecosystems.

Partial sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) rDNA were obtained for Ostertagia ostertagi and O. lyrata, which are supposedly constitute two morphologically distinct variants of the species. The 1.4% level of difference between the ITS-2 sequences of O. ostertagi and O. lyrata was reported, whereas the sequences derived from worms of the same morph were completely identical. The data obtained prevent an attribution of O. ostertagi and O. lyrata to the same species.

A new species Soricinia sawadai sp. n. parasitizing shrews of Sakhalin Island (Sores unguiculatus and S. caecutiens) is described. The new species differs from other species of the genus Soricinia Spassky et Spasskaja, 1954 in having specific armament and size of the cirrus. Soricinia sawadai sp. n. differs from S. aurita (Irzhavsky et al., 2005) in having half size of the ovary (0.076—0.08 X 0.03—0.038 versus 0.135—0.14 X 0.037—0.04) and the cirrus bursa extending into the aporal fraction of the middle part of segment. The new species differs from S. quarta (Karpenko, 1983) in having half size of the cirrus (0.025—0.026 versus 0.05—0.055) and half number of hexacants in uterine segments (20—22 versus 40—45). The new species differs from S. infirma (Zarnowski, 1955) in having other cirrus armament, larger number of segments and lesser number of hexacants. The species Insectivorolepis macracetobulosa Sawada et Koyasu, 1991 parasitizing Sorex unguiculatus on Hokkaido Island is synonymized with Soricinia quarta. The species Insectivorolepis macracetobulosa sensu Sawada et Harada, 1993 parasitizing Sorex shinto shinto on Honshu Island is described as a separate species Soricinia haradai sp. n.

Experimental data on the development of the Tetraonchus borealis larvae and species of the genus Salmonchus are given for the first time. The experiments was carried out in field conditions, in the estuary of the Shegnanda river (Baikal Lake basin), during 25 days. It was established that temperatures from 15 to 22°C are favorable for the culture of the Salmonchus eggs followed by the emergence of larvae at eighth or ninth day. At the same time, T. borealis larvae need in lower temperatures, from 15 to 17°C for their development. Detailed descriptions of eggs and larvae of the Tetraonchidae species under are given.

The musculature of body wall, attachment organs (oral and ventral suckers), and internal organs (alimentary tract, excretory bladder, and ducts of reproductive system) of the Microphallus pygmaeus metacercaria are described. An unusual arrangement of longitude and diagonal muscles was found in the hind part of the metacercaria body. Longitude fibers of dorsal and lateral body surfaces are bow-shaped and bend round the excretory pore along its ventral margin. An additional group of diagonal fibers is situated in the hind part of ventral body surface.

A critical review of modern studies on the life cycles of Myxozoa is presented. List of myxosporidian species with known life cycles is given.

Summary is absent.

Summary is absent.