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The original phylogenetic cladogram of the feather mite family Avenzoariidae is based on cladistic analysis of 40 morphological characters. A polarisation of character-state to ancestral and derived state was made by the examination of character-states in the family Avenzoariidae, in the nearest outgroups of Analgoidea and in some other taxa of Psoroptides. The phylogenetic cladogram displays three general phyletic trunks that corresponds to the taxonomic subdivision of the family Avenzoariidae into three subfapilies: Avenzoariinae, Bonnetellinae, Pteronyssinae. General morphological tendencies in different phyletic branches recognized in each subfamily are briefly discussed. An analysis of cladogram shows that general phyletic trunks (subfamilies) and some phyletic branches (genera or genera groups) are characterized by peculiar complexes of synapomorphies and some of them are unique ones. But at the same time the subfamilies demonstrate numerous cases of morphological parallelism (convergence) in the development of derived character-states both between subfamilial phyletic trunks and between phyletic lines within subfamilies. It is suggested that peculiarities of morphological evolution of different phyletic lines are a result of mite adaptation to feather structure of respective specific host-taxa of birds during the process of coevolution of mites with their hosts.

The kinetics of specific antibodies of the blood serum of sheep experimentally infested with 80, 160 and 1000 specimens of Oestrus ovis larvae was examined. The affinity pure serum IgG and the immunoferment analysis (ELISA) were used for qualitative estimation of specific antibodies. It has been shown that the level of specific antibodies correlates with the larval biomass and is connected with ontogenesis of this parasite. The younger animals, which were infested for the first time, are characterized by more intensive production of specific IgG than adult reinfested ones. The ways of immunity response formation in animals infested with Oestrus ovis larvae are considered.

Studies on the type series and new material from Moldavia and Mongolia have enabled the author to propose a genus status for Oudemansidium V.-G. et Andre, 1966. Diagnosis, genus composition, revision of three species and a description of the new one, O. pseudomusca sp. n., are given. The lectotype of O. subakamushi has been established. A map of genus world distribution with a list of its occurrence sites and a key are compiled.

A new species of fleas of the family Leptopsyllidae, Phaenopsylla aiderensis sp. n., from Turkmenia (Ai-Dere, 40 km eastwards of Kara-Kala) is described. The male of Ph. aiderensis differs in the following characters: movable process falcate with low-convex hind edge, hind edge of the clasper broad-spherical, scable-like bristles on the distal arm of sternum IX absent. The female of the new species is characterized by the following characters: frontal tubercle simple, non-submersed, tergum VII with two antepygidial bristles; sternum VII with broad-spherical hind edge and two rows of bristles. Anal stylet 2 times as long as wide. Ventral wall of the anal sternum straight. Dorsal edge of the hind tibia bears 5 pairs of stout bristles, single bristle between 2nd and 3rd pairs of bristles.

The paper presents the results of repeated investigations in the tick relapsing fever nidus (TRF) conducted after a ten-year interval in Gava settlement situated in the foothill area of the Namangan region of Uzbekistan. A considerable deterioration in the habitat conditions of the vector, Ornithodoros papillipes Bir., due to the intensified anthropogenic effect, and decrease in its number have been noted. The distribution range of the tick (percent of infested farmsteads) in this case did not reduce. The infection rate of the vector's population with the tick relapsing fever agent decreased that points indirectly to a higher mortality of infected ticks under unfavourable conditions. Wavy course of morbidity with TRF during the period between investigations shows that changes that took place in the nidus were not uniform in their character and may have resulted to some extent from natural cycles. A similar character of anthropogenic effect on the populations of ticks in the settlement natural nidi suggests that the above changes are common to the nidi of this infection.

The diploid number of chromosomes in the cells of germinal balls of Gorgodera pagenstecheri is equol to 18. The structure of karyotype was: 1—3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, A+4th, ST-A-f6th SM+9th M. Chromosomes of the 1st to 4th pairs constitute 63% of the total haploid set length. The analysis of restriction endonuclease sites of Eco R 1 has revealed the abundance of repeat DNA sequencies (GAATTC) on the chromosomes of the 1—4th pairs and their insignificant amounts on the chromosomes of the 4—8th pairs of G. pagenstecheri.

The paper presents literary data on embryogenesis and differentiation of the inner envelope of the eggs of eucestodes, pseudo- and cyclophyllids in general. Taking into account the differences in the morphogenetic differentiation of the inner envelope some changes and more precise definitions in terminology related to its derivatives, ciliated envelope of coracidia of pseudophyllids and embryophore of cyclophyllids, are proposed. Original data on the unusual organization of the outer plasmatic membrane of the inner envelope of eggs of A. filiformis and M. spiralibursata are given. The homology of the above structures and elements of the ciliated apparatus of other Platyhelminths is suggested.

Redescription of Skrjabinoparaksis tatianae Krotbv, 1949 based on the material deposited in the Zoological Institute, Leningrad is given. Morphology of the monotypic genus Skrjabinoparaksis Krotov, 1949 is compared with those of Diorchis Clerc, 1903 and Echinocotyle Blanchard, 1891. Original detailed diagnosis of the genus Skrjabinoparaksis Krotov is proposed.

In studying the formation of microgemipopulations of parthenogenetic generations of Philophthalmus rhionica significant differences in the speed of this process were revealed. The temperature factor was the main one conditioning the development of microgemipopulations. Special experimental observations on the development of rediae in the mollusc Melanopsis praemorsa (L., 1758) under different temperature conditions have shown that heating to 26—30° increases significantly and cooling to 10—12°, on the contrary, decreases the speed of the development of both maternal and daughter rediae. Normal development of rediae is possible within a temperature range from 5—7 to 34—35°. The upper threshold of the range is limited by a fast death of infected snails when water temperature is over 35—36° (in all cases the parasite's death was registered after the death of its intermediate host). Cooling below 6°С arrests the development of Ph. rhionica rediae. A long maintenance of microgemipopulation at a temperature close to 0°С leads to its death but does not always result in the death of the mollusc-host. Temperature is an important regulator of Ph. rhionica rediae reproduction speed but temperature fluctuations do not lead to transition from one type of embryo formation to another. The correlation between rediae and cercariae number is regulated only by the level of microgemipopulation development. Temperature is not the main regulatory factor for the daily rythm of cercariae emission but it affects the activity and life longevity of larvae.

Activity and properties of pyruvate kinase (PK) from the cytosole of the trematode Isoparorchis hypselobagri have been studied. It has been shown that PK can be responsible for the regulation of glycolysis in these worms. To display its activity the enzyme needs substrate, dinucleotides, univalent and bivalent kations. The activity with the ions Mg++ was higher than that with the ions Mn++. PK was inhibited by ATP and malate. L-alanine did not inhibit the enzyme.

Parasitological investigations condicted in the Kura and Riony rivers (Georgia) have made it possible to redescribe Dactylogyrus kendalanicus Mikailov, 1974 and D. gracilis Mikailov, 1974 from the gills and skin of Varicorhinus capoeta. D. kendalanicus and D. gracilis differ from their initial descriptions in the measurements. D. gracilis has been obtained from Leuciscus cephalus and Barbus lacerta cyri, too. For. D. kendalanicus the variability of the copulatory organ has been noted. The structure of the copulatory organ of D. pulcher Bychowsky, 1957, from the skin and gills of V. capoeta has been defined more precisely. The analysis of morphological structures and literary data has allowed the author to include this species into the "pseudanchoratus" group of Dactylogyrus species.

Two new species of copepods, Chitonophilus laminosus gen. et sp. n. and Leptochitonicola latus gen. et sp. n., are described from the chiton hosts Tonicella submarmorea (Middendorff) and Leptochiton assimilis (Thiele), respectively, collected in the north-western Pacific. These species belong to a new family Chitonophilidae. The diagnosis of the new family is given below. Small mesoparasites, body translormed and not segmented in both sexes. Their ectosome is situated in the pallial grooves of chitons and endosome is situated in the host body cavity or submersed in their mantle. Single eggs or clasters of eggs hang over filaments from genital slits. Female without leggs. Male has two segments of antenna II of attached type. The male mouth in the form of chitinized ring plate. The mouthparts are absent or in the form of two pairs of rudiments.

Summary is absent.