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The content of free amino-acids in homogenates of unfed adults of Hyalomma asiaticum was studied by means of fine-layer two-dimensional chromatography in silica gel KCK. Individuals infested with rickettsia Coxiella burneti and Dermacentroxenus sibiricus and those free of them were examined. 25 nynhydrin-positive spots were recognized on chromatogrammes, 16 of which corresponded to the following amino-acids: aspartic acid, glutamine acid together with lysine and ornithine, argenine, serine, glycine, asparagine, β-alanine, hydroxy proline, hystidine, threonine, α-alanine, tyrosine, valine, leucine together with isoleucine and methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan. Between males and females were revealed constant differences in the content of free amino-acids. It was established that in ticks infested with rickettsia the content of α-alanine is considerably decreased, the content of one of non-identified nynhydrine-positive components is increased and concentrations of some other amino-acids are slightly changed.

Observations were carried out from November, 1965 to January, 1968. Ticks of Hyalomma dromedarii were found in 298 heads of camels (from 437 inspected), in 10 heads of cattle (from 929 inspected) and in 1 goat (from 129 inspected). No ticks of this species were found on horses and asses. 6256 ticks were collected, of which 6236 from camels, 18 from cows and 2 from goats. On camels larvae are encountered from April to October, nymphs and adults troughout the year. Adults and other developmental phases are most abundant in June and July. The peak of abundance (according to the index of abundance) can be 13 larvae, 31 nymphs and 37 adults per one camel.

Hoplopleura acanthopus (Burm.), a vector of tularemia, parasitizes the water vole throughout the Volga-Kama territory. Not numerous populations of the water vole, which inhabit continental terraces, are poorly infested with sucking lice. A high infestation is in flood-plain biotopes, where the water vole is very abundant and foci of tularemia are concentrated. The paper deals with seasonal changes in the infestation by lice during different periods in the life of the water vole, the connection of infestation with age and sex of the host, age and sexual structure of lice populations, infestation of water voles at different levels of their abundance, the occurrence of H. acanthopus on mammals which are in contact with the water vole. The role of H. acanthopus in epizootology of tularemia is discussed.

The reproduction and life cycle of Xenopsylla gerbilli minax were studied under experimental conditions. X. g. minax is known to reproduce in nature from the end of March to October. In winter fleas are inactive. In the experiment at a temperature of 25—30° fleas reproduce the whole year round. The intensity of oviposition depends on the age of fleas and surrounding temperature. In newly reproducing females the maturation of eggs carries out in one of four egg tubes, then in two, alternatively. In females, having laid eggs many times, there is a tendency to accumulate eggs in oviducts (up to 6 eggs), which are laid almost simultaneously. At a temperature of 19—20° the number of eggs laid per 24 hours can be from 2 to 4, at 24—26° this number may increase to 8. The life cycle of X. g. minax may be completed at a temperature of 13—33° and relative air humidity of 65—100%. A temperature of 20—30° and humidity of 75—91% are optimal conditions for metamorphosis of fleas of this species. The development rate of fleas depends first of all on the temperature. The minimum period of developmerit, 19—20 days, was observed at 30—33, maximum one, 125 days, at 13—16°.

9078 heads of cattle at farms and 4088 carcasses and skins at slaughter-houses were examined within a season of parasitizing of cattle grubs under the skin of the back. The batches of skins were inspected during their dressing. Reports of veterinary departments, slaughter-houses and leather factories were analysed. The degree of infestation was most precisely established when grubs were counted on carcasses and skins just after the slaughtering of animals.

The information about changes during an epidemic season in the number, the specific and age composition of sand flies and their infection with leptomonads in the natural focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis from the south boundary of Central Karakums is given. It is determined a direct connection between the infestation of rodents with leishmaniasis and the infestation with leptomonads of Phlebotomus andrejevi. The significance of Sergentomyia arpaklensis in the transmission of leishmaniasis to rodents, is apparently very limited. The other species had no significant role in the transmission of leishmaniasis in this focus.

20 species of midges of the genus Culicoides were recorded from forest-tundra regions adjoining to basins of the Ob, Enisei, Lena and Anadyr rivers. C. pulicaris and C. fascipennis were found to be most abundant species. Northern borders of distribution areas of some species were established. In years with favourable weather conditions midges can be very abundant, in the north they hold the second or third place after mosquitoes and blackflies.

In Middle Priamurje various species of bloodsucking mosquitoes were tested for their reaction to repellents made in the USSR. The results obtained have shown differences in the reaction of these mosquities to some repellents applied.

In the recent geological past the Pacific province was subjected both to transgressions and continental glaciations which affected the ichthyofauna of this region. Most of typical freshwater fishes became extinct and only some species survived. Due to this the parasite fauna of fishes from the Pacific province is poor in species. Therefore widely distributed species, which apparently were brought here with anadromous fishes, are dominant.

The size and type of water body were found to affect the qualitative diversity of the parasite fauna of fishes in lowland regions of Dagheslan. In large mesotrophic water bodies with a diverse fauna of invertebrates the parasite fauna of the latter turned out to be the most complete. The parasite fauna of small ponds was found to be less diverse and rich. The species composition of fishes' parasites from dystrophic lakes is very poor due to the absence of ichthyophagous fishes and weak development of plankton and benthos. In fishes from ponds the species composition of parasites is the poorest.

The paper concerns an experimental infection of Bithynia tentaculata by eggs of Metorchis intermedius from the cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L. The life cycle of M. intermedius has been studied. Molluscs Bithynia tentaculata are the first intermediate host, fishes of the family Cyprinidae are the second one. Fish-eating birds (Anatids, cormorants and others) are definitive hosts. A detailed description and figures of the phases of development are given.

A new species of trematodes of the genus Pricetrema Ciurea, 1933 is described. The length of the body is 0.737 mm, maximum width on the level of the base of the seminal vesicle — 0.103 mm. The species described differs from Pricetrema zalophi, a single representative of the genus, in having a different shape of the body, greater length and lesser maximum width, smaller size of oral and ventral suckers, testes, ovary, spermatheca and eggs and somewhat different extent of uterus and vitellarium, other host and place of localisation.

On the basis of literary data and results of own research a revision was made of the genus Hamatopeduncularia Yam. A redescription of H. arii Yam., 1953 (type species) and description of H. pulchra sp. n., H. thalassini sp. n., H. simplex sp. n., H. elegans sp. n. are given. The authors erected a new genus Chauhanellus and described Ch. oculatus sp. n. (type species) and Ch. flexiosus sp. n.

Lyophilic somatic antigenes from different parts of strobils of the bos tapeworm were compared by means of anaphylaxis with desensibilisation on guinea pigs. Data obtained testify to the existence of antigenic differences between fragments at various stages of ontogenesis. Only distal parts (with mature segments of proximal and distal fragments) of this cestode possess similar antigenes. Apparently this fact should be taken into account in immunosystematics of large cestodes: to use distal parts of strobils for a preparation of antigenes. The antigenic differentiation is caused by differentiation of tissues. Antigenes are regarded as specific to some stages of the development and cestodes as a suitable model for their study.

A new species of Acanthocephala, Gordiorhynchus hagiangensis Petrotschenko et Phan sp. n., from Caprimulgus macrurus (Viet-Nam) is described. The new species differs from other species of the genus in the number of hooks on the proboscis. A table for comparison of species of the genus is given.

The paper contains results of studies of the number of nematodes in roots and rhizosphere of seedlings of Picea excelsa, Pinus silvestris and Larix sibirica. It was established that the number of nematodes in roots and rhizosphere of seedlings of conifers increases with age of the host-plant. The maximum number of nematodes in roots was observed in summer, in the soil — in autumn. In summer the population of nematodes in roots was more numerous than that in the soil. In spring and autumn almost no difference in the number was observed. Visually healthy and weak seedlings of conifers were infested with nematodes almost equally. No differences were found in the infestation of different cultures by nematodes.

Observations on the duration of incubative period, lethality and intensity of parasitemia in eight lines of mice (C57BL, CC57BR, CC57W, AFB, DBA, A/He, BALB/c, C3HA), infected with Nuttallia musculi, have shown that nuttalliosis in different lines of mice can proceed in different ways. It was shown the presence of susceptible and relatively resistent to N. musculi genotypes in the ranges of the species of vertebrate host.

Summary is absent.

Summary is absent.

Summary is absent.