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The paper deals with peculiarities of flea structure stipulated by parasitizing on mammals and birds. On the basis of the data on diversity of morphological characters, the leading role of structures of frontal and nototrochanteral complexes in the adaptive evolution of the order Siphonaptera is substantiated. Peculiarities of the pulicoid, ischnopsylloid, palaeopsylloid, and generalized morphological types are analyzed together with examples of narrow morphological specializations. Distribution of fleas of mentioned morphological types between 5 host groups differing in the degree of mobility and association with dwelling in nests and burrows is also analyzed.

The use of Indian ink for the identification of mucous envelope of spores Myxobolus spp. on the base of previously proposed method (Lom, Vavra, 1963) revealed its presence in 4 from 9 observed Myxobolus spp. from the gills of roach. In M. intimus, M. mucosus and Myxobolus sp. 3 there is a large and round mucous envelope and its diameter is about 30 micrometers. In Myxobolus sp. 1 the upper part of spores is without of mucous material. It is shown that the presence and characteristics of the mucous envelope may be used in the differential diagnosis of the members of genus Myxobolus.

Parasiticides have been the most valuable weapons to combat parasites for almost half a century, constituting more than 50% of veterinary pharmaceuticals and a good part of the products destined for human health. However, in many parts of the world, parasites develop resistance to these drugs, and it is now a major health problem. One way to avoid this inconvenience is the in-depth knowledge of its mechanisms of action, which will allow a more appropriate use. This work is a review of the different physiological aspects of parasite species and an explanation of the different mechanisms of action of antiparasitic agents. Once these drugs are ingested or absorbed by parasites the agents come into contact with the parasites structures, and according to the drug's properties it will define the antiparasitic activity either by altering tegument, carbohydrates, protein and lipid metabolism, or motility of the multicellular parasites.

The helminth fauna of five rodent species in the Northwest Caucasus has been studied. A total of 24 species of parasitic worms were recorded in the investigated region. New for the region species of helminthes (Plagiorhis muris Tanabe, 1922; Skrjabinotaenia lobata (Baer, 1925); Arostrilepis cf. janickii Makarikov et Kontrimavichus, 2011; Hymenolepis cf. apodemi Makarikov et Tkach, 2013; Rodentolepis straminea (Goeze, 1782); Hydatigera taeniaeformis (Batsch, 1786) (larva); Versteria mustelae (Gmelin, 1790) (larva); Syphacia frederici Roman, 1945; S. stoma (Linstow, 1884); Moniliformis moniliformis (Bremser, 1811)) and several species new for science (Microticola sp. 1, Paranoplocephala sp. 1, Armadolepis sp. 1, Rodentolepis sp. 1) were discovered. It was shown that more than half of helminth species diversity (13 species) were found in the widely distributed and dominant species, Sylvaemus ponticus (Sviridenko) and S. uralensis (Pallas). At the same time in sparsely distributed rodents Apodemus agrarius (Pallas) and Glis glis (Linnaeus) only 3 and 2 species of helminthes, respectively, were recorded. The infection of rodents with different species of parasitic worms has been analyzed.

Parasite fauna of the charr Salvelinus malma isolated in the Fal'shivaya River headwaters (Kamchatka) was studied. Only two species of freshwater parasites were found: Myxidium salvelini Konovalov et Schulman, 1966 and Cucullanus truttae (Fabricius, 1794). Some reasons of the decrease of parasite fauna diversity were discussed. The phenomenon is related to the shift of charrs anadromy to the resident lifestyle after headwaters isolation by a mudflow. Possibly, ectoparasite species became extinct due to the direct impact of pollutants. By contrast, their intermediate hosts may be absent in the ecosystem.

An algorithm of species identification for the trematode species Leucochloridium paradoxum, L. perturbatum and L. vogtianum are proposed. The RAPD analysis allowed to distinguish PCR fragments specifically amplified on samples of each species of Leucochloridium genus. Species-specific amplificates were sequenced and specific primers to them were made. Two pairs of specific primers are suitable for identification of species Leucochloridium paradoxum and L. vogtianum. The technique may be used to diagnose infection in molluscs at the early stages, multiple infections and for matching the results of trematodes species identification obtained separately for parthenitae and their adults.

The aim of the work included identification of ecological conditions, contributing to emergence of the high number of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabric., 1794) ticks, that are specific to forest-steppes and southern areas, in the city, located in taiga zone. Especially for that during a couple of years regular collecting of ticks by the common method were held. Common method is to collect ticks to the standard flag (it's size is 60 X 120 cm) in different biotopes, on paved routes of accounting (it's length can be from 1.0 to 2.5 km, it depends on the size of the study area). Frequency between discount collections was usually from 7 to 10 days. Collecting of ticks in the territory of the city demonstrated that Ixodes pavlovskyi Pomerantzev, 1946 was dominating everywhere. The fraction of I. persulcatus Schulze, 1930 in different collections varied from decimals of a percent to several percents. D. reticulatus was collected in low numbers along banks of the Tom River. In Lagernyi Sad, mean population density of these ticks constituted 0.17 specimens per km of collecting route. After a destructive landslide of the Tom River high bank at the end of XXth century a bare slope resembling a giant amphitheater appeared; its length from top to bottom constituted about 400 m, its width, more than 500 m, and elevation range, 60 m. During several years the slope (it's extension is more than 1 km) was fixed. Terraces were formed and asphalted promenade paths were built at terraces bases; watercourses were made. Gradually, terraces of the slope were overgrown with grass, rare bushes appeared, and rodents started to inhabit the slope. Later, dog-fanciers had noted the appearance of the unusual "great number" of ticks on their pets in August—September of 2015. In September and in early October 2015 some special collecting of ticks was performed in slope terraces. Their population density constituted 22 to 43 ind./reg. km. By the second ten days of October continuous rains and later snowfalls resulted in the disappearance of ticks. In the beginning of April, 2016, when snow was still lying at paths, but slopes were free from it, ticks appeared again. In the beginning of the month, tick population density started to increase rapidly, in the end of April reaching 66 ind./reg. km. In June—July only solitary ticks were found, in August, population density became to increase, and in September, it reached 30 ind./reg. km. In our opinion, high population density of meadow ticks became possible because of the heating of ground surface in a south-southwest exposed slope. Higher temperature of the slope provided fast development of larvae and nymphs and a molting of the latter into adults in August and September. As far as some high and steep slopes with south and south-west exposition occur in the city, formation of loci with high population density of occasionally introduced D. reticulatus ticks is quite possible in these places.

The article presents new and currently the most thorough data on the fauna of ectoparasites of the Siberian mouse eared bat Myotis sibiricus Kastschenko, 1905 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) — species belonging to the Siberian — Far Eastern bat fauna complex and previously regarded as a subspecies of the Brandt's bat M. brandtii s. l. A revision of literature and collection material on ectoparasites of the Brandt's bat and the whiskered bat in the old sense of the species was performed. The data on parasite fauna of the Siberian mouse eared bat in the territory of Kharassiya, Irkutsk Province, Buryatiya, and Yakutiya have been reported for the first time. The Siberian mouse eared bat has been considered as the principal host for some species of parasitic arthropods (gamasid mites Spinturnix mystacinus, Macronyssus sibiricus, bat fly Basilia truncata). A total ectoparasite fauna of M. sibiricus in Siberia and Russian Far East comprises 23 species of arthropods, 10 of which were recorded due to new data, and 7, as a result of revision of host species taxonomic status. Gamasid mite species Cryptonyssus flexus has been recorded from the Eastern Palaearctic for the first time.

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