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It has been proved on Mallophaga that the notion "hostal subspecies" can be applied at the level of intraspecies categories to constant parasites possessing distinct specificity. The notion should be applied in those cases when there are but small differences between groups of parasites from different hosts (e. g. in sizes) and when hosts belong to different species of the same genus.

Hystological investigations of experimentally infected X. gerbilli minax have shown that at the early stages of the digestion, while in the intestine compact clots of non-digested blood, are preserved, proceeds the reproduction of the plague agent. With the decay of the alimentary clot it changes into the dying off of the microbe population and after the ceasing of digestion the accumulation of bacteria renews again. Simultaneously with the changes in the number of microbes their morphology varies. At the initial stage of blood digestion bacilli typical for the agent are dominant. With the decay of the alimentary clot they are replaced by ovoid and spheroid forms. After the ceasing of the digestion cycle the microbe mass is represented by small coccobacteria. During the decrease in the plague agent abundance bacteria are absent mostly often from the midgut and posterior parts of the alimentary canal. Most favourable conditions for their preservation exist in this period in the proventriculus and in adjoining to it oesophagus part.

Observations have shown that in vitro haemocytes of A. lahorensis are capable of forming different structures, even membrane ones. These structures include mucopolysaccharides. Haemocytes are supposed to take part in the formation and deposition of the basic (intercellular) substance and in the building of tunica propria which can be considered as components of the inner medium.

Observations were conducted (1960 to 1973) on the sand flies of the subgenus Paraphlebotomus inhabiting the burrows of Rhombomys opimus in the Karshinskaya steppe (Uzbekistan). Ph. mongolensis is most abundant in oasis, Ph. caucasicus — in loess low-mountain areas. Throughout the territory investigated Ph. mongolensis has two generations per season. The emergence of imago of this species in oasis begins early in May with the first peak of abundance at the end of May — beginning of June and with the second peak in the first decade of August. The flight of Ph. mongolensis ceases in general to the middle of September. In the northern part of the territory investigated Ph. caucasicus has two mass generations with peaks in the second decade of June — first-second decade of August. In the southern part of the territory three peaks of abundance of Ph. caucasicus were noted: in the middle of May, end of June — beginning of July and the end of August — beginning of September. Therefore, the presence of three generations per season can be suggested here.

The occurrence in the USSR of C. (A.) sanguisuga Coq., a species recorded earlier only from North America has been stated. The species seems to have a wide distribution throughout the USSR. The description and figures of females and males collected in the south of Krasnojarsk territory are given. In the author's opinion the male of C. sanguisuga was repeatedly described in the Soviet literature but under other names (C. obsoletus, C. seimi). Morphological characters of females of four species of the subgenus Avaritia (C. sanguisuga, C. sinanoensis, C. chiopterus and C. filicinus) recorded from the region of observations are described.

In September—October of 1973 and 1974 263 specimens of Rhombomys opimus were shot in the territory of the Murghab stationar. The seeding of the material (a piece of tissue) from all animals into NNN medium was done. 9 strains of L. tropica major were isolated from this material the virulence of which was studied on 2.5-3 months — old golden hamsters, Cricetus auratus. Differences in the virulence of the isolated strains according to their natural-territorial complexes are shown. These differences depend apparently on the specific composition of the vectors. It is shown that the specific composition of sand flies as well as other epizootical characters are determined by the landscape of the territory where nidi of zoonosis cutaneous leishmaniasis are situated.

18 species of microsporidians were found in crustaceans of the Leningrad region. Of them 6 are referred to known species, 7 are described as new ones and 5 are identified to the genus. Some preliminary data are given on the influence of microsporidians on the host population, their specificity and variability.

The mechanism of adhesion was studied in two species of the genus Dactylogyrus. The muscular system of the disc of both species is described. Data are given on the presence of rudiment of the 8th pair of hooks and on the possible function of this formation as well as the data on the adhesion of the postlarva of D. extensus.

The sensory apparatus of cercariae of two species of trematodes (A. cobitidis and A. minor) is described. The species differ both morphologically and biologically. The only common feature in the sensory apparatus of the above species is the topography of sensillae in the posterior half of the lateral complex of the caudal trunk and of the fureal complex.

The chromosomal apparatus of three species of trematodes of Diplostomum (D. spathaceum, D. indistinctum, D. mergi) and one species Tylodelphys (T. clavata) is described. It has been suggested that karyological investigations can be used for taxonomic purposes. The opinion has been expressed that the number of chromosomes in the karyotype of these trematodes plays no taxonomic role. Of great taxonomic significance are the size and morphology of chromosomes. Differences in karyotypes of trematodes belonging to different species and genera were revealed by these characters. The absence of close dependence between morphology of adult and specific peculiarities of karyotypes in species of the same genus enables in some cases the use of chromosomal apparatus as a most reliable criterion for a differentiation of close species.

A new species of myxosporidians, Myxobolus azerbajdzanicus sp. n., is described and figured. The species is parasitic in the gills of Barbus lacerta cyri Filippi from the Lenkoranchai river (Azerbaijan).

The gamasid mites Laelaps multispinosus and Hirstionyssus isabellinus, flea Ceratophyllus (Megabotris) rectangulatus, trematodes Plagiorchis proximus, P. eutamiatis, P. obensis, P. multiglandularis, Quinqueserialis quinqueserialis and Opisthorchis felineus, cestodes Aprostotandria macrocephala and Alveococcus multilocularis, larvae, were found in 78 specimens of Ondatra zibethica from water bodies of the Upper Ob pine forest. The mite L. multispinosus is reported as the most abundant ectoparasite of this population of the muskrat. As to helminths most abundant and frequently encountered are Q. quinqueserialis and A. macrocephala which at high infection intensity can cause decrease in the muskrat abundance.

A new genus, Pentatomimermis gen. n., and two new species of mermithids from bugs are first described. Pentatomimermis coptosomae sp. n. from Coptosoma mucronatum Seid. was collected in South Slovakia, P. viridulae sp. n. from Nezara viridula L. was collected in India.

A new species of the genus Teredoika Stock, 1959 is described. T. aspectabilis sp. n., the second species of the genus, was found in the kidney of Clinopegma unicum in the Okhotsk Sea while the type species is known from the stomach of the shipworm Teredo utriculus caught in the Gulf of Naples.

Summary is absent.

Summary is absent.