Helminths (common name of the parasitic worms) are an essential biotic factor in ecosystems. In a number of cases they cause illness (helminthosis), often leading to a fatal outcome, especially in combination with other negative factors - exhaustion, stress, etc.
Another group of widespread in the wild parasites that are invisible to the naked eye are Protozoa - unicellular organisms with large species diversity and causing high mortality. The strongest impact again is observed in starving and exhausted animals.
The impact of parasites such as helminths and protozoa in wetlands is immense, extending to all vertebrates, including geese. The study of the presence of these parasites, affecting the state of the population of endangered Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) in Bulgaria, is part of the National Action Plan for the Conservation of the species for the Period 2015 - 2024.
For this reason, Green Balkans has begun activities on collecting samples of geese feces for subsequent parasitological analysis, the results of which will be used to determine the general status of the species. During two monitoring visits in January total of 122 fecal samples have been collected in fields where feeding mixed flocks of Great white-fronted and Red-breasted geese have been located. The samples have been passed for analysis to department Veterinary Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Thracian University – Stara Zagora’s Vet Faculty. The tests for helminths and protozoa in all of the 122 samples have been negative indicating good health status of wintering geese in Coastal Dobrogea.The link between biodiversity and the impact of helminths in parasitology studies shows us another very important reason to protect the ecosystem balance. In high biodiversity, there is a high diversity of helminths, which leads to increased competition between them at intermediate host level, which naturally regulates the number of parasites in the wild.
The Green Balkans team would like to thank to Assoc. Prof. Dr Zvezdelina Kirkova for the collaboration.
For additional information:
Dimitar Popov ,e-mail: dpopov@greenbalkans.org
Another group of widespread in the wild parasites that are invisible to the naked eye are Protozoa - unicellular organisms with large species diversity and causing high mortality. The strongest impact again is observed in starving and exhausted animals.
The impact of parasites such as helminths and protozoa in wetlands is immense, extending to all vertebrates, including geese. The study of the presence of these parasites, affecting the state of the population of endangered Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) in Bulgaria, is part of the National Action Plan for the Conservation of the species for the Period 2015 - 2024.
For this reason, Green Balkans has begun activities on collecting samples of geese feces for subsequent parasitological analysis, the results of which will be used to determine the general status of the species. During two monitoring visits in January total of 122 fecal samples have been collected in fields where feeding mixed flocks of Great white-fronted and Red-breasted geese have been located. The samples have been passed for analysis to department Veterinary Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Thracian University – Stara Zagora’s Vet Faculty. The tests for helminths and protozoa in all of the 122 samples have been negative indicating good health status of wintering geese in Coastal Dobrogea.The link between biodiversity and the impact of helminths in parasitology studies shows us another very important reason to protect the ecosystem balance. In high biodiversity, there is a high diversity of helminths, which leads to increased competition between them at intermediate host level, which naturally regulates the number of parasites in the wild.
The Green Balkans team would like to thank to Assoc. Prof. Dr Zvezdelina Kirkova for the collaboration.
For additional information:
Dimitar Popov ,e-mail: dpopov@greenbalkans.org
