Vol. 78 2026

ARTICLES

Analysis of the Infection of the Dice Snake Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) and the Grass Snake Natrix natrix (L., 1758) (Reptilia: Colubridae) with Telorchis assula (Dujardin, 1845) (Digenea: Telorchiidae) in Ukraine

Serhii Yermolenko1,3*, Andrii Nechai2, Yuriy Kuzmin2, Viktor Gasso1, Lina Karmyzova1 & Iryna Holub1

More info

*1Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, 72 Nauky Ave., 49045 Dnipro, Ukraine; E-mail: serejamahno@gmail.com, viktor.gasso@gmail.com, linakarmyzova@gmail.com, risia923004@gmail.com
2I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, vul. B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01054 Kyiv, Ukraine; E-mail: anechai2791@gmail.com, rhabdias@gmail.com
3National Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, vul. B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01054 Kyiv, Ukraine

https://doi.org/10.71424/azb78.1.003017

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Abstract

The distribution of the trematode Telorchis assula occurrence in the dice snake (Natrix tessellata) and the grass snake (Natrix natrix) across Ukraine was analysed using material collected between 1951 and 2025. Significant differences in prevalence and mean abundance were found among regional groups. In total, 41.8% of Natrix spp. were found to be infected with T. assula. The highest prevalence was recorded in the northern part of Ukraine, which may be associated with a higher density of Planorbis snails, which are intermediate hosts of T. assula in this region. In the western regions of the country, T. assula has not been recorded.

Key words

reptile, serpent, trematode, parasite prevalence, parasite mean abundance

How to Cite
Yermolenko S., Nechai A., Kuzmin Y., Gasso V., Karmyzova L. & Holub I. 2026. Analysis of the Infection of the Dice Snake Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) and the Grass Snake Natrix natrix (L., 1758) (Reptilia: Colubridae) with Telorchis assula (Dujardin, 1845) (Digenea: Telorchiidae) in Ukraine. Acta zoologica bulgarica 78.

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