Structure of Metastrongylidae in wild boars from southern Poland

Of 25 wild boars (Sus scrofa) collected in southern Poland during the winter season of 2009/2010 and examined for lung nematodes, 20 (80.0 %) were concominantly infected, and the mean ± SD intensity reached 84.8 ± 67.6 (range 7–250) parasites. From the whole of 1695 gathered Metastrongylidae specimens, 1121 (66.1 %) were distinguished to five species: Metastrongylus pudendotectus, M. salmi, M. asymmetricus, M. elongatus and M. confusus. The species ratios were 3.4:2.7:1.5:1.1:1.0, respectively, with the average male to female worms proportion of 1:2.7. M. pudendotectus and M. confusus affected most (76.0 %) of animals, followed by M. salmi (72.0 %), M. elongatus (64.0 %) and M. asymmetricus (40.0 %). Compared to juveniles under 1 year and females, adults and male hosts tended to be more infected, and wild boars inhabiting primeval forest were more affected by lung nematodes than those living in the arable land, all the differences being however not significant. Possible factors structuring Metastrongylidae communities are discussed.