We studied variations in the abundance of parasitic spinturnicid mites in relation to the gender, age and body condition of bats living in different habitats. Populations of Spinturnix myoti Kolenati, 1856 (Acari: Spinturnicidae), an ectoparasite of the bat Myotis myotis (Borkhausen) (Mammalia: Chiroptera), were investigated in two types of roosts differing in microclimatic conditions: caves (low temperature and high humidity) and attics (high temperature and low humidity). Our data suggest that bats from cave nursery colonies harbour more parasites than those from attic colonies, irrespective of host sex or age. In underground colonies, adult females and their young differ in the mean abundance of parasites, whereas no such differences were found in attic colonies. Non-lactating females from underground roosts and lactating females from attic colonies had similar parasite loads, were lower than those of adult lactating females from caves. A negative correlation between the host body condition index and parasite load was found only in the most infected sex/age group of bats. In spite of significant differences in parasite load, the mean abundance of particular life stages of mites seems to be independent of the type of roost occupied by the host, its sex or age. However, in attic colonies the number of female deutonymphs was twice that of male deutonymphs, whereas in cave colonies the proportions of the sexes were similar. We suggest that the microclimate of the host's roosts may influence ectoparasite abundance through pressure on the sex ratio in the nymphal stages of mites.
Physiological parameters were measured after experimental infection of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) with Rhipidocotyle fennica Gibson, Valtonen et Taskinen, 1992 (Digenea) cercariae. The fish were caught from two lakes: a eutrophic bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME)-contaminated lake and an oligotrophic unpolluted lake. The intensity of infection was followed up to 10 days post infection (p.i.) and physiological parameters indicating non-specific stress responses and the condition of fish were examined simultaneously. The mean abundance, the number of parasites per fish, of R. fennica was significantly higher in the fish from the contaminated water during the first two days p.i., probably reflecting the decreased resistance of these fish to infection. The decrease of leukocrit, as well as the increase of the activity of transaminases (GOT and GPT) in infected fish of both groups are suggestive of pathological processes caused by cercariae penetrating the fish. A significantly lower leukocrit value, as well as higher alkaline phosphatase activity and plasma chloride levels were noted in fish originating from the contaminated lake compared to those from the unpolluted lake. No significant differences were noted in haematocrit, plasma protein and calcium values between the fish from the uncontaminated and contaminated lakes, or between the infected and uninfected control fish.