Purpose

The nematodes of the genus Thelazia are the cause of eye diseases of wild and domestic ruminants throughout the world. The aim of the study was to describe clinical cases of thelasiosis in European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland, and provide morphometrical features of Thelazia gulosa Railiet and Henry, 1910 and Thelazia skrjabini Erschov, 1928 regarded as potentially useful for species differentiation

Methods

The conjunctival sacs, tear ducts, the surface of the cornea and nicitating membrane collected from bison were rinsed with saline solution. Any nematodes isolated from the sediment were subjected to morphometric analysis.

Results

Thirteen of the 16 examined European bison were infected with Thelazia nematodes, belonging to the species T. gulosa and T. skrjabini. The intensity of infection ranged from one to six (mean intensity 5), and four to 29 (mean intensity 14) nematodes T. skrjabini and T. gulosa respectively. Congestion of conjunctival sac, keratitis and corneal opacity, corneal ulceration and perforation as well as purulent eyeball inflammation were observed in infected animals.

Conclusions

Thelazia gulosa and T. skrjabini can be identified by morphometrical features. As thelasiosis might be a serious threat for protected population of European bison, further studies are needed of the epidemiology and pathology of this emerging parasitosis in Poland.

中文翻译：

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线虫 Thelazia gulosa Railiet 和 Henry，1910 年和 Thelazia skrjabini Erschov，1928 年作为波兰欧洲野牛 (Bison Bonasus) 失明的原因。

目的

Thelazia属的线虫是全世界野生和家养反刍动物眼部疾病的原因。该研究的目的是描述波兰欧洲野牛 ( Bison Bonasus ) 的临床病例，并提供Thelazia gulosa Railiet 和 Henry, 1910 以及Thelazia skrjabini Erschov, 1928 的形态测量特征，被认为对物种分化有潜在作用

方法

从野牛收集的结膜囊、泪管、角膜表面和瞬膜用盐水溶液冲洗。对从沉积物中分离的任何线虫进行形态测定分析。

结果

被检查的 16 只欧洲野牛中有 13 只感染了Thelazia线虫，属于T. gulosa和T. skrjabini 种。感染强度范围分别为 1 到 6 个（平均强度 5）和 4 到 29 个（平均强度 14）线虫T. skrjabini和T. gulosa。在感染动物中观察到结膜囊充血、角膜炎和角膜混浊、角膜溃疡和穿孔以及化脓性眼球炎症。

结论

Thelazia gulosa和T. skrjabini可以通过形态测量特征进行识别。由于该病可能对受保护的欧洲野牛种群构成严重威胁，因此需要进一步研究波兰这种新出现的寄生虫病的流行病学和病理学。