ASSESSMENT OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ORGANS TO ESTABLISH A PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF ECHINOCHASMOSIS IN THE RIVER OTTER IN THE TERRITORY OF THE BELARUSIAN SECTOR OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT EXCLUSION ZONE

This study is conducted for the first time to determine morphological changes in organs in order to establish a pathological diagnosis of echinochasmosis in the river otter in the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. For the first time in Belarus, the river otter (Lutra lutra L., 1758), inhabiting the Chernobyl exclusion zone, is registered as a definitive host for the trematode Еchinochasmus perfoliatus Ratz, 1908. For parasitological dissection and processing of helminths, classical research methods were used. Standard methods were used during dissection and pathological anatomical examination. Histological sections of organ pieces embedded in paraffin were prepared on a rotary (pendulum) microtome "MICROM HM 340 E". To study general structural changes, sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The pathological diagnosis includes 10 points.