A STUDY ON HELMINTH INFECTION IN SABLES (MARTES ZIBELLINA LINNAEUS, 1758) IN YAKUTIA

Pre-commercial assessments of sable populations are constantly conducted in Yakutia. The sable density varied from 2.5 to 2.9 specimens per 1,000 hectares on average in the northwestern territory, and 0.6 to 0.8 specimens per 1,000 hectares in the north-eastern territory. There was an intensive expansion of the sable in Central Yakutia. The adults were also settled along with this year's brood animals. The age composition of the studied sables varies from 1 to 8 years. The habitat is expanding and increasing the number of such species. The sable inhabits almost the entire territory of Yakutia; the native Aldan-Uchur sable species lives in Southern Yakutia, and the introduced species is found in greater numbers in Northeastern and Central Yakutia. Six nematode species and 4 cestode species were found in sables. A total of 1,080 sable carcasses were examined, and helminths were found in 382 specimens; the infection percentage was 35.3%. Larvae of the nematode Trichinella sp. Railliet, 1895, that are dangerous to humans and can cause trichinellosis were found in 2 sables. Marked intoxication symptoms are swelling, muscle pain, fever, generalized swelling and other pronounced symptoms, up to complete immobility of the patient.