This paper describes the first record of the eel parasite Agullicola crassus in Belarus. Possible vectors of introduction and spread of the parasite, as well as its life cycle, are discussed. [Skurat EK, Us VV and Sivolotskaya VA (1996) The pathways of spread of the nematode Anguillicola crassus - a new parasote of the European eel in the Republic of Belarus. Voporsy Rybnogo Khozyaystva Belarusi 14: 96-100 (In Russian)]

We report the results of a two-year study in the Svisloch River (Minsk, Belarus) on the dynamics of infection in Dreissena polymorpha by nematodes and three ciliate species Conchophthirus acuminatus, Ophryoglena sp., and Ancistrumina limnica. Although these endosymbionts were present in most of the samples, their prevalence and infection intensity differed significantly. C. acuminatus and A. limnica infection intensities in both years of the study had a maximum in summer and were positively correlated with water temperature. In contrast, Ophryoglena sp. and nematode infection intensities were considerably lower in summer versus winter and were negatively correlated with temperature. In the first long-term study to monitor the size and reproductive rate of C. acuminatus, we found that mean length was negatively correlated with temperature and that temperature was positively correlated with asexual reproduction, with a peak of cell division in April as water temperatures increased. [Karatayev AY, Mastitsky SE, Burlakova LE, Molloy DP and Vezhnovets GG (2003) Seasonal dynamics of endosymbiotic ciliates and nematodes in Dreissena polymorpha. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 83 (1): 73-82]

Based on literature data and results of author's own studies conducted in waterbodies of Belarus, the analysis of the role of Dreissena in transmission of trematodes on vertebrate animals (waterfowl and fishes) was corried out. [Mastitsky SE (2005) Role of the mollusc Dreissena polymorpha Pallas (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae) in distribution of trematode infections among vertebrate animals. Vestnik Tyumenskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta 5: 130-134 (in Russian with English summary)]

This paper reviews the history of introduction of several exotic parasites into the former USSR along with the phytophagous fishes of Asian origin. [Musselius VA (1965) On the parasites of phytophagous fishes acclimatized in the RSFSR. In: Proceedings of the All-Russian Research Institute of Pond Fishery XIII: 55-67 (in Russian)]

This paper contains the results of parasitological studies of fishes from 29 lakes, 4 reservoirs and 18 fish farm ponds of Belarus. The data on distribution of three exotic parasites are presented, i.e. the nematode Anguillicola crassus and the cestodes Bothriocephalus acheilognathi and Khawia sinensis. [Skurat EK, Degtyarik SM, Grebeneva EI, Sivolotskaya VA, Benetskaya NA, Govor TA, Asadchaya RL and Kuzmenkova OV (2007) Some relationships between the composition of parasite communities and the water sources of fishery farms in Belarus. Vesti Natsyanalnay Akademii Navuk Belarusi. Serya Agrarnykh Navuk 3: 87-92 (in Russian)]