Intermediate hosts of Gongylonema pulchrum Molin, 1857 (Nematoda, Gongylonematidae) in game farm pastures

Three pastures used for moufflons (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Cervus da ma) situated at an altitude of 500-900 m in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria , were examined to determine the range of the intermediate hosts of Gongylo nema pulchrum. In total, 309 beetles of 15 species of the family Scarabeida e were studied. Infection was found in 8 species: Sisyphus schaetteri, Cacc obius schreberi, Onthophagus amyntas, O. tracticornis, O. lemur, O. ruticap illus, O. similis (new host record) and O. verticicornis. The highest preva lences were recorded in C. schreberi (40.0 %), S. schaetteri (28.6 %), O. v erticicornis (26.1 %) and O. ruticapillus (22.8 %). Comparison with previou s studies showed that almost all the species recorded in the game animal pa stures had been reported as intermediate hosts in the lowland pastures wher e domesticated animals serve as final hosts. The main differences are the s maller number of scarabeid species occurring in the pastures in game farms and the lack of the Aphodiinae acting as intermediate hosts.