Taenia pisiformis Bloch, 1780 (Cestoda) as an endoparasite of mammals

Taenia pisiformis is a cosmopolitan cestode of considerable veterinary importance, circulating between carnivorous definitive hosts and lagomorph intermediate hosts. The present study investigated the occurrence, host range, and seasonal patterns of T. pisiformis infection among domestic and wild mammals in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. Mammals representing different host groups were examined using complete and incomplete helminthological necropsy, and cestodes were identified on the basis of morphological characters using standard parasitological methods. The infection was recorded in both definitive and intermediate hosts, indicating the active circulation of T. pisiformis in the studied ecosystems. Among intermediate hosts, the Tolai hare, Lepus tolai, was the most frequently infected species, confirming its important role in the life cycle of the parasite. Among definitive hosts, wild carnivores, particularly foxes and jackals, played a significant role in maintaining the transmission cycle. Seasonal differences were observed in the detection of infection; however, the data on larval stages in intermediate hosts should be interpreted with caution because metacestodes may persist in host tissues for extended periods. The findings demonstrate that T. pisiformis is widely distributed among domestic and wild mammals in Karakalpakstan and emphasize the epidemiological importance of interactions between carnivores and lagomorphs. The results provide a scientific basis for further monitoring and for the development of targeted preventive measures against taeniid infections in domestic and wild animal populations.