[The environment of the Moscow megalopolis and the problems of parasitic contamination]

Abstract

Studying parasitic contamination is regarded as an individual research trend for large-scale land and water areas whose natural habitat is greatly modified by man-made influences. On the one hand, parasitic contamination as its particular form acts as a factor that destabilizing the environment, on the other, the man-made deformation of natural biocenoses, which is induced by socioeconomic influences promote its occurrence and manifestations. The investigations of parasitic contamination are beyond the scope of the routine parasitological goals, though they involve their whole package and should be considered as an ecological objective of environmental protection. The cenotic communications of the links of the parasitic systems with the physicochemical and biological ingredients of the habitat predetermine qualitative and quantitative differences of parasitic contamination in the large urban areas and, finally, the dissimilar course of epidemiological, epizootic, and phytototic processes in parasitic diseases in their various sectors. The major factors influencing the levels of the parasitic pollution of the Moscow megalopolis were analyzed. These included various lines of economic activities, the population's living conditions, procedures for manufacturing foodstuffs, demographic changes. In the recent years, the situation in many parasitic infections in man (trichinosis, cryptobiasis, enterobiasis, toxocariasis, etc.), animals (fascioliasis, trichinosis, etc.) and plants (viral, fungal, and nematode diseases). There is an increase in the population of mosquitos, lice, fleas, and other insects which are vectors of dangerous parasitic diseases of man and animals.