P.B.Šivickis Laboratory of Parasitology
The main research trends – fauna of the parasites, systematic of parasites and their functions in ecosystems. The main research objects – cyst-forming coccidian and malaria parasites, Trematoda, and Cestoda. Traditional and molecular methods of investigation are usable.
P.B.Šivickis' Laboratory of Parasitology headed by G.Valkiūnas was formed in May, 2003 during the reorganisation of the Institute of Ecology into the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, and joining the P.B.Šivickis' Helminthology Laboratory and Laboratory of Protist Ecology. More…
Gediminas Valkiūnas, Dr Habil. – Head of Laboratory, Chief Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 92 69, e-mail: gedvalk@ekoi.lt
Morphological and taxonomic studies of avian blood parasites. Pathogenicity of malaria parasites and other haemosporidians on birds and dipteran vectors. Evolutionary consequences of avian vector-born diseases. Avian malarial parasites as models in studying emerging diseases.
Vytautas Kontrimavičius, Dr Habil. – Chief Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 95 95, e-mail: v.kontrimavicius@takas.lt
Systematic, ecology, zoogeography of helminths, general parasitology, ecology and biogeography.
Romualda Petkevičiūtė, Dr – Senior Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 95 95, e-mail: romualda@ekoi.lt
Cytogenetic, karyosystematic and molecular phylogeny of parasitic Platyhelmintes. Cytogenetic of molluscs – intermediate hosts of Trematoda.
Gražina Stanevičiūtė, Dr – Senior Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 95 95, e-mail: grasta@ekoi.lt
Karyological and molecular investigations of Trematoda; phylogenetic interrelationships of the Platyhelminthes, combined cytogenetic and molecular phylogenetics. Cytogenetic of molluscs - intermediate hosts of Trematoda.
Tatjana Ježova, Dr – Senior Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 92 69, e-mail: tatjana@ekoi.lt
Blood parasites, parasitic protists. The faunae and distribution of hemoproteids in birds of Northen Palearctic; morphological and taxonomic studies.
Jadvyga Grikienienė, Dr – Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 92 69, e-mail: jagrik@ekoi.lt
Cyst-forming coccidia (Sarcocystis , Frenkelia) of mammals and birds: distribution, morphology , life cycles and taxonomy.
Virmantas Stunžėnas, Dr – Senior Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 95 95, e-mail: stunzenas@ekoi.lt
Helminthology (Nematoda, Trematoda, Cestoda), techniques with PCR, DNA sequencing, immunology of mammal; immunological aspects of host-parasite interrelationships, microscopy video documentation.
Asta Križanauskienė, Dr – Senior researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 92 69, e-mail: asta@ekoi.lt
The inter- and intraspecific divergence of avian blood haemosporidian parasites. Molecular analyses (PCR and sequencing) of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes of these parasites.
Rasa Binkienė, Dr – Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 95 95, e-mail: zrasa@ekoi.lt
Helminthes of insectivorous. Molecular analysis of these helmithes and their hosts.
Vaidas Palinauskas, Dr - Junior Researcher
Tel.: +370 5 272 92 69, e-mail: vaidas@ekoi.lt
Violeta Skukauskaitė-Kokinienė – Biologist
Tel.: +370 5 272 92 69
Research Services
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Identifying of species of blood parasites (eucaryotes), coccidians, helminths, muscle parasites (among them Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma spp. protists and Trichinella and Alaria spp. helminths), which parasitize human beings, domestic and wild animals; the studies on distribution and intensity of the infections as well as on epizootiology of diseases caused by these parasites, forecasting parasitological situation and introducing preventive measures of the diseases.
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Identifying of soil nematodes, including phytonematodes. The evaluation of soil infestation with phytonematodes.
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Lectures, seminars and consultations (including teaching of investigation methods) on parasites and parasitoses of human beings, domestic and wild animals as well as on their significance and the measures of prevention.
Projects
Investigations of Systematics and Zoogeography of Invertebrates (V.Kontrimavičius, G.Valkiūnas)
Formation of Post-Glacial Ecosystems in the Baltic region and their Changes (G.Valkiūnas)
Epidemiology of Avian Hematozoa: Linking Genetic and Traditional Parasitology Data (G.Valkiūnas)
Publications
Kontrimavičius, V. L., Delyamure, S.L., Boev, S. N. 1985. Metastrongyloids of Domestic and Wild Animals. Fundamentals of Nematodology, 26, New Delhi, 298 pp.
Kutkienė L., Grikienienė J. 2003. The importance of coprophagy and transplacental transmission in spread of Sarcocystis rodentifelis in rats. Acta Zoologica Lituanica 13(3): 322-326.
Petkevičiūtė, R., Stunžėnas, V., Stanevičiūtė, G. 2004. Cytogenetic and sequence comparison of adult Phyllodistomum (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) from the three-spined stickleback with larvae from two bivalves. Parasitology 129 (6): 771-778.
Valkiūnas G. 2004. Avian Malaria Parasites and other Haemosporidia. CRC Press, Boca Raton et al., 976 pp.
Valkiūnas G., Iezhova T.A. 2004. Detrimental effects of Haemoproteus infections on the survival of biting midge Culicoides impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Journal of Parasitology 90: 194-196.