Paranoplocephala blanchardi (Moniez, 1891)

Paranoplocephala blanchardi (Moniez, 1891) sensu Tenora et al. (1985b) is primarily a parasite of Microtus spp. in Europe (Haukisalmi et al. 1994; Tenora et al. 1985b) and western Siberia, extending at least to the Novosibirsk region in the east (Chechulin 1998). The conspecificity of two Buryatian specimens of P. blanchardi (from Microtus fortis) with the European specimens is confirmed by the present molecular phylogenetic analysis (Fig. 2). The Buryatian records thus represent the easternmost finding of this species. Despite considerable sampling effort, P. blanchardi has not been found in north-eastern Siberia (Magadan region, Chukotka; unpublished BCP records).

P. blanchardi was found at a single study site (prevalence 17%) (Table 1).

Voucher specimen: MSB 154 from M. fortis (Maloje Kolesova) .