Parasites of Vipera berus L in Poland

As many as 152 specimens of Vipera berus from various localities in Poland, examined for parasites, yielded 21 species including 4 adult trematodes, 5 meso- and metacercariae, 1 larval cestode, 5 adult nematodes, 2 nematode larvae, 1 adult and 1 larval acanthocephalan, 1 tick and 1 mite. No one of these species might have been regarded as specific of the viper. All adults were common parasites of other reptiles and amphibians, the larvae used the viper as paratenic hosts. Some differences have been observed in infection of vipers from various regions of Poland, as well as differences dependent on sex and age of the vipers. The latter are considered as related to host behaviour.