biostudies-literatureRomanek WExcellence Initiative – Research University - Warsaw University of TechnologyExcellence Initiative - Research University - Warsaw University of TechnologyNarodowe Centrum Nauki26https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12909446biostudies-literatureUnknown125(1)Rodents serve as hosts for many species of parasites, including cestodes, but the taxonomy of rodent-infecting tapeworms, especially in Central Europe, is still understudied. Therefore, the current study was conducted to identify larval and adult cestodes in free-living rodents from Northeastern Poland. The fieldwork was conducted between 2014 and 2023 in three forest sites. Cestodes were collected from five rodent species (Clethrionomys glareolus, Alexandromys oeconomus, Microtus agrestis, Apodemus agrarius and A. flavicollis, and were identified through morphology and by several genetic markers (12S rDNA, cox1, nad 1, 28S rDNA, 12S-16S rDNA) using phylogenetic analyses. A total of 58 cestode specimens were analyzed using molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Species identified included CaParasitology researchMolecular identification of cestodes from rodents in the Mazury Lake District region of Poland.PMC129094462014/14/E/NZ7/001531820/8/201/Z10/20222019/31/Z/NZ8/04028Romanek WNowicka JWezyk DKrupinska MDwuznik-Szarek DBehnke JMGrzybek MTolkacz KBehnke-Borowczyk JAlsarraf MGoll ABajer AfalseMolecular identification of cestodes from rodents in the Mazury Lake District region of Poland.Rodents serve as hosts for many species of parasites, including cestodes, but the taxonomy of rodent-infecting tapeworms, especially in Central Europe, is still understudied. Therefore, the current study was conducted to identify larval and adult cestodes in free-living rodents from Northeastern Poland. The fieldwork was conducted between 2014 and 2023 in three forest sites. Cestodes were collected from five rodent species (Clethrionomys glareolus, Alexandromys oeconomus, Microtus agrestis, Apodemus agrarius and A. flavicollis, and were identified through morphology and by several genetic markers (12S rDNA, cox1, nad 1, 28S rDNA, 12S-16S rDNA) using phylogenetic analyses. A total of 58 cestode specimens were analyzed using molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Species identified included Ca2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-16T05:18:24.173Z2026-07-09T13:10:31.233ZS-EPMC129094464169741510.1007/s00436-026-08629-x