Helminth parasites of the Eurasian badger ( Meles meles L.) in the Basque Country (Spain)

Abstract

The helminthological study of 26 Eurasian badgers (Meles meles L.) in the Basque Country (northern Spain) revealed the presence of two trematode (Euryhelmis squamula and Brachylaima sp.), three cestode (Atriotaenia incisa, Mesocestoides sp. and Taenia sp.) and five nematode (Aonchotheca putorii, Physaloptera sp., Molineus patens, Uncinaria criniformis and Strongyloides sp.) species. All 15 individuals analysed for Trichinella sp. were negative. The coprological analysis (flotation and migration) revealed the excretion of strongylid, capillariid and trematode eggs, and Crenosoma sp. and Angiostrongylus sp. larvae. No sex-or agerelated differences were found in the parasite burden or egg and larvae excretion. A. incisa and M. patens abundances were positively correlated, both species being negatively correlated with badger weight. The presence of adults of U. criniformis and strongylid eggs in faeces was not independent. Badgers excreting Angiostrongylus larvae were in poorer condition than those not excreting.

A survey of helminth infection in Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) in relation to their foraging behaviour in a Mediterranean environment in southwest Portugal

“…Furthermore, it was possible to identify adults of M. muris in the badger faeces analysed. The overall helminth prevalence (62%) was low when compared with the studies of Torres et al (2001) and Millán et al (2004) in which values of 86 and 100% were found, respectively. Millán et al (2004) reported data from both necropsies and faecal analysis, and it was apparent that helminth prevalences obtained by faecal analysis were lower (e.g.…”

“…Nevertheless, all helminthological data from the Iberian Peninsula published in previous studies based on necropsies (Miquel 1993;Torres et al 1996Torres et al , 2001Millán et al 2004) indicate that, regarding the genera Atriotaenia, Mastophorus, Molineus and Uncinaria, only the species reported here were present. Moreover, it is reasonable to consider a biogeographical continuity within the Iberian Peninsula.…”

“…Only five helminths, representing 29.4% of the 17 helminth species described for badgers throughout Spain by Torres et al (2001), were found in the present study. However, even Millán et al (2004), who have necropsied 26 M. meles from the Basque Country (Spain), reported only 12 species including all those found by us in Grândola.…”

“…However, only recently have data from Mediterranean regions been published (e.g. Torres et al 1996Torres et al , 2001Millán et al 2004). These studies were mainly based on the identification of adult parasites recovered during necropsies.…”

Molecular identification of Trichinella britovi in martens (Martes martes) and badgers (Meles meles); new host records in Poland

“…It has been stated that the differences between badger's helminthological fauna may result from the badgers diet, abiotic factors and biocenosis present in each biogeographic area (Brglez 1988, Torres et al 2001. However, none of examined badger carcasses obtained in the Italian Alps, Finland and Spain were infected with Trichinella nematode (Oivanen et al 2002, Millan et al 2004, Balestrieri et al 2006. The absence of Trichinella spp.…”