The first report of Aelurostrongylus falciformis in Norwegian badgers ( Meles meles )

• Published in: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
• Main Authors: Gjerde Bjørn, Handeland Kjell, Davidson Rebecca K
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2006
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine; SF600-1100; Fennoscandian
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-48-6; https://doaj.org/article/15f691745b0143659a3a4f827cf05f92

Abstract The first report of Aelurostrongylus falciformis ( Schlegel 1933 ) in Fennoscandian badgers is described. Routine parasitological examination of nine Norwegian badgers, at the National Veterinary Institute during 2004 and 2005, identified A . falciformis in the terminal airways of five of the animals. The first stage larvae (L1) closely resembled, in size and morphology, those of Angiostrongylus vasorum ( Baillet 1866 ). The diagnosis for both A . falciformis and A . vasorum is frequently based on the identification of L1 in faeces or sputum. The potential for misclassification of an A . falciformis infection as A . vasorum , where larval identification is the only diagnostic method used, is discussed.