LUNGWORM INFECTION IN A BEAGLE COLONY - FILAROIDES HIRTHI, A COMMON BUT NOT WELL-KNOWN COMPANION

116 beagle dogs of both sexes were examined for infection with Filaroi des hirthi within the framework of several toxicological studies. 98 % of the animals demonstrated lungworm-associated lesions. Most of the macroscopic visible lesions can be subdivided into four groups, repres enting different histopathological pictures ranging from living worms, different types of granulomatous inflammation to tumorlike lesions. E specially the latter is liable for several misinterpretations in toxic ologic studies. This is the first positive evidence of an infection of Beagle dogs with Filaroides hirthi in Germany.