PROTOSTRONGYLID NEMATODE INFECTION OF CHAMOIS (RUPICAPRA-RUPICAPRA) AT THE BAUGES MASSIF (FRENCH ALPS)

From 1979 to 1985, protostrongylid infections (small lungworms) of cha mois were studied at the Bauges hunting reserve, in the western Alps. Fifty-two chamois were necropsied on: 24 sites and lung nematodes iden tified to species. From June to November 1985, a more detailed study w as undertaken on four sites where chamois were the only ruminants. Fir st-stage larvae excreted in feces and infection of snails intermediate hosts were monitored. The protostrongylid species were, arranged in d ecreasing order of prevalence, Neostrongylus linearis, Protostronglus rupicaprae, Muellerius capillaris, and Muellerius tenuispiculatus. Int ensity was higher in females than in males (in chamois aged 4 to 11 mo nths compared with younger or older ones) in winter than in the other seasons. Intensity of infection increased as chamois were located at l ower altitudes. The snail intermediate hosts were, in decreasing order of importance, Helix pomatia, Cepaea sylvatica and Arianta arbustorum . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.