LIMITED ROLE OF LAGOMORPHS (ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS AND LEPUS-CAPENSIS)IN THE DISPERSION OF PARASITE NEMATODES OF RUMINANTS

Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and hares (Lepus capensis) were invest igated under natural conditions for infection with ruminant nematodes, either in the condition of close contact with sheep (south-east of Fr ance) or unknown contact with ruminants (central region and French Cha mpaign), Rabbits and hares were poorly infected with sheep digestive t ract nematodes: Trichostrongylus colubriformis (second record) was enc ountered in one site and Trichostrongylus capricola (a first record) i n another site, at very low intensity. Small sheep lungworms (Neostron gylus linearis and Cystocaulus ocreatus) were not recorded in rabbits grazing common pasture with sheep. Although transmission remained limi ted between lagomorphs and ruminants, it could play a role in the tran sfer of nematode isolates resistant to anthelmintics from one farm to another. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.