Helminth parasites of the eurasian badger (Meles meles L.) in Spain: a biogeographic approach

Eighty-five Eurasian badgers, Meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758), from four mainl and biogeographic Spanish areas were analysed for helminths. Seventeen helm inth species were found: Brachylaima sp., Euparyphium melis and Euryhelmis squamula (Trematoda), Atriotaenia incisa and Mesocestoides sp. (Cestoda) an d Aelurostrongylus pridhami, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Aonchotheca putorii, Crenosoma melesi, Mastrophorus muris, Molineus patens, Pearsonema plica, Ph ysaloptera sibirica, Strongyloides sp., Trichinella sp., Uncinaria crinifor mis and Vigisospiruara potekhina hugoti (Nematoda). In the Mediterranean ar ea, Aonchotheca putorii, M. patens. Stronglyloides sp., and U. criniformis were more prevalent in the occidental part, whereas Atriotaenia incisa and Mesocestoides sp. cestodes showed higher values on the continental slope. M etastrongyloid species (Aelurostrongylus pridhami, Angiostrongylus vasorum and Crenosoma melesi) were only detected in the occidental Mediterranean ar ea. In contrast, spirurid species (Mastophorus muris and Vigisospirura pote khina hugoti) were almost restricted to the continental Mediterranean area. Helminthological differences between areas may result from the badger diet , abiotic factors and biocenosis present in each biogeographic area.