[Dictyocaulus species, lungworms in cattle and deer in The Netherlands].

Abstract

Using recent descriptions of Dictyocaulus species, all samples of lungworms in cattle were identified as D. viviparus, and all samples from roe deer, red deer and reindeer being identified as D. eckerti by the present authors. Although cross infections between cattle and cervids are reported in the literature, these are not readily established. Because of the different species and the small likelihood of cross infections cattle and cervids are not regarded as serious sources of lungworm infections for each other. As the description of D. noerneri is based on very scanty information and it is not entirely impossible that it could have been D. viviparus, it is regarded as a species inquirenda. The correct name of the large lungworm of cervids is D. eckerti.