Veterinary Parasitology 172 (2010) 299–304 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Veterinary Parasitology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/vetpar Diversity and prevalence of metastrongyloid nematodes infecting the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in European zoos Mads F. Bertelsen a,∗ , Frederik Meyland-Smith a,e , Jakob L. Willesen b , Ryan Jefferies c,d , Eric R. Morgan d , Jesper Monrad e a Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 38, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark b Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 16, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark c School of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, North Somerset BS40 5DU, United Kingdom d School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom e Danish Center for Experimental Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark article info Article history: Received 26 February 2010 Received in revised form 20 April 2010 Accepted 26 April 2010 Keywords: Red panda Ailurus fulgens Angiostrongylus vasorum Crenosoma Prevalence Metastrongyloidea abstract Metastrongyloid induced pneumonia has been described sporadically in the red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Early descriptions in pandas recently imported to the USA from China involved parasites morphologically similar to Angiostrongylus spp. and Crenosomatidae. More recently, four cases of severe verminous pneumonia associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum have been reported from European zoos. A coprological survey of the red panda population within European zoos was conducted in 2008. Faecal samples from 115 pandas originating from 54 zoos were collected on 3 consecutive days. Using Baermann technique, 40 animals (35%) from 20 zoos (37%) were found to shed metastrongyloid first stage larvae (L 1 ). Based on their morphology and size, the L 1 observed could be divided into three mor- phologically distinct types: (1) a Crenosoma sp. type (n = 5, overall prevalence: 4.3%), (2) an A. vasorum type (n = 3, 2.6%), and (3) an unidentified metastrongyloid species, similar to, but morphologically distinct from A. vasorum (n = 32, 27.8%). Further confirmation of species identification was provided by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, which confirmed three different species. The novel Crenosoma species was most geneti- cally analogous to Crenosoma mephitidis and the unidentified metastrongyloid species was most similar to Stenurus minor and Torynurus convulutus. Routine and quarantine health care of red pandas in captivity should take account of the risk of Angiostrongylus and Creno- soma infection in endemic areas, but should also be cognisant of the widespread presence of an apparently less pathogenic species of lungworm. The identity of the two potentially novel species is subject to further work. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a medium-sized (3–8 kg), primarily herbivorous member of the Carnivora originating in the Himalayas. Its taxonomical position has been controversial, but it holds close resemblance to the ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +45 72200227; fax: +45 72200264. E-mail address: mfb@zoo.dk (M.F. Bertelsen). racoon and is currently classified within the Procyonidae. Wild populations are vulnerable due to habitat destruction, and captive breeding in zoological collections is pursued to support conservation efforts. Metastrongyloid induced pneumonia has been described sporadically in the red panda. The first descriptions in pandas recently imported to the USA from China involved parasites morphologically similar to Angiostrongylus sp. and Crenosomatidae (Montali et al., 1984) and a questionnaire-based survey of North American 0304-4017/$ – see front matter © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.04.043