Abstract

A group of 684 animals consisting of 116 rats, 90 mice, 94 badgers, 61 martens and 323 muskrats were collected in various parts of the Netherlands and investigated for the presence of T. spiralis larvae, using artificial digestion. Only one of the animals (Rattus norvegicus) was positive, indicating a low rate of infection in sylvestic cycles. Since infected wild animals are a potential source of infection for farm animals, it is recommended to continue the regular investigations of selected groups of wild animals for the prevalence of T.spiralis as a part of the Trichinella surveillance programme in the Netherlands.