The European Badger as a New Host for and an Update on the Distribution of the Heartworm in Wild Carnivores from Romania.

is an important mosquito-borne nematode, being of both veterinary and public health concern. The typical final host is represented by the domestic dog, , but it is able to infect a large variety of mammalian species. During the present study (March 2016-February 2022), a total of 459 wild carnivore carcasses belonging to 17 species, from Romania, were evaluated for the presence of adult by necropsy. Overall, 20 animals (4.36%) were positive: twelve golden jackals, (19.05%); four red foxes, (6.67%); one raccoon dog, ; two wild cats, (4.65%); and one European badger, (0.87%). This study provides further evidence of the occurrence of the canine heartworm, , in Romania, expanding the known host spectrum, reports a new host species for this parasite, the European badger, and a new host for Europe, the raccoon dog.