First record ofin the wild invasive Northern raccoon () in the Czech Republic.

Abstract

, a zoonotic nematode originated in North America, is a significant cause ofin humans and wildlife. Here we report the first confirmed record ofin free-ranging invasive Northern raccoons () in the Czech Republic, based on combined morphological and molecular evidence. 10 raccoons were examined from the Doupov Highlands subpopulation between 2023 and 2025,were recovered from three individuals. Morphological and molecular analyses of ITS and COI regions confirmed the species identity, showing 99.3%-100% similarity to known conspecific sequences. This finding extends the recognized range of this zoonotic parasite in Central Europe, underscoring the potential public health risks posed by environmental contamination with infective eggs. Our results highlight the need for ongoing surveillance of invasive raccoon populations to monitor the spread of this pathogenic zoonotic parasites.