| Summary: | The Eurasian badger (<i>Meles meles</i>) is widespread in Italy and occupies different habitats. The occurrence and species of gastrointestinal parasites were evaluated in a free-ranging badger population living in a highly anthropic area in central Italy. A total of 43 fecal samples were examined using the flotation test, the Mini-FLOTAC and Baermann techniques, and a rapid immunoassay for the detection of <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. fecal antigens. Molecular investigations were also performed that aimed at identifying <i>Giardia</i> genotypes. Overall, 37/43 samples (86%) were found positive. Specifically, 48.8% (21 samples) were positive for <i>G.</i><i>duodenalis</i>, 23.2% (10/43) for <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., and 7% (3/43) for coccidian oocysts. <i>Strongyloides</i> sp. nematode larvae were detected in 3/43 samples (7%). Ascarid (1/43, 2.3%), capillariid (1/43, 2.3%), and strongyle-type eggs (76.7%, 33/43) were also identified. Among the 11 readable sequences of samples that were positive for <i>G. duodenalis</i> by end-point PCR (18/21), the zoonotic assemblage A sub-assemblage AII and mixed assemblage A and B were identified. This is the first report of zoonotic <i>G. duodenalis</i> genotypes in the Eurasian badger. Moreover, most of identified parasites have zoonotic potential and/or potential impact on the population health of wild badgers and other wild and domestic animals.
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