Taenia krabbei (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) in Germany and its delimitation from T-ovis

In the intestine of two wolves (Canis lupus) from Germany 33 adult tapeworms were found. The cestodes were determined as Taenia krabbei Moniez, 1879 (Syn. T. cervi Christiansen, 1931). Adult parasites were compared with cysticerci from thigh muscles of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) as well as cysticerci from cardiac muscles of sheep (Ovis ammon). It is postulated that T. krabbei from wolf and roe deer is a valid and distinct species which uses Cervidae as original intermediate hosts. T. krabbei is highly similar in all morphological criteria to T. ovis. However, the life history of T. ovis includes Bovidae, preferably sheep as intermediate hosts.