EN
Pine wilt disease caused by pine wood nematodes is endemic to North America. Pine wood nematodes have already spread to East Asia, including China, Taiwan and Korea in addition to Japan. The pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, was discovered in Portuguese pine forests in 1999. If it were to become established in the pine forests in Europe, it could become one of the most serious threat to coniferous forests worldwide.