Abstract
Six reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), five sheep and six goats (Ovis ovis and Capra hircus) were experimentally infected with the nematode Elaphostrongylus alces. Additionally, one sheep was infected with E. rangiferi. Reindeer infected with E. alces showed no neurological signs. Sheep and goats infected with the same parasite also remained clinically healthy; however, the sheep infected with E. rangiferi showed severe neurological signs and became paralysed. Pathological lesions were minimal in reindeer and domestic ruminants infected with E. alces, but were prominent in the lamb infected with E. rangiferi. Our results indicate that keeping and transferring sheep and goats into ateas inhabited by moose, which is a natural host of E. alces may not harm the livestock, while keeping sheep in areas inhabited by reindeer infected with E. rangiferi may result in petiodic outbreaks of cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis in sheep.
Highlights
Cerebrospinal nematodiasis caused by Elapho- almost certainly would have spread extensively as strongylus spp. is a widelly recognised neurological both reindeer and moose populations have dramatidisorder in reindeer {Rangifer tarandus), cally increased (Cederlund & Markgren, 1987; moose {Alces alces), and other cervids (Kontrimavic- Statistical Year book of Sweden, 1993)
Reindeer infected with E. alces L3 Clinical signs Reindeer 1, 4, 5 and 6 showed no clinical signs
Gross pathology and parasites Multiple small white spots occurred in the liver parenchyma in calf 5
Summary
Cerebrospinal nematodiasis caused by Elapho- almost certainly would have spread extensively as strongylus spp. is a widelly recognised neurological both reindeer and moose populations have dramatidisorder in reindeer {Rangifer tarandus), cally increased (Cederlund & Markgren, 1987; moose {Alces alces), and other cervids (Kontrimavic- Statistical Year book of Sweden, 1993). The risk of hus et al, 1976; Halvorsen, 1986; Steen & Roeps- cross-infection remains where reindeer share habitorpff, 1990; Handeland & Norberg, 1992). Livestock sharing pastures with cal signs of infection are general weakness, poor co- reindeer and moose may occasionally acquire ordination of hind legs, paresis, paralysis and death. In North America, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, the with disorders, namely E. cervi Cameron, 1931; E. meningeal nematode of white-tailed deer {Odocoileus panticola Lubimov, 1945; E. rangiferi Mitskevich, virginianus) causes neurological disease in a number. Small domestic ruminants have been affected where pastures overlap with white-tailed deer (Alden et al, 1975; Guthery et al, 1979). The objectives of our study were to describe the clinical signs, the gross- and histopathology and to evaluate the ability of E. alas to complete development in experimentally infected reindeer, sheep, goats, and one sheep infected with E. rangiferi
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