Abstract
Clinical observations were made on 12 reindeer calves (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) experimentally infected with 200-1000 infective larvae of Elaphostrongylus rangiferi and autopsied 2.5-196 days post inoculation (p.i). Seven experimental animals autopsied later than 20 days p.i. all developed neurologic signs starting 4-8 weeks p.i. In six of these animals, signs lasted until autopsy 0-12 weeks after onset. The seventh animal recovered completely after a disease period lasting five months. A dose-response relationship between the infective dose and severity of signs was observed. Clinical signs observed in all affected animals were paraparesis, tail paresis and posterior ataxia. Other signs included lowered head, general weakness, lameness, tetraparesis, scoliosis, anal hypotonia, head and neck turn, depression and reduced vision. The prepa-tent period was 4-4.5 months.
Highlights
Nematodes of the genusElaphostrongylus parasitize the central nervous system (CNS)and skeletal muscles of ruminants in the familyCervidae
Twelve of the calves were brought from a semi-domesticated herd in the Tromsø region on August 20, 1992, whereas the remaining t w o (Table 1; Calves 3 a n d 9) werebornin captivity at the Department o f Arctic Biology, University of Tromsø
All calves were fed a commercially available concentrate composed for reindeer (RF 80) ad libitum, with the exception of the first 3-4 weekswhen the 12 semi-domesticated calves were fed fresh grass
Summary
Nematodes of the genusElaphostrongylus parasitize the central nervous system (CNS)and skeletal muscles of ruminants in the familyCervidae. Elaphostrongylus parasitize the central nervous system (CNS). Skeletal muscles of ruminants in the family. I960 f r o m reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), a n d E. alces Steen, Chabaudand. Occurring neurologic disease due to Elaphostrongylus infection has b e e n reported i n reindeer, r e d deer (Cervus elaphus) a n d moose in Fennoscandinavia 1973; Kummeneje, 1974; Borg, 1979; Holmström et al, 1989; Steen & Roepstorff, 1990; Handeland & Norberg, 1992), and i n reindeer a n d Cervus s p p . T h e parasites have been reported to cause disease in sheep and goats
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