Species of the genusElaphostrongylusparasite of Swedish cervidae. A description ofE. alcesn. sp.

Abstract

SUMMARY. A description of Elaphostrongylus alces n. sp., a parasite of moose (Alces alces L.), is given. The main features differing E. alces n. sp. from the other two investigated species are the bottle shaped oesophagus and the oval bursa, which is about 150 µm x 200 µm.E. rangiferi Mitskevith, 1960, a parasite of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) and E. cervi Cameron, 1931, a parasite of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) have both a club shaped or cylindrical oesophagus and a circular bursa. The bursa of E. rangiferi is about 160 µm in diameter, and the bursa of E. cervi is about 190 µm.Each species has been found only in its normal host.

Elaphostrongylus spp. from Scandinavian cervidae - a scanning electron microscope study (SEM)

“…The genital bursa of Elaphostrongylus sp. from moose, in accordance with the description of E.alces by Steen et al (1989) showed characteristics differing from those found in Elaphostrongylus spp. from reindeer and red deer respectively.…”

“…from red deer, reindeer, and moose strengthens earlier descriptions based on light microscopy of E.cervi by Cameron (1931), E.rangiferi by Mitskevich (1960) and E.alces by Steen et al (1989).…”

“…Dessa resultat stammer val overens med de karaktarer som tidigare ar beskrivna av Cameron (1931) och av Mitskevich (1960. Den hanliga bursan hos arten Elaphostrongylus funnen hos alg, vilken tidigare ar beskriven av Steen et al (1989), visade upp ett utseende som skilde sig från bursorna hos de Elaphostrongylus-aner funna hos ren och kronhjort. Dessa resultat stoder hypotesen om tre skilda arter av Elaphostrongylus hos Skandinaviska hjortdjur.…”

“…Boev and Shul'ts (1950) proposed Elaphostrongylus to be the type genus of the subfamily Elaphostrongylinae. Four species of the genus Elaphostrongylus have been described on the basis of light microscopy (LM): E.cervi Cameron, 1931, E.panticola Lyubimov, 1945, E.rangiferi Mitskevich, 1960, and E.alces Steen et al, 1989. The taxonomy is based mainly on the structure of the male bursa.…”

Extra-mammalian larval stages ofElaphostrongylus alces(Nematoda: Protostrongylidae), a parasite of moose (Alces alces) in Fennoscandia

“…Elaphostrongylus alces Stéen, Chabaud, and Rehbinder, 1989, a recently described species of neurotropic nematode, occurs in moose (Alces alces) of Sweden (Stéen et al 1989) and Norway (Gibbons et al 1991). Adult worms are found in the epidural space of the spinal canal and beneath the fascia of muscles of the chest and limbs.…”