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

Nematodes of the genus Elaphostrongylus collected from moose (Alces alces L.), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.), and red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), respectively, were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. Morphological differences in the ribs of the genital bursa were demonstrated. The Elaphostrongylus species from reindeer and red deer differed from each other in four ribs of the genital bursa. These results agree with the morphological characters of E. cervi and E. rangiferi described by Cameron (1931) and Mitskevitch (1960). 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. These results support the hypothesis that there are three separate species of Elaphostrongylus present in Scandinavian Cervidae. Svep-elektroniska studier på Elaphostrongylus spp. hos skandinaviska hjortdjur.Abstract in Swedish / Sammandrag: Rundmaskar inom slaktet Elaphostrongylus funna hos alg (Alces alces L.), ren (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) och kronhjort(Cervus elaphus L.) studerades med hjalp av svepelelektronmikroskop. De hanliga bursorna med sin a stodjeribbor uppvisade variationer i utseende, langd och placering mellan dessa rundmaskar. De arter av Elaphostrongylus funna hos ren och kronhjort skilde sig åt avseende fyra stodjeribbor på de hanliga bursorna. 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-arter funna hos ren och kronhjort. Dessa resultat stoder hypotesen om tre skilda arter av Elaphostrongylus hos skandinaviska hjortdjur

An erosive/ulcerative alimentary disease of undetermined etiology in Swedish moose (AIces alces L.)

During the years 1985 to 1987, 689 moose (Alces alces L.) collected throughout Sweden were necrop-sied at the National Veterinary Institute in Uppsala, Sweden. Sixty-eight of those investigated had catarrhal to hemorrhagic enteritis, atrophied lymphoid organs, and/or numerous erosive, uclerative, necrotizing lesions of the digestive mucosa. Histopathology of the mucous membranes revealed marked inter- and intracellular oedema, erosions, ulcers and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. Neither Bovine Virus Diarrhoea/Mucosal Disease (BVD/MD) or Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus could be isolated from the diseased animals. It is suggested that the syndrome resembling BVD/MD complex, may have been caused by an yet unidentified virus

WILD ANIMAL RESEARCH – NEW LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union agreed on a directive (DIR) for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes in 2010 which was implemented by member states at the onset of 2013. The DIR applies to animals used for science or education that are subjected to pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than that caused by a needle. The DIR changes the legal framework for wild animal research and requires educational and training standards of staff involved in capturing, planning, or performing research. Both wild animals studied in or taken from the wild into captivity are covered by the DIR. An animal welfare body must be established that includes a scientific member and at least one person responsible for animal welfare, and they must receive input from a designated veterinarian. The DIR will aid and improve wild animal research because standards of animal welfare and research ethics must be met. Although similar standards for moose research were employed previously in Scandinavia, future moose research and conservation will likewise benefit

The Dividing Line Between Wildlife Research and Management—Implications for Animal Welfare

Wild animals are used for research and management purposes in Sweden and throughout the world. Animals are often subjected to similar procedures and risks of compromised welfare from capture, anesthesia, handling, sampling, marking, and sometimes selective removal. The interpretation of the protection of animals used for scientific purposes in Sweden is based on the EU Directive 2010/63/EU. The purpose of animal use, irrespective if the animal is suffering or not, decides the classification as a research animal, according to Swedish legislation. In Sweden, like in several other European countries, the legislation differs between research and management. Whereas, animal research is generally well-defined and covered in the legislation, wildlife management is not. The protection of wild animals differs depending on the procedure they are subjected to, and how they are classified. In contrast to wildlife management activities, research projects have to implement the 3Rs and must undergo ethical reviews and official animal welfare controls. It is often difficult to define the dividing line between the two categories, e.g., when marking for identification purposes. This gray area creates uncertainty and problems beyond animal welfare, e.g., in Sweden, information that has been collected during management without ethical approval should not be published. The legislation therefore needs to be harmonized. To ensure consistent ethical and welfare assessments for wild animals at the hands of humans, and for the benefit of science and management, we suggest that both research and management procedures are assessed by one single Animal Ethics Committee with expertise in the 3Rs, animal welfare, wildlife population health and One Health. We emphasize the need for increased and improved official animal welfare control, facilitated by compatible legislation and a similar ethical authorization process for all wild animal procedures

EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS ALCES IN SWEDISH MOOSE

A total of 961 harvested and 241 unharvested moose (Alces alces) carcasses and parts from throughout Sweden were examined for Elaphostrongylus alces from 1985 to 1989. When available, the central nervous system and skeletal muscles were searched for adult nematodes, and lungs and feces were examined for first-stage larvae. The parasite was distributed throughout Sweden with highest prevalence (56%) in the central region and lowest in the south (13%). Prevalence was highest in calves and old moose (>9 years) and lowest in middle-aged animals (5–9 years), with no statistical difference between sexes, although prevalence trended higher in young males. Body condition and abundance of Elaphostrongylus alces were negatively correlated, and condition was poorer in unharvested than harvested moose. A short (39–73 days) prepatent period was documented, and calves as young as 1.5 months were infected. These results indicate the importance of continued surveillance of Elaphostrongylus alces, particularly because a warming climate will likely increase abundance of intermediate mollusk hosts and possibly cause increased infection of moose

EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS ALCES IN SWEDISH MOOSE

A total of 961 harvested and 241 unharvested moose (Alces alces) carcasses and parts from throughout Sweden were examined for Elaphostrongylus alces from 1985 to 1989. When available, the central nervous system and skeletal muscles were searched for adult nematodes, and lungs and feces were examined for first-stage larvae. The parasite was distributed throughout Sweden with highest prevalence (56%) in the central region and lowest in the south (13%). Prevalence was highest in calves and old moose (>9 years) and lowest in middle-aged animals (5–9 years), with no statistical difference between sexes, although prevalence trended higher in young males. Body condition and abundance of Elaphostrongylus alces were negatively correlated, and condition was poorer in unharvested than harvested moose. A short (39–73 days) prepatent period was documented, and calves as young as 1.5 months were infected. These results indicate the importance of continued surveillance of Elaphostrongylus alces, particularly because a warming climate will likely increase abundance of intermediate mollusk hosts and possibly cause increased infection of moose

EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS ALCES IN SWEDISH MOOSE

A total of 961 harvested and 241 unharvested moose (Alces alces) carcasses and parts from throughout Sweden were examined for Elaphostrongylus alces from 1985 to 1989. When available, the central nervous system and skeletal muscles were searched for adult nematodes, and lungs and feces were examined for first-stage larvae. The parasite was distributed throughout Sweden with highest prevalence (56%) in the central region and lowest in the south (13%). Prevalence was highest in calves and old moose (>9 years) and lowest in middle-aged animals (5–9 years), with no statistical difference between sexes, although prevalence trended higher in young males. Body condition and abundance of Elaphostrongylus alces were negatively correlated, and condition was poorer in unharvested than harvested moose. A short (39–73 days) prepatent period was documented, and calves as young as 1.5 months were infected. These results indicate the importance of continued surveillance of Elaphostrongylus alces, particularly because a warming climate will likely increase abundance of intermediate mollusk hosts and possibly cause increased infection of moose

EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) WITH ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS SPP. (NEMATODA, PROTOSTRONGYLIDAE) ORIGINATING FROM REINDEER (RANGIFER TARANDUS) AND MOOSE, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CLINICAL SIGNS, GROSS- AND MICROSCOPIC LESIONS, AND PREDILECTION SITES

Captive moose calves (Alces alces) were used to study symptoms of Elaphostrongylus infections that affect moose and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Scandinavia. Seven calves were infected experimentally with Elaphostrongylus alces larvae and three with E. rangiferi larvae. Both parasites produced neurological and behavioral symptoms in calves. The E. alces animals showed mild to severe neurological signs and moderate pathological changes, mainly in the meninges and the peripheral nervous system. Other symptoms were posterior weakness, clockwise circling, and inwards bending of the hind legs. The E. rangiferi animals showed severe neurological signs and paralysis with mild to prominent pathological changes in the central nervous system; behavioral symptoms included legs kept wide apart, weakness, gait incoordination, and reluctance to rise. In general, the severity of symptoms was related to the parasitic dosage and whether the host was normal or aberrant. The symptoms and lesions identified here should aid in identifying the cause and extent of these parasites in mortality of wild moose typically observed at or near death