Abstract
An 8-week-old male moose calf was inoculated with 360 infective third-stage larvae (L3) of E. cervi. The calf started to expel first-stage larvae (L1) of E. cervi in faeces 63 days after inoculation. The highest faecal larval count of 1,920 L1 per gram faeces was recorded 133 days post inoculation. Clinically, intermittent lameness, mild ataxia and general stiffness were observed over a 3 months’ period from day 75 after inoculation. The symptoms were moderate, faded gradually and were not seen during the last three weeks of the observation period. The calf had a good appetite and the bodyweight increased continuously throughout the experiment. On day 202 after inoculation the calf was euthanized and autopsied. Adult E. cervi were found in the epidural space of the central nervous system (CNS) and in skeletal muscles. Oedema, haemorrhages, discolouration and extensive inflammatory reactions were observed in the fat and loose connective tissue of the epidural space between the 5 th cervical vertebra and cauda equina. Nematodes or lesions indicating nematode infestation could not be demonstrated in the leptomeninges or in the neural parenchyma of the CNS. Numerous eggs and larvae of E. cervi associated with moderate pathological changes were observed in the lungs.
Sammendrag
Til en morløs, 2 måneder gammel dte det gitt 360 tredjestadiums Elaphostrongylus cervi larver (L3), Kalven begynte å skille ut E. cervi larver (LI) med avføringen 03 dager etter at den ble podet. Den høyeste larveutskillelsen med 1.920 larver pr. gram feces ble registrert 133 dager etter inokulering. Kalven viste moderate forstyrrelser i bevegelsesmønsteret med intermitterende halthet, noe korte og stive bevegelser og svak ataksi fra den 75. dagen etter podningen. Symptomene ble observert i en 3 måneders periode, og ble gradvis svakere mot slutten av denne perioden. De siste 3 ukene før kalven ble avlivet ble det ikke registrert symptomer. Kalven hadde god appetitt og tilveksten var jevn under hele forsaket. Kalven ble avlivet og obdusert 202 dager ettet podningen. Kjønnsmodne parasitter ble påvist epiduralt i ryggmargen og i muskulaturen. Patologiske forandringer med ødem, blødninger, misfargning og omfattende betennelsesreaksjoner ble påvist i fettvevet og det løse bindevevet i epiduralrommet. Parasitter eller patologiske forandringer ble ikke påvist hverken i leptomeninger eller nerveparenchym. I lungene ble det påvist rikelig med E. cervi egg og larver, men bare moderate patoldgiske forandringer.
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Acknowledgement
This study was financially supported by the Norwegian Agricultural Research Council. We thank Professor O. Helle and Dr. G. Holt for essential help and guidance, Dr. B. Bratberg for guidance regarding the histological examination, the staff at Dal Research Farm, Heggedal for taking good care of the moose calves and the technicians T. Inge-brigtsen and E. Aronsen for assistance with the rearing of snails.
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Stuve, G., Skorping, A. Experimental Elaphostrongylus Cervi Infection in Moose (Alces Alces). Acta Vet Scand 28, 165–171 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548237
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548237