Elaphostrongylus Explained

Elaphostrongylus is a genus of parasitic nematodes in the family Protostrongylidae.

Species

• Elaphostrongylus cervi Cameron, 1931
• Elaphostrongylus panticola Lubinov, 1945
• Elaphostrongylus rangiferi Mitskevich, 1958
• Elaphostrongylus alces Steen et al., 1989

Life cycle

Intermediate hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. are terrestrial gastropods and they include:

• Limax cinereoniger^[1]
• Malacolimax tenellus^[1]
• Succinea spp.^[1]
• Vitrina pellucida^[1]
• Zonitoides nitidus^[1]

Experimental hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. can also be freshwater snails.^[1] For example Lymnaea stagnalis has been experimentally infected with Elaphostrongylus rangiferi.^[2]

Elaphostrongylus spp. causes cerebral nematodiasis.^[1] Definitive host include Cervidae: moose Alces alces,^[1] Cervus elaphus and reindeer Rangifer tarandus.

Notes and References

1. Olsson I.-M., Stéen M. & Mann H. (1993). "Gastropod hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. (Protostrongylidae, Nematoda)". Rangifer 13(1): 53-55. PDF.
2. Skorping A. (1985). "Lymnea stagnalis as experimental intermediate host for Elaphostrongylus rangiferi". Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 71: 265-270.