Annual maturation of Paramphistomum cervi (Trematoda: Paramphistomatidae) in moose, Alces alces L.

Rumen flukes, presumably Paramphistomum cervi (Schrank 1790), were found in the rumen of 49 of 60 moose (82%) examined from 1976 to 1979. Most flukes from moose killed during winter (November–March) were small and immature, whereas almost all were gravid from moose killed during summer (July–August)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Zoology
Main Authors: Lankester, Murray W., Snider, J. Barry, Jerrard, Robert E.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1979
Subjects:
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Alces alces
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z79-306
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z79-306
Description
Summary:Rumen flukes, presumably Paramphistomum cervi (Schrank 1790), were found in the rumen of 49 of 60 moose (82%) examined from 1976 to 1979. Most flukes from moose killed during winter (November–March) were small and immature, whereas almost all were gravid from moose killed during summer (July–August). Mature worms apparently die during September and October. Moose probably become infected with paramphistomes while feeding intensively on aquatic vegetation during June and July. The sexual maturation of rumen flukes may be initiated by changes in the diet of moose in late winter or spring.

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