Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA
Abstract Background Moose (Alces alces) are a culturally and economically valued species in Minnesota. However, the moose population has experienced a sudden, marked decline in their range, including extirpation in the northwest and a 66% decline in the last decade in the northeast portions of the s...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:2020e268659a46a69344fa2aaf369ca9 2023-05-15T13:12:51+02:00 Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA Caroline M. Grunenwald Erika Butler Arno Wünschmann Anibal G. Armien Michelle Carstensen Erik Hildebrand Roger D. Moon Richard W. Gerhold 2018-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 https://doaj.org/article/2020e268659a46a69344fa2aaf369ca9 EN eng BMC http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 https://doaj.org/toc/1756-3305 doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 1756-3305 https://doaj.org/article/2020e268659a46a69344fa2aaf369ca9 Parasites & Vectors, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2018) Moose (Alces alces) Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Elaeophora schneideri Parasitic infections Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 2022-12-31T00:57:44Z Abstract Background Moose (Alces alces) are a culturally and economically valued species in Minnesota. However, the moose population has experienced a sudden, marked decline in their range, including extirpation in the northwest and a 66% decline in the last decade in the northeast portions of the state. Although the exact cause of this decline is unclear, parasitic metastrongylid and filarioid nematode infections are known causes of morbidity and mortality in moose across North America. Methods To determine if these parasitic nematodes could be contributing to the Minnesota moose population decline, we molecularly examined banked tissues obtained from moose that died of known and unknown causes for the presence of nematode DNA. Extracted brain DNA of 34 individual moose was amplified utilizing primers targeting the 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer regions of nematodes. Results DNA sequencing revealed that PCR products obtained from 15 (44.1%) of the moose were 99% identical to Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, a metastrongylid known to cause neurological disease and death. Additionally, brain tissue from 20 (58.8%) individuals yielded sequences that most closely aligned with Elaeophora schneideri, a parasite associated with neurological impairment but previously unreported in Minnesota. Setaria yehi, a common filarioid parasite of deer, was also detected in the brain tissue of 5 (14.7%) moose. Molecular screening of 618 captured tabanid flies from four trapping sites revealed E. schneideri was present (6%) in the Minnesota environment and transmission could occur locally. Prevalence rates among the flies ranged between 0–100% per trapping site, with Chrysops spp. and Hybomitra spp. implicated as the vectors. Conclusions Ultimately, these data confirm that P. tenuis is widespread in the Minnesota moose population and raises the question of the significance of E. schneideri as a contributing factor to morbidity and mortality in moose. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Parasites & Vectors 11 1 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Moose (Alces alces) Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Elaeophora schneideri Parasitic infections Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
spellingShingle |
Moose (Alces alces) Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Elaeophora schneideri Parasitic infections Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Caroline M. Grunenwald Erika Butler Arno Wünschmann Anibal G. Armien Michelle Carstensen Erik Hildebrand Roger D. Moon Richard W. Gerhold Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA |
topic_facet |
Moose (Alces alces) Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Elaeophora schneideri Parasitic infections Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Moose (Alces alces) are a culturally and economically valued species in Minnesota. However, the moose population has experienced a sudden, marked decline in their range, including extirpation in the northwest and a 66% decline in the last decade in the northeast portions of the state. Although the exact cause of this decline is unclear, parasitic metastrongylid and filarioid nematode infections are known causes of morbidity and mortality in moose across North America. Methods To determine if these parasitic nematodes could be contributing to the Minnesota moose population decline, we molecularly examined banked tissues obtained from moose that died of known and unknown causes for the presence of nematode DNA. Extracted brain DNA of 34 individual moose was amplified utilizing primers targeting the 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer regions of nematodes. Results DNA sequencing revealed that PCR products obtained from 15 (44.1%) of the moose were 99% identical to Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, a metastrongylid known to cause neurological disease and death. Additionally, brain tissue from 20 (58.8%) individuals yielded sequences that most closely aligned with Elaeophora schneideri, a parasite associated with neurological impairment but previously unreported in Minnesota. Setaria yehi, a common filarioid parasite of deer, was also detected in the brain tissue of 5 (14.7%) moose. Molecular screening of 618 captured tabanid flies from four trapping sites revealed E. schneideri was present (6%) in the Minnesota environment and transmission could occur locally. Prevalence rates among the flies ranged between 0–100% per trapping site, with Chrysops spp. and Hybomitra spp. implicated as the vectors. Conclusions Ultimately, these data confirm that P. tenuis is widespread in the Minnesota moose population and raises the question of the significance of E. schneideri as a contributing factor to morbidity and mortality in moose. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Caroline M. Grunenwald Erika Butler Arno Wünschmann Anibal G. Armien Michelle Carstensen Erik Hildebrand Roger D. Moon Richard W. Gerhold |
author_facet |
Caroline M. Grunenwald Erika Butler Arno Wünschmann Anibal G. Armien Michelle Carstensen Erik Hildebrand Roger D. Moon Richard W. Gerhold |
author_sort |
Caroline M. Grunenwald |
title |
Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA |
title_short |
Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA |
title_full |
Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA |
title_fullStr |
Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA |
title_full_unstemmed |
Emergence of the arterial worm Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern Minnesota, USA |
title_sort |
emergence of the arterial worm elaeophora schneideri in moose (alces alces) and tabanid fly vectors in northeastern minnesota, usa |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 https://doaj.org/article/2020e268659a46a69344fa2aaf369ca9 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Parasites & Vectors, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2018) |
op_relation |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 https://doaj.org/toc/1756-3305 doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 1756-3305 https://doaj.org/article/2020e268659a46a69344fa2aaf369ca9 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3077-0 |
container_title |
Parasites & Vectors |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766254428220817408 |