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Nervous Tissue Lesions Caused by Elaphostrongylosis in Wild Swedish Moose

Nervvävnadsskador orsakade av elaphostrongylos hos viltlevande älg i Sverige

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 27, pages 326–342 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

During the first 5 months of 1985, 35 moose were obtained for necropsy at the National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden. 17 (49 %) of these cases were found to be infected with Elaphostrongylus sp. The nematodes were found in the epidural space of the spinal cord and brain, around and in the sciatic nerves and in muscle fasciae. Predilection sites appeared to be near cauda equina and the fasciae of the thoracic, gracilis and sartorius muscles.

Most of the infected animals were calves. Both sexes were equally represented. Pathological changes found were characterized by focal haemorrhages and oedema. The changes were present in the muscle fasciae and in the leptomeninges of the brain and spinal cord. Beside infiltrates of mainly lymphocytes and plasma cells, adult nematodes, larvae and eggs were observed.

Cases with mild gliosis in the cerebrum and degenerative changes of peripheral nerve roots affecting the epi- and perineurium were also found. In one case the inflammatory changes reached the endoneurium of a sciatic nerve bundle and in another case into a ganglion.

Inflammatory reactions against the parasite were mainly directed towards eggs. In loose connective tissue close to nerve tissue in the central nervous system larvae were found close to eggs and remains of eggs indicating that eggs may hatch at this site.

This investigation shows that natural infections with Elaphostrongylus sp. occur in wild moose and may produce pathological changes in large peripheral nerves and in the central nervous system.

Sammanfattning

Under de 5 första månaderna 1985 inkom 35 älgar till Statens Veterinärmedicinska Anstalt, Uppsala, för obduktion. Hos 17 av dessa (49 %) påvisades infektion med Elaphostrongylus sp.

Nematoderna påträffades epiduralt på ryggmärg och hjärna, runt och i ischiadicusnerver samt vid muskelfascier. Predilektionsställen var i anslutning till cauda equina samt intill fascier för pectoral-, gracilis- och sartoriemusklerna. Av de infekterade djuren utgjordes huvuddelen av kalvar. Båda könen var likvärdigt representerade. De patologiska fynden karakteriserades av fokala blödningar och ödem. Förändringarna förelåg i muskelfascier samt i hjärnans och ryggmärgens leptomeninger. De histologiska fynden utgjordes av infiltrat med huvudsakligen lymfocyter och plasmaceller, samt adulta nematoder, larver och ägg. Degenerativa förändringar, som nådde in till epi- och perineurium, påvisades i perifera nervers rötter. I ett fall nådde den inflammatoriska processen in i ischiadicusnervens endoneurium och i ett annat fall in i ett ganglion, Dessutom sågs fall med mild glios i storhjärnan. Det inflammatoriska svaret gentemot parasiten var främst riktat mot äggen. I lucker bindväv intill nervvävnad i centrala nervsystemet påvisades larver i anslutning till ägg och rester av kläckta ägg, vilket indikerar att ägg kläckes där.

Denna undersökning visar att naturliga infektioner med Elaphostrongylus sp. förekommer hos vild älg och kan förorsaka patologiska förändringar i stora perifera nerver och centrala nervsystemet.

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Acknowledgements

The excellent technical assistance by Ingegerd Forssell is gratefully acknowledged. Magnus Nordkvist is gratefully thanked for valuable discussions.

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  1. National Veterinary Institute, P. O. Box 7073, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Margareta Steen & Claes Rehbinder

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  1. Margareta Steen
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  2. Claes Rehbinder
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Steen, M., Rehbinder, C. Nervous Tissue Lesions Caused by Elaphostrongylosis in Wild Swedish Moose. Acta Vet Scand 27, 326–342 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548147

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147