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Elaphostrongylus cervi in a population of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and evidence of cerebrospinal nematodiasis in small ruminants in the province of Varese, Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2010

E.G. Alberti ,
G. Gioia ,
G. Sironi ,
S. Zanzani ,
P. Riccaboni ,
M. Magrini  and
M.T. Manfredi
E.G. Alberti
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, via Celoria, 10, 20133Milan, Italy
G. Gioia
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, via Celoria, 10, 20133Milan, Italy
G. Sironi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, via Celoria, 10, 20133Milan, Italy
S. Zanzani
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, via Celoria, 10, 20133Milan, Italy
P. Riccaboni
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, via Celoria, 10, 20133Milan, Italy
M. Magrini
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Prevention, Animal Health Service (ASL), via O. Rossi, 9, 21100Varese, Italy
M.T. Manfredi*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Pathology, Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, via Celoria, 10, 20133Milan, Italy
*
*E-mail: mariateresa.manfredi@unimi.it
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Abstract

Thirty-one faecal samples were collected from red deer in the northern area of Varese, in the Italian region of Lombardy, between August and October 2008. The animals had either been hunted or accidently killed. Examination for internal parasites showed a prevalence of 45.2% for Elaphostrongylus cervi larvae and species identification was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ninety-seven faecal samples were also collected from two goat flocks grazing in the same area between December 2007 and May 2008. These showed a prevalence of 74.7% for lungworms. Furthermore, the central nervous systems from five goats and one sheep from this area with a history of neurologically related lameness were examined. Histopathology confirmed E. cervi cerebro- spinal nematodiasis in five cases out of six. This study demonstrates E. cervi transmission from wild to domestic ruminants when the animals graze in the same area, and the possible occurrence of clinical disease in infected goats and sheep associated with high prevalence in deer.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 85 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 313 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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