- Source: Elaphostrongylus
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
Malacolimax tenellus
Succinea spp.
Vitrina pellucida
Zonitoides nitidus
Experimental hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. can also be freshwater snails. For example Lymnaea stagnalis has been experimentally infected with Elaphostrongylus rangiferi.
Elaphostrongylus spp. causes cerebral nematodiasis. Definitive host include Cervidae: moose Alces alces, Cervus elaphus and reindeer Rangifer tarandus.