CROSS-INFECTION OF MOOSE (ALCES-ALCES) AND REINDEER (RANGIFER-TARANDUS) WITH ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS-ALCES AND ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS-RANGIFERI (NEMATODA, PROTOSTRONGYLIDAE) - EFFECTS ON PARASITE MORPHOLOGY AND PREPATENT PERIOD

Moose (Alces alces) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) were experimental ly cross-infected with Elaphostrongylus rangiferi and Elaphostrongylus alces, respectively. Both Elaphostrongylus species completed their de velopment in the alternate hosts but produced fewer larvae than in the ir usual host species. Reindeer infected with Elaphostrongylus alces d eveloped patent infections after 39-130 days, In moose, the prepatent period of this parasite was 39-73 days. Elaphostrongylus rangiferi inf ections were patent in moose after 133 days. The male morphological ch aracteristics of E. alces in moose and reindeer, and E. rangiferi in m oose and their migration pattern retained regardless of the host speci es. These results provide further evidence that E. alces and E. rangif eri are two distinct species. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.