A new lungworm in muskoxen: an exploration in Arctic parasitology

Ruminants are vital elements of the Holarctic ecosystem. Little is known, h owever, of the structure or biology of their parasite fauna, particularly i n North America. Global warming, coupled with increasing human activity in the Arctic, requires enhanced international interdisciplinary efforts to be tter understand the many factors, including parasites, that influence the p opulation health of caribou, reindeer, muskoxen and wild sheep. The discove ry of an unusual new genus of protostrongylid lung nematode in muskoxen fro m the central Canadian Arctic is described, and the intricacies of the para site's relationship with its muskoxen definitive hosts, its gastropod inter mediate hosts and the arctic environment are discussed.