TY - JOUR AU - Stéen, Margareta AU - Olsson Ressner, Ing-Marie AU - Olsson, Bodil AU - Petersson, Erik PY - 2016/08/15 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF ELAPHOSTRONGYLUS ALCES IN SWEDISH MOOSE JF - Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose JA - Alces VL - 52 IS - 0 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://www.alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/138 SP - 13-28 AB - A total of 961 harvested and 241 unharvested moose (<em>Alces alces</em>) carcasses and parts from throughout Sweden were examined for <em>Elaphostrongylus alces</em> from 1985 to 1989. When available, the central nervous system and skeletal muscles were searched for adult nematodes, and lungs and feces were examined for first-stage larvae. The parasite was distributed throughout Sweden with highest prevalence (56%) in the central region and lowest in the south (13%). Prevalence was highest in calves and old moose (&gt;9 years) and lowest in middle-aged animals (5–9 years), with no statistical difference between sexes, although prevalence trended higher in young males. Body condition and abundance of <em>Elaphostrongylus alces</em> were negatively correlated, and condition was poorer in unharvested than harvested moose. A short (39–73 days) prepatent period was documented, and calves as young as 1.5 months were infected. These results indicate the importance of continued surveillance of <em>Elaphostrongylus alces</em>, particularly because a warming climate will likely increase abundance of intermediate mollusk hosts and possibly cause increased infection of moose. ER -