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6 January 2021 HERBIVORES AS ACCIDENTAL HOSTS FOR TRICHINELLA: SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE OF TRICHINELLA INFECTION AND EXPOSURE IN FREE-RANGING MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) IN A HIGHLY ENDEMIC SETTING
Age Kärssin, Noora Remes, Kaidi Korge, Mare Viigipuu, Christen Rune Stensvold, Maria Angeles Gómez-Morales, Alessandra Ludovisi, Pikka Jokelainen, Brian Lassen
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Abstract

Herbivores can be accidental hosts for the zoonotic nematode parasites Trichinella spp., which are endemic at high prevalence in wildlife in northeastern Europe. Using direct and indirect detection methods for Trichinella spp., we investigated samples from 463 wild moose (Alces alces) harvested by hunters in Estonia in 2015. A total of 460 moose were tested directly by artificial digestion of diaphragm muscle, 463 moose were tested indirectly by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and 34 moose also by western blot. Positive-control reference sera were from other host species. Nematode larvae were found in six muscle samples; five of which were pooled samples. None of the larvae were identified as Trichinella spp., based on their morphology and molecular analyses. Twelve moose (2.6%) were positive by ELISA, but none were positive by the western blot test. Trichinella spp. infection was not detected, but ELISA results may suggest Trichinella spp. exposure in a small proportion of moose in Estonia.

© Wildlife Disease Association 2021
Age Kärssin, Noora Remes, Kaidi Korge, Mare Viigipuu, Christen Rune Stensvold, Maria Angeles Gómez-Morales, Alessandra Ludovisi, Pikka Jokelainen, and Brian Lassen "HERBIVORES AS ACCIDENTAL HOSTS FOR TRICHINELLA: SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE OF TRICHINELLA INFECTION AND EXPOSURE IN FREE-RANGING MOOSE (ALCES ALCES) IN A HIGHLY ENDEMIC SETTING," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 57(1), 116-124, (6 January 2021). https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-19-00011
Received: 3 December 2019; Accepted: 7 June 2020; Published: 6 January 2021
KEYWORDS
Artificial digestion
cervids
nematode
serology
zoonosis
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