Sum rn a r yOutbreaks of clinical cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis (CSE) in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Finnmark county, northern Norway, were summarized for the period 1960-1993 and compared to meteorological data.Disease outbreaks occurred during autumn and winter of seven different years. They were highly associated with high temperatures and moderately associated with heavy rainfall during the preceding summers. Mean summer temperatures for years with and without subsequent disease outbreaks were 1.5 "C above and 0.4 "C below the overall mean for the observation period. Summer temperatures above mean seem to be required to induce the mass development of infective Elaphostrongylus rangiferi larvae in the intermediate gastropod hosts that subsequently leads to severe infection and clinical CSE in reindeer in Finnmark. After hot summers, the nematode may cause epidemics with heavy losses, especially among calves.

No abstract

Clinical observations were made on 12 reindeer calves (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) experimentally infected with 200-1000 infective larvae of Elaphostrongylus rangiferi and autopsied 2.5-196 days post inoculation (p.i). Seven experimental animals autopsied later than 20 days p.i. all developed neurologic signs starting 4-8 weeks p.i. In six of these animals, signs lasted until autopsy 0-12 weeks after onset. The seventh animal recovered completely after a disease period lasting five months. A dose-response relationship between the infective dose and severity of signs was observed. Clinical signs observed in all affected animals were paraparesis, tail paresis and posterior ataxia. Other signs included lowered head, general weakness, lameness, tetraparesis, scoliosis, anal hypotonia, head and neck turn, depression and reduced vision. The prepa-tent period was 4-4.5 months

Summary Pathology records from the State Veterinary Laboratory for Northern Norway were used to examine the association between the occurrence of cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis (CSE) in small ruminants and summer temperature and rainfall in northern Norway. From 1968 to 1993, Elaphostrongylus rangiferi induced CSE was diagnosed in six sheep and 30 dairy goats from 28 different herds in northern Norway. The animals were received for autopsy during 11 different winters. The occurrence of CSE was associated with high mean temperatures during the preceding summers. Further information on clinical CSE and potential risk factors of the disease was obtained from small‐ruminant farmers in northern Norway in 1989 and 1991, using a questionnaire. Clinical CSE was defined as posterior paresis without any evidence of brain disturbances or cranial nerve dysfunctions. The survey showed that epidemics of CSE may occur in goat herds while the occurrence of CSE was sporadic in sheep herds. Disease incidence in affected goat herds varied between 0.8 and 8.2%. CSE was associated with the presence of reindeer in the pasture area and occurred in the first, third and, especially, the fourth quarter of the year.

No abstract