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A deadly parasite has been found in some Alberta animals for the first time
An often deadly parasite to some types of animals has been found for the first time in the province, according to a First Nation in northern Alberta.
The Fort McMurray 468 First Nation posted to its Facebook page earlier this week, confirming the presence of the meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) in five caribou and one moose in the Cold Lake/Fort McMurray region of northeastern Alberta.
Diagnosis was confirmed through multiple lines of evidence and testing, ensuring high confidence in the results. This is the first time P. tenuis has been confirmed in Alberta.
P. tenuis is a meningeal worm that is fatal in elk, caribou, moose and mule deer. White- tailed deer are carriers but are unaffected by the parasite.
Meningeal worm is a native North American species that evolved on this continent. The optimal place for adult P. tenuis to live is in blood vessels associated with the thin coverings around the brain (called the meninges) of white-tailed deer. In whitetails, the worms are able to get in and out of this sensitive site without causing serious harm to the deer.
It is suspected that its movement into Alberta occurred via Saskatchewan, where cases have previously been reported. The future spread of this parasite and its potential impacts on Alberta’s wild populations of elk, caribou, moose and mule deer cannot be predicted with certainty.
The parasite does not infect humans, and meat from ungulates infected with P. tenuis is safe to consume.
It can cause fatal infections in a wide range of domestic species, including sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas and, rarely, cattle. Fatal infections in exotic cervid and bovid species occur in zoos in eastern North America.
“Meningeal worm poses a significant threat to the health and survival of cervids other than white-tailed deer, whether free-ranging or farmed. Similarly, once established in wild whitetails, P. tenuis is an ongoing risk to various livestock species,” the Alberta Government stated regarding the parasite.
https://dailyhive.com/calgary/meningeal-worm-parasite-alberta
An often deadly parasite to some types of animals has been found for the first time in the province, according to a First Nation in northern Alberta.
The Fort McMurray 468 First Nation posted to its Facebook page earlier this week, confirming the presence of the meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) in five caribou and one moose in the Cold Lake/Fort McMurray region of northeastern Alberta.
Diagnosis was confirmed through multiple lines of evidence and testing, ensuring high confidence in the results. This is the first time P. tenuis has been confirmed in Alberta.
P. tenuis is a meningeal worm that is fatal in elk, caribou, moose and mule deer. White- tailed deer are carriers but are unaffected by the parasite.
Meningeal worm is a native North American species that evolved on this continent. The optimal place for adult P. tenuis to live is in blood vessels associated with the thin coverings around the brain (called the meninges) of white-tailed deer. In whitetails, the worms are able to get in and out of this sensitive site without causing serious harm to the deer.
It is suspected that its movement into Alberta occurred via Saskatchewan, where cases have previously been reported. The future spread of this parasite and its potential impacts on Alberta’s wild populations of elk, caribou, moose and mule deer cannot be predicted with certainty.
The parasite does not infect humans, and meat from ungulates infected with P. tenuis is safe to consume.
It can cause fatal infections in a wide range of domestic species, including sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas and, rarely, cattle. Fatal infections in exotic cervid and bovid species occur in zoos in eastern North America.
“Meningeal worm poses a significant threat to the health and survival of cervids other than white-tailed deer, whether free-ranging or farmed. Similarly, once established in wild whitetails, P. tenuis is an ongoing risk to various livestock species,” the Alberta Government stated regarding the parasite.
https://dailyhive.com/calgary/meningeal-worm-parasite-alberta
