Elaphostrongylus
Elaphostrongylus is a genus of parasitic nematodes in the family Protostrongylidae.
Species
Elaphostrongylus cervi Cameron, 1931Elaphostrongylus panticola Lubinov, 1945Elaphostrongylus rangiferi Mitskevich, 1958Elaphostrongylus alces Steen et al., 1989Life cycle
Intermediate hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. are terrestrial gastropods and they include:Limax cinereonigerMalacolimax tenellusSuccinea spp.Vitrina pellucidaZonitoides nitidusExperimental hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. can also be freshwater snails. For example Lymnaea stagnalis has been experimentally infected with Elaphostrongylus rangiferi.
Elaphostrongylus spp. causes cerebral nematodiasis. Definitive host include Cervidae: moose Alces alces, Cervus elaphus and reindeer Rangifer tarandus.