Elaphostrongylus is a genus of parasitic nematodes in the family Protostrongylidae.
Species Elaphostrongylus cervi Cameron, 1931 Elaphostrongylus panticola Lubinov, 1945 Elaphostrongylus rangiferi Mitskevich, 1958 Elaphostrongylus alces Steen et al., 1989
Life cycle Intermediate hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. are terrestrial gastropods and they include: Limax cinereonigerOlsson I.-M., Stéen M. & Mann H. (1993). "Gastropod hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. (Protostrongylidae, Nematoda)". Rangifer 13(1): 53-55. PDF. Malacolimax tenellus Succinea spp. Vitrina pellucida Zonitoides nitidus
Experimental hosts of Elaphostrongylus spp. can also be freshwater snails. For example Lymnaea stagnalis has been experimentally infected with Elaphostrongylus rangiferi.Skorping A. (1985). "Lymnea stagnalis as experimental intermediate host for Elaphostrongylus rangiferi". Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 71: 265-270.
Elaphostrongylus spp. causes cerebral nematodiasis. Definitive host include Cervidae: moose Alces alces, Cervus elaphus and reindeer Rangifer tarandus.
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