title: Epidemiological aspects of cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis in small ruminants in northern Norway.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006041:Goats; D015994:Incidence; D008681:Metastrongyloidea; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*