Helminths in moose of Alberta

Sixteen species of helminths (five cestodes, eight nematodes, and three trematodes) were found during examination of 215 moose from Alberta. Different helminth faunas occurred in moose from the major population in the west and north, and from isolated populations in central (Elk Island National Park) and southeastern (Cypress Hills Provincial Park) Alberta; only Moniezia sp., Taenia hydatigena, and Nematodirella longispiculata were found in all three populations. Thysanosoma actinioides, Protostrongylus macrotis, Setaria labiatopapillosa, Fascioloides magna, and Zygocotyle lunata were found in only one of the three populations; their presence was most likely due to cohabitation by moose and other infected vertebrates. The presence of wolves probably accounted for the high prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus, T. hydatigena, and Taenia krabbei in the west and north, while coyotes were of local importance in maintenance of E. granulosus and T. hydatigena in the park populations. Wehrdikmansia cervipedis was not found in park populations probably because of absence or scarcity of the intermediate host. Moniezia expansa, P. macrotis, S. labiatopapillosa, and Z. lunata are reported for the first time from moose in North America.