Gastrointestinal helminths of woodland and barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Canada, with keys to species.

Abstract

A total of 21 species of parasitic helminths was recovered from wild and captive caribou. Gastrointestinal nematodes were represented by eight species of Ostertagiinae, four species of Nematodirinae, Trichostrongylus axei, T. vitrinus, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Trichuris ovis, Skrjabinema sp., and Capillaria sp. Other helminths included Dictyocaulus viviparus, Setaria yehi, and Moniezia sp. Nematodirus odocoilei, a common parasite of Odocoileus spp. is reported from caribou for the first time. Ostertagia leptospicularis is reported from North America for the first time. Illustrations and diagnostic keys are provided for the eggs, infective larvae, and adults of the gastrointestinal nematodes recovered from caribou.