ECTOPARASITES FROM ELK (CERVUS ELAPHUS NELSONI) FROM WYOMING Author(s): W. M. Samuel, D. A. Welch, and B. L. Smith Source: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 27(3):446-451. Published By: Wildlife Disease Association DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-27.3.446 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.7589/0090-3558-27.3.446

BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder.

BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.

of Wildlife

Journal

Diseases,

27(3),

© Wildlife

ECTOPARASITES FROM

FROM

2National

Elk Refuge,

Refuge, roptes winter

ELAPHUS

1991, pp. 446-451 Association 1991

NELSON!)

WYOMING and

W. M. Samuel,’ D. A. Welch,’ ‘Department of Zoology, University

ABSTRACT:

ELK (CERVUS

Disease

Jackson,

B. L Smith2

of Alberta,

Wyoming

Edmonton,

83001,

Alberta,

Canada

T6G

2E9

USA

Hides of nine elk, collected during the winter of 1986-1987 from Wyoming (USA) were examined for ectoparasites. Parasites recovered sp. (five elk); lice, Solenopotes ferrisi and Bovicola (Bovicola) longicornis

the

National

were

Elk

Pso-

mites,

(seven elk); and albipictus (nine elk). Three elk with severe scabies had an estimated 0.6 x 106, 3.8 x 106 and 6.5 x 106 mites, respectively. Densities of mites were much higher in skin regions with severe dermatitis. Skin lesions on elk with scabies consisted of dense, often moist, scabs extending along the dorsal and lateral thoracic regions of the body. Lesions attributed to winter ticks consisted of broken hair and alopecia on the dorsal portion of the lower neck, often

Dermacentor

ticks,

extending

in a “collar”

around

the

neck.

Key words: Rocky Mountain elk, lice, winter tick, dermatitis, intensity,

Cervus elaphus distribution.

INTRODUCTION

National determine

Elk

Refuge numbers

tribution of ectopanasites relate this information dermatitis and alopecia

were and

Carcasses

January

and

of eight elk 26 February

host

were

between

located

Although

1985).

carcasses

been dead for as long as 24 hr prior of the hide, no parasites left the

between

death

and

hide

collection

on the Refuge were and March. Because

because

very

cold

be-

(Ca-

coyotes

latrans) scavenged all carcasses (thus precluding detailed necropsy), the relatively untouched hide from the lateral side on the snow was collected. The hide from a recently captured elk from the Refuge that died on 19 March 1987 was also included. Hides were removed from the right or lateral half of each carcass. This was done

left by

cutting along the dorsal and ventral midlines of the body and along the media! surface of each limb. Portions of the skin covering the lower legs and head were not collected. Each hide was then

frozen

in a plastic

bag.

Later,

it was

thawed,

marked into 10 cm x 10 cm quadrats, and dissolved in 5% potassium hydroxide solution following the technique of Welch and Samuel (1989). All quadrats from each half-hide were examined for ectoparasites, again following Welch and Samuel (1989). Ectoparasites were

to identify spatial dis-

dead

sp.,

nis

sorted

according

to type,

counted,

and

ticks

were

assigned to age-class. The chewing and sucking lice were not separated during the counting process, so data for them were lumped. For three elk with obvious severe scabies, numbers of mites were based on a 1 cm x 1 cm subsample of hide

26

that was removed from quadrat and digested. Analysis of variance

at

densities

AND METHODS 1987,

Psoroptes

a daily supplemental feeding prois done annually on the National (43#{176}28’to 43#{176}38’N, 110#{176}35’to

temperatures tween January

from elk, and to to two patterns of seen on elk in win-

found

scabies,

1 10#{176}45’W) (Smith,

could have to collection

ter. MATERIALS

ectoparasites,

dawn during gram, which Elk Refuge

Although reports of external parasites from elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) are common (Munie, 1951; Worley and Green, 1976; Kistner, 1982), there is no documentation of parasite numbers, distribution on the host, concurrent infestations, on relationship of species of parasite to damage to the hair coat. Such information should be valuable given that at least two anthnopod parasites reported commonly from elk, the scab mite (Psoroptes sp.) and winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus), may be important pathogens. On the National Elk Refuge in northwestern Wyoming (USA), Psoroptes sp. causes a progressive and severe exudative dermatitis in adult male elk (Munie, 1951; Smith, 1985), and some animals die each winter with clinical scabies (Smith, 1985). Infestations of winter ticks have resulted in reports of morbidity and mortality (Banfield, 1949; Cowan, 1951; Munie, 1951; Stelfox, 1962). The purposes of the present study on the and

nelsoni,

446

of mites

on

the

corner

was

quadrats

of the

used

to

with

larger

compare

extensive

SAMUEL

1.

TABLE

Summary

of numbers

of ectoparasites

found

on

elk

of the

Estimated

no.

Sex and

Extent of hair damage (%)b

age’

National

number

Elk

Total

Total

Ticks Total

1

Unknown

M/Ad

29

3

M/Ad

0

6 (0.0005)

4

F/Ylg

3

0

5

M/Ad

6

F/Ad

0

0

2,928

(0.14)

7

M/Ca

9

0

8

Unknown/Ca

0

4 (0.0003)

18,240 13,229

(1.97) (0.96)

9

F/Ad

M, male;

F, female; of the

Ticks,

Derinacentor

hair

22

damage

silhouette

albipictus;

mites,

Psoroptes

on those

with

little

extent was

2,967

x

hair.

sp.;

Bovicola

lice,

or no dam-

2,510

(0.10)

9,333

(0.43)

1,310

(0.06)

50(0.002)

5,251(0.56) 5,845 (0.42)

sible

1,610

until

detailed

(cf.

Solenopotes

and

longicornis

ferrisi.

morphometric

Boyce

et

a!.,

(0.08)

analysis

1990;

W.

is

Boyce,

hair and half-hide by making a detailed diagram, then determining the damaged portion of the torso from the diagram using a digitizer (Bit pad two; Summagraphics Corporation, Fairfield, Connecticut 06430, USA). To summarize data on spatial dis-

pens.

tnibution

ten tick (Derrnacentor albipictus) were recovered from five, seven, and nine elk, respectively (Table 1). Three elk had severe scabies and many mites (Table 1 ) . The

of

damaged

(0.02)

0

(Bovicola)

(0.32) (0.03)

776

0

completed

of obviously

6,071

48 (0.004) 355

106 (194)

Ca, calf. by damaged

(0.16)

(number/cm’)

8 (0.0003)

(23)

x 106 (240)

3.8

Ad, adult; Ylg, yearling; of the torso covered

and

alopecia

6.5

25

Percent

age. The

0

x 106

1987.

(x 2)

(number/cm)

2

0.6

447

Wyoming,

Lice

(number/cm)

0

OF ELK

Refuge,

of ectoparasites

Mites

,

Elk

ET AL.-ECTOPARASIrES

determined

for

ectoparasites

on

elk,

a representa-

tive half-hide was selected for each parasite type. The quadrats for each half-hide were listed in order of increasing parasite density and divided into

quartiles.

Al!

quadrats

first quartile (0 to 25%) parasite density, while

falling

represented quadrats

fourth quartile (>75%) represented sity. Other quadrats were considered

sent

moderate

within

the

areas of low falling in the high dento repre-

density.

Specimens of mites, ticks and lice were removed from carcasses of several elk shortly after death and preserved in 95% ETOH. Mites and ticks were deposited in the University of Alberta Parasite Collection (Department of Zoology, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9; Accession Numbers UAPC 11398 and 11399, respec-

lively) and the Biosystematics (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 125 and 126, respectively). ing lice were deposited lection (UAPC Numbers spectively), Biosystematics (Numbers 121 and 123,

Research

Centre

K1A 0C8; Numbers Sucking and chewin the University Col11396 and 11397, reResearch Centre respectively), and The

Frost Entomological Museum (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA). The classification of Lyal (1985) was followed for the chewing louse. Although psoroptic mites of elk have been given several

names

in the

Greer,

1976),

species

literature

comm.).

each

(see

identification

Worley is not

and pos-

RESULTS

The

scab

sucking

skin

lice

surface

covered Dermatitis on

the

of the Obvious erally on the bution

of

quadnats damaged Two lice

species

all

dorsal

and

sp.),

)

chewing

longicornis), and

three

with dense, and alopecia

win-

individuals

thick, was

lateral

moist most

thonacic

was scabs. evident region

body of these animals (Fig. 1, 2a). lesions were approximately bilatsymmetrical. Distribution of mites body corresponded with the distriof

alopecia

(Fig. 2a). in quadrats

of

(Psoroptes (Bovicola (Solenopotesferrisi), mite

(Bovicola

lice

and

Densities of with severe where the hair on undamaged

severe

dermatitis

mites were dermatitis appeared

(P

slightly 0.001).


450/crn2

#{149} .‘:

MITES

a

0
65/100

0#{149}

.

TICKS

between dermatitis

the

high and

cm2

0125/100cm2

r”

on two

a maximum density of 0.56 surface (Table 1). Most ticks

(86%) were unengorged engorged nymphs, 4%

“notch”

I

b

1).

maximum moderate ticks/cm2

but

116/cm2

J1#{246}

ent

=

IJT IIW1L1

.

Li.I.i.[.].L

Refuge,

‘

23/cm2

median

found) caused

et

(1982) portion

(where

lice

on these by winter

1991).

Chewing lice are reported from elk under a variety of names (partial list in Kistner, 1982). According to the most recent treatise on classification of tnichodectid lice of mammals (Lyal, 1985), only two species

SAMUEL

(Bovicola

name

most

erature placed

commonly

seen

(1960).

Hopkins

has been Alberta

previously 1960), and

elk

in the

Green, with B.

elk

litwas

longicornis longicornis

from elk Washington,

Wyoming

winter from

dethe

1976),

Bovwola

reported (Hopkins,

Pennsylvania, 1935). In Canada, ported from

Bo-

in Europe. a chewing louse (Jellison, 1935), and

(Worley and in synonymy

449

(B.) from

elaphus)

americanum, from elk

OF ELK

B.

and

are valid. Bovicola described originally

vicola scnibed

by

concavifrons

(Bovicola)

(B.) longicornis) longicornis was red deer (Cervus

ET AL.-ECTOPARASITES

of

(Jellison,

ticks have Manitoba

been reto British

Columbia (Kennedy and Newman, 1986). In the United States, infested elk have been reported from six western states and Minnesota

(Worley

tations

of

and

winter

morbidity

and

Cowan, though

1951; critical

Green,

ticks

on

mortality

1976). elk

Infes-

may

cause

(Banfield,

Munie, studies

1951; are

1949;

Stelfox, lacking.

bers of ticks reported from elk in this study are much lower than those reported from moose (Alces alces) (Samuel and Barker, 1979; Welch and Samuel, 1989). Mites of wildlife countries Bunch,

of

the genus Psoroptes are pests and domestic animals in many (Lange et al., 1980; Welch and

1983;

Kirkwood,

1986;

Cole

of Psoroptes

as those

ovis

on domestic

events

of clinical

are

probably

disease

similar.

in cattle

sp.

,,

3.

FIGURE

Park,

Yearling

Alberta,

with

Strom1987; pathoSeverity

male winter

elk

ergy requirements meaning that “calves infestations

may

suming

sufficient

therefore pothermia” A variety lower

increase with

have

(Cole and of stress

possibly crowding,

dermatitis and death 7 and 9 wk after infestation, respectively (Cole and Guillot, 1987). Domestic cattle with >15% of the

fluid loss thus increasing energy needed to maintain perature, hypothermia,

skin surface reduced daily

manifasting weight gains

40%

of the

(Stromberg pathogenesis needed.

or more

skin

involved

may

have with die

could tion,

Guillot, factors

include:

secondary

damage

et of

resulting

al., 1986). psoroptic

con-

to meet

requirements susceptible

and to hy1987). that might

mites

following the rut, and other disease. skin

in

of feed

to scab

by mite density (Stromberg et al., 1986). Adult female mites lay many eggs in a short time and in cattle at least, mite infestation can result in severe exudative

dermatitis while those

difficulty

ovenwinter on the Elk Refuge ting activity, poor nutrition

is determined

National

alopecia.

significantly severe P. ovis

amounts

resistance

Banif

each 10% increase maintenance en-

energy be highly

may

from

tick-induced

(Cole et a!., 1984). For in affected body surface,

maintenance cat-

tle (Stromberg and Fisher, 1986; berg et al., 1986; Cole and Guillot, Stromberg and Guillot, 1989), but genic

and

1987). The effects of Psoroptes have not been studied as extensively

Guillot, on elk

:

1962), Num-

in

elk

include: during

that rutand

cold weather, Clinical signs bacterial in

infecheat

and

the amount of body core temand anemia A study scabies

of the in elk is

450

JOURNAL

OF WiLDLIFE

A dermatitis ing from ized by base

different

mite broken

of

the

neck

Banif (W.

neck

on

is prevalent

National M. Samuel,

as

result-

,

in elk

cows Elk

a

“collar”

of

(Fig.

or

In an experimental male elk were

appeared

(cf. notch

at the

of the

I. M.

COWAN,

big

Wyoming paved

for initiation

of this study

Musehenheim,

University

and,

along

with

of Wyoming,

from

or

Wood,

made Grand

(Natural W.

L.

of

Riding Journal BOYCE,

W.,

1990. mites

A. W. F. 1949. An irruption of elk in Mountain National Park, Manitoba. The of Wildlife Management 13: 127-134. L. ELLIOTT, R. CLARK, AND D. JESSUP. Morphometric analysis of Psoroptes spp. from

rabbits. COLE,

N.

bighorn

The A.,

AND

of Psoroptes heifer calves.

sheep,

Journal

deer,

of Parasitology

F. S. ovis

mule

on

Veterinary

GUILLOT.

the

energy Parsitology

cattle, 76:

1987.

and

J.,

KIM,

23:

285-295.

K.

of

on some the

Game

Mallophaga

British

Museum

10:

A new

75-90.

species

Journal

of

Bovicola

of

Parasitology

21:

Health

Queen’s

Printer,

vertebrates

SynCanada:

mammals.

Publica-

Division,

Alberta

Edmonton,

Ag-

Alberta,

pp. D.

PRATT,

lice

State

for

of

241 A. C.

America:

An

The

Press,

Penn-

University

Park,

pp.

1986.

sheep

STOJANOVICH.

North

identification.

University

Pennsylvania,

J.

C.

AND

sucking manual

of

of

terrestrial

illustrated

trol

1986.

of

of

The

KIRKWOOD,

A. NEWMAN.

Animal

H.

1986.

R.

AND

109

C.,

History,

scab.

biology

Parasitology

and

con-

2:

302-

Today

307. T.

KISTNER,

P.

of North W.

1982.

America:

Thomas

Books,

and

1980.

C.

parsites. management,

E.

scabies

sification

16:

of Natural

181-217.

P. MELENEY. sheep

(Ovis Journal

Mexico.

77-82.

trichodectid

analysis

mammal

Ischnocera).

raptera:

New

A cladistic

1985. of

pp. W.

J.

Stackpole

in bighorn in

Diseases C.

(eds.).

AND

mexicana)

H.

seum

Toweill

Pennsylvania,

Psoroptic

of Wildlife LYAL,

and and

A. V. SANDOVAL,

canadensis

In Elk

Diseases Ecology D.

Harrisburg,

R. E.,

LANGE,

Bulletin History

and lice

of the

clas-

(Phthi-

British

(Entomology)

Mu-

51:

187-

346. H.

MILLS,

elk. MURIE,

B.

1936.

Journal O.J.

of

Company,

The

Wildlife

ton,

D.C.,

shop,

W.

pp.

loss

(reprinted,

1991. with

69:

In

press.

M.

J.

BARKER.

Dermacentor moose, Alces

Teton

Grooming

by tick

albipictus alces (L.),

winter A hair.

Book-

USA).

the

(Acari):

and Washing-

1979, 83001,

of winter

Stack-

Institute,

Wyoming,

M.

America. Pennsylvania,

Management 376

Yellowstone

250-253.

of North

Harrisburg,

akes) infested for albipictus) mature

on 17:

elk

The

Jackson,

SAMUEL,

Observations Mammalogy

1951.

pole

AND

Influence

of Pro-

Columbia

of

parasites

of the

Zoology

823-828.

metabolism

1935.

the

sylvania

CITED

British Notes

The

M.

KENNEDY,

collect-

us to do so; Bob Park, and Sarah Science School, who

parasites

81-82.

Sandy

and Brad Stelfox, Teton provided WMS a place of rest; Paul Stromberg, Ohio State University, and Walter Boyce, University of California-Davis, who provided comments on the manuscript; Ke Chung Kim, Pennsylvania State University, who confirmed identification of the sucking louse and identified the chewing louse; and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Elk Refuge, for providing the photograph used in Figure 1. We received excellent suggestions from several anonymous reviewers. This study was supported financially by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Operating Grant to W.M.S.).

BANFIELD,

Diseases

Canada.

(Entomology)

(Mallophaga).

tion

Deway

and

western

Bulletin

History)

JELLISON,

diseases

1960.

Ectoparasites

it possible for Teton National

LITERATURE

Psoroptic

of Wildlife

of

Annual

mammals.

opsis

ed an elk hide. Chris Wilke expertly digested hides and counted parasites. We thank personnel of the Elk Refuge, who either collected elk hides

of

5: 37-64.

G. H. E.

HOPKINS,

neck.

Fish

the

of

Conference

loss

The

mammals

Canada,

Game and the administrative

Journal

1975.

Journal

1951.

game

ceedings

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thorne, kindly

S. DUNLAP.

in a wapiti.

riculture.

Tom partment,

J.

steers. 390-393.

11: 66-67.

Samuel, 1991) on collar-like

base

beef 77:

D. A., AND

Influence Psoroptidae)

1984.

(Acari:

of

Entomology

mange

study, infested (Welch et

(D. albipictus)

al., 1991). Elk groomed until a characteristic

PURDY.

(Hering)

performance

COLwELL,

CanLesions

damage

ovis

Economic

and young Refuge, and USA), Jasper,

Parks (Alberta, pens. obs.).

the

on

C. W.

AND

,

Psoroptes

of

as a “notch” of hair damage dorsal portion of the lower

around the neck. captive antlerless with winter ticks

alopecia

that

1991

and characteralopecia at the

calves, on the (Wyoming,

either appear on loss at the

VOL. 27, NO. 3, JULY

from

infestation, hair and

3), particularly males, in winter in Yellowstone and ada)

DISEASES,

mechanism Canadian

1979.

The

(Packard,

of central

(Alces

moose

(Derrnacenfor Journal winter 1869)

Alberta.

preof tick, on

Pro-

SAMUEL

ceedings

of the

ence

and M.

SKINNER,

P.

American 15:

1928. The 9: 309-317.

Mammalogy B. L.

SMITH,

North

Workshop

elk

Confer-

ming

situation.

Journal

of

and

elk

mortalities

on

In Proceedings of the 1984 Western States and Provinces Elk Workshop, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, pp. 180-194. SPENCER, G. J. 1966. Anoplura from British Columthe

National

bia

and

Elk

some

tomological

Refuge,

Wyoming.

adjacent

areas.

Society

Journal

of British

J. G.

and

disease

1962.

Liver,

in

lungs

moose,

deer

matopathology

and

Psoroptes naive

W.

AND

ovis and

F.

asitology of

moose,

as

hosts

tus).

for

Canadian

Wildlife

Diseases D.

WORLEY,

in

on

Der-

infestation

of

the

47:

F. S. GUILLOT.

1989.

Pathogenesis

of

American

Journal

of Veterinary

heifer

calves.

Research

50: 594-

Report,

of

K. R.

annotated Federal

Aid

W. F. R. E. PRICE,

FISHER,

pathologic ovis

AND

responses

infestation

J. H.

F. S. GUILLOT, R. A. GREEN. in of

1986.

experimental

Hereford

calves.

PRUETT,

nary

Research

ment

Station,

Montana

man,

Montana,

48

of Veterinary Research 47: 1326-1331. THORNE, E. T., AND R. C. BERGSTROM. 1982. Order Anoplura (sucking lice). In Diseases of wildlife in Wyoming,

2nd

W.

and

R. Jolley,

ed.,

E. T. Thorne,

R. C.

Bergstrom

N. Kingston, (eds.).

Wyo-

H.

as a reservoir imals life Received

Disease for

The

for

An of the

MT

Proj.

and

W-

VeteriExperi-

University, PRESIDENTE,

Rocky

parasites

Montana.

Association Publication

dis-

spp.):

Boze-

pp.

P. J. A.

host

in western

and

(Cervus

Agricultural State

1969.

JACOBSON.

Service,

Contribution

Laboratory,

R. E. BARRETT,

American

Journal

of McBee

Park

Laboratory,

Systemic

Psoroptes

R. H.

Restoration,

Wildlife

elk

Parasites

Joint

Wildlife

Studies

10-28. elk

bibliography.

120-R(6083),

601.

herd,

1976.

American

of

parasitology

National

GREER.

North

1964. and

pp.

Journal

Yellowstone

elk

Wyoming,

press.

canadensis

(Ovis

northern

physiology

Progress

In

Psoroptic

Arizona.

Yellowstone

Mammoth, eases

sheep

of the

northern

AND

Hereford

AND

deer

albipic-

1983.

19: 342-344. R. E. BARRETT.

In Rumen

(ed).

cattle.

E.,

Suitability

69:

T. D. BUNCH.

AND

parasites

herd.

experimental

Hereford

the

moose

of Par-

white-tailed

of Zoology

Alberta.

1986.

on

(Dermacentor

Journal bighorn

G. W.,

WELCH,

and

ticks

northwestern

Research

in

winter

1991.

WILKE.

deer

from

Veterinary

scabies

mule

in desert

of

psoroptic

C. J.

elk,

nelsoni)

FISHER.

Evaludensity

691-693. AND

1551-1560. AND

19:

scabies

in

1989. estimating

of winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) (Alces alces) hides. International Journal

Parasites

elk

Cheyenne,

SAMUEL.

for

& larvae:

exposed

Journal

M.

sampling

23-

Psoroptidae)

previously

American

W.

AND

of random

En-

immunity

(Acari:

Department,

63:

5: 5-12.

P. C.,

D. A.,

WELCH,

Fish

of the

and

Land-Forests-Wildlife STROMBERG,

and

451

OF ELK

p. 254.

Columbia

30. STELFOX,

Game

Wyoming, ation

Scabies

1985.

Moose

303-348.

ET AL.-ECTOPARASITES

Bulletin

of domestic of the

5: 348-350. 18

September

R.

AND

Mountain

1990.

elk anWild-