Cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis in dairy goats in northern Norway

Ten carcasses and three vertebral columns from north Norwegian dairy goats, which had been killed due to clinical signs of severe neurologic disease, were received for necropsy. Pathological examination revealed nematodes and nematode ova in the central nervous system (CNS) of nine goats. Worms found by gross examination were identified as Elaphostrongylus rangiferi Mitskevich, 1960. Focal traumatic encephalomyelomalacia, apparently caused by migrating worms, perivascular cuffing, eosinophilic leptomeningitis and perineural infiltrations and granulomas, could be demonstrated in CNS sections from all 13 animals examined. Clinical signs reported were initial pruritus followed by motor weakness, lameness, paresis, reduced vision, circling, abnormal head position, bulging eyes and scoliosis. The disease occurred from September to January in regions with a considerable migrant reindeer population. It was concluded that the reported outbreaks of neurologic disease represented seasonal occurrence of cerebrospinal elaphostrongylosis caused by Elaphostrongylus rangiferi, the elaphostrongyloid nematode of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus).