Warble infestations by Hypoderma tarandi (Diptera; Oestridae) recorded for the first time in West Greenland muskoxen

Fredrik Samuelsson; Peter Nejsum; Katrine Raundrup; Tina Vicky Alstrup Hansen; Christian Moliin Outzen Kapel

doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.06.001

Warble infestations by Hypoderma tarandi (Diptera; Oestridae) recorded for the first time in West Greenland muskoxen

Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2013 Jun 15:2:214-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.06.001. eCollection 2013 Dec.

Authors

Fredrik Samuelsson¹, Peter Nejsum², Katrine Raundrup³, Tina Vicky Alstrup Hansen⁴, Christian Moliin Outzen Kapel¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agriculture and Ecology, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
² Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Section for Parasitology, Health and Development, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

Abstract

In the northern hemisphere, Caribou (Rangifer spp.) populations are known to be infested with the skin-penetrating ectoparasite, Hypoderma tarandi (Diptera; Oestridae). Although regarded as host specific, H. tarandi has been reported from other species, and has become of increasing concern as a zoonosis infecting humans. In February 2012, concurrent with the hunting of muskoxen, we examined carcasses for muscle and tissue parasites, and recorded warble larvae infestations. DNA extracted from samples of larvae was amplified targeting 579 bp of the COI gene, and subsequently sequenced, to be confirmed as H. tarandi. Infestation by oestrid flies has not previously been reported in muskoxen in West Greenland.

Keywords: Caribou; Cross contamination; Greenland; Hypoderma tarandi; Muskox.