Research Note First report of Elaphostrongylus cervi in Spanish red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus F. Valca Ârcel and C. GarcõÂa Romero* Laboratorio de Parasitologõ Âa Animal, Servicio de Investigacio Ân y Tecnologõ Âa Agraria, C/Pintor Matõ Âas Moreno 4, 45002 Toledo, Spain Abstract Elaphostrongylus cervi Cameron, 1931 was identified in six Cervus elaphus hispanicus sampled in Cuenca, central Spain. A total of 23 adult worms were found in the central nervous system with a mean of 3.8. Although E. cervi is reported to be widespread in cervids, this is the first time it has been recorded in Spanish red deer. Several species of the genus Elaphostrongylus (Nema- toda: Metastrongyloidea: Protostrongylidae) have been found in different Cervidae: Elaphostrongylus cervi (in red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, caribou and wapiti deer), E. rangiferi (in reindeer) and E. panticola (in maral and sika deer). Adult nematodes are usually localized in the intermuscular connective tissue (Demiaszkiewicz, 1987; Eriksen et al., 1989, Handeland et al., 2000a) producing a subclinical parasitosis. Recent studies have shown the pathogenesis and migratory life cycle of Elaphostrongylus in domestic ruminants (Handeland et al., 1993; Hande- land & Slettbakk, 1995; Demiaszkiewicz, 1987; Demiasz- kiewicz et al., 2000; Handeland et al., 2000b). During larval migration or developing of immature adult worms, these nematodes cause serious damage in the abomasal wall, liver, lungs, myocardium, kidneys and central nervous system (Handeland, 1994; Handeland et al., 2000a,b) and even death (Handeland & Norberg, 1992). During a survey of the parasite fauna of Cervus elaphus hispanicus in Cuenca, central Spain, supported by an INIA project (no. SC97-034), several specimens of E. cervi were found in the central nervous system. Animals were shot during the hunting season and sampled by personnel of the Servicio de Investigacio Ân y Tecnologõ Âa Agraria (Laboratorio de Parasitologõ Âa animal) with the authorization and coordination of the Servicio de Espacios Protegidos y Vida Silvestre, Direction of the Parque Cinege Âtico Experimental El Hosquillo of the Consejerõ Âa de Agricultura y Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. Nineteen heads of Cervus elaphus shot by game wardens in February±March 2000 were longitudinally opened and the cranial cavities examined for parasites. The nematode specimens recovered from subarachnoid spaces were washed in physiological saline, fixed in 70% alcohol and cleared in lactophenol for microscopic examination. Six male and 16 female specimens were used for measurements and nematode identification was made according to Kutzer & Prosl (1975), Demiaszkie- wicz (1987), Steen et al. (1989) and Gibbons et al. (1991). A total of 23 immature adult E. cervi nematodes were found in central nervous system of six of 19 red deer examined. Measurements of the worms are given in tables 1 and 2. The number of worms ranged from one to seven per brain with a mean of 3.8. The majority (73%) were female worms. Most of the red deer were less than one year old (68%) and 58% were females (table 3). In this small sample of red deer, no clear differences were observed in the prevalence of infection relative to host age or sex. In addition no neurological signs or macroscopic lesions were observed in the central nervous system of the red deer. Although several species of Elaphostrongylus, i.e. E. alces, E. cervi, E. panticola and E. rangiferi have DOI: 10.1079/JOH200190 Journal of Helminthology (2002) 76, 91±93 *Author for correspondence Fax: 925 228880 E-mail: carmelog@jccm.es