1. Life History of the ‘Serendipity worm’ (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae): an undescribed parasite of ungulates in the Arctic and Subarctic Guilherme Gomes Verocai Supervisor: Susan Kutz Guilherme Gomes Verocai Supervisor: Susan Kutz

2. Introduction  Parasites can act as drivers of ecological changes in host populations  Lack of knowledge on Arctic parasite diversity limits understanding  Studies on parasites, their distribution, and impacts on host populations  Economical and cultural importance Photo: Susan Kutz

3. Introduction Occurrence of Serendipity worm in North America (extracted from Kutz el al., 2007)  An unknown Protostrongylidae species was discovered in ungulates across the Arctic (Kutz et al., 2007)

4. Introduction  Larvae isolated from feces and molecularly characterized based on the ITS-2 sequence (2000-2006)  Distinct from other species within the Family Protostrongylidae  No taxonomical description was provided  Deroceras laeve (Müller, 1774): naturally infected intermediate host (IH)

5. Introduction Proposed life-cycle of the Serendipity worm. L1: First-stage larva, L3: Third-stage larva, IH: Intermediate Host, DH: Definitive Host, PPP: Pre-patent Period. DH: site of parasitism? L1 shed in feces L3 emerges? ? ? Development from L1 to L3 = ?days IH ? PPP=? days

6. Objectives  1. Provide a taxonomic description  2. Establish life cycle experimentally  3. Determine definitive host and geographic ranges Photo: Pat Curry

7. Methods  1. Taxonomic description: Muskoxen from Nunavik, QU 1 post mortem + lungs of 2 hunted animals Lung dissection Several washes passing through 75μm sieve Analyzed material at dissecting microscope

8. Methods  Lung tissue for histopathology (10% buffer formalin)  Molecular confirmation of species identity (ITS-2)  Taxonomic description: Clear nematodes with Lactophenol Sp. description: measurements, drawings Comparison with related spp.: Museum types Phylogeny within Protostrongylidae based on morphology Larval stages: L1 from feces/L2-3 from gastropods

9. Preliminary Results  Collected material: nematodes in lungs Animal IDSex Coordinates/ Place LocalityNumber of worms MalesFemalesFragments* Om-01-10Female 58 0 44’ 51.44”N 70 0 02’ 06.19”W Tasiujaq, QU111 Om-02-10Male 58 0 44’ 09.96”N 69 0 34’ 18.22”W Tasiujaq, QU414 Om-10-10FemaleStewart Lake Road Kuujjuaq, QU434 Cephalic end Male caudal end Female caudal end Embryonated egg * Body fragments containing taxonomic relevant features (i.e. cephalic and caudal ends)

10. Methods  2. Establish life cycle experimentally : Muskoxen fecal samples Isolate L1 (Baermann technique) Infect laboratory gastropods Recover L3 by digestion

11. Methods  2. Establish life cycle experimentally : Infect captive muskox (1) and reindeer (4-6) Evaluate life cycle parameters (PPP, patent period, seasonality) Infected animals will serve as larval source Describe pathology in experimentally infected reindeer

12.  Larvae successfully developed in experimentally infected gastropods: D. reticulatum: L3 in 52 days Lymnaea stagnalis: L2 in few weeks  Larval emergence occurs  Muskox experimentally exposed to L3  Fecal monitoring Preliminary Results

13. Methods  3. Determine definitive host species and geographic ranges: Fecal samples from northern ungulates (herds/populations) Larval isolation by Baermann technique Material from caribou herds and muskoxen frozen at -20C Molecular identification based on ITS-2 sequence Studies on Phylogeography (based on cox I of mDNA)

14. Preliminary results HerdDate/ SeasonSamples (n) DSL Prevalence (%) BathurstNov’073215.6 George/Leaf River*Jun/Nov/Oct’076020 BathurstMarch’083729.7 Cape Bathurst/ Blue Nose WestMarch’083828.9 Akia (Greenland)March’08470 PorcupineSept’08130 BathurstSept’ 08283.6 Kangerlussuaq (Greenland)March’09500 Cape Bathurst/ Blue Nose WestMarch’097432.4 Bathurst*April’092934.5 Ahiak*Feb’093658.3 Beverly/Qamanirjuaq*March’092365.2 PorcupineFall’0910 George/Leaf River (not finished) Spring/Fall’093053.3

15. Preliminary results Caribou herds infected by Serendipity worm Source: WWF/CARMA Network

16. Preliminary Results  Caribou: New records of infected herds in Canada mainland Overlaps Parelaphostrongylus andersoni Co-infections can occur  Prevalence in Muskoxen from Quebec 86.7 – 100% (several collections 2008-10)  Greenland muskoxen & caribou: 0%  Elk from the Yukon: 0% (n=60)

17. Summary DH: SITE OF PARASITISM L1 shed in feces L3 emerges IH PPP ? ? ? ? ? ? Development from L1 to L3

18. Summary DH: SITE OF PARASITISM L1 shed in feces L3 emerges IH PPP ? ? ? ? ? Development from L1 to L3 LUNGS

19. Summary DH: SITE OF PARASITISM L1 shed in feces L3 emerges IH PPP ? ? ? ? Development from L1 to L3 LUNGS 52 days

20. Summary DH: SITE OF PARASITISM L1 shed in feces L3 emerges IH PPP ? ? LUNGS 52 days Development from L1 to L3 ?

21. Summary DH: SITE OF PARASITISM L1 shed in feces L3 emerges IH PPP ? ? LUNGS 52 days Development from L1 to L3

22. Acknowledgements  Kutz Lab: Dean Brown, Danna Schock, Nathan deBruyn, Pat Curry, Bryanne Hoar, Ryan Brook, Jesse Invik, Lynn Klassen  Committee: Susan Kutz, John Gilleard, Alessandro Massolo, Eric Hoberg  Gilleard Lab: Alexander Eberhardt  Lukowiak Lab: Sarah Dalesman  Czub & Leguillette Labs  Greg Muench, Nigel Caulkett, Marianne Jorgensen  Makivik Corp: Manon Simard, Bill Doidge, François Martin  Biologists and Veterinarians with Governments of NU, NT, YK, Alaska, and Greenland  Northern communities/hunters  Department of Ecosystem and Public Health

23. Thanks!