Resurrection and redescription of Varestrongylus alces (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae), a lungworm of the Eurasian moose (Alces alces), with report on associated pathology

Table 4 Comparative morphometry of females of Varestrongylus alces and V. capreoli

Characters	*V. alces* ^a	*V. alces* ^b	*V. capreoli* ^c	V.cf.capreoli^a
Total length	16.3–21.5 (18.3 ± 2.3)	11.1–11.5	9.41–15	17.93^*
Maximum width	73–102 (86.0 ± 9.9)	75–95	38–95	48.9–52.2 (50.5 ± 2.31)
Esophagus ^§	270–310 (289 ± 14.71)	–	122–290	196–242.9 (225.0 ± 20.21)
Esophagus base width	30–42 (36.7 ± 4.32)	–	–	21.9–27.7 (23.8 ± 2.60)
Body width at esophagus base	57–67 (61.1 ± 4.56)	–	–	31–40.8 (35.3 ± 5.06)
Nerve-ring ^§	86–97 (91.6 ± 4.33)	–	72–90	55.4–65.2 (60.7 ± 4.49)
Cervical papillae ^§	150–180 (163.3 ± 15.28)	–	–	185.82^*
Excretory pore ^§	159–220 (190.4 ± 29.11)	–	86–186	171.5–190.8 (183.4 ± 10.37)
Tail	34.2–50.5 (44.5 ± 4.65)	–	34–78	31–40.8 (37.2 ± 3.47)
Vulva-anus	70.1–104 (87.3 ± 10.1)	–	–	57.1–73.4 (64.3 ± 6.62)
Vulva-tail	107.6–146 (131.9 ± 12.77)	122	90–144	91–114.1 (101.6 ± 8.42)
Width at vulva	45.6–69 (56 ± 7.31)	–	–	32.2–35.9 (33.4 ± 1.42)
Vagina	702.2–961.42 (846.41 ± 94.94)	–	–	467^*
Vagina Vera	63.3–71.7 (66.8 ± 2.70)	–	–	73.4–91.3 (77.4 ± 6.90)
Vagina Uterina	637–889.7 (779.2 ± 93.82)	–	–	391.2^*
Sphincter	21.2–35.9 (31.8 ± 3.96)	–	–	24.45^*
Eggs Length ^†	55.2–66.5 (61.9 ± 3.51)	78	56–78	NA
Eggs Width ^†	46.2–63.0 (55.6 ± 6.14)	–	37–45	NA

^aPresent study; ^bOriginal description [20]; ^cOriginal description [3], plus additional information compiled in [1].
^§Measurements from anterior end; ^†Eggs collected from lungs of infected Eurasian moose, not inside female uteri; *Single measurements.
Range of measurements are given followed by mean and standard deviation. Total length in millimeters (mm), and all other measurements are in micrometers (μm).

ISSN: 1756-3305