Temperature-dependent development and freezing survival of protostrongylid nematodes of Arctic ungulates: implications for transmission

Table 1 Study design and results from the experimental infection of Deroceras laeve with Varestrongylus eleguneniensis

Exp. No.	Temperature (°C) (Mean ± SD)	Infection dose (L1/slug)	No. of slugs	Mean slug weight ± SD (g)	Slugs examined on digestion day	Days examined	Day first iL3^a observed	% L3-recovery^b
1	8.5 ± 0.26	200	40	0.09 ± 0.04	1–3	50, 60, 67, 74, 81, 87, 94, 101, 124, 135, 166	ND^c	–
2	12.5 ± 0.30	200	35	0.10 ± 0.04	3	40, 47, 52, 55, 57, 59, 61, 67	61	10.83
3	15.0 ± 0.30	200	35	0.10 ± 0.03	3	21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36	31	12.00
4	20.0 ± 0.29	300	35	0.12 ± 0.04	2–3	14, 15, 16, 17, 19	16	18.40
5	24.0 ± 0.32	200	35	0.10 ± 0.04	2–5	11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 35	12	13.80

^aDays post-infection when at least one intermediate L3 was observed from any one of the slugs digested
^bThe percentage of larvae that potentially would have developed into infective L3. This was calculated by dividing the average number of larva per slug on the first day when the intermediate L3 was observed, with the infection dose (per slug) and multiplied by 100
^cNot detected

ISSN: 1756-3305