Faecal metabarcoding provides improved detection and taxonomic resolution for non-invasive monitoring of gastrointestinal nematode parasites in wild moose populations

Table 1 Gastrointestinal nematode parasite loads estimated from moose faecal samples (n = 29)

Taxon	No. positive individuals	EPG^b ± SD (range)	LPG^c ± SD (range)
Strongyle-type eggs	26	47.5 ± 35.8 (1:140)	NA
Nematodirus spp. eggs	3	13.5 ± 10.8 (1:20)	NA
Trichuris sp.	8	46.7 ± 44.9 (20–155.1)	NA
Capillaria sp.	2	19.7 ± 0.43 (19.4–20)	NA
Strongylid-type larvae	3	NA	38.51 ± 37.8 (16.3:82.1)
Protostrongylid-type larvae^d	4 3V/4E^a	NA	11.7 ± 10.0 (3.16:25)

Twenty-nine moose faecal samples were analysed using the McMaster and Baermann techniques. The total number of individual moose testing positive for a given group is reported, as well as the eggs or larvae per gram of faeces
NA not applicable
^aV/E: number of individuals infected with Varestrongylus alces/Elaphostrongylus alces
^bEPG: eggs per gram
^cLPG: larvae per gram
^dThe presence of Elaphostrongylus alces and Varestrongylus alces larvae are reported, but larval counts are combined as protostrongylid-type larvae due to the presence of ambiguous individuals

ISSN: 1756-3305