Protostrongylidae in Cervidae and Ovibos moscatus: a clustering based on isoelectric focusing on nematode body proteins.

Isoelectric focusing for protein separation and evaluation by Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustering was tested as an alternative to a morphological approach to taxonomical studies of the family Protostrongylidae and the genus Elaphostrongylus. These analyses revealed a close relationship among first stage protostrongylid larvae from roe deer, muskoxen and Varestrongylus alces first stage larvae. Furthermore, first stage larvae collected from moose faeces and adult Elaphostrongylus in moose were found related. Adult Elaphostrongylus in moose and reindeer maintained their separate taxonomical status.