TICK (DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS)-INDUCED WINTER HAIR-LOSS IN CAPTIVE MOOSE (ALCES ALCES)

Five captive moose calves each infested with 42,000 larval Dermacentor albipictus, six calves each infested with 19,000–21,000, and five control moose were observed for changes in hair-loss, body condition and number, stages, and distribution of the tick. Winter hair-loss was observed only in moose infested with ticks and was correlated positively with the total number of adult ticks. Hair-loss associated with ticks was minimal from October to January, but rapidly increased from February to April when up to 44% of hair had been removed. The pattern of hair-loss was similar in all moose with the neck, shoulders, withers, and perianal areas losing the most hair. Moose with extensive premature hair-loss had less pericardial and abdominal visceral fat than moose with little or no hair-loss.