##  [Meningeal worm (P. tenuis)](/resource/meningeal-worm-p-tenuis) 

Organization

[Government of Alberta (GoA)](/organization/government-alberta-goa)

 

 

Resource Type

[Fact sheet](/taxonomy/term/34)

 

 

Author(s)

Government of Alberta (GoA)

 

 

Original Authors

Government of Alberta

 

 

Resource Date:

2025

 

Page Length

4

 

 

Meningeal worm, *Parelaphostrongylus tenuis*, is a nematode (roundworm) common throughout eastern and central Canada and USA. It lives in tissue spaces adjacent to the brain and spinal cord in white-tailed deer without causing serious damage. However, infection often is fatal and can be a serious risk to mule deer, moose, elk, and caribou populations.

This factsheet explains the significance of the parasite meningeal worm (*P. tenuis*), what it is and where it is found, its transmission cycle, its importance for wildlife management, and how to prevent and control its spread.