Pathogenicity of O. circumcincta, O. ostertagia and H. contortus in weanling stag fawns (Cervus elaphus)

Abstract

Groups of four stag fawns, weighing 51 ± 0.8 kg, were infected with 30,000 larvae of one of three nematode parasites: O. circumcincta, O. ostertagia, or H.contortus. A further four remained as control. Individual feed intake, body-weight, faecal egg count and plasma pepsinogen concentration were measured during seven weeks after infection.

Only infection with H. contortus caused significant elevation of pepsinogen concentration to 380 ml/L and consistent depression of feed intake (15%). Worm egg counts were below 300 e.p.g. in deer infected with all worm species. It is concluded that while resistance to development of parasites common to other species appears to be high further investigation of the susceptibility of deer to H. contortus infection would be justifiable.