Parasites of deer in New Zealand

Abstract

The majority of the deer farmed in New Zealand are Cervus elaphus, including the European red deer, North American wapiti, and their hybrids. There is a smaller but significant number of fallow deer (Dama dama) being farmed. Numbers of other species of farmed deer are insignificant. The parasites recorded from deer in New Zealand are listed and comments made about their significance, if known. From the point of view of animal health, the most important parasite is the lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus. The tissue worm, Elapho‐strongylus cervi is important to the red deer industry, not because it causes animal health problems, but because its presence limits or prevents exports of live deer to some countries. Brief comments are made on “fading elk syndrome”, efficacy of anthelmintics, and parasitological risks associated with the importation of deer.

Keywords:

• deer
• parasites
• lungworm
• Dictyocaulus
• Elaphostrongylus