Geographic Distribution of Gongylonema pulchrum, Gongylonema verrucosum, and Paramphistomum liorchis in White-Tailed Deer of the Southeastern United States

Abstract

The upper digestive tracts of 788 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 13 southeastern states and St. Croix of the U. S. Virgin Islands were examined for helminths. Gongylonema pulchrum was found in 457 (57.9%) deer from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Gongylonema verrucosum was present in 131 (16.6%) deer from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Rumen flukes, Paramphistomum liorchis, were harbored by 58 (7.3%) deer from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. No helminths were found in the upper digestive tract of 10 deer from St. Croix. During the past 10 years considerable attention has been given to the diseases and parasites of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the most important big game animal in the United States. Although several reviews of the parasite fauna of white-tails are available (Dikmans, 1939; Olsen and Fenstermacher, 1943; Anderson, 1962a, b), the geographic distributions of helminths of this host are not well known. Regional distribution records involving several adjoining states have been published for one helminth (Pneumostrongylus tenuis) of white-tailed deer (Prestwood and Smith, 1969). The incidence of helminths in the upper digestive tract of deer is poorly documented. Gullet worms, Gongylonema pulchrum, were reported in white-tailed deer from North Carolina (Dikmans and Lucker, 1935; Shillinger, 1938) and Pennsylvania (Samuel and Beaudoin, 1966), while G. verrucosum was found in deer of Marion (Dikmans and Lucker, 1935) and Orange counties, Florida (Dinaburg, 1939). The latter author recorded amphistome flukes from the rumen of Florida deer. North American deer were listed (Dikmans, 1939) as hosts Received for publication 27 June 1969. * This study was supported by an appropriation from the Congress of the United States. Funds were administered and research coordinated under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (50 Stat. 917) and through Contract Nos. 1416-0008-676 and 14-16-0008-777, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U. S. Department of the Interior. to Paramphistomum cervi and flukes, identified as P. liorchis, were found in Florida and Louisiana white-tails (Price and McIntosh, 1944). This article presents additional information on the incidence and distribution of Gongylonema pulchrum, G. verrucosum, and Paramphistomum liorchis in white-tailed deer of the southeastern United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS From 1961 through 1969 the upper digestive tracts of 788 white-tailed deer were examined for helminths. Animals from 98 areas in 13 southeastern states and St. Croix of the U. S. Virgin Islands were examined (Fig. 1). Most deer were killed by a shot through the neck with a .222 caliber rifle. Deer dying of accidental or natural causes were also examined. Approximately twothirds of the deer were females since the latter were more numerous on areas where buck only hunting regulations prevailed. Ages ranged from 6 months to 9 years. Approximately 17% of the deer examined were 6 months old, 31% were 1 to 2 years old, 16% were 2 to 3 years old, and the remaining 36% were greater than 3 years of age. All animals were examined similarly. After recording appropriate vital statistics, the carcass was skinned and the abdominal and thoracic cavities opened. The mouth and pharynx were examined for helminths. The esophagus was severed at the throat and near the inlet to the rumen; it was then split longitudinally and inspected for nematodes. The rumen, reticulum, and omasum were freed of ingesta and the mucosal wall washed lightly. The wall was searched for flukes, and the lining was peeled to reveal nematodes. In early studies (1961-63) attempts were not made to determine the number of parasites present