Keratoconjunctivitis in a free-ranging red deer(Cervus elaphus) population in Spain

Abstract

This study describes the occurrence of clinical keratoconjunctivitis in a Spanish red deer(Cervus elaphus) population 150 km south of Madrid. Necropsy findings, microbiological and serological results are reported. In September 1996 a total of 28 carcasses of stags were inspected, of which 11 (39%) showed macroscopic lesions of keratitis or keratoconjunctivitis. Conjunctival swabs and frozen tissue samples of the eyeballs were taken from six stags and used for isolation trials ofMoraxella sp. andMycoplasma sp., Smears and histological sections were stained with Stamp technique for the detection ofChlamydia psittaci. None of these pathogenic organisms could be detected. Serum samples were taken from 19 red deer of different age and sex and tested for antibodies againstChlamydia psittaci by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay as well as against three different alpha-herpesviruses (bovine herpesvirus-1, caprine herpesvirus-1, cervid herpesvirus-1) by virus neutralization test. Antibodies againstChlamydia psittaci were detected in 16 samples (84%), while none of the tested individuals was seropositive against any of the three alpha-herpesviruses. The serological results indicate, that this Spanish red deer population has been exposed toChlamydia psittaci and therefore this pathogen agent might be involved in the infection process of keratoconjunctivitis in this deer population.