Prevalence of endoparasites in roe and red deer from Strzałowo Forest Inspectorate (Puszcza Piska) in different study periods and in animals of different ages

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of lungworms and gastrointestinal parasites in wild roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) from Strzałowo Forest Inspectorate (Puszcza Piska) in different study periods and in animals of different ages. Fecal samples were collected during autumn and winter hunting (2011-2013). A total of 173 fecal samples were analyzed by coproscopic techniques: 47 from roe deer and 126 from red deer. First-stage larvae (L1) of pulmonary nematodes were found in 4 samples from roe deer and in 86 samples from red deer. The prevalence of the Eimeria genus was 19.2 % in roe deer and 25.4 % in red deer. The prevalence of the Moniezia genus in red deer was 1.6 %, whereas no Moniezia eggs were found in roe deer. No fluke eggs were detected in either red deer or roe deer. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 53.2 % in roe deer and 58.7 % in red deer. Coinvasion by endoparasites was detected in 69.8 % of red deer and in 57.4 % of roe deer. There were no significant differences between the prevalence of parasites in wild deer (Cervidae) in different study periods. This may suggest that the prevalence of endoparasites among roe deer and red deer in Strzałowo Forest Inspectorate remains stable.]