Serologic, trace element, and fecal parasite survey of free-ranging, female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in eastern Washington, USA.

Abstract

Blood and fecal samples collected from 97 free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), from four distinct herds during the spring of 2000 or 2001 in eastern Washington, US, were tested for exposure to selected pathogens, concentrations of trace elements, and presence of parasites in feces. Antibodies were detected to the following: Leptospira interrogans serovar Bratislava (4%), Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola (1%), Leptospira interrogans serovar Grippotyphosa (13%), Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (57%), Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (71%), Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (51%), Bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (61%), Bluetongue virus (25%), and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (25%); 3 of 63 (5%) samples had antibody to Neospora spp. All samples tested for antibody to Brucella abortus and L. interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae, L. interrogans serovar Pomona, and L. interrogans serovar Hardjo samples were negative. Trace element concentrations from 97 sera were deficient for selenium (17%), copper (19%), iron (34%), calcium (3%), and phosphorus (2%) compared with thresholds established for domestic livestock. Parasites detected in 97 fecal samples included dorsal-spined larvae (probably Parelaphostrongylus sp.) (40%), abomasal nematode eggs (1%), Capillaria sp. eggs (1%), Nematodirus sp. eggs (26%), Moniezia sp. eggs (1%), and Eimeria sp. (2%).