Two potentially zoonotic parasites infecting Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus desmarest, 1822) in Leyte Island

Harvie Portugaliza,Melvin Bagot,Shiela Romero

doi:10.5455/javar.2015.b110

Harvie Portugaliza, Melvin Bagot + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2015.b110

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Abstract

This case report describes the necropsy findings of two potentially zoonotic parasites infecting the Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus) in Leyte Island, Philippines. A female deer aging approximately 5-year was presented for necropsy to the Diagnostic Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Visayas State University. Gross pathology was recorded and the selected organs having lesion were collected for histopathological studies. Results showed severe necrotizing lesions in the nasal and palatal areas, infestation of calliphorid maggots, hepatic fibrosis, cholangitis, cholecystitis, lung atelectasis and duodenitis. Heavy ruminal fluke infection was also observed. Two potentially zoonotic parasites namely Fasciola gigantica and Sarcocystis spp. were identified. The Philippine brown deer appears to have a role in transmission and amplification of zoonotic parasites, and can also be threatened by diseases caused by the parasites.

Highlights

The Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus), known as Philippine Sambar, is classified as vulnerable species declared by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
The present study reported the occurrence of two zoonotic parasites and heavy infection of Paramphistomum spp. in Philippine brown deer
Possible spill-over transmission could happen between domestic ruminant, wildlife and human in areas with high Fasciola and Lymnid snail densities (Jenkins et al, 2015), especially that both animals probably share common pasture, and together with human a common water source

Summary

Introduction

The Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus), known as Philippine Sambar, is classified as vulnerable species declared by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the Philippines, groups of C. mariannus are mainly cited in the forest of Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, and Leyte. They were considered as extinct in many Philippine islands, Biliran, Bohol and Marinduque (Oliver et al, 2008). The vulnerability of the species in the country was attributed to indiscriminate hunting and habitat destruction, and partly by health deterioration as influenced by biotic and abiotic factors (Borgsteede, 1996; Maala, 2001). Parasites belong to biotic factors that influence survival of wild animals. They directly inflict the host by damaging the localized organ and indirectly by nutrient competition (Borgsteede, 1996; Jenkins et al, 2015). Few of the endoparasite infections among endemic wild deer in the Philippines were reported elsewhere (Eduardo, 1993, 1995)

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