Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2003
Volume 6
Issue 2
Topic:
Animal Husbandry
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Cisek A. , Balicka-Ramisz A. , Ramisz A. , Pilarczyk B. 2003. OCCURRENCE OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL NEMATODES IN CERVIDS (CERVIDAE) OF NORTH-WESTERN POLAND, EJPAU 6(2), #09.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume6/issue2/animal/art-09.html

OCCURRENCE OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL NEMATODES IN CERVIDS (CERVIDAE) OF NORTH-WESTERN POLAND

Agnieszka Cisek, Aleksandra Balicka-Ramisz, Alojzy Ramisz, Bogumiła Pilarczyk

 

ABSTRACT

The study described was aimed at evaluating the extent of gastro-intestinal helminth infestation in the roe deer, fallow deer, and red deer in Western Pomerania; infestation prevalence and intensity as well as the species composition of the helminth fauna were determined. Within March 1999 – July 2000, a total of 199 animals (86 roe deer, 68 red deer, and 25 fallow deer) were examined. The animals were obtained from 9 north-western Poland’s forest districts. The following nematode species were found to be present in the alimentary tracts examined: Spiculopteragia boehmi, S. mathevossiani, Spiculopteragia asymmetrica, Ostertagia kolchida, O. leptospicularis, Haemonchus contortus, Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Nematodirus sp., Trichocephalus ovis, Capillaria bovis, Trichostrongylus axei, and Trichostrongylus sp. As shown by biopsies, the infestation prevalence amounted to 73.53; 96.51; and 92.0% in red deer, roe deer, and fallow deer, respectively. The paras

Key words: gastro-intestinal nematodes, cervids, invasion prevalence, invasion intensity, north-western Poland..

INTRODUCTION

Disease monitoring in wild animals has recently become a necessary component of game management. Game habitat alterations resulting from human activities substantially affect the animals’ immunity and metabolism. The dysfunctions result in intensification of infectious and invasive diseases, the latter having a potential of causing considerable losses. The presence of parasites in an animal body, particularly in young animals, leads to health deterioration, lowered condition, reduced body weight gains, and reproductive disorders; in addition, the parasites affects the quality of animal products (meat, skin, antlers). As opposed to domestic animals the losses of which are measurable and documentable [16], game losses are difficult to determine with any degree of accuracy due to methodological reasons. As shown by some studies, body weight of the roe deer infested with endoparasites is reduced by about 1.1-6.2 kg [23].

Gastro-intestinal nematodes belong to the most dangerous cervid parasites. So far, their occurrence in cervids in north-western Poland has not been studied. This study can thus be regarded as an additional source of data on cervid alimentary tract parasites in Poland. The research, carried out so far in the eastern part of the country, showed a high gastro-intestinal nematode invasion prevalence that, as in the subfamily Ostertagiinae, is frequently as high as 100% [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13].

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and intensity of the helminth invasion as well as at elucidating the species composition of the parasitic fauna in the alimentary tract of roe deer, fallow deer, and red deer in Western Pomerania.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals for the study were obtained from 9 forest districts (Trzebież, Rokita, Goleniów, Połczyn Zdrój, Szczecinek, Mirosławiec, Wałcz, Człopa, Złotów) in north-western Poland. Within March 1999 – January 2000, a total of 179 animals (86 roe deer, 68 red deer, and 25 fallow deer) were biopsied. The alimentary tracts examined were dissected out of the animals killed during hunts. Parasitological examination was conducted following recommendations put forth by Dróżdż [4]. Gastro-intestinal nematodes found were permanently mounted in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on slides to facilitate taxonomic identification. Special criteria were applied when identifying nematodes of the subfamily Ostertagiianea: the males only were identified and the sex ratio (females:males) was determined.

RESULTS

The study showed all the cervid species examined to harbour gastro-intestinal nematodes. Of the 86 roe deer examined, 83 were infested (invasion prevalence of 96.51%). Of the 68 red deer examined, nematodes were present in 50 (invasion prevalence of 73.53%). Finally, out of the 25 fallow deer examined, 23 carried gastro-intestinal nematodes (invasion prevalence of 92%). The highest prevalence of the gastro-intestinal nematode invasion in the red deer (88%) was recorded in the forest districts of Szczecinek and Połczyn Zdrój; among the roe deer and fallow deer, the invasion was most frequent (98.27 and 92.00%, respectively) in the forest districts of Złotów, Wałcz, Człopa, and Mirosławiec (Table1). Tables 2 and 3 summarise data on prevalence and intensity of infection with various gastro-intestinal nematodes.

Table 1. The results of post- mortem examination of game in North-West Poland

Forest region

Roe deer

Red deer

Fallow deer

number of

Prevalance
E.I (%)

number of

Prevalance
E.I (%)

number of

prevalance E.I (%)

examined animals

infected animals

examined animals

infected animals

examined animals

infected animals

Złotów
Wałcz
Człopa
Mirosławiec

58

57

98.27

32

25

78.12

25

23

92.00

Szczecinek
Połczyn Zdrój

19

18

94.74

25

22

88.00

-

-

-

Trzebież
Goleniów
Rokita

9

8

88.88

11

3

27.27

-

-

-

Total:

86

83

96.51

68

50

73.53

25

23

92.00

Table 2. The prevalence of particular species of gastro-intestinal nematodes in game in North-West Poland

Species of gastro-intestinal nematodes

Roe deer

Red deer

Fallow deer

number of infected animals

prevalence E.I(%)

number of infected animals

prevalence E.I(%)

number of infected animals

prevalence E.I(%)

Spiculopteragia boehmi
S.mathevossiani
S.asymmetrica
Ostertagia kolchida
O.leptospicularis
Haemonchus contortus
Chabertia ovina
Oesophagostomum venulosum
Nematodirus
sp.
Trichocephalus ovis
Capillaria bovis
Trichostrongylus axei
Trichostrongylus
sp.

25
4
2
6
20
8
8
9
6
7
6
1
1

29.10
4.65
2.33
6.98
23.26
9.30
9.30
10.47
6.98
8.14
6.98
1.16
1.16

18
1
0
4
9
7
5
7
3
3
1
0
0

26.47
1.47
0
5.88
13.24
10.29
7.35
10.29
4.41
4.41
1.47
0
0

8
1
4
1
1
1
2
11
2
2
1
1
0

32.60
4.04
16.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
8.00
44.00
8.00
8.00
4.00
4.00
0

Nematodes of the family Trychostrongylidae were most frequently encountered in the alimentary tracts examined, representatives of the subfamily Ostertagiinae being most abundantly represented. They were present in stomachs of all three cervid species examined. Spiculopteragia boehmi and Ostertagia leptospicularis were dominants in the roe and red deer, while Oesophagostomum venulosum was the most frequent nematode in fallow deer (Table 2).

Table 3. The intensity of gastro-intestinal nematodes in examined animals in North-West Poland

Species of gastro-intestinal nematodes

Roe deer

Red deer

Fallow deer

range of intensity

range of intensity

range of intensity

Spiculopteragia boehmi
S. mathevossiani
S. asymmetrica
Ostertagia kolchida
O. leptospicularis
Haemonchus contortus
Chabertia ovina
Oesophagostomum venulosum
Nematodirus
sp.
Trichocephalus ovis
Capillaria bovis
Trichostrongylus axei
Trichostrongylus
sp.

10-150
10
10-40
10-20
20-80
20-320
20-660
10-20
10-130
10-50
20-50
30
10

10-50
20
0
10-20
10-60
10-500
10-190
10-20
10-20
10-20
10-40
0
0

10-190
20
10-20
10
20
40
10
10-200
10-40
10-60
10
10
0

Invasion intensity varied from 10 to 660 individuals (Table 3). Chabertia ovina (20-660 individuals) and Spiculopteragia boehmi (10-150) were the nematodes occurring at the highest intensity in the roe deer. In the red deer, the heaviest infections were produced by Haemonchus contortus (10-500 individuals) and Chabertia ovina (10-190), while Oesophagostomum venulosum (10-200 individuals) and Spiculopteragia boehmi (10-190) were responsible for the heaviest invasion in fallow deer.

As already mentioned, the Ostertagiinae females were not identified to species. However, the sex ratio (females:males) was determined to amount to 1:2.1.

DISCUSSION

Roe deer parasitic fauna

The roe deer have been examined for the presence of helminths both in Poland and abroad [3,5,6,7,8,9,13,14,22,24].

The roe deer living near Poznań were found to carry 13 alimentary tract nematode species. Invasion prevalence was observed to reach 100%. Spiculopteragia boehmi and Ostertagia leptospicularis were the most frequent species, occurring at intensities of 1-287 and 1-539 individuals. The rarest species was Trichostrongylus capricola the invasion intensity of which ranging within 1-64 individuals [6].

Zaleska-Schönthaler and Szczupakiewicz [24] examined 4 roe deer in the Romnicka Forest and found Chabertia ovina, Spiculopteragia dagestanica, and Trichocephalus sp. to be present in 2 deer.

In their study conducted in the Białowieża Primeval Forest, Dróżdż et al. [7] identified 8 gastro-intestinal nematode species. All the roe deer examined in that study were infested with Spiculopteragia boehmi, Ostertagia leptospicularis, and Ostertagia kolchida that occurred at intensities ranging from 1 to 184 individuals. On the other hand, few roe deer only were infested with Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Spiculopteragia mathevossiani, Spiculopteragia dagestanica, and Nematodirus europaeus.

When working in the Borecka Forest, Dróżdż et al. [8] found 100% of the roe deer to be infested with gastro-intestinal nematodes. Spiculopteragia boehmi, Ostertagia leptospicularis, Ostertagia kolchida, and Ostertagia antipini were the most frequent species which occurred at intensities of 1-2333 individuals. On the other hand, Oesophagostomum sikae and Ostertagia lyrata were present sporadically only.

In Rogowo, Dróżdż and Dudziński [9] found gastro-intestinal nematodes in 100% of the roe deer examined. The most frequent species included Spiculopteragia boehmi, Spiculopteragia mathevossiani, Ostertagia leptospicularis, and Ostertagia kolchida which occurred at intensities 1-321 individuals. Relatively rare in the Rogowo materials was Haemonchus contortus, but its invasion intensity was very high and reached 4771 individuals.

Dróżdż et al. [13] and Dróżdż [5] found Ashworthius sidemi to occur in the roe deer in the Bieszczady Mountains.

Gastrointestinal nematodes were reported from the roe deer in other European countries as well. In the former Czechoslovakia, Dyk and Chroust [14] found Spiculopteragia boehmi, Ostertagia kolchida, and Chabertia ovina to be the most frequent nematodes. They occurred at an intensity reaching 684 individuals. In Italy, Rossi et al. [22] reported Spiculopteragia boehmi, Spiculopteragia mathevossiani, Ostertagia leptospicularis as the most frequent species which occurred at an average intensity of 407 individuals. In the Netherlands, Borgsteede et al. [3] showed 1-79% of the roe deer to be infested. The most frequent nematodes were Spiculopteragia boehmi and Ostertagia leptospicularis. The authors quoted reported also sporadic occurrence of Teladorsagia circumcincta (1%) as well as Chabertia ovina and Bunostomum trigonocephalum (2%).

The roe deer examined in this study were found to be infested by 13 gastro-intestinal species (Tables 2 and 3). The most frequent nematodes were Spiculopteragia boehmi (29.10%) and Ostertagia leptospicularis (23.26%) the invasion intensity of which ranged within 10-150 and 10-80 individuals, respectively. Sporadic records were obtained of Trichostrongylus axei and Trichostrongylus sp. (1.16%) which occurred at an intensity of 10-30 individuals. Noteworthy is the fact that the roe deer parasites dominant in north-western Poland were identical to those reported by other authors from the remaining regions of the country [6,7,8,9,].

Parasitic fauna of the red deer

Studies conducted on gastro-intestinal nematodes occurring in the red deer in Poland have demonstrated a high prevalence of infestation.

In the Białowieża Primeval Forest, Dróżdż et al. [7] found Spiculopteragia boehmi to be most prevalent (100%), its invasion intensity ranging from 30 to 1095 individuals; Ostertagia leptospicularis was very frequent (78%) as well and occurred at an intensity of 5-60 individuals. The fewest records were those of Cooperia pectinata and Capillaria bilobata.

Dróżdż et al. [10, 11] found 4-100% of the red deer in the Słowiński National Park to be infested. The most frequent nematode was Spiculopteragia boehmi (100%) occurring at an intensity of 5-2120 individuals; Somewhat less frequent (92%) was Ostertagia leptospicularis the invasion intensity of which ranged within 10-805 individuals. The rarest nematode, Spiculopteragia dagestanica (9%) occurred at an intensity of 5-25 individuals.

In addition, Dróżdż et al. [13] and Dróżdż [5] found a centre of Ashworthius sidemi in the red deer of the Bieszczady Mountains, the nematode being present in 100% of the red deer examined.

Similarly to the findings in Poland, the prevalence of gastro-intestinal nematode infestation in other European countries was high. In the former Czechoslovakia, Rezac [20] found those nematodes in 6.7-90% of the red deer, while Ferte et al. [15] reported Ashworthius sidemi from 90% of the red deer in France.

The red deer examined in this study were found to be infested by 10 gastro-intestinal nematodes (Tables 2 and 3). Individual species occurred in 1.47-26.47% of the red deer. The most frequent nematodes were Spiculopteragia boehmi (26.47%) and Ostertagia leptospicularis (13.24%) which occurred at intensities of 10-50 and 10-60 individuals, respectively. On the other hand, Spicolopteragia mathevossiani and Capillaria bovis were present in as few as 1.47% of the roe deer examined, the invasion intensity amounting to 10-40 individuals. The invasion prevalence values recorded were lower than those reported by the authors quoted above.

Parasitic fauna of the fallow deer

Research on the fallow deer parasitic fauna, carried out so far in Poland and elsewhere in Europe, has revealed a heavy infestation of alimentary tracts with gastro-intestinal nematodes.

Dróżdż [4] recorded the presence of 14 gastro-intestinal nematode species in the fallow deer, the prevalence of individual species ranging within 7-100%. Those most frequent nematodes included Spiculopteragia asymmetrica (100%), S. spiculoptera (86%), and S. quadrispiculata (86%).

In their study on the fallow deer faeces in the Wielkopolska region, Kozakiewicz et al. [17] found 81.8-100% of the fallow deer to be infested.

When working at a breeding centre in Kosewo Górne, Dróżdż et al. [12] found nematode invasions to affect 12-100% of the fallow deer. The most frequent nematode there was Spiculopteragia asymmetrica (100%) the intensity of invasion of which reached 300 individuals. Somewhat less frequent were Oesophagostomum venulosum and O. radiatum (87%) which occurred at intensities of 17 and 24 individuals, respectively. The least frequent nematodes were Trichostrongylus axei, T. askivali, Spiculopteragia quadrispiculata, and Cooperia pectinata which affected 12% of the fallow deer.

In the former Czechoslovakia, Kotrlá and Kotrlý [18] recorded 21 gastro-intestinal nematode species in the fallow deer, the prevalence of infestation amounting to 0.5-60.9%. The most frequent nematodes were Oesophagostomum venulosum and Spiculopteragia asymmetrica.

In Germany, Barth and Matzke [2] showed the fallow deer they examined to be affected by 16 gastro-intestinal nematode species the prevalence of which ranging from 2 to 94%. The most frequent species was Oesophagostomum radiatum (94%). A study described by Kutzer [19] revealed the presence of 24 nematode species, the most frequent of them being Spiculopteragia asymmetrica and Bunostomum trigonocephalum (more than 50%). Ribbeck and Haust [21] who worked in Germany as well, examined the fallow deer both in the wild and in restricted breeding centres. Nematode invasions in the latter were more intensive and more variable (Trichostrongylidae). The dominant species was also Spiculopteragia asymmetrica.

Ambrosi et al. [1] found the fallow deer bred in Italy and Austria to be infected by 5 gastro-intestinal nematodes. The most frequent species were Spiculopteragia asymmetrica (96.6%) and Ostertagia drozdzi, O.arctica, and S. quadrispiculata (79.3-93.1%). On the other hand, Trichostrongylus axei produced sporadic records only (3.4%).

This study showed the fallow deer to be infested by 12 gastro-intestinal nematode species (Tables 2 and 3), the invasions affecting from 4 to 44% of the fallow deer. The most frequent species was Oesophagostomum venulosum (44%) the invasion intensity of which varied from 10 to 200 individuals. Spiculopteragia boehmi and S. asymmetrica occurred in 32.60 and 16% of the fallow deer, respectively, at intensities of 10-190 and 10-20 individuals, respectively.

SUMMING UP

The study presented allows to conclude that cervids inhabiting north-western Poland are substantially affected by gastro-intestinal parasites. In most cases, a single host carries a number of co-occurring parasitic species. It seems purposeful to develop a parasitologic prophylaxis programme in the area and to coproscopically monitor the invasions. It would be also desirable to pursue a line of research focusing on economic consequences of the gastro-intestinal nematode invasions in cervids.

REFERENCES

  1. Ambrosi M., Manfredi M.T., Lanfranchi P., 1993. Pattern of abomasal helminths in fallow deer farming in Umbria (central Italy). Vet. Parasitol. 47 (1-2), 81-86.

  2. Barth D., Matzke P.,1984. Gastro-intestinal nematodes of fallow deer (Dama dama L.) In Germany. Vet. Parasitol. 16,173-176.

  3. Borgsteede F.H.M., Jansen J., Nispen-Tot-Panmerden H.P.M., Burg W.P.J., Noorman N., Pooutsman J., 1990. A study of the endoparasitic helminth fauna of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) in the Netherlands. Z. Jagdwiss. 36 (2), 104-109.

  4. Dróżdż J., 1966. Studies on helminths and helminthiases in Cervidae II. The helminth fauna in Cervideae in Poland. Acta Parasitol. Pol. 14, 1-13.

  5. Dróżdż J., 2001. Ognisko aswortiozy dzikich przeżuwaczy w Bieszczadach [The aswothiosis focus of wild-living ruminants in Bieszczdy Mountains]. Mag. Weter. 54 (10), 66-68 [in Polish]

  6. Dróżdż J., Lachowicz J., Demiaszkiewicz A.W, Sulgostowska T., 1987. Abomasum nematodes in field and forest roe deer Capreolus capreolus (L.) over the yearly cycle. Acta Parasitol. Pol. 32 (4), 339-348.

  7. Dróżdż J., Demiaszkiewicz A.W., Lachowicz J., 1989. Kształtowanie się helmintofauny żubrów (Bison bonasus L.) i jeleniowatych (Cervidae) w Puszczy Białowieskiej [The formation of helminth fauna of European bison (L) and Cervidae in Białowieska Forest]. Wiad. Parazytol. 35 (6), 571-575 [in Polish]

  8. Dróżdż J., Demiaszkiewicz A.W., Lachowicz J., 1992. The helminth fauna of the roe deer Capreolus capreolus (L.) in a hunting area inhabited by red deer, elk and European bison (Borecka Forest, Poland) over the yearly cycle. Acta Parasitol. 37 (2), 83-88.

  9. Dróżdż J., Dudziński W., 1993. Changes in the intensity of infection of the roe deer, Capreolus capreolus (L.), with abomasum nematodes in relation to host density in a hunting ground. Acta Parasitol. 38 (1), 29-32.

  10. Dróżdż J., Demiaszkiewicz A.W., Lachowicz J., 1993. Sesonal changes in the helminth fauna of Cervus elaphus (L.) from Słowiński National Park (Poland). Acta Parasitol. 38 (2), 85-87.

  11. Dróżdż J., Demiaszkiewicz A.W., Lachowicz J., 1994. The effect of culling red deer, Cervus elaphus (L.) on their helminth fauna in the Słowiński National Park (Poland). Acta Parasitol. 39 (2), 92-94.

  12. Dróżdż J., Malczewski A., Demiaszkiewicz A., Lachowicz J., 1998. Odrobaczanie danieli fenbensanem w hodowli fermowej [The anthelmintic treatment with fenbensan in fallow deer kept in the fences]. Wiad. Parazytol. 44 (4), 723-727 [in Polish].

  13. Dróżdż J., Demiaszkiewicz A.W., Lachowicz J., 2000. Aswortioza- nowa parazytoza dzikich przeżuwaczy [The aswortiosis – new parasitosis of wild-living ruminants]. Med. Weter. 56 (1), 32-35 [in Polish].

  14. Dyk V., Chroust K., 1974. Helminths and coccidia of roe deer in two neighbouring ecologically different regions. Acta Vet. 43, 65-77.

  15. Ferte H., Cleva D., Depaquit J., Gobert S., Leger N., 2000. Status and origin of Haemonchinae (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) in deer: a survay conducted in France from 1985 to 1998. Parasitol. Res. 86, 582-587.

  16. Fox M.T., 2000. Pathophysiology of gastro-intestinal nematode parasitism in ruminants-an update. Acta Parasitol. 45 (3), 243.

  17. Kozakiewcz B., Maszewska I., Wi¶niewski B., 1983. Parazytofauna danieli (Dama dama) w warunkach hodowli w o¶rodkach łowieckich w Wielkopolsce. Med. Weter. 39 (4), 228-230.

  18. Kotrlá B., Kotrl A., 1980. Zur Verbreitung von Helminthen durch eingeführtesbWild. Agnew. Parasitol. 21 (2), 70-78.

  19. Kutzer E., 1988. Bedeuntung parasitärer Wechselinfektionen bei Haus – und Wild – wiederkäuern . Mh. Vet.-Med. 43, 577-580

  20. Rezac P., 1990. Endoparaziti jeleni zvěѓe v podminkách farmovĕho chowu. Veterinarstvi 40 (2), 69-71.

  21. Ribbeck R., Haust W., 1989. Untersuchungen zum Lungen – und Magen-Darm-Nematoden-Befall bei der nutztiertigen Haltung von Damwild. .Mh. Vet.-Med. Jena. 44, 469-471.

  22. Rossi L., Eckel B., Ferroglio E,. 1997. A summary of the gastro-intestinal nematodes of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in a mountain habitat. Symposia of the VII European multicolloquium of parasitology, Parma Italy 2-6 September 1996, Parassitologia-Roma 39, 4, 303-312 .

  23. Tropiło J., Kiszczak L., Kryński A., 1999. Łowiectwo, weterynaria, higiena [The hunting, veterinary and hygiene]. Łow. Pol. [in Polish].

  24. Zalewska-Schönthaler N., Szpakiewicz W., 1987. Helmintofauna przewodu pokarmo-wego łosi i sarn w Puszczy Romnickiej [The helminth fauna of alimentary tracts of elks and roe deer in Romnicka Forest]. Wiad. Parazytol. 33 (1), 63-65 [in Polish].


Agnieszka Cisek, Aleksandra Balicka-Ramisz, Alojzy Ramisz, Bogumiła Pilarczyk
Department of Animal Hygiene and Prophylaxis
Agricultural University of Szczecin, Poland
Doktora Judyma 6, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland
phone: 48-91 4541521 ext.329
e-mail: A.Cisek@biot.ar.szczecin.pl

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed ‘Discussions’ in each series and hyperlinked to the article.


[BACK] [MAIN] [HOW TO SUBMIT] [SUBSCRIPTION] [ISSUES] [SEARCH]