Intestinal nematodes of white-tailed deer in southeastern United States.
The small intestine, large intestine, and cecum of 975 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 83 localities in 13 southeastern states were examined for nematodes. In order of prevalence, the following parasites were found: Capillaria bovis, Eucyathostomum webbi, Monodontus louisianensis, Nematodirus odocoilei, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Trichuris sp, Cooperia punctata, Trichostrongylus longispicularis, Strongyloides sp, Cooperia oncophora, Cooperia spatulata, Cooperia sp, and Trichostrongylus calcaratus. Over one-half of the deer examined were free of intestinal nematodes, and most infected deer harbored few parasites. Of the most prevalent species, C bovis, N odocoilei, O venulosum, and Trichuris sp were widely distributed, whereas M louisianensis and E webbi were restricted in distribution. Severe pathogenicity was associated with only heavy Strongyloides sp infections in 2 penned deer. The findings of this study suggested that white-tailed deer of the Southeast are insignificant in the epizootiology of important intestinal nematodes of domestic livestock.
D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000662:veterinary*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000662:veterinary; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000662:veterinary; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000662:veterinary; D014481:United States