title: Gastrointestinal parasites in an isolated Norwegian population of wild red deer (Cervus elaphus).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thirteen red deer (Cervus elaphus), culled from the isolated population at the Mongstad Oil Refinery, Norway, were investigated for gastrointestinal helminths. These animals, enclosed by the refinery fence, do not have contact with other ruminants and have a high population density considering the available browsing area (1 km(2)) within the refinery site (3 km(2)). The population was estimated to be 110-130 at the time of culling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The helminth fauna among these sampled red deer was enumerated and species were identified based on morphology. Ostertagia leptospicularis/O. kolchida was detected in 83% [CI 55 - 95%], Spiculopteragia spiculoptera/S. mathevossiani in 92% [CI 65 - 99%] and Trichostrongylus axei in 42%, [CI 19 - 68%] of the abomasa examined. Characterisation of the intestinal parasite fauna revealed Capillaria bovis, Cooperia oncophora, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Trichuris globulosa and tapeworm fragments (presumed anoplocephalids) in seven individuals. Only one calf had an infection with more than one intestinal helminth (tapeworm fragment and Trichuris globulosa). The remaining six deer had single species intestinal infections. No significant age related trends were seen, with the exception of higher intensity of infection of T. axei in yearlings relative to other age classes. Assessment of abomasal parasite burden and body condition revealed no significant trends. In calves, statistically non-significant correlation was seen between increased parasite burden and decreased slaughter weight, whilst the opposite was seen in adults with the heaviest adults exhibiting the higher burdens. Given the small sample size the trends that were seen need further investigation. The parasite burden was aggregated with three adult red deer harbouring 75% of the total abomasal parasite count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This isolated population was parasitised by a reduced subset of gastrointestinal nematodes typical of this cervid across an extensive geographic range in Eurasia. The intensity and abundance of abomasal nematodes was higher in this isolated population than reported in similar studies of red deer populations across Europe.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Pb 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway. bekidavidson@hotmail.com.|Current address: HD-diagnostikk AS, Kalkbrennerveien 12, NO-1487, Hakadal, Norway. bekidavidson@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4 N1, Canada. skutz@ucalgary.ca.|Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre-Alberta Node, Faculty of Veterinary, Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4 N1, Canada. skutz@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kutz
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Pb 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway. knut.madslien@vetinst.no.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madslien
authors.affiliation: US National Parasite Collection, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, BARC East No. 1180, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA. Eric.Hoberg@ARS.USDA.GOV.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoberg
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Pb 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway. kjell.handeland@vetinst.no.
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Handeland
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology