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%).

Environmental Factors Influencing White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Exposure to Livestock Pathogens in Wisconsin

“…Myers et al (2015) sampled mule deer ( O . hemionus ) sera in Washington for BVDV antibody and found similar seroprevalence in 2000 (53%) and 2001 (59%), suggesting little variability with year [ 40 ]. White-tailed deer may be exposed only sporadically to BVDV depending upon site and/or year and we may not have sampled during a year with obvious exposure.…”

“…In 2011, prevalence was 36%, but dropped to 2% and 7% in 2012 and 2013, respectively, so the interaction between year and site was significant, indicating that seroprevalence varies independently on each site on a yearly basis. Myers et al (2015) also found a difference in seroprevalence for PI3 with study site in the same year for mule deer [ 40 ]. Since both deer and cattle have been shown to transmit PI3 [ 20 ], perhaps deer and/or cattle are maintaining PI3 in the populations separately between the two study sites.…”

“…pomona . In Washington, Myers et al (2015) found antibody against Leptospira interrogans serovars grippotyphosa (13%), bratislava (4%), and canicola (1%), but not serovar pomona [ 40 ]. However, Roug et al (2012) found that 6.5% of the mule deer sera tested were seropositive for Leptospira antibody (all serovars combined) [ 47 ].…”

“…Myers et al (2015) suggested that mule deer may be exposed to L . interrogans from contact with cattle that commonly share their range [ 40 ]. They also propose that mule deer could serve as maintenance hosts for the bacterium [ 40 ].…”

“…interrogans from contact with cattle that commonly share their range [ 40 ]. They also propose that mule deer could serve as maintenance hosts for the bacterium [ 40 ]. Cirone et al (1978) found that over 75% of raccoons ( Procyon lotor ), coyotes ( Canis latrans ), and striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) tested in California were seropositive for L .…”