Ethmoid tumors in moose and roe deer

Ethmoid tumors are expansively-infiltratively growing tumors of carcinomatous or sarcomatous nature, deriving from the mucous membrane of the ethmoid bone. In Sweden, such tumors were found in 35 elks (Alces a. alces) and 4 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) during the years 1947-1982, that means a frequency of about 1 and 0.1 per cent, respectively of the investigation material. However, in the free living elk and roe deer population, the frequency might be much lower. The tumors were malign, extensively melting the soft and hard tissues of the ethmoid region, breaking into the brain cavity, the forehead subcutaneous tissues, etc. Symptoms as suppurative or bloody discharge at the nose, external outline aberrations and disorders to be related to injuries of the central nervous system were observed. In the elk, ethmoid tumors were found only in female animals. In the beginning of this century, ethmoid tumors were found in a number of cattle and horses in Sweden and Norway. Multiple cases occurred in some herds indicating that the tumors were caused by an infectious agent. Since the year 1916, there seem to be no reports on the finding of ethmoid tumors in domestic animals in the Nordic countries. In 1960, however, such tumors were discovered in Indian cattle in Kerala in the south of India. Tumor tissue from the cattle was examined and a herpes-virus was found. Geographically, the distribution of the tumor cases in cattle and elk was very similar in Sweden indicating a possible mutual transmission. As the tumors obviously have disappeared from cattle but not from the elk, it seems likely that the elk might be the primary carrier of the ethmoid tumor. Ethmoid tumors have been observed for many years in Scandinavia but only rather recently they were discovered in India. It has been known for long that birds after contamination might be involved in the spread of virus diseases, provided the virus are reasonably resistant. In the actual case, the suspicion has mainly been directed at three bird species, viz. the blue throat (Luscinia svecica), the scarlet grosbeak (Erythrina erythrina) and the red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). In spring and summer, these birds periodically reside in elk habitat where they might be contaminated. In the autumn, they may extend their migration to the southern parts of India.     

Hypoderma diana in roe deer in the Netherlands

An infestation with Hypoderma diana in roe deer in the Netherlands is described. The condition of the infested deer was poor. Hypoderma diana is no threat for cattle.     

Delayed acute capture myopathy in three roe deer

Delayed acute capture myopathy is the term used to describe the clinical syndrome observed in three roe deer captured by drive-nets and transported to an enclosure for scientific purposes. The animals died 48 h, 60 h and 8 days after being captured. The simultaneous deaths coincided with a previous episode of deliberate human disturbance. The histopathological findings were indicative of acute myopathy and myoglobinaemic nephrosis. These could be related to an ataxic myoglobinuric syndrome brought on by capture and transport operations. The lack of clinical signs and negative prognosis indicators in the period between capture and just before death. the absence of gross muscular lesions in the animal that died after 8 days post-capture, the simultaneous deaths of animals captured at different times and the evidence of deliberate human disturbance in the enclosure are suggestive of death triggered by a second stress episode.     

Atmospheric flash injuries in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

The pathological and histopathological examination of two female roe deer found dead after a severe thunderstorm is described. One of the two roe deer was killed by a direct hit of atmospheric flash, while the other animal, lying 1.5 m from the first one, died as a consequence of ground current strike. The major part of the coat and skin of the animal that was killed by a direct hit was covered with scorched streaks. The trachea and bronchi of both animals contained a considerable amount of aspirated light-red foam. Necropsy revealed diffuse haemorrhages over the epicardium of the right atrium with a diameter of 1 millimetre. The liver and the kidney exhibited severe congestion.     

Corynebacterium ulcerans infection in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

This is the first report of a Corynebacterium (C) ulcerans-infection in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The bacterium was isolated from a grapefruit sized abscess of an animal that had been shot. In addition to biochemical tests, the isolate was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and partial sequencing of the rpoB gene. The isolated bacteria showed phospholipase D activity that could be demonstrated by reverse CAMP-test. A tox-gene could be detected by PCR but the Elek-test specific for diphtheria toxin failed.The isolate was compared to two C. ulcerans-strains isolated from wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg described recently.     

Prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in roe deer from Spain

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is an important game animal in Spain. Sera from 278 roe deer from eight areas in mainland Spain were assayed for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by modified agglutination test (MAT). Titers of 1:25 or higher were found in 109 (39.2%) of 278 deer. No significant differences in antibody prevalence were found between sex or age categories. In contrast, significant differences in seroprevalence between locations were evident. Roe deer from the Northern coastal habitats (high humidity and roe deer density) had the highest prevalence, compared with low prevalence in Central Spain (arid areas and low roe deer density). There was a positive correlation between antibody prevalence and mean annual rainfall (r(s)=0.85, n=8, P<0.01). These findings have environmental and/or public health implications because venison can be an important meat source of T. gondii infections for humans and feral cats.     

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild red deer, roe deer, moose, and reindeer from Norway

Serum samples from 4339 wild cervids collected in Norway were tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using the direct agglutination test. The association between seroprevalence and species, sex, age, and geographic region was investigated. Positive titers (> or =1:40) were found in 33.9% of 760 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus); 12.6% of 2142 moose (Alces alces); 7.7% of 571 red deer (Cervus elaphus); and 1.0% of 866 reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). The seroprevalences were significantly different between the species. There was a significant increase in prevalence with age in roe deer, moose, and red deer, except from yearling to adult in red deer. A significant age-sex interaction was found in moose, and the effect of age was most distinct for females. No association between seropositive animals and sex was found for roe deer and red deer. There were significant differences in prevalence between geographic regions in roe deer and male moose. A widespread exposure to T. gondii in Norwegian cervids is documented, and meat from Norwegian cervids, particularly roe deer, should be regarded a potential source of infection for humans.     

Case report: Hypertrophic osteopathy in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

This report describes a case of hypertrophic osteopathy in an approximately three years old male roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The hunter reported that the animal was apparently healthy and showed no signs of movement imparities. At dissection, a combination of a lung abscess with bony swellings at the distal parts of the limbs was observed. Further investigation revealed that the bony swellings were caused by a severe periosteal hyperosteosis at the diaphyses of the digital phalanges, metacarpal and metatarsal bones. The periosteal new bone was characterized by the formation of coralliform osteophytes, typically seen in cases of hypertrophic osteopathy. As usual in animals with hypertrophic osteopathy, the pathological changes in this roe deer developed secondary to a intrathoracic lesion (lung abscess).     

我国狍子源鞭虫的分子鉴定与进化分析

为鉴定我国黑龙江省分离的狍子源鞭虫的种类及确定其在鞭虫中的分类地位,本研究首先对鞭虫进行形态学特征观察,并利用PCR方法扩增该鞭虫r DNA ITS序列,经测序分析结果表明,r DNA ITS序列全长为1 371 bp,其中ITS1、5.8S及ITS2大小分别为800 bp、163 bp及408 bp,与之前报道的狍子源鞭虫同源性达99.8%。将其与NCBI数据库中相应鞭虫ITS序列进行比对分析,并将r DNA ITS序列作为基因标记构建鞭虫属系统发生树,结果显示本研究所分离的狍子源鞭虫与其他不同宿主的无色鞭虫均处于同一个分支,因此可鉴定本研究分离的我国狍子源鞭虫为无色鞭虫。本研究为国内首次对狍子源鞭虫进行分子鉴定及系统进化分析,为草食动物的鞭虫病分子鉴别诊断和鞭虫系统进化分析研究提供依据。     

Severe alopecia due to demodicosis in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Belgium

Demodex mites are part of the normal fauna of hair follicles of many, if not all, healthy mammal species. Normally these parasites live in harmony with their host, however in states of putative immunosuppression the acarids undergo excessive proliferation and cause clinical disease, which may be localised or generalised. This paper describes four cases of demodicosis in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with localised to generalised alopecia.