Babesia capreoli infections in alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. Rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus c. Capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Switzerland

Five cases of fatal babesiosis in free-ranging chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) attributed to infections with Babesia capreoli were recently recorded in two regions of the Swiss Alps. To investigate the ecologic factors that possibly lead to those fatal B. capreoli infections in chamois, blood, ticks, and demographic data of 46 roe deer (Capreolus c. capreolus), 48 chamois, and nine red deer (Cervus elaphus) were collected in 2006 and 2007 in both affected regions. Whereas no parasitic inclusions were found by microscopical examination of blood smears, B. capreoli was identified by polymerase chain reaction/sequencing in blood of 12 roe deer (26%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.3-41.1), one chamois (2%, CI: 0-6.1), and one red deer (11%, CI: 0.3-48.2). Prevalence of B. capreoli was significantly higher in roe deer compared with chamois (P<0.001). All 214 ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus, and significantly more roe deer (63%, CI: 47.5-76.8) were infested compared with chamois (21%, CI: 10.5-35.0, P<0.001). Overall, prevalences of both tick infestation and Babesia infection increased significantly (P<0.001) with decreasing altitude, and Babesia-positive samples were detected significantly more often from animals with tick infestation compared with animals without ticks (P = 0.040). Our results indicate that roe deer may play an important reservoir role for B. capreoli. It is hypothesized that the expansion of the presumed vector I. ricinus to higher elevations and its increased abundance in overlapping habitats of roe deer and chamois may favor the spillover of B. capreoli from roe deer to chamois.

Molecular detection of Bartonella spp. in deer ked pupae, adult keds and moose blood in Finland

SUMMARY The deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) is a haematophagous ectoparasite of cervids that harbours haemotrophic Bartonella. A prerequisite for the vector competence of the deer ked is the vertical transmission of the pathogen from the mother to its progeny and transstadial transmission from pupa to winged adult. We screened 1154 pupae and 59 pools of winged adult deer keds from different areas in Finland for Bartonella DNA using PCR. Altogether 13 pupa samples and one winged adult deer ked were positive for the presence of Bartonella DNA. The amplified sequences were closely related to either B. schoenbuchensis or B. bovis. The same lineages were identified in eight blood samples collected from free-ranging moose. This is the first demonstration of Bartonella spp. DNA in a winged adult deer ked and, thus, evidence for potential transstadial transmission of Bartonella spp. in the species.

Hematology, serum chemistry, and serum protein electrophoresis ranges for free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Sweden.

We present the first reference ranges for hematology (n = 35 animals), serum biochemistry (n = 62), and serum protein electrophoresis (n = 32) in physically restrained free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Animals were captured in box traps and physically restrained for blood sampling during the winter in Sweden, 2011-13. No clinically significant sex or age differences were found.

Red deer as maintenance host for bovine tuberculosis, Alpine region.

To estimate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the Alpine region, we studied the epidemiology of Mycobacterium caprae in wildlife during the 2009-2012 hunting seasons. Free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) were a maintenance host in a hot-spot area, mainly located in Austria.

Experimental infection model for Sin Nombre hantavirus in the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

The relationship between hantaviruses and their reservoir hosts is not well understood. We successfully passaged a mouse-adapted strain of Sin Nombre virus from deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) by i.m. inoculation of 4- to 6-wk-old deer mouse pups. After inoculation with 5 ID50, antibodies to the nucleocapsid (N) antigen first became detectable at 14 d whereas neutralizing antibodies were detectable by 7 d. Viral N antigen first began to appear in heart, lung, liver, spleen, and/or kidney by 7 d, whereas viral RNA was present in those tissues as well as in thymus, salivary gland, intestine, white fat, and brown fat. By 14 d nearly all tissues examined displayed both viral RNA and N antigen. We noted no consistent histopathologic changes associated with infection, even when RNA load was high. Viral RNA titers peaked on 21 d in most tissues, then began to decline by 28 d. Infection persisted for at least 90 d. The RNA titers were highest in heart, lung, and brown fat. Deer mice can be experimentally infected with Sin Nombre virus, which now allows provocative examination of the virus-host relationship. The prominent involvement of heart, lung, and brown fat suggests that these sites may be important tissues for early virus replication or for maintenance of the virus in nature.

Perpetuation of the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in a deer tick-rodent cycle.

A human-derived strain of the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, a recently described emerging rickettsial disease, has been established by serial blood passage in mouse hosts. Larval deer ticks acquired infection by feeding upon such mice and efficiently transmitted the ehrlichiae after molting to nymphs, thereby demonstrating vector competence. The agent was detected by demonstrating Feulgen-positive inclusions in the salivary glands of the experimentally infected ticks and from field-derived adult deer ticks. White-footed mice from a field site infected laboratory-reared ticks with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, suggesting that these rodents serve as reservoirs for ehrlichiae as well as for Lyme disease spirochetes and the piroplasm that causes human babesiosis. About 10% of host-seeking deer ticks were infected with ehrlichiae, and of these, 20% also contained spirochetes. Cotransmission of diverse pathogens by the aggressively human-biting deer tick may have a unique impact on public health in certain endemic sites.

An Analysis of National Park Service Policy Regarding Management of White-Tailed Deer at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

The population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) occupying Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky is unknown. The population is uncontrolled, unmanaged, and suspected to be high. When uncontrolled, white-tailed deer tend to overpopulate and inflict negative impacts to vegetation through increased herbivory. The goal of this project is to demonstrate that the status of white-tailed deer at Mammoth Cave merits a policy formulation, and to provide suggestions as to what such a policy should contain. Three similar national parks have previously developed policies to manage white-tailed deer. These policies are analyzed, and common elements are identified that can transpose into a comparable policy at Mammoth Cave. Recommendations for a white-tailed deer management policy at Mammoth Cave National Park are given.

Neotropical deer (Cervidae) : Part I. Pudus, genus Pudu Gray / Philip Hershkovitz.

n.s. no.11(1982)

Reflector use and the effect they have on the number of mule deer killed on California highways. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

Highway lighting to prevent deer-auto accidents. Final report.

Colorado Division of Highways, Denver

Analysis of vegetation controls on bank erosion rates, Clark Fork of the Columbia River, Deer Lodge Valley, Montana /

"U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior"--P. [1].

The effectiveness of deer flagging models as deterrents to deer entering highway rights-of-way. Final report.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg