Parasitofauna of farm red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Western Polissya of Ukraine
Abstract
The formation of the parasite fauna of wild ungulates and control of diseases caused by them is an essential veterinary measure in the breeding of deer. The study aimed to conduct monitoring studies on the infestation of red deer parasites (Cervus elaphus) during commercial cultivation during acclimatization in the Western Polissya of Ukraine. Faecal samples (n = 30) were taken from females of four ecotypes of the Eastern European breed, English, Hungarian, F1 crossbreed (Eastern European x Western European breed), and males of different ecotypes. The research was performed between May and September 2020 at the Department of Parasitology and Ichthyopathology, Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv. Eggs and larvae from nine species of helminths were found in the faeces of parasitic deer at Amila Farm: Trichostrongylus axei, Ostertagia ostertagia, Cooperia oncophora, Haemonchus contortus, Chabertia ovina, Murisillo capides (Capillaria bovis), Dicrocoelium dendriticum, including eight species of nematodes and one species of trematodes, as well as oocysts of two species of protozoa: Eimeria ellipsoidalis, Eimeria brasiliensis. Intensity of Trichostrongylus nematode, Ostertagia, Coperia, Hemonhus, Habertia, Aonhoteca (capillary), strongyloides and mulleria larvae on the scale of invasiveness (up to 100 EGF/LGF) in May and September was low, and dicrocelia trematodes eggs – low and medium (1–10, 11–100 EGF) in September, indicating the subclinical course of helminthiasis and their constant release during this period into the environment. The intensity of parasitic protozoan infestation was also low (1–10 OGF) in May and relatively high (11–100 OGF) in September. The intensity of parasitic protozoan infestation was also low (1–10 OGF) in May and relatively high (11–100 OGF) in September.
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