AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ENDOPARASITIC HELMINTH FAUNA OF ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS-CAPREOLUS L) IN THE NETHERLANDS

Eighty eight roe deer from four regions in the Netherlands were investigated from May 1986 until May 1987 for the presence of helminth endoparasites. All roe deer were found to be infected with at least one worm species. The following species were found in the abomasum:Spiculopteragia boehmi (79 % of the roe deer positive), Ostertagia leptospicularis (76 %), Skrjabinagia kolchida (73 %), Trichostrongylus axei (49 %), Rinadia mathevossiani (16 %), O. ostertagi (16 %), Haemonchus contortus (3 %) and O. circumcincta (1 %). Capillaria bilobata was found in the abomasum/small intestine of 6 % of the roe deer. T. capricola (49 %), Nematodirus europaeus (31 %) and Bunostomum trigonocephalum (2 %) were present in the small intestine. Trichuris ovis (49 %), Oesophagostomum venulosum (13 %) and Chabertia ovina (2 %) were present in the large intestine and/or caecum. Dictyocaulus eckerti was found in 6 % of the roe deer lungs. The highest gastrointestinal worm burden was 30 600. The average number per roe deer was 5502. No helminths were found in liver and rumen. Differences in worm numbers and in species composition were demonstrated between regions and between age groups. C. bilobata, B. trigonocephalum and Ch. ovina have not been described earlier from roe deer from the Netherlands. © 1990 Verlag Paul Parey.