Hypertrophic osteopathy in a roe deer

A 4 - 5-year-old female European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with swollen limbs was found dead and submitted for necropsy. The swelling of the legs was due to periosteal new bone formation at the distal limb bones in course of hypertrophic osteopathy. This process was associated with a large pulmonary aspergilloma. Disseminated mycotic lesions were present in the myocardium, the left kidney and the cranial sternal lymph node. The case is discussed in respect of the few case reports on hypertrophic osteopathy in wild cervids and the theories about its pathogenesis.