engleski

Gastrointestinal parasites of the red deer in Croatia – results of scat analysis and intestine examination

Red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) is a ruminant species from the superorder Laurasiatheria and order Cetartiodactyla. In Croatia the main habitat for red deer include lowland areas of Slavonia and Baranja, hilly habitats of Moslavina region and mountain parts of Gorski kotar. In this paper we present results of red deer, originating from all three mentioned habitats, scat analysis and intestine parasitological analyisis. Samples of faeces were analysed using standard flotation method. Intestines were opened according to segments and the content was washed out through the different size sieves. Scat analysis (n=88) revealed the presence of protostrongylid larvae (prevalence 68.18%), strongylid eggs (22.73%), Fascioloides magna eggs (19.32%), Eimeria oocysts (9.09%), Capillaria eggs (5.68%), Nematodirus eggs and Giardia spp. (1.14% each). Negative was 25%. Macroscopic examination of the intestines (n=10) revealed the presence of Oesophagostomum sp. (60%), Nematodirus sp. (30%), Setaria sp. and Cooperia sp. (20%) and Ostertagia sp., Moniezia sp. and Trichuris sp. (10%). As expected, the highest prevalence was found for gastrointestinal nematodes. We have also detected the presence of one trematode species (liver fluke), one protozoan species and one cestode. Nematode Setaria sp. was found on the surface of the intestines in two animals.

red deer ; gastrointestinal parasites ; scat analysis ; intestine content

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