Parasitized or non-parasitized, why? A study of factors influencing tick burden in roe deer neonates.

Ixodes ricinus , the most common species of tick in Europe, is known to transmit major pathogens to animals and humans such as Babesia spp. or Borrelia spp.. Its abundance and distribution have been steadily increasing in Europe during recent decades, due to global environmental changes. Indeed, as ticks spend most of their life in the environment, their activity and life cycle are highly dependent on environmental conditions, and therefore on climate or habitat changes. Simultaneously, wild ungulates have expanded their range and increased dramatically in abundance worldwide, in particular roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), have allowed tick populations to grow and spread. Currently, tick infestation on newborn wild ungulates is poorly documented. However, newborn ungulates are considered more sensitive to tick bites and pathogen transmission because of their immature immune system. Thus, improving knowledge about the factors influencing tick infestation on newborns is essential to better understand their health risks. This study was conducted at Trois-Fontaines forest, Champagne-Ardenne, France (1992-2018). Based on a long-term monitoring of roe deer fawns, we used a novel Bayesian model of the infestation of fawns to identify which biotic or abiotic factors are likely to modify the level of infestation by ticks of 965 fawns over time. We show that tick burden increased faster during the first days of life of the fawns and became constant when fawns were 5 days old and more, which could be explained by the depletion of questing ticks or the turnover of ticks feeding on fawns. Moreover, the humidity, which favors tick activity, was weakly positively related to the tick burden. Our results demonstrate that tick infestation was highly variable among years, particularly between 2000 and 2009. We hypothesize that this results from a modification of habitat caused by hurricane Lothar.

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Tick infestation (Acari: Ixodidae) in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from northwestern Spain: population dynamics and risk stratification

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1007/s10493-010-9403-7 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 399-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Luís Vázquez ◽

Rosario Panadero ◽

Vicente Dacal ◽

Francisco Javier Pato ◽

Ceferino López ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Risk Stratification ◽

Tick Infestation ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Northwestern Spain

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Wild ungulates in Jordan: past, present, and forthcoming opportunities

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.6811.13.9.19338-19351 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 19338-19351

Author(s):

Ehab Eid ◽

David Mallon

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Fallow Deer ◽

Current Status ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Equus Hemionus ◽

Wild Ass ◽

In The Wild ◽

Arabian Oryx

Twelve species of ungulates are reported from the wild in Jordan. Three of these, Addax nasomaculatus (Addax), Bos primigenius (Aurochs), and Cervus elaphus (Red Deer) are known only from archaeological excavations. Dama mesopotamica (Mesopotamian Fallow Deer), Oryx leucoryx (Arabian Oryx) and Equus hemionus hemippus (Syrian Wild Ass) have been regionally extirpated in the wild. A semi-captive population of Persian Onager (E. h. hemionus) is held in Shumari Wildlife Reserve. The Arabian Oryx is also managed in semi-captive conditions in two reserves. Except the commonly occurring Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), other surviving ungulate species continue to be under serious threat. Gazella gazella (Palestinian Mountain Gazelle), Capreolus capreolus (European Roe Deer), Gazella marica (Arabian Sand Gazelle), and Gazella dorcas (Dorcas Gazelle) are Critically Endangered, and Capra nubiana (Nubian Ibex) is Endangered in the region. This paper provides a review of the historical and current status of wild ungulates in Jordan, listing the threats and conservation measures and provides recommendations for management and conservation in the future.

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The effect of livestock on the physiological condition of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is modulated by habitat quality

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-52290-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez ◽

Gema Escribano-Ávila ◽

Carlos Lara-Romero ◽

Emilio Virgós ◽

Isabel Barja

Keyword(s):

Habitat Quality ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Parasite Load ◽

Livestock Grazing ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Fecal Cortisol

Abstract Free-range livestock grazing is a widespread human activity that not only modifies natural vegetation but also leads to interactions with wild ungulates. Most commonly, the interactions between cattle and wild ungulates have been studied with a focus on competition for high-quality forage. However, other mechanisms, such as the risk of parasite infection, might better describe this interaction. We aim to determine whether livestock affect roe deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758) by reducing habitat quality and increasing the probability of infection by shared parasites. We measured noninvasive fecal cortisol metabolites as an indicator of habitat quality as well as the lung nematode larvae burden from the Dictyocaulus genus. A higher Dictyocaulus larvae load was found in the presence of livestock in pines, and feces collected in winter had a higher parasite load than feces collected in autumn. Additionally, fecal cortisol metabolite levels in the roe deer were affected by the interaction between habitat quality and livestock presence and were higher in the poorest habitat and when living in sympatry with cattle. Our results suggest that physiological stress responses in roe deer were mediated by the habitat type and the presence of competitors. The long-term implications of altered physiological responses such as those demonstrated here should be considered in management strategies for deer.

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Tick infestation on roe deer in relation to geographic and remotely sensed climatic variables in a tick-borne encephalitis endemic area

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268807000039 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 136 (10) ◽

pp. 1416-1424 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

G. CARPI ◽

F. CAGNACCI ◽

M. NETELER ◽

A. RIZZOLI

Keyword(s):

Tick Infestation ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Remotely Sensed ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Climatic Data ◽

Tick Abundance ◽

Tick Borne Encephalitis

SUMMARYRoe deer Capreolus capreolus are among the most important feeding hosts for the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus, thus contributing to the occurrence of tick-borne diseases in Europe. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), which is transmitted by co-feeding of larvae and nymphs on rodents, requires precise climatic conditions to occur. We used roe deer as sentinels for potential circulation of TBE virus in Northern Italy, by examining the association between tick infestation, occurrence of TBE human cases, geographical and climatic parameters. Tick infestation on roe deer, and particularly frequency of co-feeding, was clearly associated with the geographic location and the autumnal cooling rate. Consistently, TBE occurrence in humans was geographically related to co-feeding tick abundance. The surveillance of tick infestation on roe deer, combined with remotely sensed climatic data, could therefore be used as an inexpensive early risk assessment tool of favourable conditions for TBE emergence and persistence in humans.

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Genetic characterisation of wild ungulates: successful isolation and analysis of DNA from widely available bones can be cheap, fast and easy

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.965.54862 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 965 ◽

pp. 141-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elena Buzan ◽

Sandra Potušek ◽

Felicita Urzi ◽

Boštjan Pokorny ◽

Nikica Šprem

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Dna ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Low Cost ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Capra Ibex ◽

Rupicapra Rupicapra ◽

Genetic Characterisation ◽

Muscle Tissues ◽

Successful Isolation

Genetic characterisation of wild ungulates can be a useful tool in wildlife management and in obtaining a greater understanding of their biological and ecological roles in a wider spatiotemporal context. Different ways of optimising methodologies and reducing the costs of genetic analyses using widely available bone tissues collected within regular hunting allocations were examined. Successful isolation and analysis of DNA from widely available bones can be cheap, fast and easy. In particular, this study explored the possibility of using bones for extracting high quality nuclear DNA for microsatellite analysis. The utility of applying a modified demineralisation process using two commercially available DNA isolation kits, which differ significantly in price, was evaluated. The sample sets included bones and, for comparison, muscle tissues from four wild ungulate species: chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). For the recent bones, these results confirmed that the DNA concentrations and microsatellite amplification were sufficiently high, even when using low-cost kits, after prior demineralisation. For old bones, prior demineralisation and use of a specially designed isolation kit led to a more successful extraction of DNA. Besides reducing kit-related costs, low-cost kits are much faster and therefore make genetic analysis more efficient.

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TREMATODE FAUNA OF WILD UNGULATES

10.31016/978-5-6046256-1-3.2021.22.414-418 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 414-418

Author(s):

Postevoy ◽

Andreyanov

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Sus Scrofa ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Postmortem Examination ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Forest Zone ◽

Wild Boars ◽

Russian Forest

In the Russian forest zone, from 15 to 30 species of helminths were recorded in the European elk and roe deer in the areas of the habitat of wild artiodactyls, according to researchers. The purpose of our work was to study the trematode fauna of helminths in elks and roe deer caught in hunting farms of the Central region of Russia. The study objects were wild artiodactyl animals, the European elk (Alces alces), the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and the wild boar (Sus scrofa). Biological material for research (gastrointestinal tract, liver of animals, etc.) was collected during the licensed hunting period on these artiodactyls in hunting farms in the period of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. 39 animals of artiodactyls were examined (by the method of incomplete helminthological dissection), of which were 9 elks aged from 3 to 7 years, and 26 roe deer aged from 2 to 5 years, and 4 wild boars of 2–3 years old. Among wild animals, according to the results of postmortem examination, the Fasciola invasion was found in two roe deer. The prevalence of the invasion was 7.6%. When examining the liver of elks and wild boars, the causative agent of fascioliasis was not found.

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Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in Moose (Alces alces), Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus), and Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) from Norway

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13020224 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 224

Author(s):

Carlos Sacristán ◽

Knut Madslien ◽

Irene Sacristán ◽

Siv Klevar ◽

Carlos G. das Neves

Keyword(s):

Cervus Elaphus ◽

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Red Deer ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Ovibos Moschatus ◽

Wild Reindeer

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a major cause of viral hepatitis worldwide, is considered an emerging foodborne zoonosis in Europe. Pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) and wild boars (S. scrofa) are recognized as important HEV reservoirs. Additionally, HEV infection and exposure have been described in cervids. In Norway, HEV has been identified in pigs and humans; however, little is known regarding its presence in wild ungulates in the country. We used a species-independent double-antigen sandwich ELISA to detect antibodies against HEV in the sera of 715 wild ungulates from Norway, including 164 moose (Alces alces), 186 wild Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), 177 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 86 European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and 102 muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). The overall seroprevalence was 12.3% (88/715). Wild reindeer had the highest seropositivity (23.1%, 43/186), followed by moose (19.5%, 32/164), muskoxen (5.9%, 6/102), and red deer (4%, 7/177). All roe deer were negative. According to our results, HEV is circulating in wild ungulates in Norway. The high seroprevalence observed in wild reindeer and moose indicates that these species may be potential reservoirs of HEV. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of HEV exposure in reindeer from Europe and in muskoxen worldwide.

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Tick burden on European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1007/s10493-010-9337-0 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 405-417 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Torsten Vor ◽

Christian Kiffner ◽

Peter Hagedorn ◽

Matthias Niedrig ◽

Ferdinand Rühe

Keyword(s):

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Tick Burden

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First report on the sero-epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in German roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Parasite ◽

10.1051/parasite/2018052 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 52 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mike Heddergott ◽

Peter Steinbach ◽

Daniel Pohl ◽

Alain C. Frantz

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Capreolus Capreolus ◽

Human Infection ◽

German Population ◽

Wild Ungulates ◽

Age Classes ◽

Game Species ◽

Modified Agglutination Test ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

While the roe deer (Capreolus capeolus) is the most important game species in Germany and its venison is popular, there is limited knowledge about the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in this animal population in the country, and in wild ungulates in Germany generally. Between 2013 and 2015, we collected 295 blood samples from roe deer belonging to a central German population. Sera were analysed using a modified agglutination test (MAT, cut-off 1:20), and antibodies were detected in 86 of the 295 samples (29%). Seroprevalence values differed significantly between the different age classes, with antibodies more frequently observed in adults. In contrast, seroprevalence did not differ significantly between the sexes or collection years. Venison is frequently consumed raw or undercooked and may be a potential source of human infection with T. gondii.

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