Histopathological findings in the lungs of Scottish red and roe deer.

Histopathology on portions of lung collected from 34 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 15 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) between 1977 and 1981 revealed evidence of lungworm infestation in 16 red and 14 roe deer. In the red deer, Dictyocaulus species, and the developmental stages of another parasite, believed to be Elaphostrongylus cervi, were involved. Dictyocaulus also affected the roe deer, but in them the major lesions were associated with protostrongylids. Exudative bronchopneumonia, including two cases of fungal infection, was predominantly a problem of red deer under seven months of age. Between the age of four and seven months, parasites frequently accompanied this change. Other conditions encountered were pulmonary congestion, tuberculosis and granulomata of unknown cause.