The distribution of strongylid egg and lungworm (Dictyocaulus eckerti) larval counts in adult female farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus), and the implications for parasite control.

Whilst healthy adult farmed red deer show little clinical indication of parasite infection, they may still be maintaining infection levels on the farm through low-level shedding of nematode eggs and lungworm larvae. This work was undertaken to establish the long-term distribution of parasite counts, to determine whether the higher counts seen in previous trials are repeatable across the same animals. All adult female red deer on a New Zealand North Island property were faecal sampled (n = 209), weighed, and body condition scored (BCS) on five sampling occasions from March - August 2021. Faecal samples were processed by modified Baermanns to recover, identify, and enumerate lungworm 1st stage larvae (FLC), and nematode faecal egg counts (FEC) were determined by mini-FLOTAC. Between animal variation for FEC was significant (p < 0.001); whilst many counts were low to zero, a few individuals were consistently shedding higher egg counts. Younger animals tended to have higher egg counts (p = 0.003), but there was no association between FEC and BCS (p = 0.22), and FEC and liveweight (p = 0.58). Modelling of the data indicated that 50% of the egg output resulted from 21% of the animals. Additionally, there was no significant association between the higher egg counts and the gastrointestinal nematode classification; 'long tails' (likely Oesophagostomum sp.) p = 0.76, and the Ostertagiinae complex p = 0.75. Lungworm counts tended to be very low (0 - 26 lpg); consistent with previous trials and literature in farmed adult deer. However, between animal differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001) indicating some animals were passing more larvae than others, and poorer conditioned animals (BCS 2.5) were significantly associated with higher larval count (p = 0.03). There was no relationship between larval count and age (p = 0.62) and larval count and liveweight (p = 0.22). Modelling indicates that 50% of pasture larval contamination was contributed by 15% of the animals. There was no correlation between nematode egg count and lungworm larvae count (p = 0.22). Adult deer may play an important role as a source of infection for young deer, therefore, an improved understanding of the distribution of infection is needed to improve parasite control.