The parasites of the red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in New Zealand

Abstract

Seventeen parasites of forty red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) from New Zealand are described. The ectoparasites are: Damalinia longicornis (Nitzsch), Solenopotes burmeisteri (Fahrenholz) - Phthiraptera, and Haemaphysalis bispinosa Neumann - Acarina. The endoparasites are: Diplodinium anacanthum (Dogiel) and a new species of Entodinium - Protozoa; Spiculopteragia asymmetrica (Ware), S. böhmi (Gebauer), Capillaria bovis (Schnyder), Dictyocaulus viviparus (Bloch), Oesophagostomum venulosum (Rudolphi), Trichuris ovis (Abildgaard), two new species of Skrjabinagia, a new species of Ostertagia and a new species of Rinadia - Nematoda; Fasciola hepatica L. - Trematoda; Taeni hydatigena Pallas (Cysticercus tenuicollis Rudolphi) - Cestoda. Included in this list are two new records from red deer and five new records from New Zealand. Diagnoses are given for all species and a key to the helminth parasites provided. Attempts were made to cultivate the Anopluran, Damalinia longicornis and the lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus. The stages in the life history of D. longicornis were isolated and described. Sex ratio, population and species intensity counts were made for the trichostrongylid nematodes. The red deer acts as a reservoir host for the parasites of domestic stock, Fasciola hepatica, Cysticercus tenuicollis and Dictyocaulus viviparus causing death in stock and economic loss, and Haemaphysalis bispinosa causing severe irritation in cattle and other farm animals. There is some similarity between the parasites found from red deer in other countries and those found in the present study. Data suggests a possible association between red deer parasites and those of other introduced feral mammals. The overall effect of the parasitic fauna upon the red deer is considered to be slight.