Study of parasitic fauna of three species of deer occurring in southeastern Mexico

TL;DR

This study identifies parasites in three deer species in southeastern Mexico, highlighting health risks and the need for conservation monitoring.

Contribution

The study provides the first detailed parasitological data for the Yucatan brocket deer and compares parasite infections across wild and captive deer populations.

Findings

Eleven parasite taxa were identified, including six nematodes and two trematodes.

Yucatan brocket deer had the highest infection rate (39.2%) among the three species.

Captive deer populations showed lower parasite richness and infection rates.

Abstract

Three species of deer can be found in southeastern Mexico, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus), the red brocket deer (Mazama temama), and the Yucatan brocket deer (O. pandora). Here, we applied a combination of non-invasive sampling, necropsy examinations, and molecular diagnostics to assess the endoparasite infections fauna of in wild and captive populations of these three deer species. We analyzed a total of 140 samples and found eleven taxa parasitizing these hosts, including two trematodes (Paramphistomum sp., an unidentified trematode), one anoplocephalid cestode, six nematodes (Strongyloides sp., two morphotypes of strongylid eggs, Mammomonogamus sp., Setaria sp. and an unidentified ascarid), and two protozoans (Giardia intestinalis and unidentified ciliates). The Yucatan brocket deer showed the highest percentage of infected samples (39.2%), followed by the white-tailed deer (38.7%). For the red brocket deer, only two samples were positive to two parasite taxa (20%). Captive populations showed the lowest parasite richness and percentage of infection. Some of the parasites reported here can pose potential risk for the health of deer populations, and along with habitat loss and poaching, could jeopardize the persistence of deer in the area. This study adds to the knowledge gap on the parasitic fauna in wild populations of these culturally and ecologically important species, particularly for the Yucatan brocket deer for which parasitological information is very scarce, and highlights the necessity to keep monitoring the health status of deer in this area.

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