(Fischoeder 1901) at deer (Cervus elafus)
Pavlović I.1, Ivetić V. 1, Stokić-Nikolić Slavonka2, Savić B. 1
1Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, V.Toze 14, 2 Veterinary Institute Požarevac, Požarevac, Serbia

Key words: Paramphistomum microbothrium, Cervus elafus


Introduction

Deer are widely distributed, and hunted, with indigenous representatives in all continents except Antarctica and Australia. The majority of large deer species inhabit temperate mixed deciduous forest, mountain mixed coniferous forest, tropical seasonal/dry forest, and savanna habitats around the world. Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest species of deer in the world. The deer of Central and Western Europe vary greatly in size with some of the largest deer found in the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe. In Serbia deer lived at  Đerdap national park and at forest at Northwest part of Vojvodina near by Danube flown.

Parasitoses caused by helminthes produce significant health problems in deer, especially with Planthelminthes which was the frequently infection transmitted through intermediate host in those population. Paramphistomiasis was one of important planthelminth infection occurred at southern and Easter Europe, and one species, P.microbothrium, has been almost exclusively incriminated. In our paper we give survey of those infection occurred at deer in one hunting ground in Serbia.

Material and methods

Our examination we performed in period 1996-1997. at hunting ground located at Northwest part of Vojvodina near by Danube flown. Six hunting deer (Cervus elafus), were examined by necropsy. We have examined trachea, lung, heart, complete gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney and urinary bladder. The intestine and the other organs were slit opened and visible helminthes removed. The mucous is scraped and many young parasites were found in debris. The contents and washing were scanned over a gauze sieve, under jet water and the retained material examined, small quantities at a time, in a large whistle enamel tray.

Parasites found were collected and fixed in acetic formalin (after Railliet). At laboratory of Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia, parasites of genus Paramphistomidae were fixed 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, mediosagital sectioned at 5-6 micrometers and stained by HEA. Determination were performed by key given by Nesmark (1937), Vishnyakov (1980) and Samnaliev (1981) which use type of matter of acetabulum from determination of genus and matter of atrium genital and acetabulum to determination of paramphistomidae species.

Results and discussion

From six hunting deer (Cervus elafus) were examined, paramphisomidae parasites were found at 4 animals. Numerous adult parasites were occurred in rumen (more than 250 per animals), but they also occur in reticulum and omasus in smaller number. Immature parasites were found attached to the wall of the abomasus, where the wall and folds were be so thickened as almost to occlude the lumen of the organ. Young parasites were found behind the pylorus attached to the mucus, and in brownish-pink clusters in the contents. Erosion and small hemorrhages were present and even the contents themselves may show discoloration from hemorrhage.

After microscopic examination we concluded that occurred paramphistomided belonging to the species Paramphistomum microbothrium (Fischoeder 1901)(picture 1). At picture 2 we saw dorsal part of acetabulum. Muscle of dorsal circular layer, distribution at two part - dorsal exrternal part 1 (de 1) and dorsal external part 2 (de 2), are determinable characteristic to genus paramphistomidae (picture 3). De 1 part was strongly development, and together with ventral external circulator layer, bunching at dorsal and ventral   angle of acetabulm (forming strong sfinkter). Diameter of acetabulum was 1,22-1,68 mm. Radial layer, exteran longitudinal layer and musle of acetabulum had usually position, look and relation from P.microbothrim (Vishnyakov,1980 Samnaliev,1981). At picture 4 we see anterior part of parasites.

Picture 1. Mediosagital cut thought Paramphistomum body. We see pharynx, atrium genital, acetabulum, testis, Pars prostates, excretory vesiculae and urethra. Cuticula from ventral part, especial near by genital epistome are corrugate

Picture 2. Dorsal part of acetabulum

Picture 3. Muscle of dorsal circular layer, distribution at two part - dorsal external part 1 (de 1) and dorsal external part 2 (de 2) De 1 part was strongly development, and together with ventral external circulator layer, bunching at dorsal and ventral   angle of acetabulm (forming strong sfinkter).

Picture 4. anterior part of P.microbothrim

P. microbothrium was well known like parasites of domestic large and small ruminant, especially cattle (Horak, 1971). They appears to be better adapted to cattle than the sheep, surviving longer in the rumen and having a prepatent period of eight weeks against ten weeks in sheep. It also produces eggs much more consistently. A normal turnover of infection is completed in three to four months (Dunn, 1978). Development of parasites circulated through intermediate host snail from genus Bulinus. After ingestion of metacercaria by finally host development was accomplished during passage thought the rumen, abomasums and small intestine. Disease was characterized by sporadic epizootics of acute parasitic gastro-enteritis with high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in young stock (Awharitoma et al.1990). In Serbia P. microbothrium occurred in small ruminants and cattle (Babić, 1966; Cvetković, 1968; Vujić and Petrović, 1971).

Conclusion

Our results present a first occurrence of Paramphistomum microbothrium at deer (Cervus elafus) in Serbia.

Acknowledgements: Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Republic of Serbia support this work.


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