PLASMA PEPSINOGEN VALUES IN HELMINTH FREE REARED AND NATURALLY RAISEDFANNED FALLOW DEER (DAMA-DAMA L)

Pepsinogen values were determined in helminth free (n = 12) and natura lly raised farmed fallow deer (n = 10-12) from birth (June 1992) to 11 . (May 1993) and 15 months (September 1993) of age respectively in 4 w eekly intervals. At birth the plasma pepsinogen value was 0.708 +/- 0, 197 U Tyrosin/l and decreased thereafter until 14 weeks of age to 0.13 9 +/- 0.061 U Tyrosin/l in both groups. From the 18th week of age the naturally raised fallow deer, infected with gastrointestinal nematodes , had significantly higher pepsinogen values than the helminth free ke pt animals. Maximum pepsinogen levels in the naturally raised fallow d eer were determined in November 1992 (0.813 +/- 0.336 U Tyrosin/l) and in June 1993 (1.050 +/- 0.163 U Tyrosin/l). In helminth free animals no further decrease of plasma pepsinogen values was seen from 14th wee k of age onwards: it was 0.202 +/- 0.110 U Tyrosin/l, There was no inf luence of sex on the plasma pepsinogen values in both groups.