ANTIBODY PREVALENCE OF 8 RUMINANT INFECTIOUS-DISEASES IN CALIFORNIA MULE AND BLACK-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS-HEMIONUS)

We tested 276 sera from 18 free-ranging black-tailed and mule deer (Od ocoileus hemionus) herds in California (USA) collected from 1987 to 19 91 in five biogeographical habitat types, for antibodies against eight infectious disease agents. Overall antibody prevalence was 56% for An aplasma marginale, 31% for Borrelia burgdorferi, 16% for bluetongue vi rus serotype 17, 15% for epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, 7% for C axiella burnetii and Taxoplasma gondii, respectively, and 0% for bovin e leukosis virus and caprine arthritis/encephalitis virus, respectivel y. Antibodies against Lyme borreliosis and anaplasmosis were found in deer throughout California, but antibodies against bluetongue and epiz ootic hemorrhagic disease were most prevalent in deer from southern Ca lifornia.