A COMPARISON OF LUNGWORM FECAL LARVAL COUNTS AND TRICHOSTRONGYLOID FECAL EGG COUNTS BETWEEN RED DEER (CERVUS-ELAPHUS) AND RED DEER X WAPITIF1 HYBRIDS

To determine if breed differences in susceptibility to trichostrongylo id and lungworm infection exist, two groups of weaner deer containing seven red deer and red deer x wapiti F1 hybrids were compared using fa ecal egg counts and faecal larval counts. All animals were run on the same pasture at the same time and treated with the same anthelmintics at the same time. Results indicated that there were significant differ ences between red deer and red deer x wapiti hybrids, with red deer ha ving higher faecal lungworm counts and red deer x wapiti hybrids havin g significantly higher faecal egg counts. It is likely that these diff erences were due to breed. Differences in the efficacy of anthelmintic treatments were also noted between the two groups, with oral oxfendaz ole being less effective at reducing faecal lungworm counts in red dee r x wapiti hybrids than red deer.