PATTERN OF ABOMASAL HELMINTHS IN FALLOW DEER FARMING IN UMBRIA (CENTRAL ITALY)

Five helminth species were seen in the abomasa of 29 farmed fallow dee r. Spiculopteragia asymmetrica was most common in both prevalence (96. 6%) and abundance (166.2). Ostertagia drozdzi, Ostertagia arctica and Spiculopteragia quadrispiculata were also recovered with high prevalen ce (79.3-93.1%); Trichostrongylus axei was sporadic (3.4%). Yearlings had worm counts of 496-1480, adult males of 168-1720 and females of 18 -2008. For nine of 13 deer, the faecal egg counts were negative and po st-mortem examinations were positive, with 18-1140 worms per deer. The results are discussed in relation to helminth population, its epidemi ological significance and management strategies.