Samples of rumen contents from 33 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus
), 31 axis deer (Axis axis), 26 sika deer (Cervus nippon), and 25 fallow de
er (Dama dama) were collected from four study areas in central Texas. The g
eometric mean concentration of total protozoa was 50.2 x 10(4) per ml, with
no differences between species (P > 0.36). White-tailed deer had a higher
percentage of Entodinium and lower percentage of Diplodiniinae (P < 0.01) t
han the other deer species, which were not different from each other. Occur
rence of Epidinium, Isotricha, and Dasytricha was sporadic and did not diff
er among deer species. Numerous new host records of protozoan species were
observed: white-tailed deer-four; axis deer-five; sika deer-five; fallow de
er-four. This brings the total number of protozoan species identified in ea
ch deer species to: white-tailed-eight; axis-12; sika-15; fallow-16. For al
l species combined, protozoan concentrations were 7.5 to 11-fold higher (P
< 0.01) from Area 4, which differed from the other three areas by having a
stream that allowed deer to have free access to water. Criteria used for id
entification of medium-size Eudiplodinium species were evaluated.