Abnormal behavior pattern and flight reaction were recorded from a six year
old male red deer near a small village in Tyrol. The obviously sick animal
showed clinical central nervous symptoms such as incoordination of movemen
ts. The animal was shot and a post mortem examination performed. Pathologic
al findings of the brain revealed a severe hydrocephalus. The right ventric
le was enlarged and contained an extreme amount of fluid. In the cerebrospi
nal fluid three nematodes could be detected. Few more specimens were also f
ound in the subarachnoidal space. The parasites were identified as Setaria
cervi Histopathological examinations of the brain and meninges revealed mul
tiple focal inflammation surrounded by deposits of pigments which had been
caused by the parasites.