Meningeal worm in deer from western Nebraska

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Wildlife Disease Ecology
• Mammalian Pathology

Background:

• Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, the meningeal worm, is a parasite primarily affecting white-tailed deer.
• Understanding the prevalence and distribution of P. tenuis is crucial for wildlife health management and conservation efforts.
• The parasite's potential impact on other cervid species, like mule deer, warrants investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in white-tailed deer and mule deer populations in western Nebraska.
• To document the first occurrence of natural P. tenuis infection in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).

Main Methods:

• Necropsy and parasitological examination of 178 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and 275 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).
• Samples were collected from deer harvested in locker plants in western Nebraska during November 1997.
• Identification of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis through microscopic examination of tissue samples.

Main Results:

• Parelaphostrongylus tenuis was identified in 17 (10%) of 168 examined white-tailed deer.
• A single case (<1%) of P. tenuis infection was detected in 273 examined mule deer.
• This represents the first documented natural infection of P. tenuis in a mule deer.

Conclusions:

• White-tailed deer in western Nebraska harbor a significant prevalence of the meningeal worm.
• The detection of P. tenuis in a mule deer highlights the potential for host range expansion or increased transmission.
• Continued surveillance is recommended to monitor P. tenuis in both white-tailed and mule deer populations.