Giardia prevalence in wild cervids in Poland

A total of 181 faecal samples were collected from wild cervids in two regions of Poland. Specimens were taken from 65 fallow deer (Dama dama), 61 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 50 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and five moose (Alces alces). Giardia cysts were detected in one faecal specimen from the red deer and in two samples from the roe deer. Although this study has demonstrated that Giardia infection is remarkably rare in wild cervids, it should be emphasized that there are large populations of these animals in Poland.