Cerebrospinal parelaphostrongylosis in fallow deer

Neurologic disease attributed to infection by meningeal worm ( Parela-phostrongylus tenuis ) was diagnosed in seven fallow deer ( Dama dama ) from the Land Between The Lakes region of Kentucky. Afflicted deer had paresis or paralysis of the hindquarters which quickly progressed to tetraplegia. Gross and microscopic cerebrospinal lesions were similar to those previously reported and consisted mainly of nonsuppurative meningitis and radiculitis, focal granulomas on the surface of the spinal cord, and nonselective malacia and glial scarring in brain and spinal cord. Living P. tenuis were recovered from brain or spinal cord in two deer, and degenerating nematodes were found in four. Possible epizootiologic relationships between the parasite, fallow deer and white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) are discussed.