Setaria tundra in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)--new findings in Poland

Setaria tundra is a filarioid nematode transmitted by mosquitoes, which is sporadically observed in Poland. Some ecological factors, such as the synurbisation of some wild ungulates and the climate changes observed in recent years, could affect the possibility of infection, especially with parasites transmitted by arthropod vectors. The study was conducted to evaluate the presence of Setaria sp. in roe deer populations in different environments. Parasitological dissections of 53 roe deer were performed. The animals were taken from the area of the Cracow agglomeration, and from arable and forest lands near the city. During the autopsy, nematode specimens (one to twelve per host) were found only in the abdominal cavity of roe deer from the urban area. All parasites were classified to Setaria tundra species on the basis of morphology and dimensions. The infection observed was probably associated with the specific environmental conditions of the urban area.