Parelaphostrongylus tenuis–Associated Meningoencephalitis in a Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-46.1.287
• Publication Date: 2013-10-01T03:06:30Z
• Authors: Richard W. Gerhold; M. Kevin Keel; Kim Arnold; Doug Hotton; Robert B. Beckstead
• Keywords: Cervus; Lungworm

An adult, female, free-ranging, sika deer (Cervus nippon yakushimae) from Wicomico County, Maryland, USA, was found circling and having no fear of humans. The animal euthanized submitted for a postmortem exam. There were gross lesions the negative rabies. Microscopic examination revealed lymphoplasmacytic, neutrophilic, eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with intralesional adult nematodes, larvae, eggs consistent nematodes in family Protostrongylidae. Parelaphostrongylus tenuis identified by polymerase chain reaction DNA sequencing. To our knowledge, this is first report P. tenuis–associated encephalitis deer.