American scientists from Washington State University have discovered a possible reason for the decline in deer populations in some regions of North America. The research was published in the scientific journal broadcasting Journal of Wildlife Diseases (JWD).
Experts say deer numbers in the United States have been declining nationwide for years. Recent analysis showed that the decline was caused by the parasitic worm Eleaophora schneideri, also known as the arterial worm.
The study found that about half of the individuals studied were infected with worms, not only of the circulatory system but also of the brain. Microfilariae, the early development larvae of the parasite, were found in the animals’ skulls.
E. schneideri is transmitted primarily through the bites of horseflies and deer bloodsuckers. Adult worms can be up to 11.5 centimeters long and are mostly found in the jugular veins of the head and neck region; here they mate and release microfilariae into the bloodstream.
Infection can lead to a condition known as eleophorosis, in which the host’s circulatory system is compromised. Eleophorosis causes blindness, abnormal behavior, damage to the ears and mouth, and can be fatal.
There are currently no tests to determine whether a live deer is infected with the parasite.
“Microfilariae are distributed throughout the brain, and although damage from each may be small, it actually affects an entire organ. “We hypothesize that the cumulative effect of large numbers of microfilariae in the brain may be associated with increased morbidity or mortality,” said study co-author Kyle Taylor.
Previous scientists I learnedthat deer and other large herbivores are critical to wildlife conservation.
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Source: Gazeta
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