Effects of density, climate, and supplementary forage on body mass and pregnancy rates of female red deer in Spain.

The influence of short- and long-term (cohort) effects of climate and density on the life-histories of ungulates in temperate regions may vary with latitude, habitat, and management practices, but the life-histories of ungulates in the Mediterranean region are less well known. This study examined the short- and long-term effects of rainfall and absolute density on hinds in two of the southernmost populations of red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) in Europe. One population received supplementary forage. Unlike more northerly latitudes, where red deer hinds lose body mass in winter as a result of adverse weather, in the Spanish populations, hinds did not lose body mass. Hinds in the population that received supplementary forage were heavier and more likely to become pregnant than were the hinds in the unsupplemented population. The likelihood of pregnancy occurring was strongly influenced by hind body mass; the proportion of yearlings that became pregnant was consequently lower in the unsupplemented population than in the population that received supplementary forage. Cohort effects on hind body mass (negative for density and positive for rainfall at birth) and on the probability of pregnancy (negative for density at birth) were apparent only in the unsupplemented population, which implies that supplemental feeding may partially compensate for negative density-dependent factors during early growth, and that supplemented deer hinds may experience reduced selection pressures. These results reflect the particular seasonal variation in the abundance and quality of food in Mediterranean habitats. The delayed effects of climate and density at birth on adult hind body mass and the prevalence of pregnancy probably affects population dynamics and constitutes a mechanism by which cohort effects affect the population dynamics in Iberian red deer. The management of Iberian red deer populations should take into account cohort effects and supplemental feeding practices, which can buffer density- and climate-dependent effects and reduce natural selection pressures.

Natural Aujeszky's disease in a Spanish wild boar population.

We describe an outbreak of Aujeszky's disease (AD) in a wild boar (Sus scrofa) population from central Spain. Mortality was estimated to be at least 14% (14/100) in juveniles and 7.5% (3/40) in adults. Most of the affected animals (12/17) were between 4 and 8 months of age. Gross lesions mainly consisted of enlarged and congestive tonsils and lymph nodes, petechial hemorrhages on the small intestine, and engorged blood vessels in the brain and meninges. Histopathology revealed mild nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis. Positivity to the fluorescent antibody test was found in tissues from the affected animals. Seroprevalence of antibodies to AD virus (ADV) was 56% (9/16). To our knowledge, this is the first description of clinical cases in a wild suid population.

Amebic liver abscess "a 5 year Mexican experience with a multimodality approach".

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Amebic liver abscess is a frequent problem in Mexico. The morbidity and mortality is reported to be high in different series. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and mortality of ALA in our center and evaluate our current management used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients were included in our study. Thirty-four (68%) were males, 16 (22%) were females. The age range was between 22 and 83 years (mean 50 years). The majority presented abdominal pain (95%), fever (82%) and hepatomegaly (72%). leukocytosis was observed in 72%, hypoalbuminaemia in 62%, thrombocytosis in 42%. The seroemeba reaction was positive in 90%. The diagnostic methods used were ultrasound in 42, computed tomography in 20 and isotope scan in 12. RESULTS: Medical treatment alone was used in 24 patients, 15 required percutaneous drainage and 11 surgery. Fifteen patients (38%) presented medical complications. The hospital stay raged between 5 and 44 days (mean 15 days). One patient died in a median follow up of 31.4 months. Multimodality management was liberally used in our patients. Amebicidal drugs were used initially and controlled the disease in 24 patients, 15 patients required percutaneous drainage because of lack of control of the disease or risk of complications and 11 patients required surgery to treat complications. CONCLUSION: With these approaches the morbidity and mortality of ALA in our center has remained low.

Immunohistochemical characterization of hepatic lesions associated with Elaeophora elaphi parasitism in red deer (Cervus elaphus).

This study was based on the immunohistochemical characterization of hepatic lesions caused by Elaeophora elaphi in 15 red deer. In eight animals filariae were found in branches of the portal vein. "Web-like" endophlebitis (15 cases), lymph nodule-like thrombi associated with filarial debris (12 cases) and fibrinous thrombi (three cases) were also observed in the portal vein. Multifocal granulomatous hepatitis (six cases) and lymph nodule-like tissue (three cases) were found in the liver parenchyma. The distribution of CD3 antigen, IgG-lambda light chains, and S-100 protein in lymphoid tissue in the portal vein thrombi and hepatic parenchyma was similar to that found in the cortex of the lymph nodes. In these lesions, lymphoid follicles with large germinal centres (mainly composed of IgG+ B lymphocytes, with occasional S-100+ follicular dendritic cells) predominated over interfollicular lymphoid tissue (mainly composed of CD3+ T lymphocytes and S-100+ interdigitating cells). This suggested that the local humoral immune response was more important than the cellular response in this parasitic disease. The presence of interdigitating and follicular dendritic cells confirmed the high degree of organization of the abnormal lymphoid tissue and suggested that antigen presentation to T and B lymphocytes and the subsequent proliferation of the latter was particularly efficient in such tissue. The latter may therefore be superior to diffuse granulomatous infiltrate in terms of the production of a local immune response.

Abnormal antler growth associated with testicular hypogonadism in red deer.

A wild 5-yr-old red deer (Cervus elaphus) was eulled from a privately owned herd because of deformed antlers, retained velvet and bilateral symmetrical testicular hypogonadism. The clinical and pathological changes seen in this deer were most consistent with congenital hypoplasia, but testicular atrophy was an alternative possibility for the etiology of their condition.

Sex-related differences in body condition and serum biochemical parameters in red deer (Cervus elaphus) naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis.

Although Mycobacterium bovis infection is commonly reported in red deer (Cervus elaphus), potential differences in the effects of infection on male and female animals in terms of body condition and clinical biochemistry have not been reported. Between November 2000 and January 2006, serum and biometrical data were collected post-mortem from 88 red deer. M. bovis-infected deer, particularly males, were typically older, heavier and in poorer body condition than uninfected animals. Serum triglyceride, cholesterol (both particularly in males) and total protein concentrations were lower, whereas serum creatinine (more evident in females), and immunoglobulin G and M concentrations were higher in the infected deer. These sex-related differences in the response to M. bovis infection in red deer should be considered when undertaking epidemiological assessments and designing disease control strategies as they may reflect differing roles of male and female animals as potential reservoirs or disseminators of disease.

Do drastic weather effects on diet influence changes in chemical composition, mechanical properties and structure in deer antlers?

We attempted to determine why after an exceptionally hard winter deer antlers fractured more often than usual. We assessed mechanical properties, structural variables and mineral composition of deer antlers grown in a game estate (LM) after freezing temperatures (late winter frosts, LWF), which resulted in high incidence of antler fractures despite being grown later in the year, and those grown after a standard winter (SW). Within each year, specimens from broken and intact antlers were assessed. LWF was associated with reduced impact energy (U) and somewhat reduced work to peak force (W), Young's modulus (E) and physical density, as well as cortical thickness. LWF was associated with considerably increased Si and reduced Na. In each year, broken antlers had lower Mn, P and physical density, and they had more Na and B than unbroken antlers. Because no such effect was found in farmed deer fed whole meal, and because freezing in plants usually produces an increase in Si content, which in turn reduces Mn, it is likely that LWF produced a diet rich in Si and low in Mn. Because antlers are grown transferring calcium phosphate from the own skeleton and Ca/P levels were slightly reduced, it seems likely that Mn reduction may have increased antler fractures. A comparison between farm deer and those in another game estate (LI) also shows a link between lower Mn content and lower W. Thus, small changes in minor bone minerals, probably induced by diet, may have marked effects in mechanical properties of bone.

Long-term epidemiology, effect on body condition and interspecific interactions of concomitant infection by nasopharyngeal bot fly larvae (Cephenemyia auribarbis and Pharyngomyia picta, Oestridae) in a population of Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus).

We studied the pattern of infection and the inter-annual variation and individual factors affecting the infection of 2 species of nasopharyngeal bot flies, Cephenemyia auribarbis and Pharyngomyia picta (Diptera: Oestridae), in a population of Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) from south central Spain (10 annual periods between 1990 and 2003). Mean prevalence+/-S.E.95%CI of infection was 35.19+/-4.24% (n=486). The frequency distribution of the parasites was markedly aggregated (K: 0.213, mean abundance+/-S.D.: 5.49+/-12.12). Parasite load of Oestridae peaked at calf and subadult age groups and declined thereafter, which suggests that acquired immunity may be acting. In common with other host-parasite relationships, male hosts were found to have higher prevalence and abundance levels than females. The prevalence of P. picta was positively affected by the presence of C. auribarbis whereas the intensity of infection of P. picta was negatively affected by the presence of C. auribarbis. Intensity of P. picta in concomitant infections with C. auribarbis was lower than in pure P. picta infections, whilst the intensity of C. auribarbis infections did not change. This provides good evidence of interspecific competence, which could be dealt with by parasites by means of asynchronous life-cycles and different maturation periods. Weather also affects the dynamics and transmission rates of these parasites. Previous annual rainfalls positively affected the level of infection with oestrids. Yearly autumn rainfalls affected positively P. picta, possibly due to an effect on the pupal stage survival. Infection of Oestridae affected body condition in calves and subadults, suggesting that oestrids could have sublethal effects on Iberian red deer. Future research is needed to investigate the effect of parasites on the dynamics of the Iberian red deer.

Elaeophorosis in red deer caused by Elaeophora elaphi: lesions of natural disease.

This is the first study of the lesions produced by Elaeophora elaphi, a filarial worm first reported in 1986. Only the morphologic characteristics of this species have been described previously. Samples for the study were taken from 74 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 1-10 years old, slaughtered in central Spain. Grossly, filariae were observed in the transverse, left, or right branches of the portal vein of 18 animals. In addition to filariae, whitish thrombi were found in the right and left branches of the portal vein in nine animals. Thrombi of similar characteristics were also observed in 12 deer in which no adult filariae were found. Microscopic changes were observed only in the right and left branches of the portal vein and consisted of thickening of the intima with surface formation of villi. Stroma of villi contained a moderate to intense infiltrate composed mainly of eosinophils and mononuclear cells. The tunica media of affected vessels was uniformly hypertrophic and in some cases presented a moderate inflammatory infiltrate similar to that observed in the stroma of villi. Thrombi consisted of a central area containing calcified filariae or cuticle debris, surrounded by giant cells and numerous lymphoid cells forming clearly defined nodules resembling lymphoid follicles. Thrombi were externally surrounded by a strip of connective tissue and beyond by endothelial cells that were occasionally continuous with the tunica intima. Other lesions probably associated with the infestation were multifocal granulomas in the periportal areas, lymphoid tissue formations in the hepatic parenchyma, and an interstitial nephritis.