A frozen stabilate was produced from Theileria cervi sporozoites in salivary glands of adult Amblyomma americanum. The stabilate was inoculated into three fallow deer (Cervus dama) and two white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Following inoculation, the white-tailed deer developed parasitemias as determined by blood smear examination at 11 and 13 days postexposure. Repeat examination of blood from the three fallow deer for 30 days postexposure failed to reveal observable piroplasms. These findings indicate that fallow deer are not as susceptible to the Theileria cervi found in white-tailed deer from North America. Thus, there are some questions regarding the taxonomic position of this organism.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 October 1987
Failure to Detect Infection in Fallow Deer (Cervus dama) Exposed to Theileria cervi from White-tailed Deer
A. Alan Kocan,
S. W. Mukolwe,
J. S. Laird
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 23 • No. 4
October 1987
Vol. 23 • No. 4
October 1987
Amblyomma americanum
Cervus dama
experimental infection
fallow deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Theileria cervi
white-tailed deer