Observations on the Relative Susceptibility to Disease of Different Species of Deer Farmed in New Zealand

Abstract

The four major types of deer farmed in New Zealand are European red deer (Cervus elaphus), North American wapiti (C. elaphus spp. wapiti X red hybrids, and fallow deer (Dama dama). There are also small numbers of sika (C. nippon), rusa (C. timorensis), sambar (C. unicolor), and Père David’s deer (Elaphurus davidianus). Field observations over the past 20 years have shown a number of species differences in susceptibility to various diseases of deer farmed in this country. Malignant catarrhal fever has never been reported in fallow deer, while wapiti and red deer seem relatively resistant, and sika, rusa and Pere David’s deer are very susceptible. Fallow deer appear relatively resistant to yersiniosis which commonly affects young red deer. Fallow deer are more susceptible than red deer to sporidesmin, a fungal toxin produced by (Pithomyces chartarum) which causes liver damage and “facial eczema” Wapiti and wapiti X red deer appear more susceptible than red deer to a number of conditions including copper deficiency and enzootic ataxia, the fungal endophyte neurotoxicity which causes “ryegrass staggers” internal parasitism, “dietary scours” and “the fading elk syndrome”