Sarcocystis in Roe Doe

[Thunderstick]

First time seeing this in a deer. Mature healthy roe doe with parasites throughout the entire carcase. Only abnormalities were very slight adhesion of spleen to diaphragm, liver fluke and all hooves were in extremely poor state.

 

[HonestJohn]

Did you condemn the carcass?

Whilst possibly not on the notifiable disease list for deer, I’d probably ping an email.

Interest to hear what @Buchan thinks as well

 

[Thunderstick]

Yes its all bagged up and will be disposed of.
Email has already been sent with images and samples taken and kept in alcohol just incase they later want to be tested.

Anyone else found this in deer before? As I said it's the first time I've seen it in anything other than duck.

 

[Brad93]

Yes its all bagged up and will be disposed of.
Email has already been sent with images and samples taken and kept in alcohol just incase they later want to be tested.

Anyone else found this in deer before? As I said it's the first time I've seen it in anything other than duck.

The deer has inadvertently eaten fecal matter from a fox or dog that was infected.

 

[wytonpjs]

I'd never heard of this but a quick Google search shows it reported in US deer of numerous types as well as in Sika (Japan), Red (Switzerland) and Fallow deer (Lithuania). Seeing no reports from the UK but this is potentially a worrying development for an already challenging UK venison market

Edit: Just found this Scottish study:

In this paper, we analyse the results of surveys of parasites and non-specific signs of diseases carried out on organs from 638 red and 107 sika deer culled in four regions of Scotland between 1991 and 1997. Infections of the lung by Elaphostrongylus spp. were significantly greater in red than sika deer. Older animals were more heavily infected with Elaphostrongylus spp. and Sarcocystis spp., and infections with Sarcocystis spp. tended to be heavier in more recent years.​

​

Given the age of these studies, I'm surprised its not in the DSC1 training material or the BDS' Field Guide!

@WW.

 

[willie_gunn]

Yes its all bagged up and will be disposed of.
Email has already been sent with images and samples taken and kept in alcohol just incase they later want to be tested.

Anyone else found this in deer before? As I said it's the first time I've seen it in anything other than duck.

Not seen it here in the UK, but a quick search with Google suggests it to be pretty common in roe in mainland Europe, with research studies on Sarcosystis in roe produced in Spain, Lithuania, Romania, etc.

 

[HonestJohn]

I'd never heard of this but a quick Google search shows it reported in US deer of numerous types as well as in Sika (Japan), Red (Switzerland) and Fallow deer (Lithuania). Seeing no reports from the UK but this is potentially a worrying development for an already challenging UK venison market

Maybe synthetically engineered to wipe out the U.K. problem of deer

 

[wytonpjs]

Not seen it here in the UK, but a quick search with Google suggests it to be pretty common in roe in mainland Europe, with research studies on Sarcosystis in roe produced in Spain, Lithuania, Romania, etc.

Thanks for that - given the amount of material I'm now seeing in other searches I'm truly staggered that DSC1/BDS Field Guide doesn't make reference to this given its prevalence in Europe and elsewhere.

 

[Buchan]

@Thunderstick is the picture diaphragm? If so I'd wonder if this could also be the cystic stages of Taenia cervi (similar to sheep measles for those who've seen it) although it looks more like sarcocystis images. I think it would be crunchy to eat, but not a big risk to humans

 

[WW.]

Yes its all bagged up and will be disposed of.
Email has already been sent with images and samples taken and kept in alcohol just incase they later want to be tested.

Anyone else found this in deer before? As I said it's the first time I've seen it in anything other than duck.

If you have any spare samples I'd be interested to take a look.

 

[wytonpjs]

If you have any spare samples I'd be interested to take a look.

 

[Thunderstick]

@Thunderstick is the picture diaphragm? If so I'd wonder if this could also be the cystic stages of Taenia cervi (similar to sheep measles for those who've seen it) although it looks more like sarcocystis images. I think it would be crunchy to eat, but not a big risk to humans

The pictures attached are of the flank where it is most obvious along with the loins but it is throughout the entire carcase.

 

[Thunderstick]

If you have any spare samples I'd be interested to take a look.

Certainly do. I'll pm you.

 

[Buchan]

The pictures attached are of the flank where it is most obvious along with the loins but it is throughout the entire carcase.

The histology would be great, I await @WW. report with interest!

 

[wytonpjs]

If you have any spare samples I'd be interested to take a look.

@WW. Any updates to this please?

 

[WW.]

Not received the sample yet- will update when I have/have had it processed.

 

[wytonpjs]

Certainly do. I'll pm you.

@Thunderstick

Morning

Did you send any samples to @WW. please?

Very interested in this issue...............

 

[Chris Richardson]

Thanks for that - given the amount of material I'm now seeing in other searches I'm truly staggered that DSC1/BDS Field Guide doesn't make reference to this given its prevalence in Europe and elsewhere.

I know right ???