Can anyone identify this malform?

[Triggermortis]

View attachment 13996
This was shot yesterday, never seen anything like this, nor had the guys with me (we had all shot deer before but are by no means expierianced/expert stalkers) the deer was seen to be wandering along the margins of a marshy piece of woodland in Norfolk at dusk, it came out at about 140yds so could only be I.D'd as a buck muntjac in the fading light and the malform wasnt spotted till it was shot and picked up.

It kept walking/wandering in anti-clockwise circles along the edge of the wood, every now and again it seemed to stop and take a couple of steps backward, it was repeatedly shaking it's head and trying to sctratch itself with it's back legs.
It kept stopping to scratch it's head against holly bushes as it progressed along the edge of the woods

Probably the wierdest thing is that it only has one ear with no sign of any trauma where the ear should be,it's eyes looked to be ok and there were no other signs of disease, i have frozen the gralloch incase it needed to be further inspected.


The head was kept as the intention is to get it mounted and in an effort to find out what it was we were actually looking at.

Tikkat3

 

[bobt]

sounds like the one to cull.

 

[Triggermortis]

Na the more I think about it the more it looks like two halfs of a sausage stuck on the antlers not a cocktail sausage

Alis, I'm sorry, i thought this was the place to post questions relating to deseases, welfare and biology not cookery?

I (as a novice stalker) along with the other guys that were there decided to get this posted on the forum in order to draw from the vast bank of knowledge available from other members on the site,The only stupid question is the one that don't get asked? whilst i am always up for a laugh and welcome occasional "wind up" it would be appreciated if it could wait till we get to the bottom of things and find out exactly what we have here, after all, that is one of the points of putting stuff on here?

In case it was missed, the beast is missing an ear, and exibiting unusual behaviour in it's walking pattern, how do you explain that?

Tikkat3

 

[Caberhill]

I'm sorry I'll delete the post if I can...

Strange looking though. What are the antlers like are they soft or hard to touch? Do they appear scabby or crusty? At the bottom of the left hand side antler looks normal is it the same on the other side?

 

[danpd]

I Read an article the other day about a fungal infection that was attacking the pedicles of Indian Muntjac. I hope this isn't an outbreak of this here in the UK??

 

[Buchan]

"It kept walking/wandering in anti-clockwise circles along the edge of the wood, every now and again it seemed to stop and take a couple of steps backward, it was repeatedly shaking it's head and trying to sctratch itself with it's back legs.
It kept stopping to scratch it's head against holly bushes as it progressed along the edge of the woods"

Did it fall or stagger when it tried to scratch its head? It's missing its left ear, so if the abscence of the ear has led to a deeper infection it would lean to the left and circle to the left (anticlockwise). I've seen this in other animals. It would be interesting to cut into the head (which won't help the mount!) I can't explain the antlers though.

 

[Triggermortis]

I'm sorry I'll delete the post if I can...

Strange looking though. What are the antlers like are they soft or hard to touch? Do they appear scabby or crusty? At the bottom of the left hand side antler looks normal is it the same on the other side?

Appology accepted, no harm done
To the touch it felt like that builders foam you use to block up gaps round windows etc but with a shiney surface, there was no apparent "scabbing"
It was almost as if it was "bald velvet" if you know what i mean?
I'll nip over my mate's as it's in his freezer and have a closer look in the daylight at the peddicles to see if they are different.

Tikkat3

 

[Triggermortis]

I Read an article the other day about a fungal infection that was attacking the pedicles of Indian Muntjac. I hope this isn't an outbreak of this here in the UK??

Should i be looking at getting the head looked at by a vet?

Tikkat3

 

[SussexFallow]

i definitely would chap. hope you were wearing gloves during the gralloch!!

atb steve

 

[204 Ruger]

Should i be looking at getting the head looked at by a vet?

Tikkat3

No mate if you need psychiatric assistance you should really go to your doctor ....Seriously does look a bit weird not that Ive seen many Muntjack myself I bet your climbing the walls trying to find out what caused it.

 

[mereside]

looks like chipolataitus to me

 

[Triggermortis]

i definitely would chap. hope you were wearing gloves during the gralloch!!

atb steve

Yes of course, the knives etc that were used have also been sterilised, the back of the truck in the photo has been steam cleaned and area we did the gralloch in has been dissinfected, oh and we wore face masks

Tikkat3

 

[204 Ruger]

Here you go....It happens to Humans also

http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/05/11/human-horns-a-dilemma-for-some-a-delight-for-others/

 

[Triggermortis]

Here you go....It happens to Humans also

http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/05/11/human-horns-a-dilemma-for-some-a-delight-for-others/

Not quite what i was hoping for Stevie, but never the less very interesting in that it may possibly be some sort of related condition in principal at least ?

Tikkat3

 

[Overlay]

+ 1 for mereside I would say chipolatsius humungus only found in a lesser known sub species of reeves muntjac aka (the chipper), probably found once or twice a year, very rare condition. best way to check would be to remove top half of the pedicle, lightly fry and hand to a person close by and enquire of the taste, if the taste is nearer to a seasoned pork the beast could have been 18 months old. any earlier than this the taste would be like a chipolata rather tasteless and no seasoning.

Providing the pedicles or upper antler are stored below 7 degrees and allowed to settle they can be quite delicious with a batch of wild mushrooms in a light sauce, be warned, only eat two peds mind

 

[Triggermortis]

Philip, get serious for once,at your age you should know better !
All joking aside, you as i understand it are a qualified biologist ? and so as someone that is certified, can you give a serious professional oppinion that might shed some light on the condition?

Tikkat3

 

[morena]

This could be a case of gid (coenurus cerebralis0 which is an intermediate stage of a dog/fox tapeworm lodged in the brain. Velvet has the greatest concentration of nerve tissue in the body,which are branches of the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia in humans is called the suicide disease as it is so painful and defies treatment.Thus scratching etc could be an effort to relieve pain. Velvet with its massive blood supply is quite capable of replacing itself if damaged, unsteady on feet damage to velvet. Your specimen's velvet looks like granulation tissue to me Also some muntjac can remain in velvet for a prolonged period and this leads to slow calcification. Once thawed check if you can push a thick needle into the antlers at various points. Soft delayed; calcification.Also go over the skull pushing for a soft spot if found gid. Keep us posted.

 

[nick100]

Now thats interesting, I have seen gid in sheep but never even thought of deer getting it.
Another little thing I have learnt today.
Thanks Morena.

 

[Overlay]

Philip, get serious for once,at your age you should know better !
All joking aside, you as i understand it are a qualified biologist ? and so as someone that is certified, can you give a serious professional oppinion that might shed some light on the condition?

Tikkat3

Dear Mr Tikka

Having a long sloow considerate appraisal of the said pedicals /antlers I retract my previous statement apologies for the pre amble of chipolatas Humungus, Having had the time now re measure and re taste and formulate a new valued opinion based purely on fact and of course taste I would like to amend to the report to finalise my findings as to identify the pedicle purlings as sausages and not chipos as per my initial thoughts sincere apologies for my missing the obvious texture and sizing present, its has been a long day

 

[Triggermortis]

Phil, by your own admission, you've had a long day? obviously you've not eaten and have food on the brain,maybe you might try supplementing your food intake with an extra sanatagen tablet? this may help you to think straight, give a sensible answer and therefore answer a perfectly reasonable question from a novice stalker that needs good SENSIBLE advice from those with more experiance and therefore maybe in a better position to identify the problem ?
Obviously Morena recognises the validity of the subect and as a site administrator is quite rightly trying to help, and for this i am greatful to him.
perhaps you might like to coment on his views on the subject?


Tikkat3