Hard pea sized lumps in lungs

[SikaHunter]

I shot a Sika hind last week and found 4 pea sized hard lumps in the lower lobes of her lungs. When incised they were hard and appeared to be calcified. All lymph nodes were fine with no enlargement of swelling and when incised showed normal colour. Body in good shape and good fat around the kidneys and lower back. Well pregnant and carrying a large fetus. Liver and heart were fine as well and showed no sign of disease.

I'm guessing it was something that affected her earlier on in her life and now dormant but would love to hear others views on the matter

 

[TringSaint]

Were they fibrous in texture, so not a cyst?

 

[skippy1001]

Bovine TB. Are there any active badger sets on the ground ?
Notifiable disease so be careful. But without a lab culture it’s only a guess.
Skipp

 

[Buchan]

Tricky without a picture, but if on th edges of the lobes, could be lungworm

 

[Dunwaters]

Where in Wicklow?
Some areas have up to 25% rates of infection.
If in doubt, leave it there.

 

[NickJ]

Tricky without a picture, but if on th edges of the lobes, could be lungworm

I was going to say historical scarring from lungworm, seen something similar in fallow but, as you say on the edges

 

[SikaHunter]

In reply to the above i can say they were not cysts as they were grainy or sandy when incised . They were generally on the outer edges of the lungs and not deeply imbedded within. I am of the opinion that they were old or non acute and did not look like tb lesions to me. Also i forgot to say they were no nodules within the chest cavity. The deer was in perfect health until I happened upon it.

I am of the opinion that is was historical scarring from lungworm or similar and going to use the carcass myself

 

[long_range_rob]

Having seen a fascinating presentation on BTB in deer and the myriad different presentations from serious system wide infection to small, almost negligible indicators I can safely say without lab tests err on the side of caution