Annual Performance Report: Diseases and Parasites; Health/Disease Study of White Tailed Deer in Southern Florida

Forrester, Donald

From Statewide Wildlife research. This annual report includes two reports, one on diseases and parasites in 22 species in Florids; The other about disease in Florida white-tailed deer. Examinations were conducted on 250 specimens representing 22 species of diseased and normal mammals, birds, and reptiles. Two mortality episodes were investigated. These involved toxic chemicals and their effects on boat-tailed :grackles (Quiscalus major) and brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) both in Volusia County. In addition, a number of individual cases of diseased· birds and mammals from scattered localities was studied. One case of special interest was neoplasia in a black bear from St. John's County. A study of the geographic distribution and prevalence of Sarcocystis infections in white-tailed deer, (Odocoileus virginianus) was conducted. The protozoon was found in deer throughout the state and was most prevalent in the panhandle region. Three species of Sarcocystis were identified, two of which may be undescribed species about which nothing is known. The book-manuscript on parasites and diseases of wild mammals in Florida was finalized and submitted for editorial evaluation. Three chapters were prepared for a second book on birds. The fifth year of a long-term study of the health and reproductive status of white-tailed deer from Big Cypress National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand, and private lands to the north of Big Cypress was completed. Reproductive and health/ disease information was collected from 51 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from five distinct areas in the Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP), the Fakahatchee Strand, and private land to the north of BCNP. Of these deer, 32 were collected by shooting at night by personnel of the Florida Game and Fr.esh Water Fish Commission, 18 were hunter-killed animals, and one was a radio-collared deer which was found dead of unknown causes. The deer were evaluated via examinations for external and internal parasites, lesions, serologic tests for a number of infectious disease agents, determination of physical condition (weights, measurements, fat indices, etc.) and reproductive status. Deer from Bear Island (BI) were larger and in the best overall condition, followed closely by deer from the Fakahatchee Conservation Club (FCC) area and Collier land to the north of BCNP. APCs were lowest (531) for Bear Island deer and highest (2164) for Raccoon Point animals. Compared to previous years, APCs remained stable for Bear Island and FCC, decreased for Collier land, and increased for Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve (FSSP) and Raccoon Point. The highest APC (9912) was found in a 30-month-old doe from Raccoon Point. This animal had a Haemonchus Pathogenic Factor (HPF) of 196. Twinning rates were highest at Bear Island (60%) and lowest at raccoon Point (0%). Fecundity was above 80% for all areas except FSSP where only 67% of the does were pregnant in October. Deer from areas where the h,abitat was shared with range cattle had higher prevalences of hemorrhagic disease virus and Leptospira interrogans then did deer in areas where no range cattle occurred. Compared to previous years, prevalences of some parasites (i.e. nasal bats) have increased markedly, while others (such as ticks and lice) have decreased. Prevalences and intensities of most other parasites have remained constant.