GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES AND LUNG WORMS OF WILD RUMINANTS FROM SOUTHWESTERN BULGARIA. I. CERVIDAE: RED DEER (CERVUS ELAPHUS L. 1758) AND FALLOW DEER (DAMA DAMA L. 1758)

Both the fallow deer and the red deer are valuable hunting objects in Europe, including in our country. In order to obtain current data on the parasitological status, 46 fallow deer (Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) and 15 red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758) were studied. The aim was to use conventional methods in para-sitological research to obtain useful data for the implementation of effective preventive measures in animal health protection. The investigated red deer (Cervus elaphus) were from the hunting farms as follow: DLS „Iskar" (n = 5), DLS "Vitoshko-Studena" (n = 6), DGS “Blagoevgrad” (n = 1), and DGS "Krichim" (n = 3). The investigated fallow deer (Dama dama) were from DLS "Dikchan" (n = 29), DLS "Iskar" (n = 13), DGS "Mesta" (n = 2), and DLS "Vitoshko-Studena" (n = 2). Invasions with representatives of 3 classes of helminths (Trematoda, Cestoda, and Nematoda) as well as with protozoa of the Coccidia subclass after parasitological examinations were found. Some of them are known as the causes of economically important parasitic diseases. Trematodes of the genera Dicrocoelium and Paramphistomum, and cestodes of the genus Moniezia were also determined. The gastrointestinal parasites were identified as belonging to the families Trichostrongylidae Leiper, 1912 (Trichostrongyus), Molineidae Durette-Desset and Chabaud, 1977 (Nematodirus), Strongylidae Baird, 1853 (Oesophagostomum), Ascarididae Baird, 1853 (Toxocara), Trichuridae Railliet, 1915 (Trichuris), Eimeriidae Minchin, 1903 (Eimeria) and lung worms as members of the families Dictyocaulidae Skrjabin, 1941 (Dictyocaulus) and Protostrongylidae Leiper, 1926 (Protostrongylus)