Disease found in wild deer

Press, 28 August 1984, Page 3

Disease found in wild deer

PA Nelson Leptospirosis, a disease usually associated with cows and which is transferable to human beings, has been found in wild deer. A Nelson veterinary surgeon, Miss Noeline Inglis, first discovered leptospirosis in farmed deer last spring. Subsequent tests have now shown that leptospirosis could be widespread in wild deer as well. It is the first time that the Copenhagen! strain has been found in the South Island. Miss Inglis took blood samples from 30 deer captured in the wild in January and February this year. Laboratory tests showed the disease was present in most of the animals. They were carrying the pomona strain. “There is no way they could have picked it up from domestic stock” Miss Inglis said. The deer were tested the day after they were captured. The veterinarian’s work has resulted in a warning that deer farmers risk catching the disease. The disease was transferred through the urine and farmers handling deer in confined spaces, or assisting fawn births, were at risk, Miss Inglis said.