Seasonal changes in the helminth fauna of Cervus elaphus L. from Slowinski National Park Poland

Post-mortem examination of 22 red deer (in January, May, August and October 1990-1991) yielded ca 18,000 parasites representing 15 species. For one species, Spiculopteragia dagestanica, red deer appeared to be new host. Prevalence and intensity of infection in relation to the season of the year was considered. All red deer examined harboured nematodes of the subfamily Ostertagiinae in the abomasum, the mean intensity amounted to 830 parasites per host, the highest intensity (1610) was observed in May, the lowest (262) in January. The level of infection was compared with parasitological data from other hunting grounds in Poland. High density of red deer stock in the area examined (100/1000 ha) seems to have little bearing on the level of infection of red deer with helminth parasites.