Natural History of Plasmodium odocoilei Malaria Infection in Farmed White-Tailed Deer.

ABSTRACT: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), an ecologically and economically important species, are the most widely distributed large animals in North America. A recent study indicated that up to 25% of all white-tailed deer may be infected with Plasmodium odocoilei, a malaria parasite belonging to the distinct clade of ungulate-infecting Plasmodium spp. Because the clinical impact of P. odocoilei on deer health and survival is unknown, we undertook a retrospective longitudinal study of farmed Floridian O. virginianus fawns. We found that a substantial proportion (21%) of fawns acquire malaria infection during the first 8 months of life. Some animals naturally clear P. odocoilei infection, while other animals remain persistently positive. Importantly, we found that animals that acquire mal

SUBMITTER: Guggisberg AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5907657 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature