Mortality associated with Dictyocaulus cervi in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Romania

Lungworms from the genus Dictyocaulus are known to cause catarrhal bronchitis and pulmonary atelectasis in domestic and wild ruminants. In red deer (Cervus elaphus), four Dictyocaulus species can be present in the respiratory tract. This study describes the investigation of mortalities in red deer (Cervus elaphus) in a commercial farm for red deer from Romania, associated with the presence of lungworms. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of nematodes in the bronchial lumen in all cases. Morphological and molecular examination of the nematodes recovered confirmed Dictyocaulus cervi as the species involved. The most probable cause of death in all four cases was respiratory failure due to the severe parasitic infection and cachexia. This study represents the first report of mortality associated with Dictyocaulus cervi in farmed deer and the first report of the species in Romania, highlighting the need for further epidemiological studies to assess its distribution and potential impact on other cervids in the country.