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1 July 2011 Survey of Haircoat Fungal Flora for the Presence of Dermatophytes in a Population of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Virginia
Natalie H. Hall, Amy Swinford, Dave McRuer, James S. Hall
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Abstract

Before releasing rehabilitated wildlife, patients should be cured of all infectious agents that pose a risk to free-roaming wildlife or humans after release. Dermatophyte fungi, commonly known as “ringworm,” have zoonotic potential and may be carried as normal flora on the haircoats of certain species. Outbreaks of ringworm are anecdotally reported to occur in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns, but no prevalence surveys have been conducted on the haircoat flora of free-roaming individuals. In November 2008, we tested 60 legally hunted white-tailed deer for dermatophyte flora by using a modified MacKenzie technique. Results indicate it is unlikely that wild, mature white-tailed deer in Virginia, USA, carry dermatophyte fungi as normal haircoat flora. Therefore, wildlife rehabilitators and hunters are at low risk for dermatophyte infection by direct contact with this species. In addition, the RapidVet-D 3 Day Test for Veterinary Dermatophytosis was determined to have poor specificity for presence of dermatophyte fungi on asymptomatic white-tailed deer in Virginia.

Natalie H. Hall, Amy Swinford, Dave McRuer, and James S. Hall "Survey of Haircoat Fungal Flora for the Presence of Dermatophytes in a Population of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Virginia," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 47(3), 713-716, (1 July 2011). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-47.3.713
Received: 25 September 2010; Accepted: 1 January 2011; Published: 1 July 2011
KEYWORDS
cervid
dermatophyte
dermatophytosis
keratinophilic fungi
Odocoileus virginianus
ringworm
white-tailed deer
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