Polyparasitic associations in deer from the Republic of Moldova

The analysis of parasitic fauna in deer from the natural reservations of the Republic of Moldova revealed a high level of parasite infestation, in which associations of two or more parasite species predominate. Out of total number of 14 parasite species identified in cervids, only three species (Eimeria austriaca, E. ponderosa, E. capreoli) are characteristic for them, while the other 11 parasite species identified (D. lanceolatum, F. hepatica, P. cervi, S. papillosus, C. punctata, O. ostertagi, T. vitulorum, T. axei, M. benedeni, E. asymmetrica, E. bovis) are common not only to cervids but also to the domesticated ruminants. The level of parasitic infestation of deer from the Natural Reservation „Plaiul Fagului” is characterized by the mixture of parasitic forms, with 36,1% higher incidence in noble deer, 30,3% higher in the sika deer and 13,0% higher in roe deer compared to those from the Natural Reservation „Codrii”, due to the specific biotope and the complementary foraging of the deer in difficult seasonal periods.