Rumen Ciliates of White‐tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Axis Deer (Axis axis), Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) and Fallow Deer (Dama dama) from Texas

ABSTRACT Samples of rumen contents from 33 white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). 31 axis deer (Axis axis), 26 sika deer (Cervus nippon), and 25 fallow deer (Dama dama) were collected from four study areas in central Texas. The geometric mean concentration of total protozoa was 50.2 times 104 per ml, with no differences between species (P > 0.36). White‐tailed deer had a higher percentage of Entodinium and lower percentage of Diplodiniinae (P≤ 0.01) than the other deer species, which were not different from each other. Occurrence of Epidinium, Isotricha. and Dasytricha was sporadic and did not differ among deer species. Numerous new host records of protozoan species were observed: white‐tailed deer‐four; axis deer‐five; sika deer‐five; fallow deer‐four. This brings the total number of protozoan species identified in each deer species to: white‐tailed‐eight; axis‐12; sika‐15; fallow‐16. For all species combined, protozoan concentrations were 7.5 to 11‐fold higher (P≤ 0.01) from Area 4, which differed from the other three areas by having a stream that allowed deer to have free access to water. Criteria used for identification of medium‐size Eudiplodinium species were evaluated.