Gastrointestinal Strongyles in Wild Ruminants

Large bowel worms are considered rare or incidental parasites of wild bovids and cervids and have only been reported from Odocoileus spp., Ovis canadensis, and B. bison.It is probable that these parasites are acquired on common range with domesticated hosts including cattle and sheep.The life cycle is direct.Disease is unknown in wild hosts, possibly due to the low intensity and sporadic nature of infections.At high intensity, these blood-feeding parasites would be expected to cause severe diarrhea, loss of weight and condition, and the development of anemia (Levine 1980).