Severe ocular dysplasia in British red deer (Cervus elaphus)
- AHVLA – Thirsk, Station Road, North Yorkshire YO7 1PZ
- Reediehill Deer Farm, Auchtermuchty, Fife KY14 7HS
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES
- AHVLA – Preston, Barton Hall, Garstang Road, Barton, Preston, Lancashire PR3 0XE
- e-mail: catriona.gaudie{at}ahvla.gsi.gov.uk
DEVELOPMENTAL ocular abnormalities are rarely reported in domesticated or wild deer populations. Anophthalmia and microphthalmia have previously been reported in wild populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America (Fulton and others 1977) and severe ocular abnormalities have been seen in a Belgian red deer (Cervus elaphus) calf (Sepulchre-de Bie and others 1986).
In August 2008, the carcase of a 40 kg male red deer calf was examined at AHVLA – Thirsk. In August 2009, the carcase of a two-month-old female red deer calf from the same herd was also submitted. Gross pathology was limited to the eyes and was similar in each case, with anteroposterior …
