Deer Diseases
Deer are susceptible to a variety of diseases and parasites. Nevertheless, disease does not typically account for a large percentage of deer deaths. During a deer study in northern Missouri, radio transmitters were placed on more than 200 deer. Less than 4 percent died from disease.
This section covers only a few of the more common parasites and unusual conditions that people, especially hunters, might observe in deer. Few situations actually render deer unsuitable for the table. Only rare exceptions, including infections from injuries, occur. However, if you have questions about the deer you harvested, contact your local conservation agent or the nearest Conservation Department office.
Don’t Mistake Lymph Nodes for Abnormalities
Normal organs and structures occasionally are misinterpreted as abnormal. Lymph nodes, which are found throughout the body, are sometimes taken to be multiple tumors or abscesses. The nodes, which are part of the body's system used to fight off disease, are located under the skin, between muscle groups and in the body cavity. They are beige to light brown and range from 1/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Lymph nodes may become enlarged and darkened when the deer is fighting an infection.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) belongs to a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSEs cause a degeneration of the brain in deer, elk and moose. Get the facts about CWD in Missouri here.
Cutaneous fibromas, a skin disease found on deer, does not affect humans or other animals, and it does not affect the quality of a deer's meat.
Hemorrhagic disease is a general term for epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue virus. White-tailed, mule and black-tailed deer all are susceptible. Cattle and goats are not affected or show only mild signs of being sick. Humans do not get hemorrhagic disease.
Deer often are implicated in the spread of Lyme disease. One of the tick species that harbors and spreads the disease is called the "deer tick" in some regions. However, there has never been a documented case of a human contracting Lyme disease through the handling or consumption of venison.
Although unpleasant looking, nasal bot fly larvae do not harm deer and do not infect humans
Several tapeworms can infect whitetails, but one of the most visible is the juvenile stage of the canine tapeworm. Cysts in deer caused by this tapeworm are harmless to humans but indicate the parasite is present in the region, and human infection by other means may be possible.
