Outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease occurred in blacktailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) in California in 1986 and 1987. The 1986 outbreak affected deer in Trinity, Tehama, Mendocino, Humboldt, Siskiyou, and Modoc counties, and bluetongue virus type 10 was isolated from one deer in Siskiyou County. The 1987 outbreaks were limited to Lake County and no Orbiviruses were isolated from deer. Gross and microscopic lesions of deer carcasses as well as epidemiologic patterns from both outbreaks were suggestive of bluetongue or epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Deer losses could only be estimated and were not reflected in buck kill, fawn to doe, or buck to doe ratios for reasons described.
|
