EVALUATION OP STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF HAND-REARED MULE DEER FAWNS (Odocoileus hemionus)

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Abstract
High mortality often occurs when many mule deer fawns (O. heminous) are hand-raised together. Thymic atrophy frequently was observed in those that died. No specific pathologic agents could be identified. There may be an adrenal corticoid-induced immunosuppression due to the stress of hand-rearing many fawns together. Fawns were taken from the doe at 2 days of age and divided into 4 groups of 5 each. Two groups were from tame does and 2 from recently trapped wild does. Twins were separated into a single feeder group and into a multiple feeder group. There were no differences in stress between the groups as determined by urinary cortisol and corticosterone/creatinine ratios. Humoral immunity followed Clostridium toxoid vaccination was determined by immunodiffusion. Cell-mediated immunity was determined by dinitrochlorobenzen skin tests. Serum protein electrophoresis, WBC [white blood cell] counts, and weight gain were monitored. All groups showed similar weight gains, and humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Serum .gamma.-globulins, and total serum proteins were higher and segmented neutrophils lower in the fawns from the wild does throughout the duration of the 8-wk study, These fawns may have had a greater passive immunity as a result of the ingestion of more colostrum, which most likely occurred as a result of better maternal care by the wild does.

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