Systemic mycosis in Scottish red deer (Cervus elaphus).

The pathological features of 10 cases of systemic infection of young red deer by fungi morphologically identified as phycomycetes are described. The most frequently affected organs were the kidneys, followed by liver and central nervous system. The fungi stimulated an acute pyogenic inflammatory reaction and a phagocytic giant cell response. Vasculitis with thrombosis and spread of fungi to the surrounding tissue was a common finding. Culture was attempted in 4 cases; one yielded Absidia, 2 Aspergillus and the other an unidentified fungal growth. Analysis of the histories suggests that, in nine of the ten cases, stressful husbandry may have been a predisposing factor.