Rumen Ciliate Protozoa in Ohio White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

ABSTRACT. Rumen contents were obtained from 23 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), located in the eastern portion of central Ohio. Samples were taken during late fall and winter over a 4-yr period, 1986–1990. Protozoan numbers ranged from 0.002 to 7.25 × 10⁶ per ml of rumen contents, with a mean of 2.96 × 10⁶. Six deer had protozoan concentrations higher than any values previously reported in ruminants. In all 23 animals, Entodinium dubardi was the only ciliate protozoan species present.