P 18 - Incriminating vectors of deer malaria (Plasmodium odocoilei) in a Florida deer farm

Plasmodium odocoilei, is a hemoparasite that infects wild and farmed white-tailed deer (WTD) in the United States and is the causative agent for deer malaria. Co-infection with deer malaria and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus can cause high mortality and morbidity in WTD. Determining the vector(s) of deer malaria permits development of integrated pest management strategies that can ultimately reduce WTD mortality and morbidity at Florida deer farms, where WTD are an economically important species.