However, humans become infected by ingesting eggs originating from a dog or coyote, not from consuming deer meat. Cysts in deer caused by this tapeworm are harmless to humans but indicate the parasite is present in the region and infection by other means may be possible. Abdominal Worms Hunters dressing deer may encounter the parasite Setaria yehi in the abdominal cavity. It does not affect the quality of the venison. They usually are located in the abdominal cavity, so hunters are most likely to find them as they dress their deer.
Younger deer are more likely to harbor the parasite than older deer.
The life cycle of this parasite is not completely understood. It is thought that mosquitos serve as intermediate hosts and transmit larval stages of the parasites to deer, the final hosts for the adult worms. Like most parasites, Seteria seldom harm the host deer and are of no significance to other animals or humans. Consumption of meat from a deer infected with Seteria is safe. Traumatic Injuries Deer that have suffered injuries due to accidents occasionally are taken by hunters.