The presence of erythritol in the fetal fluids of fallow deer (Dama dama).

Gas liquid chromatography has been used to compare the levels of erythritol in fetal fluids from fallow deer with those in fetal fluids from cows and small laboratory animals. The relationship between the relatively high levels of erythritol found in allantoic and amniotic fluid from fallow deer and the possible susceptibility of this species to brucellosis is discussed. An interesting accessory finding was the high concentration of calcium phosphate in the allantoic fluid from these deer.