Examination of blood from red deer, Cervus elaphus, in Poland, 1984-1992, revealed the presence of trypanosomes. Initially found by culture, subsequent recovery of blood-stream trypomastigotes on slides allowed morphometric analysis of the red deer species and comparison with known trypanosome species from other cervid hosts both in Poland and elsewhere. The species in red deer was found to be conspecific with Trypanosoma cervi Kingston et Morton, 1975 a well known blood and tissue parasite of all North American cervids.