Blood samples were collected from free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus) harvested in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula, from moose (Alces alces) relocated from Ontario's Algonquin Provincial Park to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and from moose from Michigan's Isle Royale National Park. Sera were tested by serum dilution neutralization tests in Vero cell culture for neutralizing antibody to California serogroup viruses, in particular Jamestown Canyon (JC), La Crosse/snowshoe hare (LAC/SSH), and trivittatus (TVT) viruses. Specific neutralizing antibody to JC virus was detected in 71% of 31 and 65% of 20 moose from Algonquin and Isle Royale, respectively. An additional six moose from Algonquin and five from Isle Royale showed evidence of multiple infection. One juvenile moose from Isle Royale had specific neutralizing antibody to TVT virus. Specific neutralizing antibody to JC virus was detected also in 54% of 50 elk from Michigan; 20 of the 50 elk showed evidence of multiple infection. While no single serum sample showed specific neutralizing antibody only to LAC/SSH virus, its presence in sera from some animals may have been masked by the high prevalence of antibody to JC virus.

Population reduction is being used currently to combat skunk rabies in Alberta. A total of 2,398 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were removed from three counties of southern Alberta during 1980–1983 in an effort to combat rabies outbreaks in those areas. The methods employed included trapping, poisoning, and shooting. Skunks in Forty Mile County have been rabies-free for 4 yr and the outbreaks in Newell and Warner counties appear to be under control. The data suggest that population reduction has been effective in controlling rabies in those areas.

An immunoblot assay was used to identify the viruses of infectious pancreatic necrosis, infectious hematopoietic necrosis, and viral hemorrhagic septicemia. Viral antigen in infected cell culture supernatant was adsorbed onto nitrocellulose membrane or Whatman 541 filter paper and detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. The immunoblot assay took less than 4 hr to perform and required no special instrumentation. Assays using cell culture supernatant fluids showed immunoblot sensitivity was 10⁵–10⁶ PFU/ml. Assay sensitivity, determined using purified virus, is 0.85–4.0 ng of viral antigen. The immunoblot assay was used to detect and identify virus in cell culture fluids.

The role of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the epizootiology of leptospirosis in southwestern Ontario was investigated in 1973–1974. Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona (kennewicki by DNA analysis) was isolated from the kidneys of three of eight foxes tested. Severe hemorrhagic nephritis and interstitial nephritis were common to these foxes and to five others out of nine foxes examined. Autumnalis antibodies were detected at titers 10⁻² to 10⁻⁵ in 12 of 100 fox sera. Pomona antibodies occurred in 6% of the sera, always accompanied by autumnalis antibodies, and at titers never exceeding the autumnalis titers. Cultural, serological, and pathological findings together indicated that the red fox could have been acting as an amplifier host, but not as a maintenance host, for pomona.

Severe granulomatous nephritis caused by Brucella suis biotype 4 was found in a barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) from Northwest Territories, Canada. A review of the distribution of human and animal cases of brucellosis in northern Canada indicated that B. suis biotype 4 is distributed widely and is probably enzootic in most Canadian caribou herds.

Six species of bacteria (family Enterobacteriaceae) not commonly reported as associated with disease in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were documented, suggesting that Aeromonas is not the only bacterium responsible for septicemia in crocodilians. These included Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter agglomerans, Proteus sp., Morganella morganii, Serratia marcescens, and Klebsiella oxytoca. Clinical signs of disease included intensive basking, anorexia, lethargy, flaccid limb paralysis, stomatitis, and dermatitis. Our data indicated that early treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics was preferable to waiting for sensitivity results.

Enteric redmouth disease is described in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) at a state hatchery in Sand Ridge, Illinois. Biochemical, isoenzyme, and serological data indicated that the epizootic was caused by a sorbitol-fermenting Serovar 2 strain of Yersinia ruckeri. In laboratory experiments the isolate was pathogenic for both brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Neonatal diarrhea was an important cause of morbidity and mortality in a hand-rearing facility for exotic ruminants at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Studies undertaken to determine the causes of the problem revealed that oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were demonstrable in auramine O stained fecal smears from 52 of 183 (28.4%) animals examined. Cryptosporidia infection was identified in 21 of 40 species of exotic ruminants with diarrhea. In addition, Cryptosporidia were associated with gastroenteric disease in two primates and two reptiles. It was observed also that auramine O stained coccidial oocysts of the genus Eimeria, which were present in five of 183 (2.7%) of the specimens examined.

We collected 153 northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) over a 10-mo period from Tall Timbers Research Station near Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Five species of gastrointestinal helminths were encountered commonly (>30% prevalence): Cyrnea colini, Raillietina cesticillus, R. colinia, Heterakis isolonche, and Trichostrongylus tenuis. Other helminths included Brachylaima sp., Rhabdometra odiosa, Mediorhynchus papillosis, Cheilospirura spinosa, Dispharynx nasuta, Gongylonema ingluvicola, and Tetrameres pattersoni. During the intervening 15 yr since the last year-round study of this population of birds, C. spinosa and T. pattersoni have declined markedly, and Strongyloides sp. probably has become extinct locally. Prevalence and intensity seem more likely to fluctuate in parasite species that have complex life cycles.

Five captive moose calves each infested with 42,000 larval Dermacentor albipictus, six calves each infested with 19,000–21,000, and five control moose were observed for changes in hair-loss, body condition and number, stages, and distribution of the tick. Winter hair-loss was observed only in moose infested with ticks and was correlated positively with the total number of adult ticks. Hair-loss associated with ticks was minimal from October to January, but rapidly increased from February to April when up to 44% of hair had been removed. The pattern of hair-loss was similar in all moose with the neck, shoulders, withers, and perianal areas losing the most hair. Moose with extensive premature hair-loss had less pericardial and abdominal visceral fat than moose with little or no hair-loss.

Sera from 210 pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) ranging in southeastern Alberta were tested for antibodies to disease agents present in indigenous cattle. No antibodies to Brucella abortus, Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona, hardjo, or grippotyphosa, or infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus were found. Antibodies at prevalences of 43.8% and 49.2% were detected to bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) and parainfluenza type 3 (PI-3) viruses, respectively. The much higher prevalence of BVD virus antibodies in cattle than in pronghorns, and the occurrence of clinical bovine PI-3 infection in the study area, suggest that cattle may be a source of infection to the pronghorns.

Exposure of free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in western Nebraska to selected livestock pathogens was determined by serology and attempted virus isolation. Antibodies to bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and bovine respiratory syncytial virus were present in both species of deer. No serologic reactors to Brucella or Anaplasma were found. Attempts to isolate bluetongue virus were negative.

Renal coccidiosis is reported for the first time in an auk (Alcidae). Infection was detected in seven of 50 nestling Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) and a new species of coccidia, Eimeria fraterculae sp. n., is described. The structure and sporulation of oocysts are characterized. Meronts, gamonts, and developing oocysts were present in collecting duct epithelium of medullary cones. The predominant host response was hypertrophy of infected cells, tubule dilation, and a mild localized peritubular infiltration with mononuclear inflammatory cells.

Encapsulated as well as unencapsulated fourth stage larvae of Eustrongylides sp. were found in four northern water snakes, Nerodia sipedon, from Virginia. Unencapsulated nematodes occurred within muscle, subcutaneous tissue and in the coelom. Encapsulated nematodes occurred in three forms: recently encapsulated, degenerating, or sclerotic; they were found on the mesentery, in muscle and subcutaneous tissue. Encapsulation was associated with muscular hypotrophy, fibroplasia and eosinophilia.

Congestive cardiomyopathy was diagnosed during post mortem examination in eight of 149 adult woodchucks from New York. The eight woodchucks, four males and four females, died spontaneously without clinical signs of heart failure having been detected. The primary lesion was a grossly enlarged and dilated heart. Histologic lesions consisted of multifocal myocardial degeneration and necrosis. Secondary lesions of congestive heart failure were observed.

Sensitivities of six avian species, black vulture (Coragyps atratus), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), eastern screech-owl (Otus asio), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), to acute poisoning by sodium cyanide (NaCN) were compared by single dose LD50's. Three species, domestic chickens, black vultures, and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), were dosed with NaCN to determine cyanide residues in those that died and also in survivors, in addition to postmortem fate. Three flesh-eating species (black vulture, American kestrel, and eastern screech-owl; LD50's 4.0–8.6 mg/kg) were more sensitive to NaCN than three species (Japanese quail, domestic chicken, and European starling; LD50's 9.4–21 mg/kg) that fed predominantly on plant material. Elevated concentrations of cyanide were found in the blood of birds that died of cyanide poisoning; however, concentrations in birds that died overlapped those in survivors. Blood was superior to liver as the tissue of choice for detecting cyanide exposure. No gross pathological changes related to dosing were observed at necropsy.

The finely lobulated kidneys of American river otters (Lutra canadensis) are not visualized on plain abdominal radiographs. Similar values for blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and uric acid were obtained on different analytical systems used in 1984 and 1985. The mean ± SD for measured plasma osmolalities (309.80 ± 8.86 mOsmol/kg) of otters in 1985 was significantly (P < 0.01) less than that of calculated serum osmolalities in the same 1985 specimens (321.61 ± 5.64 mOsmol/kg) and in 1984 specimens (322.20 ± 7.16 mOsmol/kg). Urine specific gravities and osmolalities were highly correlated (r = 0.92). On routine urinalysis, protein and bilirubin were frequent chemical findings, and urobilinogen was present in all urine samples. White and red blood cells and epithelial cells were frequent findings on urine microscopic examinations. Proteus mirabilis was cultured from four of four female otters with genitourinary infections. The mean ± SD creatinine values for paired serum and urine samples (n = 13) were serum creatinine (Scr) 0.66 ± 0.09 mg/dl and urine creatinine (Ucr) 186.9 ± 55.6 mg/dl. Corresponding values for serum electrolytes (Se) and urine electrolytes (Ue) yielded mean ± SD calculated renal fractional clearances (FC = Ue/Se × Scr/Ucr) of sodium 9.65 ± 5.81 × 10⁻⁴, potassium 4.15 ± 2.01 × 10⁻², chloride 10.81 ± 5.33 × 10⁻⁴, calcium 4.52 ± 4.46 × 10⁻³, and phosphate 6.58 ± 3.44 × 10⁻³.

Rectal temperatures and heart rates of American river otters (Lutra canadensis) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during chemical immobilization with i.m. ketamine hydrochloride in combination with xylazine hydrochloride and acepromazine and during inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane. Anesthetized otters showed a tendency for apnea during induction and while dorsally recumbent, which was reflected by a respiratory acidosis on arterial blood gases. Declines in rectal temperatures and heart rates were not found to be a function of dosage (mg/kg) of the ketamine combination used except for rectal temperatures of otters in relatively poor body condition (inanition). The electrocardiograms of isoflurane-anesthetized otters were similar to those recorded on immobilized otters with the exception of an r′ deflection in the ventricular depolarization complex (RSr′). Electrocardiographic criteria were not found which predicted the degree of right ventricular or generalized cardiac enlargement seen radiographically.