An inactivated canine distemper vaccine with adjuvant and a modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine were evaluated using black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) × Siberian polecat (Mustela eversmanni) hybrids as surrogates for endangered black-footed ferrets. For comparative purposes, we also vaccinated domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with the MLV vaccine. Response to vaccination was measured by clinical observation, hematology, dynamics of serum virus neutralizing antibodies, and challenge with virulent canine distemper virus. No clinical signs attributable to the vaccines were observed. Transient leukopenia occurred in hybrid ferrets that received MLV vaccine and there was marked lymphopenia for approximately 52 days post-vaccination. Lymphopenia was present for approximately 21 days in domestic ferrets vaccinated with MLV vaccine. Neutralizing antibodies against canine distemper virus were detected 14 days post-vaccination in hybrids receiving MLV vaccine and most titers were > 1:1024 for the 791 days of the study. Antibody titers in hybrids vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine were significantly lower. All eight hybrid ferrets that received MLV vaccine survived challenge with virulent canine distemper virus without clinical disease. However, one of seven hybrids vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine developed canine distemper and was euthanized; two other hybrids became clinically ill but survived. The MLV vaccine may be useful in prevention of canine distemper in black-footed ferrets, but until additional studies of efficacy and safety are completed, use of the inactivated vaccine is appropriate.

Recombinant baculovirus techniques were used to express the 260 amino acid carboxyterminal portion of the 32 kilodalton (kDa) major antigenic protein (MAP 1) of Cowdria ruminantium, the heartwater agent, as a fusion protein. The recombinant MAP 1 was fused to an aminoterminal independently antigenic octapeptide sequence (FLAG^® peptide). Recombinant MAP 1 was used as an immunoblotting antigen to evaluate numerous reference antisera against organisms of the tribe Ehrlichieae. Monoclonal and polyclonal C. ruminantium antibodies, monoclonal anti-FLAG^® ascites, and antisera to Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis reacted with this antigen. Twelve of 79 sera collected 1980 to 1992 from southeastern U.S. white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were also unexpectedly immunoblot-positive to MAP 1. These 12 deer sera had, as a group, significantly (P <0.01) greater anti-E. chaffeensis titers (previously determined) than the sera from MAP 1 immunoblot-negative deer living in the same areas. None of the 262 sera from cattle living in the same areas were immunoblot-positive to MAP 1. All of an additional 50 cervine sera from Michigan (USA), 72 bovine sera from northern U.S. cattle, and 72 sera from Puerto Rican cattle were also immunoblot-negative to MAP 1. Sera from African sheep which were falsely seropositive to authentic MAP 1 were also immunoblot-positive to the recombinant MAP 1. Unidentified Ehrlichia spp. capable of serologic crossreactivity with the heartwater agent appear to be present in some southeastern U.S. white-tailed deer but not cattle. These or related Ehrlichia spp. may also be found elsewhere in the world in non-cervine species.

From 1987 through 1991, blood samples were collected from 10 species of small mammals in Indian River County, Florida (USA). Sera from 1,347 animals were analyzed for hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody to St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) viruses. Of these, 75 (5.6%) were positive for HI antibody to SLE virus and 121 (9.0%) were positive for EEE antibody. Sera from five mammalian species were tested for neutralizing (NT) antibody to SLE, EEE, Highlands J (HJ, a member of the western equine encephalitis virus complex), or Everglades (EVE, a member of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex) viruses. By serum neutralization tests, 26 (46%) of 57 had SLE antibodies, 14 (24%) of 58 had EEE antibodies, two (3.2%) of 63 had HJ antibodies, and 9 (14%) of 63 had EVE antibodies. One Sigmodon hispidus and one Peromyscus gossypinus had NT antibodies both to EEE and HJ viruses. Blood samples from 512 mammals were tested for virus. Isolations of one EVE virus and two unidentified arenaviruses were made from P. gossypinus, and one EVE virus isolate was made from a S. hispidus.

A competitive-inhibition ELISA (CI-ELISA), based on a monoclonal antibody to an epitope conserved among malignant catarrhal fever virus (MCFV) strains of both wildebeest and sheep origin, was used to determine the prevalence of antibody to MCFV in selected domestic and wild ruminants, both free-ranging and captive, from the USA. We evaluated 2528 sera from 14 species between 1990 and 1995, including 80 pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), 339 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), 103 bison (Bison bison), 17 black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), 395 domestic cattle (Bos taunts), 291 domestic goats (Capra hircus), 680 domestic sheep (Ovis ammon), 323 elk (Cervus elaphus), 41 llamas (Lama glama), 21 mouflon sheep (Ovis musimon), 54 mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), 101 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), 20 muskox (Ovibos moschatus), and 63 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). A high seroprevalence (37 to 62%) was observed in domestic sheep, domestic goats, muskox, and some bighorn sheep populations. Seroprevalence in these species was generally age-related: a very low seroprevalence was present in these animals under one year of age. A low seroprevalence (2% to 13%) was found in clinically-susceptible species such as domestic cattle, deer, elk and bison, supporting the concept that significant numbers of non-lethal infections occur among clinically susceptible ruminants.

Potosi (POT) virus (Bunyaviridae) was isolated from Aedes albopictus, an introduced Asian mosquito species, collected at a used tire yard in Potosi, Missouri (USA), in August and September, 1989. In September, 1990, small animals were trapped at the tire yard and six cattle were sampled at an adjacent farm; in November 1990 and 1991, blood samples were collected with filter paper strips from 364 hunter-killed, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the region to determine the possible reservoir hosts of the virus. Deer specimens from Arkansas (n = 70), Colorado (n = 29), and Iowa (n = 763) (USA) were also analyzed. Specimens from 33 small vertebrates captured at the tire yard were negative for viruses. Only one eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) and none of six cattle had neutralizing (N) antibody against POT virus by the plaque-reduction serum neutralization test in Vero cell culture but 45 (25%) of 178 deer specimens in 1990 and 55 (30%) of 186 in 1991 were antibody positive. The 186 deer sera from 1991 were tested further and 29 (16%) were also N antibody positive to Cache Valley (CV) virus. From the 763 deer specimens tested from Iowa in 1993, 114 (15%) had N antibody to POT virus. Of 70 serum specimens from Arkansas deer in 1990, 33 (47%) had N antibody to POT and 15 (21%) to CV viruses; two (7%) of 29 CV negative serum specimens from Colorado deer in 1981 were serologically positive to POT virus. Three eastern chipmunks were experimentally inoculated with POT virus to determine their reservoir potential; none became viremic but all developed N antibody. Thus we propose that POT virus may be another virus regularly infecting wild deer populations but its impact on the health of these animals is unknown.

Susceptibility of New World waterfowl to the Lake Andes strain of duck plague virus (DPV) was assessed by intramuscular inoculation of adult muscovies (Cairina moschata), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), Canada geese (Branta canadensis), wood ducks (Aix sponsa), redheads (Aythya americana), gadwalls (Anas strepera), blue-winged teal (Anas discors), and pintails (Anas acuta). The relative virulence of DPV strains isolated from five United States and one Canadian location was established in muscovies, mallards, and Canada geese. Differences in DPV strain virulence were detected by formation of plaques in cell culture. Two strains that consistently formed plaques killed adult mallards while non-plaque forming strains killed hatchling but not adult mallards. Based on mortality after exposure to the Lake Andes strain, blue-winged teal, then wood ducks and redheads were highly susceptible, muscovies and gadwalls moderately susceptible, mallards and Canada geese less susceptible, and pintails the least susceptible. Mean death times were significantly (P < 0.01) different between adult muscovies (4.5 days) versus mallards and Canada geese (5.8 days each). Mean death time of the virulent Lake Andes and Minnesota strains were shorter (P < 0.05) than for the other four, less virulent DPV strains. Four of the less virulent strains killed hatchling but not adult mallards. Susceptibility to mortality was dependent upon age and route of inoculation. The intramuscular route of inoculation required the least amount of virus to kill mallard and muscovy ducks, the intranasal and conjunctival routes required more virus, and the oral route the most virus. This study was conducted from 1974 to 1977 between the months of September and April, with the exception of two titrations conducted in early May at the University of Wisconsin Department of Veterinary Science and the Charmany research facility of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In April 1992, on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals, Hawaii (USA), researchers observed a hand-reared white tern hatchling (Gygis alba rothschildi) develop vesicular lesions on the webbing between its toes, 6 days after falling out of its nest. Vesicular fluid collected from the foot lesions contained virus-like particles having typical calicivirus morphology. Calicivirus RNA was detected in the vesicular fluid by dot hybridization with a group-specific calicivirus copy DNA probe. Attempts to cultivate the virus in African green monkey kidney cells and porcine kidney cells were unsuccessful. This is the first report of a calicivirus infection associated with vesicular disease in a wild avian species.

A feeding study with mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was conducted during March to July 1988 in Laurel, Maryland (USA), to identify diagnostic criteria for selenium toxicosis in birds. One-year-old male mallards in groups of 21 were fed diets containing 0, 10, 20, 40, or 80 parts per million (ppm) selenium, as seleno-DL-methionine, for 16 weeks. All ducks receiving 80 ppm died. Ducks receiving 40 or 80 ppm selenium consumed less feed than ducks in the other treatment groups. Body weights of ducks receiving 40 or 80 ppm selenium declined during the study. The post-breeding molt was delayed in ducks receiving 40 ppm; most ducks receiving 80 ppm selenium died prior to the onset of molt. At necropsy, numerous abnormalities were observed in ducks that died but only a small number of abnormalities were observed in ducks surviving to the end of the study in the 40 ppm group. Weights of the heart, spleen, and pancreas were mostly lower and weights of the kidney were higher for ducks dying during the study than for euthanized ducks. Liver weights were unaffected. Selenium accumulated in soft tissues approximately in proportion to dietary concentrations. Selenium concentrations in tissues of all ducks that died were different from those of surviving ducks in the 0, 10, and 20 ppm groups, but were not different from those of surviving ducks in the 40 ppm group. Proposed diagnostic criteria for fatal chronic selenosis were derived from body weight, macroscopic abnormalities, organ weights, and concentrations of selenium in the liver. Proposed diagnostic criteria for non-fatal chronic selenosis were derived from body weight, plumage condition, macroscopic abnormalities, concentrations of selenium in the liver, reproductive failure, and alterations of blood and tissue chemistries. Lead or dioxin poisoning have diagnostic criteria most similar to selenium toxicosis.

During the winter of 1990 in the Fraser Delta of British Columbia, Canada, nine birds of prey were found with symptoms of anticholinesterase poisoning. Immediate surgical removal of crop contents of three birds decreased mortality and recovery time. Chemical analysis was conducted on crop contents, which contained mainly duck parts. A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) contained 200 μg/g and a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2.2 μg/g carbofuran, while the crop of another red-tailed hawk contained 30 μg/g fensulfothion. There was evidence that granular carbofuran and fensulfothion persisted long enough in the wet, low pH conditions of the Fraser Delta to kill waterfowl and cause secondary poisoning of raptors several months after application of the pesticides.

The faunas of parasitic helminths and arthropods of 87 Sherman's fox squirrels (Sciurus niger shermani) and 32 Big Cypress fox squirrels (Sciurus niger avicennia) collected from Florida (USA) over a 6-yr period (1988 to 1993) were compared. One acanthocephalan, one cestode, nine nematodes, one flea, three sucking lice, three mites, one tick, and one dipteran larva were identified. Citellinema bifurcatum and Physaloptera massino were new records for Florida and Gongylonema pulchrum, Neotrombicula whartoni, and Eushoengastia diversa were new host records. Three core species of nematodes (distributed widely, highly host specific, and very prevalent) were identified from Sherman's fox squirrels. These included Strongyloides robustus, Heligmodendrium hassalli, and C. bifurcatum, which were higher in prevalence and intensity in Sherman's fox squirrels than in Big Cypress fox squirrels. One core species of cestode (Raillietina bakeri) was collected from 32% of Sherman's fox squirrels, but was not observed in Big Cypress fox squirrels. The number of species, prevalences, intensities, and abundances of parasites from Sherman's fox squirrels were greater than those from Big Cypress fox squirrels.

Lesser snow goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) goslings, approximately 5 weeks of age, were collected near the month of Tha-anne River, Northwest Territories, Canada, during mid-August 1991. Many dead goslings had been observed in the area from 1988 to 1990. Goslings from near the coast, where habitat degradation by grazing geese was severe, were smaller, weighed less, and had a greater prevalence of renal coccidiosis (Eimeria truncata) and cecal nematode (Trichostrongylus spp.) infection than did goslings from inland areas, where habitat destruction was not evident. Prevalence of infection with intestinal cestodes was greater at inland than at coastal sites. Prevalences of gizzard nematodes (Epomidiostomum spp.) and Leucocytozoon spp. were not significantly different at the two sites. Histological examination of kidneys and examination of kidney homogenates for oocysts were more sensitive methods than gross examination of the kidneys for detecting renal coccidial infection. The number of oocysts present in droppings was not a good indicator of the severity of renal coccidial infection in individual birds; however, the average number of oocysts in droppings was indicative of the average severity of infection among groups of goslings.

Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) and 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene (TeCB) were evaluated as oral chemical biomarkers when administered to coyotes (Canis latrans) during the period of 31 January to 10 August 1994. Three coyotes each received 100 mg of PeCB and three received 100 mg of TeCB, each in a mineral oil formulation. Three additional coyotes received only the mineral oil carrier. Muscle and adipose tissues, blood serum, and fecal samples were evaluated by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection for 120 days following administration. Residues of PeCB were detected in serum, feces, and adipose and muscle tissues for 120 days post-treatment; TeCB residues were detected in feces and serum at 1 and 8 days post-treatment and in adipose tissue at 30 days post-treatment. Residues of TeCB were not detected in muscle tissue at any point in the study.

In November 1992, 45 desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) were captured at Old Dad Peak and the Kelso Mountains of southern California (USA) using a netgun fired from a helicopter. Tympanic membrane temperature was compared to rectal temperature for 22 sheep to determine if tympanic membrane temperature was a reliable indicator of hyperthermia and capture stress. All animals captured had elevated rectal temperatures after capture and arrival to the processing area. The group of 22 sheep had a mean ± SD rectal temperature of 40.9 ± 0.7 C (range 39.5 to 42.1 C) at arrival. During processing of these sheep, mean ± SD rectal temperatures were 40.9 ± 0.29 C (range 40.0 to 41.7 C) with mean ± SD tympanic temperatures of 38.4 ± 0.5 C (range 35.7 to 40.5 C). Mean tympanic temperatures were significantly lower than mean rectal temperatures when comparing all measurements and paired tympanic and rectal temperature measurements. Three animals had rectal and tympanic temperatures greater than 41.0 C and 39.7 C, respectively, one of which died after capture. Tympanic membrane temperature measurement may provide a method for evaluation of hyperthermia and capture stress by separating retained body heat due to exertion from critical elevations in core body temperature which may affect post-capture survival.

The sampling of 50 μl of the yolk (average 1.7% of the total volume) from northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) eggs on day 0, 6, 12, and 18 of incubation resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) increased embryo mortality in the day 12 and day 18 egg groups. Performance parameters and reproductive indices of the non-sampled eggs and the eggs sampled on day 0, and 6 of incubation did not differ from other reports on C. virginianus. No difference was found in postnatal responsiveness among hatchlings originating from controls and from all the groups of sampled eggs. As demonstrated in this representative gallifonn species, the technique can be applied for the screening of unembryonated eggs or early-embryogenesis-eggs of wild birds. If female birds are not accessible but their eggs are, information on the reproductive flock can be accessed without stressing adult birds.

A 60-year-old captive California desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) which died in August 1990 at the University of California, Davis, California (USA), during treatment for colonic impaction had marked caseous necrosis of the oral cavity, choana, trachea, and lungs. Numerous intranuclear inclusion bodies and a large number of syncytial giant cells were seen in the oral cavity and respiratory tract along with bacterial granulomas. Pasteurella testudinis, Streptococcus veridans, and coagulase-negative Staphilococcus spp. were cultured from the lesions. Using electron microscopy, herpesvirus particles were observed in intranuclear inclusions and cytoplasm. Viral stomatitis, tracheitis, and bronchopneumonia complicated by bacterial infection were diagnosed. Although respiratory disease is common in desert tortoises, this is believed to be the first report of association with a viral infection.

Dynamics of small mammal populations and the prevalence of antibodies for hantavirus were determined in six locations in central and western Montana (USA). Eighteen live-trapping grids were trapped monthly from June through September 1994. Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) populations ranged from 0 to over 90 on one-hectare grids. Our bleeding technique had no apparent effect on survival of deer mice. Deer mice, meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), and sagebrush voles (Lagurus curtatus) were seropositive. Thirty-eight (8%) (range, 0% to 30%) of 471 deer mice were seropositive for hantavirus antibodies. Seropositive mice were older and had lower monthly survival rates than seronegative deer mice. We found no relationship between prevalence of hantavirus antibodies and population density.

A poxvirus was isolated during the latter half of 1993 from a black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) that died of fulminant adenovirus infection in California (USA). The poxvirus was isolated from a pooled tissue homogenate, after repeated serial blind passages in primary black-tailed deer testicular cells. Based on electron microscopic examination of the virus, we observed morphologic features typical of the genus Orthopoxvirus, although definitive characterization was not done.

Two leaf-chinned bats (Mormoops megalophylla) collected in 1963 in central Colombia were heavily infected with Babesia sp., probably Babesia vesperuginis. Both bats had pronounced splenomegaly. This is the first report of a Babesia sp. infection of a bat in the Americas.

Coagulation assays, including platelet counts, antithrombin III, fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation product levels, prothrombin (PT), activated partial thromboplastin (APTT) and activated clotting times (ACT), were performed on 20 healthy juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) stranded along the central California coastline from 15 March to 15 April 1994, to establish baseline parameters for this species. Elephant seals appear to have relatively short ACT, PT, and APTT times, while fibrinogen, platelet and antithrombin III levels are similar to domestic species. Based on these mean values in healthy animals, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed in an elephant seal with low plasma fibrinogen and extended ACT, PT and APTT times; this animal had hemorrhages, mixed bacterial suppurative interstitial pneumonia with verminous arteritis, epicarditis, hepatitis and enterocolitis.

The histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of a case of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor are described in a 14-yr-old female Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) housed at the New Biblical Zoo of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel, 1994. The neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically negative for insulin and glucagon, slightly positive for neuron-specific enolase, moderately positive for serotonin and somatostatin, and markedly positive for chromogranine A and gastrin. This is the first documentation of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in the tiger.

A 2.5-year-old, female pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) was captured in Oregon (USA) in 1990 and later died in 1992. At the time of death, abdominal distension due to ascites, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly, and a cheek mass were noted. Based on histologic examination of these tissues, a diagnosis of multicentric lymphoma was made. Retroviral particles were not found on electron microscopic examination.

Acute gastric dilatation with volvulus occurred in a 4-year-old female northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). The animal had been maintained in an outdoor exhibit at Mystic Marinelife Aquarium (Mystic, Connecticut, USA) from June 1989 to March 1994. On necropsy, we observed a 360° clockwise rotation of the stomach about its mesenteric axis as viewed ventrodorsallv. The stomach was markedly distended with gas, fluid, and partially digested fish. The spleen followed the rotation of the stomach 360° and was enlarged and congested with twisted mesentery. This is the first reported case of acute gastric dilatation with volvulus in a pinniped.

We examined mosquitofish. (Gambusia holbrooki) caught between January 1990 and December 1991 from 24 sites in northern Florida (USA), and preserved specimens collected from 32 sites throughout Florida between 1930 and 1978, for presence of the larval nematode Eustrongylides ignotus. We found 10 (42%) of the 24 recently-sampled sites in northern and central Florida had at least one larval nematode present in the fish; combining these data with results of previous work, 11 (15%) of 75 recently sampled sites throughout Florida had at least one nematode. By comparison, in the museum collections fish from only one (3%) of the 32 sites had the nematode, and none in northern Florida.

Three captive Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), consisting of a female lamb, a yearling ram, and a 2½-yr-old castrated ram were inoculated orally with 50 (n = 1) or 100 (n = 2) metacercariae of Fascioloides magna in November 1991. All three sheep died from fluke infection on post-inoculation days 104, 140, and 197, respectively. Numbers of F. magna recovered were 3 (3%), 18 (36%), and 21 (21%). All flukes were immature and were recovered from liver (n = 36), lungs (n = 2), or peritoneal spaces (n = 4). Two white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), each were inoculated orally with 100 metacercariae at the same time as the bighorn sheep. Eggs of F. magna were detected in the feces of the deer on postinoculation days 199 and 211, respectively. Both deer remained healthy for the year-long experiment. Thus, bighorn sheep are susceptible to infection with F. magna and are likely to die within approximately 6 months of exposure.

Fifty-five collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) were collected from October 1988 through April 1991 from five counties within the Trans-Pecos region of Texas (USA) to monitor for diseases and parasites. No endoparasites were recovered on gross examination. Antibody to Borrelia bugdorferi was documented in one (2%) of 55 specimens. Three (6%) of 54 collared peccaries were positive for Yersenia pestis antibodies. All collared peccaries were negative for antibodies against Brucella spp., Francisella tularensis, Rickettsia rickettsii, and Rickettsia typhi. This is the first report of Borrelia sp. and Yersenia sp. pathogens in collared peccaries from this region of Texas.