The biting gnat, Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett), was shown to be a vector of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, in Kentucky because of virus isolations from parous females. Epidemiological evidence showed a close relationship of this vector to the animal host during an outbreak of EHD in penned deer. Larval breeding sites of C. variipennis were found and C. variipennis was the most abundant biting fly present during the outbreak. Females of C. variipennis were commonly observed biting deer, swine, cattle and, occasionally, man.

Two strains of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), New Jersey (NJ) and Kentucky (KY), of deer were biologically transmitted between white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, by Culicoides variipennis. The KY strain, isolated from C. variipennis collected during an epizootic in deer, was identified as EHDV by serological tests. Deer exposed to the KY or the NJ strains of EHDV developed an acute hemorrhagic disease; most deer died 6 to 13 days after infection. Sheep inoculated with EHDV developed no clinical signs of disease.

In a survey of blood and other tissue parasites from 137 leopard frogs, Rana pipiens complex, purchased from 13 commercial vendors in 8 states in the United States, Trypanosoma pipientis was found in 2 R. p. berlandieri, Toxoplasma ranae in 1 R. pipiens, Isospora lieberkuehni in 1 leopard frog, Haemogregarina magna in 44, Lankesterella minima in 3, Leptotheca ohlmacheri in 3 and microfilariae of Foleyella sp. in 6. The report of I. lieberkuehni is presumably a new host record. Haemogregarina temporariae (Nöller, 1920) nov. comb. is established as a new combination for Nematopsis temporariae.

From September, 1973, through November, 1974, 255 mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) were collected in the southeastern United States and examined for endoparasites. Thirteen species of endoparasites were found and included six species of protozoans, one trematode, two cestodes, and four nematodes. New host records included Sarcocystis sp., Echinostoma revolutum, Hymenolepis sp., Aproctella stoddardi, Ascaridia columbae, and Dispharynx nasuta.

The gross and histopathologic lesions of three captive sika deer (Cervus nippon) with malignant catarrhal fever are described. Lesions included those of the head and eye form and the more commonly described peracute form. One deer had been exposed to a wildebeeste (Connochaetes gnou) and the other two to domestic sheep.

Mensural values of blood stream stages and cross-transmission studies defined the trypanosome species from mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, as con-specific with Trypanosoma cervi, the trypanosome found in elk from the same locality. Trypanosomes were found in eight mule deer sampled in the spring and eight sampled in the winter in southeastern Wyoming.

Tuberculous lesions were observed in the liver of an adult sandhill crane (Grus canadensis); Mycobacterium avium serotype 1 was isolated. Chickens inoculated intravenously with the culture had granulomas in the liver and spleen at necropsy 62 days after inoculation.

Seventeen-hundred terrestrial gastropods collected in central Maine were examined for Parelaphostrongylus tenuis and other nematodes. Prevalence of nematodes was 4 to 7% in most gastropod species, but was 19% in Pallifera spp. Cosmocercoides dukae and Rhabditis spp. were the most common nematodes recovered. Only four P. tenuis larvae (prevalence 0.1%) were found. Foci important for transmission of P. tenuis in Maine have not yet been found.

A neoplasm involving the stomach, liver and lungs was seen in an East Indian water lizard (Hydrosaurus ambionensis). The largest mass was in the stomach, with smaller nodules in the lung and liver. The tumor was diagnosed as a plasma cell tumor by its histologic and ultrastructure characteristics.

Gentamicin and cephaloridine were administered by intratracheal injection to the California sea lion, Zalophus californianus, and the bottlenosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Uptake and clearance of these antibiotics in the blood were monitored. In all cases, absorption through the respiratory mucosa resulted in blood levels approaching therapeutic concentrations despite low dosages.

Neurologic disease resulting from infection with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis was diagnosed in a fallow deer (Dama dama) from Georgia, with clinical signs and histopathologic lesions similar to those reported for other accidental hosts of P. tenuis. Early fifth stage parasites were found in the spinal meninges and immature parasites were found in the neural parenchyma, but none were recovered from the brain and cranial meninges.

A total of 389 birds of 32 species representing 14 families from Tchad were examined for blood parasites. Eighty-nine (22.9%) harbored infections of Haemoproteus (64%), Plasmodium (12.4%), Trypanosoma (1.1%), Atoxoplasma (= Lankesterella) (5.6%), and microfilaria (28.1%). Species of Leucocytozoon were not observed in the present study. The occurrence of the different genera differed markedly between bird families; members of the Ploceidae comprised 85% of the infected birds.

Seventeen northern cinnamon teal, Anas cyanoptera septentrionalium were collected in Hudspeth County, Texas: 10 in January, 1974, and seven in September, 1974. Fifteen parasite species were recovered: 11 were new host records. Three species of parasites were recorded from spring migrants and 15 from fall migrants.

Four wallaroos (Macropus robustus) from a central California zoo colony of 22 died within a three week period. Histopathologic findings in all four cases were suggestive of toxoplasmosis. Brain, lung and heart were the most frequently involved organs. Within 4 months of the last death sera from nine colony members were tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using the indirect hemagglutination test. All nine had serological titers ranging from 1:64 to 1:131,072.

A previously undescribed species of hemolytic Actinobacillus was isolated from six waterfowl, three with periocular serous exudation and two with airsacculitis and bronchopneumonia. Cultural and biochemical characteristics were compared with those of Actinobacillus and Pasteurella spp, using a numerical technique.

Nasal secretions, leukocytes and preputial or vaginal swabs from a group of 15 captive wild ruminants, comprising six pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), seven fallow deer (Dama dama) and two mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and from 50 free-ranging pronghorns in southern Alberta, were examined for viral agents. Captive animals were given injections of dexamethasone daily for 6 days in attempts to reactivate latent infections. Specimens were collected at 2-3 day intervals from days 0 to 18. Free-ranging pronghorns were sampled only once, at the time of capture. Fifteen viral isolates were obtained from the animals: six isolates of parainfluenza 3 (PI3) from nasal swabs from one fallow deer and one mule deer; five isolates of herpesvirus from leukocytes, vaginal, preputial and nasal swabs from three fallow deer; and four isolates of PI3 from nasal secretions of the 50 free-ranging pronghorns.

Fifteen coyotes (Canis latrans) shed sporulated sporocysts in their feces after eating freshly ground skeletal muscles from a mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) infected with microscopic-sized cysts of Sarcocystis. Sporocysts were shed intermittently from 12 to 36 days after ingestion of the infected meat. Sporocyst size averaged 14.4 × 9.3 μm.

Eleven mule deer fawns orally inoculated with these sporocysts became infected and 9 of 11 died between post-inoculation days (PID) 27 and 63. Clinical signs of anorexia, weight loss, pyrexia and weakness were evident prior to death. A calf (Bos taurus) and two lambs (Ovis aries) orally inoculated with these sporocysts did not become infected and remained healthy throughout the experiment. Similarly, uninoculated control animals consisting of three mule deer fawns, two lambs and one calf remained healthy during the experiment.

Preliminary histologic examinations conducted on selected tissues from all animals revealed microscopic-sized schizogonous stages in macrophages, between muscle fibers and near blood vessels in the esophagus, heart, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, diaphragm and tongue from seven of eight fawns which died between PID 27 and 39. Developing or mature muscle cysts were not found in fawn tissue until PID 60. Sarcocysts were found in the three infected fawns examined after this time. Muscle cysts or earlier schizont stages were not found in tissues from the inoculated or uninoculated calves and lambs. A single muscle cyst was found in one control fawn; the other two control fawns were negative for both muscle cysts and other schizogonous stages.

These results established that the life cycle of this species of Sarcocystis can be completed with coyotes as the definitive host and mule deer as the intermediate host. Based on the demonstrated host specificity and earlier findings, the name Sarcocystis hemionilatrantis is proposed for this parasite of mule deer and coyotes.

Herpesvirus sylvilagus was inoculated into five cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) at various stages of pregnancy; they subsequently had litters in the laboratory. Three other cottontails chronically infected with the virus were bred and bore young in large outdoor pens. Thirty-four living neonates and dead fetuses were weighed, measured and aseptically necropsied. A total of 31 liver, spleen and kidney samples, 16 lymph node, 28 heart and 10 brain samples were collected and processed for inoculation into rabbit kidney cell cultures to attempt virus isolation. Virus was not detected in the 147 tissue samples tested. Pre-conception viremias ranged from 10-21 plaque-forming units per 0.5 ml.

Virus isolation was attempted from 26 oral and lacrymal, 23 genital, nine urine and fecal, and four milk and male ejaculate samples from eight infected rabbits. Virus was recovered from two salivary samples from the same rabbit. Triamcinolone acetonide administered daily for four days to five rabbits did not stimulate excretion of virus.

The vector potential of the rabbit flea (Cediopsylla simplex) and a mosquito (Aedes triseriatus) was investigated for Herpesvirus sylvilagus transmission among cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Twelve groups of 12–50 fleas were fed on three viremic cottontails for 2–21 days before transfer to 12 susceptible rabbits. Standard interrupted feeding trials employed five groups of 6–12 mosquitoes, two viremic donor cottontails and five healthy recipients. No evidence of virus was detected from recipients' blood nor did they develop specific antibody. Virus acquisition and persistence in the insects was evaluated by attempting to recover the virus from 19 pools of mosquitoes engorged on viremic blood and 36 pools of engorged fleas or those living on viremic hosts for 1–21 days. Results were negative.

Ninety-one birds of 23 species from Chile were examined for haematozoa; 13 birds of seven species harbored species of Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma and microfilariae. Haemoproteids (representing four species) were the most common parasites and occurred in 10 of the 13 infected birds.

Eighty-two coyote fecal samples were collected from eastern Colorado and examined for coccidia. Sporocysts of Sarcocystis were observed in 17 of the samples and oocysts of Isospora ohioensis were observed in two samples. Ten fecal samples contained eimerian coccidia thought to be pseudoparasites of the coyote acquired while ingesting heavily infected rabbits.

Concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium in the kidneys of 14 adult raccoons from an estuarine environment were determined. The mean concentrations in ppm wet weight and standard deviation for the metals were lead—0.47 ± 0.22, zinc —75.88 ± 16.54 and cadmium—2.48 ± 1.66.

The histopathology of acute fin rot disease in summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, from the New York Bight is described. Grossly, caudal and dorsal fin lesions appeared ragged or frayed with no evidence of resolution. Microscopically, there was epidermal and dermal necrosis, congestion, edema, focal and diffuse hemorrhage, and Zenkers necrosis of underlying muscle. Gram-negative bacteria were present in the fin tissues as well as in heart muscle and liver parenchyma. The inflammatory response consisted mostly of macrophages. The significance of the acute disease in summer flounder is discussed in relation to the etiology of fin rot disease in winter flounder from the Bight.