Serologic survey for selected infectious disease agents in swift and kit foxes from the western United States.

A serologic survey of swift fox (Vulpes velox) and kit fox (V. macrotis) from the western USA was conducted for 12 infectious diseases. Samples from swift fox were collected between 1987 and 1992 from Colorado (n = 44), Kansas (n = 10), and Wyoming (n = 9). Samples from kit fox were collected in California (n = 86), New Mexico (n = 18), Utah (n = 9), and Arizona (n = 6). Overall antibody prevalence rates were 33 of 110 (30%) for canine parvovirus (CPV), 9 of 72 (13%) for canine distemper virus (CDV), 23 of 117 (20%) for vesicular stomatitis New Jersey, 16 of 117 (14%) for vesicular stomatitis Indiana, six of 117 (5%) for Cache Valley virus, five of 117 (4%) for Jamestown Canyon virus, one of 97 (1%) for rabies virus, one of 117 (1%) for Colorado tick fever virus, and one of 117 (1%) for western equine encephalitis virus. In addition, antibodies were not found to Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, and Borrelia burgdorferi in serum from 25 Colorado swift fox. Adult swift fox from Colorado had serologic evidence of exposure to CPV more often than juveniles. No juvenile swift fox from Colorado had serum antibodies to CDV. There were season-specific differences in serum antibody prevalence for CPV for swift fox from Colorado. No viruses were isolated from ectoparasites or fox from Colorado.

Spongiform encephalopathy in free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in northcentral Colorado.

Between March 1981 and June 1995, a neurological disease characterized histologically by spongiform encephalopathy was diagnosed in 49 free-ranging cervids from northcentral Colorado (USA). Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were the primary species affected and accounted for 41 (84%) of the 49 cases, but six Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and two white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were also affected. Clinical signs included emaciation, excessive salivation, behavioral changes, ataxia, and weakness. Emaciation with total loss of subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissue and serous atrophy of remaining fat depots were the only consistent gross findings. Spongiform encephalopathy characterized by microcavitation of gray matter, intraneuronal vacuolation and neuronal degeneration was observed microscopically in all cases. Scrapie-associated prion protein or an antigenically indistinguishable protein was demonstrated in brains from 26 affected animals, 10 using an immunohistochemical staining procedure, nine using electron microscopy, and seven using Western blot. Clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions and ancillary test findings in affected deer and elk were indistinguishable from those reported in chronic wasting disease of captive cervids. Prevalence estimates, transmissibility, host range, distribution, origins, and management implications of spongiform encephalopathy in free-ranging deer and elk remain undetermined.

Elaeophora schneideri in moose (Alces alces) from Colorado.

Two adult moose (Alces alces) from Colorado (USA) were naturally infected with Elaeophora schneideri. Both animals had patent infections indicating that moose may serve as definitive hosts. Gross and histological lesions were characterized by fibromuscular intimal proliferation within the carotid arteries and rete mirabile cerebri. This is the first report of Elaeophora schneideri in moose from Colorado.

Capture myopathy in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) following trapping, handling and transportation in Colorado.

Sixty wild turkeys were necropsied following trapping, transporting and handling during the winters of 1980-1981, 1981-1982, and 1982-1983 in order to determine the incidence of subclinical capture myopathy. Gross lesions characterized by small to large patchy, pale white streaked areas within skeletal muscle were found in 13 of 27 birds trapped with a drop net in the winter of 1982-1983. Microscopic lesions within myocardium characterized by irregular areas of coagulative necrosis, collapse of intercellular stroma and myocardial nuclear proliferation were found in two of 14 birds in 1980-1981, five of 19 birds in 1981-1982 and 11 of 27 birds in 1982-1983. Microscopic lesions within skeletal muscle characterized by rhabdomyolysis were found in 16 of 19 birds in 1981-1982 and 25 of 27 birds in 1982-1983. These findings suggest that wild turkeys are susceptible to capture myopathy and particular caution should be exercised in capturing and handling these birds.

Wet versus dry weights for heavy metal toxicity determinations in duck liver.

Determinations for heavy metals in duck liver using wet weight in lieu of dry weight produced errors that could not be quantitated. Weight loss through air-drying ranged from 10 to 21% in the first 2 h. for frozen tissue and 7 to 11% for fresh tissue. This difference becomes increasingly variable with time.

Survey of colorado's wild ruminants for serologic titers to brucellosis and leptospirosis.

A 10-year survey for serologic titers to brucellosis and leptospirosis in mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), elk ( Cervus canadensis ), and antelope ( Antilocapra americana ) in Colorado is summarized. Over 10,000 blood samples were tested against Brucella abortus and 4,747 samples were tested against Leptospira pomona . A total of 1,761 blood samples were tested against L. canicola , L. grippotyphosa , L. hardjo , L. icterohemorrhagiae . All results were considered negative.