Fatal encephalitis caused by Dactylaria constricta var. gallopava in a snowy owl chick (Nyctea scandiaca).

Dactylaria constricta var. gallopava (Cooke) Salkin et Dixon was found to cause fatal encephalitis in a 28-day-old, captivity-bred snowy owl chick (Nyctea scandiaca). The previously healthy bird suddenly developed ataxia, severe torticollis, and extensor rigidity of the legs. Since the animal did not improve with antibiotic or vitamin-mineral supplement therapy, the chick was euthanized 5 days after the onset of neurologic signs. At necropsy, all tissues except the brain were grossly normal. Cultures inoculated with blood from the brain and heart yielded a dematiaceous mould that subsequently proved to be D. constricta var. gallopava. This is the first report of natural central nervous system infection caused by D. constricta var. gallopava in a snowy owl.

Further simplification of the Guizotia abyssinica seed medium for identification of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus bacillispora.

A simplified Guizotia abyssinica seed-based medium for presumptive diagnosis of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. bacillispora (Paliwal and Randhawa 1978) was further simplified by replacing seed extract with pulverized seeds. This medium gives unambiguous results, avoids false-positive reactions with 13 other yeastlike organisms, and is simple and relatively inexpensive to prepare.