Control of Psoroptes cuniculi in captive white-tailed deer with ivermectin-treated corn.

Psoroptes cuniculi, the ear mite of domestic rabbits, was collected from captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). This is the first report of rabbit ear mite infestations in white-tailed deer in Oklahoma or Texas (USA). In addition to moderate infestations in their ears, two 4-yr-old bucks, two 3-yr-old does, and seven 4-yr-old does showed patchy areas of alopecia along the sides and brisket. Both bucks also had patchy areas of alopecia around the base of antlers. Ear mites were eradicated from all deer except from one doe by providing ivermectin-treated corn to the deer at a rate of 1,000 g (equivalent to 200 mcg/kg of ivermectin)/day/deer for several days. The ear mite infestation in the one doe was eradicated by intramuscularly injection with ivermectin at 400 mcg/kg. After treatment with the ivermectin and eradication of the mites, the alopecia improved and eventually was eliminated. The ivermectin-treated corn also controlled all internal nematode parasites in the deer.

[Mites (Acarida) of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) in Poland]. / Roztocze (Acarida) pszczoly miodnej (Apis mellifera L.) w Polsce.

400 samples of natural winter debris collected from bee hives, 150 samples of stored honey and 100 samples of pollen collected by bees were examined; full of food and empty honey combs, brood and adult bees were also observed. 100% of samples of debris, 90% of pollen and almost 24% of honey samples contained mites; they were found also on honey combs and on died and living bees (brood, imagines). 33 mite species were found. Besides of parasite Varroa jacobsoni Oud. numerous mites belonging to Acaridae, Ameroseiidae, Tarsonemidae and Tydeidae were frequent. They are often accompanied by predatory mites from families Cheyletidae, Aceosejidae, Laelapidae, Bdellidae and Cunaxidae. 3 stated species--Acotyledon paradoxa Oud., Lasioacarus nidicolus Kadz. et Sev. and Thyreophagus odyneri Fain are new for Poland.

Autopsies on two native American Mummies.

An interdisciplinary team performed autopsies on an adult male and an infant male mummy from the American Southwest. Cause of death has not been determined for the infant. The presence of an unhealed skull fracture associated with an apparent hematoma in the adult male is suggestive of trauma as the cause of death in the adult. Evidence of disease is minimal. Analysis of powder thought to be dried blood from the thoracic cavity of the adult suggests the presence of human IgG. The instability of this protein may indicate the presence of proteolytic activity by enzymes that degrade immunoglobulins upon rehydration. The possibility of enzymatic degradation of proteins will be an important factor in future studies of such immunoglobulins in mummy remains and also indicates the importance of maintaining the desiccated condition of mummy tissues.