Clinical illness in a wild turkey with Laminosioptes cysticola infestation of the viscera and peripheral nerves.

Laminosioptes cysticola, the fowl cyst mite, was found in peripheral nerves and thoracic and abdominal viscera of an emaciated eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) exhibiting severe torticollis, circling, loss of balance, and wing droop. Mites, sometimes accompanied by granulomatous inflammation, were abundant in brachial plexus and sciatic nerves. Mild lymphoplasmacytic perivascular cuffing was present in the cerebellum, but no direct evidence of mites or other infectious agents was found in the central nervous system. This is the first report of L. cysticola infestation in a wild turkey and of the invasion of nervous tissue by this mite.

Prevalence and distribution of Sarcocystis spp. among white-tailed deer of the southeastern United States.

Sarcocysts were found by light microscopic examination of muscle in 199 (51%) of 390 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from the southeastern United States. Sarcocystis infections were detected more frequently in histologic sections of tongue (45%) than of heart (9%). Sarcocysts were significantly more prevalent in adult deer (54%) than fawns (26%) (P less than .01). Statistically significant differences in prevalence were not found in deer from different physiographic provinces or between sexes. Artificial digestion was more sensitive in detecting Sarcocystis infections than examination of histologic sections when both techniques were used to examine tongues of 35 deer. Three different size sporocysts, possibly representing at least two species of Sarcocystis, were recovered during feeding trials. Seven dogs (Canis familiaris) shed sporocysts 9 to 12 days after eating infected venison. Sporocysts measured 13.4-16.8 x 9.0-12.3 micrometers with an average measurement of 15.2 x 10.9 micrometers (N = 195). One of three cats (Felis catus) and one of two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) first shed sporocysts of Sarcocystis 10 days after eating infected venison. Sporocysts from the cat measured 11.2-13.4 x 6.72-8.96 micrometers (avg 12.0 x 8.7 micrometers, N = 18), and those from the fox measured 11.2-15.7 x 9.0-11.2 micrometers (avg 13.6 x 10.2 micrometers, N = 7).

Transmission of Sarcocystis leporum from a cottontail rabbit to domestic cats.

Muscle tissue containing grossly visible cysts of Sarcocystis leporum from a cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) was fed to laboratory cats. Sporocysts averaging 13.2 x 9.7 micron were detected in the feces 14 days post-infection and were found until 69 days post-infection.

Sarcocystis spp. in white-tailed deer. I. Definitive and intermediate host spectrum with a description of Sarcocystis odocoileocanis n. sp.

Sporocysts containing four sporozoites and measuring (avg.) 15.2 micrometers X 10.7 micrometers (N = 195) were shed in the feces of dogs (Canis familiaris) 8 to 16 days (avg. 11.6 days) after the first feeding of venison infected with Sarcocystis sp. Sporocysts containing four sporozoites and measuring (avg.) 11.5 micrometers X 8.1 micrometers (N = 35) were shed by a cat (Felis catus) 14 days after ingesting Sarcocystis-infected venison. Statistical (pooled t-test) comparison of the mean measurements of the sporocysts passed by the dog and cat demonstrated a significant difference (P less than .01). The raccoon (Procyon lotor) and opossum (Didelphis virginiana) could not be infected with Sarcocystis from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The name, Sarcocystis odocoileocanis, is proposed for the species transmitted from white-tailed deer to dogs. Sarcocystis odocoileocanis is differentiated from S. hemionilatrantis Hudkins and Kistner, 1977 of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), S. ovicanis Heydorn, Gestrich, Mehlhorn and Rommel, 1975 of sheep (Ovis aries) and S. cruzi Hasselmann, 1926 (=S. bovicanis Heydorn, Gestrich, Mehlhorn and Rommel, 1975) of cattle (Bos taurus) because S. odocoileocanis has (1) low infectivity for calves and sheep and (2) apparent insignificant pathogenicity for its intermediate host.

Studies on endoparasites of the black bear (Ursus americanus) in the southeastern United States.

Examination of 53 black bears (Ursus americanus) from six states in the southeastern United States revealed at least 17 species of endoparasites, including Sarcocystis sp., Spirometra mansonoides (spargana), Macracanthorhynchus ingens, Ancylostoma caninum, Arthrocephalus lotoris, Baylisascaris transfuga, Capillaria aerophila, Capillaria putorii, Crenosoma sp., Cyathospirura sp., Dirofilaria immitis, Gnathostoma sp., Gongylonema pulchrum, microfilariae, Molineus barbatus, Physaloptera sp. and Strongyloides sp. Twelve of these represent new host records for black bear, and two are considered to be new species. Data are presented on prevalence, intensity and geographic distribution of each species. Pathologic effects were associated with infections of spargana of S. mansonoides and adults of C. aerophilia.

Parasites, diseases, and health status of sympatric populations of fallow deer and white-tailed deer in Kentucky.

In August 1983, a study on parasites, diseases, and health status was conducted on sympatric populations of fallow deer (Dama dama) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Land Between The Lakes, Lyon and Trigg counties, Kentucky. Five adult deer of each species were studied. White-tailed deer had antibodies to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus and Leptospira interogans serovariety icterohemorrhagiae, and fallow deer had antibodies to bluetongue and EHD viruses. Serologic tests for bovine virus diarrhea virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, parainfluenza3 virus, and Brucella spp. were negative. One white-tailed deer had an infectious cutaneous fibroma, and one fallow deer had pulmonary mucormycosis. White-tailed deer harbored 16 species of parasites, all of which are considered typical of the parasite fauna of this host in the southeastern United States. Fallow deer harbored nine species of parasites, including eight species known to occur in white-tailed deer on the area and one species (Spiculopteragia assymmetrica) that is not. All fallow deer had inflammatory lesions in the spinal cord and/or brain that were attributed to prior infection with meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis), indicating that P. tenuis infections are not always fatal for this species. The apparent high rate of exposure of Land Between The Lakes fallow deer to P. tenuis without a resultant high rate of clinical cerebrospinal parelaphostrongylosis is hypothesized to be due to a low prevalence and intensity of P. tenuis, partial innate resistance of fallow deer, and acquired immunity.

Survey for potential soft tick (Acari: Argasidae) vectors of African swine fever on the island of Hispaniola.

A survey of the occurrence of Ornithodoros ticks in animal burrows was conducted in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Vacuum sampling techniques were used. Four of 8 sample sites in Haiti and 10 of 70 sample sites in the Dominican Republic were positive for O. puertoricensis Fox. Positive sample sites in Haiti were usually near swine. Sites in the Dominican Republic were in drier regions of the country and were not directly associated with previous swine locations. The determination that O. puertoricensis, a potential vector and reservoir of African swine fever (ASF), is present in this region may pose a serious problem for eradication of ASF from the island of Hispaniola.