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During a 16-month period, 10 goats with listeriosis were identified in 2 herds that shared 3 bucks, including 1 that died of listeriosis. Using DNA fingerprinting, we determined that a single genetically unique Listeria monocytogenes strain had infected all goats from which isolates were available. All isolates were unable to metabolize rhamnose (rhamnose-negative), whereas as a species, L monocytogenes is considered to have a rhamnose-positive phenotype. Therefore, these isolates would have been characterized as a species other than L monocytogenes if any of a variety of commercial bacterial identification kits had been used for speciation. Silage was not fed to either herd, and L monocytogenes was not isolated from vaginal or rectal swab specimens obtained from healthy goats or from samples of feed. Because the 3 bucks were the only common elements between the 2 herds, our results suggest a venereal route of transmission for listeriosis.

In 1 of 2 outbreaks of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEEV) infection in swine, 280 of 350 pigs died. Histopathologic findings in the brain were typical of EEEV infection. In addition, multifocal necrosis and inflammation were seen in the myocardium. Follow-up investigation in 1 of the herds revealed antibody response to EEEV in surviving pigs and in adult swine. Growth retardation was noticed in surviving pigs. Histologic examination revealed mild lesions in the brain of the survivors.

An epizootic of equine infectious anemia (EIA) involved 35 horses on a farm in south Georgia. During a 126-day period, 21 of these horses became seropositive for EIA. After the initial diagnosis in July, the horses were tested every 7 to 10 days. At least one additional horse was found to be seropositive on each testing day. As soon as they were determined to be seropositive, the horses were removed from the herd and sent to slaughter. The removal of the seropositive horses, however, did not stop the epizootic. We believe the initial infection was from a 7-year-old stallion that recently had been purchased or from 1 of 2 mares that were seropositive for EIA on the first test. None of the horses had been tested for EIA at the time of purchase or within 60 days before the epizootic.

A group of 14 pregnant mares was exposed via contact to 4 mares bred to stallions infected with equine viral arteritis virus. There was a demonstrable febrile response in each donor mare and in 12 of the pregnant mares. All 18 mares became seropositive after exposure. Equine viral arteritis virus was isolated from the nasopharynx of 5 pregnant mares, but not from the donor mares. Ten of the pregnant mares aborted, and virus was isolated from fetal specimens or placenta of 8.

Mitral regurgiation with atrial fibrillation in a 3-year-old St. Bernard dog was corrected by digitalization, placement of a mitral valve prosthesis, and direct current cardioversion. The atrial fibrillation eventually returned and became refractory to cardioversion.

The N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid (BT-PABA):xylose test was evaluated in 5 clinically normal dogs, 5 dogs with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), and 7 dogs with intestinal malabsorption. A solution of BT-PABA (1 g/100 ml) and d-xylose (10 g/100 ml) was given orally (5 ml/kg of body weight) to dogs in each group. Plasma p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) curves were decreased in dogs with PEI and intestinal malabsorption (P0.05) but were the lowest in dogs with PEI, compared with clinically normal dogs. Xylose values in dogs with malabsorption were decreased (P0.05), compared with clinically normal dogs. Dogs with PEI had plasma xylose values that were intermediate to values in clinically normal dogs and dogs with intestinal malabsorption. Results of BT-PABA:xylose testing were compared with results of sodium PABA:xylose testing, to determine whether decreased PABA values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test were caused by free PABA malabsorption or by maldigestion of BT-PABA. The sodium PABA:xylose test was performed in dogs from each group by oral administration of a solution (5 ml/kg) of sodium PABA (0.372 g/100 ml) and d-xylose (10.0 g/100 ml). Plasma PABA values obtained by the sodium PABA:xylose test were similar in each group. Thus, different PABA values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test were not caused by PABA malabsorption. Xylose values were similar to values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test. It was concluded that: (1) the BT-PABA:xylose test is a practical test for detecting maldigestion or malabsorption in the dog; (2) dogs with intestinal malabsorption may have functional PEI; and (3) decreased PABA plasma values obtained by BT-PABA:xylose testing are not caused by malabsorption of free PABA.

Leptospira interrogans serovars grippotyphosa and ballum were isolated from kidney and urine of an American Foxhound pup. The pup was from a litter of 12, all of which were unthrifty. Titers for serovar grippotyphosa in pups from the litter ranged from 200 to 6,400 and 23 of 36 adult dogs in the kennel had titers to that serovar. None of the sera was tested for antibodies to serovar ballum. Leptospires were not isolated from or observed in 2 littermates and 1 penmate, but gram-positive organisms morphologically compatible with Encephalitozoon cuniculi were detected in their brains and kidneys.