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Kidneys were cultured for leptospires and blood was collected for leptospiral serologic examination from 306 cattle slaughtered in Florida during June, July, and August 1980. Leptospires were found in 82(36%) of 226 otherwise bacterial-free cultures. Forty-five isolates were identified as Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo, 3 as serovar balcanica, and 3 as serovar pomona. Leptospiral antibodies were found in 218 (71%) of the cattle. Serum titers to hardjo were found in 162 cattle (53%) and to pomona in 28 (9%). Low titers to tarassovi were found in 14 cattle (4.5%).

The genomes of North American strains of leptospires belonging to serogroups Mini and Sejroe were analyzed and compared with those of reference strains by cleavage with restriction endonucleases. The isolates selected for this study, when typed by the serologic method, were identified as serovars szwajizak, hardjo, and balcanica. However, the results of restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) indicated that a different classification existed. The 2 isolates typed as serovar szwajizak seem to be georgia by REA. Isolates belonging to serovars balcanica and hardjo had REA patterns that differed from both reference strains. Differences were not observed in the REA patterns between balcanica and hardjo isolates. All hardjo and balcanica isolates examined are suggested to be classified into a previously described hardjo, REA subtype hardjobovis. Using the enzyme Hha1, these isolates were subdivided into 3 subgroups. When examining the REA pattern of the 17 reference strains in serogroup Sejroe, 3 identical pairs were observed: wolffi and roumanica; sejroe and polonica; and istrica and nyanza. The REA again indicated that it will be a valuable method for the classification of leptospires.

Moraxella bovis hemolysin was produced in trypticase soy broth and maximum hemolytic activity of the culture was observed during the logarithmic phase of growth. The hemolysin was filterable through a 0.22-micrometer (APD) membrane filter, heat labile, and destroyed by treatment with formalin or trypsin. There was no difference in the amount of hemolysin production by rough or smooth colony types of an isolate, although differences were observed between 2 different isolates. Partial requirement of a sulfhydryl group and divalent cations were suggestive of an enzymatic nature of M bovis hemolysin.

Microbiologic examination of 29 juvenile green sea turtles with a buoyancy abnormality revealed pulmonary infection with Sporotrichium sp, Cladosporium sp, and Paecilomyces sp. Histologic examination of the lungs revealed granulomatous lesions containing branching septate hyphae. The diagnosis was mycotic pneumonia.

Bacteriologic, virologic, and serologic examinations were conducted on 180 urban gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) during a 1-year period in a metropolitan area. Evidence was not found of infections with leptospires, enteric or other bacteria, rickettsial agents, Francisella tularensis, or arthropod-borne viruses. The squirrels were remarkably free of evidence of bacterial or viral infections of importance to man and lower animals.

During a 5-year period (1970-1975), 190 common loons (Gavia immer) from overwintering populations on the east and west coasts of Florida were examined for evidence of infectious diseases. Salmonella spp (representing 8 serotypes) were isolated from 27 (14%) of the loons, and lesions typical of those produced by Aspergillus fumigatus were found in 34 (18%) of the loons. Seven loons were infected with Salmonella spp and had lesions typical of aspergillus infection. The largest number of loons (124) was obtained during the winter of 1973-1974, in connection with an offshore oil spill. There was no significant difference between the isolation rates of Salmonella spp from oiled vs nonoiled loons, but the occurrence of aspergillosis was higher in nonoiled than in oiled loons.

The extracellular antigens of 2 isolates of Moraxella bovis were isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation of cell-free culture filtrate, purified by filtration and differentiated by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic techniques. The extracellular filtrate from rough types had 2 specific extracellular antigens in addition to those in the culture filtrate of smooth-type cells of the same isolate. The extracellular antigens produced by smooth-type cells were identical in all isolates of Moraxella bovis. The serotype-specific extracellular antigens of 2 isolates were serologically identical but were different from those of a 3rd isolate. The possibility of serotyping M bovis isolates, on the basis of their extracellular rough-type antigens, was suggested. Although both serotype-specific antigens were destroyed by trypsin treatment, 1 antigen was also heat-labile and partially destroyed by formalin treatment.

Edwardsiella tarda was isolated from a sea lion and 2 alligators on 3 separate occasions. The 3 isolates were not serologically identical. Specific pathologic effects of E. tarda could not be determined.