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Blood was collected from 49 adult woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) captured in northern Alberta, Canada, from October to February, 1991 to 1992 and 1992 to 1993. Smears of the buffy coat layer and of whole blood were examined microscopically for Trypanosoma sp., and blood was cultured for latent parasites. Trypanosomes were present in 41 (84%) of 49 cultures 9 days or older, but none was detected in fresh blood. Trypanosomes were pleomorphic, consisting of small oval amastigotes, 2 to 8 microns, intermediate-size epimastigotes, 20 to 30 microns in total length (including the flagellum), and large trypomastigotes, 60 to 90 microns length, with pointed ends, a well developed kinetoplast, a long free flagellum, and a prominent undulating membrane. Dividing epimastigotes appeared in pairs or rosettes of five or more organisms. Based on culture characteristics and morphologic features, the organism was identified as Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) sp.

Eighteen free-ranging female woodland caribou were captured in northern Alberta in January and February 1993. Blood was collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) tubes which were packaged in coolers containing ice packs, and transported to the laboratory where they arrived within 48 hrs of collection. Complete blood counts (CBC) were performed on five consecutive days to assess the stability of hematological parameters. Average values of hematocrit (HCT), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (P-J3W), white blood cell count (WBC), and red blood cell count (RJ3C) remained stable with no statistically significant changes occurring during 5 days of post-collection storage at 4°C. Mean PvBC values exhibited significant differences (p

Cattle are poisoned by petroleum and substances used in drilling and operating oil and gas wells. The most common reported route of exposure for non-gaseous material is oral. Exposures occur when the petroleum or chemicals used in oil and gas field activities are available to cattle and when water and feed-stuffs are contaminated. Cattle, as a leisure activity, explore and ingest crude oil. Based on morbidity patterns in cattle herds, the amount of toxic substance ingested is variable. When water and feedstuffs are contaminated, a larger number in a herd generally are affected. Cattle have been poisoned by a wide variety of chemical mixtures. For substances high in volatile hydrocarbons, the lung is a target organ. Hydrocarbons also target the kidney, liver and brain. Exposure-linked abortions have been reported in cattle. Diethylene glycol targets the brain, liver and kidney. The reported threshold dose of unweathered oil for cattle ranges from 2.5 to 5.0 ml/kg bw, and the reported threshold dose for weathered oil is 8.0 ml/kg.

Summary The potential pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana was examined by intramuscular injection of high (2 times 108) or low (2 times 105) concentrations of conidia spores, into the left or right quadriceps muscles of CD-1 mice, respectively. The injection sites were monitored over a period of 28 days by both microbiological and histopathological methods. Focal muscle necrosis, edema and inflammation occurred rapidly (within 12 hours) at the high dose application (2 times 108) site, but such lesions were far less severe with the low dose spore application (2 times 105). Fungal spores in the high dose site persisted in normal shape for 2 weeks, after which time they began to degenerate. Almost all spores were cleared from the injection site within the 28-day observation period. Spread to other organs of the body was not observed, except by macrophage transport to regional lymph nodes. At the low dose rate, most spores were cleared within 12 h to 2 d, leaving only mild focal edema and inflammation. Viable fungal colonies could be recovered up to 3 d after injection from the high dose site, but only up to 12 h from the low dose site. It was concluded that B. bassiana does not cause infection, nor multiply, nor survive for more than 3 days when injected intramuscularly into healthy mice.