James W. Carpenter

ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY OF SODIUM CYANIDE IN BIRDS

Sensitivities of six avian species, black vulture (Coragyps atratus), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), eastern screech-owl (Otus asio), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), to acute poisoning by sodium cyanide (NaCN) were compared by single dose LD50s. Three species, domestic chickens, black vultures, and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), were dosed with NaCN to determine cyanide residues in those that died and also in survivors, in addition to postmortem fate. Three flesh-eating species (black vulture, American kestrel, and eastern screech-owl; LD50s 4.0–8.6 mg/kg) were more sensitive to NaCN than three species (Japanese quail, domestic chicken, and European starling; LD50s 9.4–21 mg/kg) that fed predominantly on plant material. Elevated concentrations of cyanide were found in the blood of birds that died of cyanide poisoning; however, concentrations in birds that died overlapped those in survivors. Blood was superior to liver as the tissue of choice for detecting cyanide exposure. No gross pathological changes related to dosing were observed at necropsy.

NEUROLOGIC DISEASE IN WAPITI NATURALLY INFECTED WITH MENINGEAL WORMS

Four wapiti (Cervus canadensis) from Oklahoma which had shown clinical signs of neurologic disease were submitted for pathological examination. Both mature female and larval meningeal worms (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Pryadko and Boev, 1971) were either observed in or recovered from the meninges and parenchyma of the brains. Lesions found in the brain of each wapiti included focal meningitis, perivascular cuffing, and focal gliosis; frequently these were associated with the meningeal worms. There appeared to be a direct correlation between the presence of meningeal worms and lesions observed histologically which resulted in neurologic disturbances in the wapiti.

Survival and Movements of Greater Sandhill Cranes Experimentally Released in Florida

The potential reintroduction of a population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Florida depends on having an effective introduction technique. We tested 2 experimental release techniques to evaluate post-release survival, dispersal, and the innate predilection to migration in cranes as a preliminary step in the establishment of a non-migrating population of whooping cranes. Thirty-four eggs of migratory greater sandhill cranes (GSHC) (G. canadensis tabida) were exchanged for the clutches in 23 nests of Florida sandhill cranes (FSHC) (G, c. pratensis), a non-migratory subspecies; 5 young were fledged from these introductions. Concurrently, 27 captive-reared, subadult GSHC were soft-released in the same area of north- central Florida

Coccidia of whooping cranes.

Coccidial oocysts were observed in 6 of 19 fecal samples from free-ranging whooping cranes (Grus americana) and 4 of 16 samples from captive whooping cranes. Eimeria gruis occurred in four free-ranging whooping cranes and E. reichenowi in two free-ranging and two captive whooping cranes. Fecal samples from two captive cranes contained oocysts of lsospora lacazei which was considered a spurious parasite. Oocysts of both species of Eimeria were prevalent in fecal samples collected from three free-ranging Canadian sandhill cranes (G. canadensis rowani) from whooping crane wintering grounds in Texas. These coccidia were prevalent also in fecal samples from 14 sandhill cranes (of 4 subspecies) maintained in captivity at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland.

OCCURRENCE OF Demodex OWEN 1843 ON A WHITE-TAILED DEER FROM OKLAHOMA

The occurrence of Demodex in a new host, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), is described. The mite infestation produced a diffuse alopecia on the posterior half of the body.

MENINGEAL WORM (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) INFECTION IN WHITE-TAILED DEER IN OKLAHOMA

In a survey of 77 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Oklahoma, 51.9 percent were infected sub-durally with the meningeal worm (Parelaphostronnyliis tenuis Pryadko and Boev, 1971) (=Pneumostronaylus tenuis Dougherty, 1945). The occurrence of this parasite in Oklahoma establishes a new western range for the meningeal worm in this host.

Hemoprotozoa in mourning doves and other small birds of western Oklahoma.

Blood smears obtained from 370 birds live-trapped in western Oklahoma were examined for hemoprotozoa. Haemoproteus spp. were found in 189 (90.4%) mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), one oriole (Icterus galbula), two mockingbirds (Mirnus polyglottos), and three brown thrashers (Toxostoma rufum). Plasmodium sp. was present in one brown thrasher. Haemoproteus spp. in the mourning dove were identified as H. sacharovi and H. maccallumi, with the latter species predominating. The average parasitemia for doves infected only with H. sacharovi was 0.1% of the erythrocytes, for doves infected only with H. maccallumi it was 0.9%, and in doves with dual infections 1.8% of the erythrocytes were infected.