Above normal levels of fluorides were found in the bones of deer in the vicinity of an industrial complex. The sources of fluorides for the deer were water in a pond within the industrial compound and vegetation containing moderately increased levels of fluoride. Mandibular bone fluoride contents of 4300 to 7125 ppm. were associated with pitting and black discoloration of teeth, abnormal tooth wear and fractures of teeth and jaw bones.

Encephalomyocarditis in wild mammals is rarely reported. This paper documents the isolation of the encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus in two cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and a racoon (Procyon lotor) from central Florida.

Serologic epidemiology was applied to investigations of wild rodent plague in areas of California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Results indicated that the passive hemagglutination test can be of value in detecting antibodies to the water-soluble Fraction Ib antigen of Pasteurella pestis in wild rodent or other mammalian sera. Positive tests were obtained with sera of mammals from all areas with a concurrent or recent history of wild rodent plague. Thus, the current status of P. pestis infection in mammals was determined, as well as a retrospective determination of past infection. Some evidence was found suggesting that certain plague-resistant rodents that have a wide geographic distribution (i.e., Peromyscus maniculatus) may serve as “indicator animals” in plague investigations.

The free and protein amino acids of Toxascaris leonina occurring in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) were tentatively identified by the method of descending two-dimensional paper chromatography. Lysine, histidine, arginine, glycine, serine, threonine, glutamic acid, alanine, proline, tyrosine, methionine, valine, phenylalanine, and leucine-isoleucine were found in the free amino acid fraction. The protein amino acid fraction revealed cystine, lysine, aspartic acid, histidine, arginine, glycine, serine, threonine, glutamic acid, alanine, proline, tyrosine, methionine, valine, phenylalanine and leucine-isoleucine. The presence of tryptophane was not determined as alkaline hydrolysates were not prepared.