During 1965 many wild birds were examined for the lesions of “scaly leg” disease, caused by mites of the genus Cnemidocoptes. Mite infestation was found in redwinged blackbirds (Agelaius phocnicus), common grackles (Quiscalus versicolor), cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and in two new hosts for the mite, a black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus) and a crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus). The mite was identified as closely related to Cnemidocoptes jamaicensis (Turk 1950). Mites were transmitted from diseased to healthy red-winged blackbirds by cage contact but nine other wild bird species appeared not to be susceptible during an observation period of six months, even when mites were applied to scarified skin. Attempted transmission to chickens was not successful during an observation period of six months. Male and female mites were observed in copulation. The progress of the disease, pathological findings and the histopathology of “scaly leg” disease in wild birds is described.

White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, from central Pennsylvania were examined for helminth parasites by regular autopsy procedures supplemented by a direct centrifugal flotation technique. The two methods were compared and evaluated for suitability in diagnosis and survey work. The reliability and repeatability of the flotation method were studied.

Prevalence of most nematodes encountered was increased as a direct result of supplementing autopsy routines with microscopic examination of fecal pellets by the DCF technique. The DCF technique was especially advantageous when dealing with small cryptic forms such as Ostertagia sp. and Capillaria sp.

Infectious papillomatosis is an enzootic virus disease of wild cottontail (Sylvilagus) rabbits. What is believed to be the first naturally occuring infection of domestic rabbits is reported, and enzootic infection of the California cottontail rabbit with this virus is suggested.

Rabbit papillomatosis is an enzootic disease of cottontail rabbits (Shope, 1933). Geographically, the disease is found in the wild rabbits of Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. The domestic rabbit and the jack rabbit (Lepus californieus) are also susceptible to this disease (Beard and Rous, 1935). While the virus can be obtained easily from the growths on cottontail rabbits, it is usually not recoverable from papillomas on domestic rabbits. Domestic rabbits are easily infected with the wild cottontail rabbit virus (WRV), but successive passages are usually not successful (Selbie and Robinson, 1947; Shope, 1935). The purpose of this report is to describe cases of naturally-occurring papillomatosis in domestic rabbits raised in Southern California.

Acid-fast intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in the cells of the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidneys of mallards fed one, two, three or eight number 6 lead shot and maintained on cracked or whole corn and on grain-duck pellet diets. No acid-fast inclusion bodies were found in mallards fed one or three lead shot but maintained on a duck pellet ration. Dietary factors may be responsible for the failure of mallards fed a duck pellet ration to develop lead inclusion bodies when treated with one or three lead shot. The authors suggest these inclusion bodies can be used as presumptive evidence for lead intoxication in mallards.