A serosurvey was conducted to determine rickettsial infection rates in dogs from two distinct areas in Indiana. Sera were collected from dogs and tested for the presence of antibodies to R. rickettsii, R. montana, R. rhipicephali, and R. bellii using the micro-immunofluoresence test. Results from this study indicate an association between canine and human rickettsial infections. Dogs in southwestern Indiana were found to have significantly higher rickettsial infection rather than those in east central Indiana. Human RMSF cases have also been reported more frequently from southern Indiana.All rickettsial species were detected at some level, with many dogs reacting to more than one antigen Evidence suggests that R. montana is the predominant rickettsial species in Indiana. In addition, indicative of a more suitable tick habitat, dogs sampled from rural areas were seropositive more frequently than the urban/suburban dogs. This study suggests that dogs are exposed to the same tick population as humans and can serve as indicators of the presence of rickettsial agents. Indiana residents should be aware of the potential for RMSF transmission throughout the state. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

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Oocysts of Isospora canis, an important protozoan parasite of dogs, must sporulate in the external environment in order to become infective. To determine the tolerance of these oocysts to different temperatures, oocysts ware collected from freshly passed feces, cleaned, and subsequently stored in unsporulated, partially sporulated, and completely sporulated conditions at temperatures ranging from +50 C to -50 C. Observations on survival for each group were determined periodically thereafter at intervals up to 64 days. The rate of sporulation was followed at 6 hr intervals for temperatures of 20, 25, 30, and 38 C. Completely sporulated oocysts ware more resistant to temperature extremes than unsporulated or partially sporulated oocysts; the optimum storage temperature for all stages was 4 C. This suggests that the development and survival of this parasite would be higher during mild spring and fall months than during cold winter and hot summer periods. The sporulation time for I. canis was 102 hr at 20 C, 96 hr at 25 C, 60 hr at 30 C, and 54 hr at 38 C; however, at the upper limit tested, more abnormal development occurred.

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Call number: LD2668 .T4 1955 C68 / Master of Science

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