Debra L. Miller

West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLE), eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE), and avian influenza virus (AI) are zoonotic pathogens that affect many species including wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Several studies have documented serum antibodies to these pathogens in wild turkey; however, few studies have tested for the presence of viral antigen in tissues. Therefore, we initiated a study to test samples of multiple organs (heart, liver, kidney, spleen, brain, testes, and lung) from opportunistically-collected wild turkey for the presence of these viruses....

Historically, corpora luteal counts have been used to index reproductive output; however, there has been skepticism as to their usefulness in bobcats because bobcats may retain their corpora lutea from one season to the next. We conducted this study to determine if bobcats retain corpora lutea and if they are functional. Luteal bodies were monitored throughout multiple breeding seasons. The functionality of luteal bodies of previous cycles (LBPCs) in bobcats was explored using radioimmunoassay, and compared to that of corpora lutea (CL). LBCPs continued to produce progesterone, although CL...