Eleven heifers were inoculated intravenously with a suspension of 1 x lo8 conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus at 169 or 170 days after artificial insemination. These principals were killed at 4, 7, or 14 days after inoculation or thereafter when abortion occurred. Four other heifers served as controls. Mycotic placentitis was not found at 4 days after inoculation. In principals killed at 7 and 14 days, 24% of placentomes had lesions of mycotic placentitis. Heifers that aborted had necrotizing lesions in approximately 90% of placentomes as well as extensive involvement of the interplacentomal area. A theory for the spread of the mycosis in the placenta is presented.

Conidiospores of Aspergillus fumigatus were inoculated during the second trimester of pregnancy into a mesenteric vein of 14 heifers and into a jugular vein of three additional heifers. Heifers were killed at intervals after inoculation. Lesions were confined largely to the placentas, livers, and lungs. Placental infection was present in seven of 14 heifers inoculated via a mesenteric vein and in the three heifers inoculated via a jugularvein. Fetal mycotic infection or lesions were not established. Two heifers inoculated via a mesenteric vein aborted. Mycotic granulomas developed in the livers and lungs.

Recent economic and aesthetic interest in North American bison (Bison bison) has lead to increased interstate transport of these animals. Serologic and hematologic standards for bison are needed to detect disease in transported animals as well as within herds. This paper describes variation in blood physiological parameters in bison caused by variations in diet and season. Blood was taken from six bison and analyzed for serologic and hematologic parameters. Significant variation was found in blood urea nitrogen, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine, eosinophil, glucose, hemoglobin, lactic dehydrogenase, leukocyte, packed cell volume, potassium, serum globulin, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, SGPT, and sodium levels between animals receiving a high energy-high nitrogen diet and animals receiving a low energy-low nitrogen diet.