RESPONSES OF THE ALLIGATOR 701 



infection, at least temporarily. Oxy tetracycline hydrochloride, added 

 to the tank water at a final concentration of 2 mg/ml, had no 

 detectable beneficial effect in these experiments. 



The results indicate that A. mississippiensis is sensitive to bacteria 

 when heat stressed. The progressive lesions and death that result if 

 the animals are unable to produce adequate defenses may be 

 functions of thermal stress, particularly at temperatures equal to or 

 greater than 35°C. 



ACKIMOWLEDGMEIMTS 



The research reported here was supported by contract EY-76-S- 

 09-0965 between the Energy Research and Development Administra- 

 tion and Wake Forest University. Robert Gorden, Professor of 

 Microbiology, University of Southern Colorado, served as project 

 coordinator and principal investigator. We are very grateful to Carl 

 Fliermans and the Savannah River Laboratory for providing space, 

 equipment, and assistance. Gerald Esch, Professor and Chairman, and 

 Terry Hazen, Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, made 

 major contributions to overall experimental design. Tom Holbrook, 

 Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical 

 University of South Carolina, aided in identifying Haemogregarina 

 sp. and Placobdella multilineata. Our special thanks go to Emily 

 Barrineau, our dedicated and competent typist. 



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