A. E. PALMER 
983 
too. During the 15-day period after arrival, each 
animal undergoes 2 additional examinations for 
microfilariae. Fecal samples from each animal 
are examined for ova and parasites. Anthel- 
minthics are administered as needed. Animals 
are observed daily for signs of illness, and treat- 
ments are prescribed daily by a veterinarian. 
Dogs are housed in groups of 2 to 4 per run 
unless their illness or temperament requires in- 
dividual housing. Dry dog food is offered free 
choice in tube-type feeders. Supplemental canned 
food is offered to sick animals to encourage 
food intake. Water is available from automatic, 
gravity operated vi^aterers. Runs are v^^ashed 
daily with a detergent containing quaternary 
ammonia compounds applied with proportionat- 
er dispensers. 
Random Source Cat Quarantine and Conditioning 
Cats are purchased in an unconditioned state 
and undergo a 45-day quarantine in NIH facili- 
ties. At entry, each cat is examined by a veter- 
inarian for signs of illness and immunized 
against feline panleukopenia and rabies. Sick 
and undesirable animals are rejected. Accepted 
cats are identified by a plastic neck band and by 
tatoo. 
During the first 30 days, they are held in 
stainless steel cages, 2 to 4 cats per cage. The 
cages are cleaned daily v^^ith a detergent con- 
taining a quaternary ammonia compound ap- 
plied with proportionater dispensers. During 
the second week, composite fecal samples are 
taken from each cage and examined for parasite 
ova. All cats in cages where parasite ova are 
found are treated with appropriate anthel- 
minthics. 
A hand-mixed diet containing moistened dry 
cat food mixed with several types of canned 
food is offered once daily. Diluted condensed 
milk is offered free choice as the only source of 
liquid during the first 30 days of quarantine. 
Cats are observed daily for signs of illness and 
are treated as prescribed by a veterinarian. 
After 30 days, the cats are moved into a ken- 
nel area and held in groups of 10 or less per 
kennel. Resting boards, litter pans and auto- 
matic waterers are available in the kennels. 
Feeding procedures are continued as previously 
described. 
Dog Morbidity and Mortality 
The purchase of 30-day conditioned dogs has 
shifted the period of high mortality and mor- 
bidity to the vendor's facilities, resulting in a 
marked reduction in the illness and death of 
dogs within the NIH colony. Of 2,242 dogs re- 
ceived since January 1, 1970, 252 (11.2%) be- 
came ill and 17 (0.76%) died. Two died from 
fight wounds, one from enteritis, and one from 
general debilitation; the remaining 13 died 
from respiratory diseases. 
The foregoing data are not representative of 
the problems encountered when conditioning 
random source dogs. To demonstrate this, 
monthly morbidity and mortality from all 
causes observed among 2,160 dogs conditioned 
during 1969 are shown in Figure 2. The annual 
morbidity averaged 54.4 percent and mortality 
12.8 percent. Both rates increased slightly dur- 
ing midsummer and midwinter months, but 
there are no marked cyclic changes over the 12- 
month period. Figure 3 shows the same data by 
week of quarantine. The morbidity peaks at 
23.6 percent during the second week ; mortality 
lags slightly and peaks at 2.7 percent during the 
third week. The slight increase in mortality 
after 6 weeks probably reflects a hold over of 
chronically ill animals after the usual quaran- 
tine and conditioning period. 
Respiratory disease causes an estimated 95 
percent of all illness and death seen among ran- 
dom source dogs. Clinically, the syndrome be- 
PERCENT MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY, RANDOM SOURCE DOGS, 
BY MONTH, 1969 
65 
60 
55 
50 
45 
40 
35 
30 
25 
20 
15 
10 
5 
0 
N 
I I Morbidity E 
57.0 
) Mortality 
544 
523 
537 
TOTAL JAN FEB MAR APR IVIAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 
: 2160 243 2 56 2 51 275 256 168 172 159 95 124 51 90 
Figure 2. 
