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. } ‘UNIVERSITY OF CALIFO7NIA j 5? Jf . LOS ALAMOS SCIENTIFIC LABL*~afORY HY Mey . . ar d (CONTRACT W-7405-ENG-36) ~ i P.O. BOX 1653 . LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO 87545 EN REPLY REFER TO: - H-DO MAIL STOP: 881 9 = ° May 9, 1978 Officer Gabe Valdez Kew Mexico State Police Post Office Box 212 Dulce, New Mexico 87528 Dear Cabe: ; . . , : Examination is now-complete on the tissue samples from the recent incident at Dulce. Microscopic and bacteriologic studies were performed on three specimens consisting of heart muscle, skeletal muscle, and a bone fraginerit. FINDINGS ee (1) Heart Muscle: No microscopic changes of pathological significance were found. (2) Rone Fragment: Wo microscopic changes of sipuificance were found. (3) Skeletal Muscle: Rod-shaped bacteria infiltrating connective tissue between muscle fibers were seen. Muscle fibers also contained occasional Sarcosporidia cysts. (4)_ Bacteriology: A specimen obtained from a heart chamber was cultured and shewn to contain a rod-shaped organism identified as Clostridium species. Definitive classi- fication was not made. INTERPRETATION No definite conclusion can be drawn from the observation of bacterial infiltration of muscle since the infiltration could be post-mortem. The demonstration of Clostridium we in the heart chambers similarly cannot be definitively ascribed as pathological because of the potential for contamination. While the findings are not inconsistent 1 with a diagnosis of infection, the possibility of contamination prevents the conclusion that infection was the cause of death. The observation of Sarcosporidia cysts is not remarkable and could be seen in most beef animals from this region on careful examinatio: I doubt that you will find these observations helpful in your investigation because the * bacteriological examination is inconclusive. However, we will support you in any way we can, and you are welcome to visit our laboratory to discuss your findings at your convenience. The offer for instrumentation support also remains open. If we can be of further assistance, please call. Warm personal regards. Sipcerel ours, (KU Vetnax, i{~"™ SOMA Donald F. Petersen DFP:ES . oe ” Alcernate Health Division Leader & * at PD An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer