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.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFO NA Los alamos scientific LaBe' TORY (CONTRACT W-740S-ENG-36) P.O.BOX16S3 LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO 87545 INREPLY REFER TO:H-DO MAIL.STOP 881 May 9, 1978 Officer Gabe Valdez New Mexico State Police Post Office Box 212 Dulcc, New Mexico 87528. Dear Cabe: Exanination is now-complete on the tissue samples from the recent incident at Dlce. Microscopic and bacteriologic studics were perforned on thrce specimens consisting of heart muscle, skeletal muscle, and a bone fraginent. FINDINGS (l). liaart Muscle: No nicroscopic changes of pathological significance were found. (2) Rone Fragment: No microscopic changes of siguificance were found. (3) Skeltal Muscle: Rod-shaped bacteria infiltrating connective tissue hetween muscle'fibers were seen. Huscle fibers also contained occasional Sarcosporidia cysts. (4)._Bacteriology: A specinen obtained fren a heart chaaber was cultured and shown to contain a rod-shaped organism identified as Clo:tridium spccies. Definitive classi- fication was not made.. INTERPRETATION No defini.te conclusion can be drawn from the observation of bacterial infiltration of muscle since the infiltration could be post-mortcm. The demonstration of Clostridiun in thc hcart chanbers similarly cannot be definitively ascribcd as pathological because of the potential for contamination. Wnile the findings are not inconsistent 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'aninals from this region on careful exaninatiol I doubt that you will find these observations helpful in your investigation because the 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. Sipcerelr yours, Donald F. Petersen DFP:ES Alternate Health Division Leader An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer