Further note to this.. I traced starting up the replication monitor in both prod and test. Even though I log on to SSMS with windows authentication in prod and test .. the trace of prod shows LoginName of 'sa' whereas the trace of test shows LoginName as my windows authenticated id. I just dont see how this is happening. Somehow in production even though I use windows auth. in SSMS, the monitor is being launched with 'sa'.

I have opened a case with MS and am waiting to hear back