Error on outbound thread: read returned error 0 (Success)

We have a number of connections that are going into the “error” state when the error:   read returned error 0 (Success)    shows up in the process and error logs.

Has anyone seen this before and how did you correct it?

By chance I was running a loop looking at the netstat connections when the errors occur.  The IP and Port that were established, went away (nothing more in the netstat for that IP and port).  

Why does the engine go into an error when the network connection is not there any more?

Thanks in advance

Rob Lindsey