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Biomedical subjects

A Aeschlimann

Publications and source records attributed to A Aeschlimann.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Enlarged spectrum of tick transmitted spirochaetoses].

After the successful identification of Borrelia burgdorferi as the cause of Lyme disease, a new tick-borne infection occurring in the United States, almost identical spirochaetes have been isolated from the tick Ixodes ricinus in Europe. As a result, the spirochaetal aetiology of skin diseases, which had long been recognized as tick-borne infections, namely erythema chronicum migrans with its neurological complications of the tick-borne meningopolyneuritis of Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans and lymphadenosis cutis benigna, could be confirmed by means of microbiological, histological and serological methods. On the basis of case histories it had already been assumed for some time that anetodermia maculosa and the localised sclerodermas might also be caused by a tick-borne agent. The results of serological investigations have now strengthened this assumption, although microbiological confirmation is still lacking.

Acrodermatitis↗

[Hyperhaptoglobinemia in plasmacytoma and amyloidosis].

Massive hyperhaptoglobinaemia (more than 8 g/l) was seen in a 58-year-old female patient with plasmocytoma and amyloidosis. In the literature, hyperhaptoglobinaemias of up to the three- or fourfold of the upper normal limit have been reported. However, they are very rare. In the present case it might be speculated that extrahepatic formation of haptoglobin occurred within paraproteinaemia of plasmocytoma.

Alpha-Globulins↗

[Course and complications of rhabdomyolysis following heroin poisoning].

A report is presented on two patients with massive rhabdomyolysis following heroin intoxication. Due to massive muscle edema of the lower legs, both patients needed early fasciotomy to prevent compression syndrome. The two cases followed a different course as regards complications and especially renal insufficiency and disorders of serum calcium and phosphorus regulation. Pathophysiology, prevention and therapy of complications are discussed. As a result of intensive physiotherapy, the long term functional outcome was satisfactory in both cases.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Tick-borne meningoradiculitis--a form of spirochetosis].

Three pediatric cases of tick-borne meningoradiculitis are presented. This disease is characterized by a distinct sequence of symptoms: erythema chronicum migrans, localized pain, and eventually radicular asymmetric neurologic involvement (in particular facial palsy) associated with findings of aseptic meningitis. On the basis of specific serologic data in these three patients, it is suggested that the etiology of tick-borne meningoradiculitis is also spirochetal , as recently shown for the tick-associated Lyme disease. Analogue positive spirochetal antibody titers were found in additional patients with erythema chronicum migrans and in a child with B afverstedt cutaneous lymphadenosis (see addendum). 20% of tick specimens collected in the area of Lucerne (Ixodes ricinus) were infected by these spirochetes.

Adolescent↗

Rickettsia conorii isolated from Rhipicephalus sanguineus introduced into Switzerland on a pet dog.

A tick/rickettsial survey in a household near Geneva, Switzerland, revealed that 30 (40%) of 75 nymphs and adults of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, were infected with a rickettsial agent biologically and antigenically indistinguishable from R. conorii, the causative agent of boutonneuse fever. Introduced in 1979 from either southern France or Italy by the family's pet dog, the tick infestation had steadily increased until 1981 when control measures were initiated. During 1980 and 1981, four persons associated with the household's pet dog contracted a febrile illness diagnosed as boutonneuse fever.

Agglutination Tests↗

[In vitro development of hemolymph granulocytes of Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastropoda, Planorbidae). Study by scanning electron microscopy].

The morphological evolution in vitro of Biomphalaria glabrata granulocytes on a cover-glass is described by scanning electron microscopy. 4 stages have been characterized: stage 1: globular cells showing low adhesion to cover-glass; stage 2: flattened cells in contact with substrate over a large surface, which present two well differentiated cytoplasmic zones: an endoplasm in which the nucleus is embedded and an ectoplasm which extends into very thin filopodia with a spherical terminal bulb; stage 3: cells which are very flattened and which adhere to each other; stage 4: cells which are completely spread on the cover-glass, in which the ectoplasm includes the filopodia. These 4 stages probably represent the granulocyte ontogenetic stages in their role in cellular defense against foreign substances.

Animals↗

[Presence, in ticks from the Geneva region, of infective larvae which may be related to the dog filaria Dipetalonema grassii].

About forty infective filarial larvae were collected from Rhipicephalus sanguineus (two ticks positive out of about 50 examined) living inside a house and presumably originally transported from the south of France or Toscana. The larvae are of the genus Dipetalonema; they are distinct from infective stages of the three most common European species, D. dracunculoides and D. reconditum from dogs and D. rugosicauda from roe deer. They may however be larvae of D. arassii (Noé, 1907), a dog filarid which has not been reported since its original descovery in Italy.

Animals↗

[The transmission of tick-borne encephalitis in Switzerland. An attempt at establishing a register of natural reservoirs for a seroepidemiologic examination of forest personnel in the middle of the country].

The aim of this investigation was to localize natural foci of tickborne encephalitis (TBE) in Switzerland by means of two approaches. (1) Sera of foresters, who are particularly exposed to TBE, were examined, restricting serum collection to the Plateau between the Lake of Constance and the Lake of Geneva. (2) Virus isolations were performed on 8600 ticks (Ixodes ricinus) collected all over the country. In four regions natural foci of varying size were detected: (1) in the northern parts of the Canton of Zurich in conjunction with the southern parts of the Canton of Schaffhausen, (2) in the region of Horgen on the Lake of Zurich, (3) in the region of Thoune, and (4) in the marshy region situated between the Lakes of Neuchâtel, Bienne and Morat. The morbidity rate in foresters varied from 0-5%, and rose to 12-16% in regions with a known concentration of natural foci. The infection rates in ticks average 0.1%, but, depending on the regions where ticks were collected, maximum rates of 1% were attained.

Antibodies, Viral↗

[Immune response of rabbit to repeated infestations by Ornithodoros moubata Murray females: its influence on the biology of tick (author's transl)].

Antibodies against salivary gland tissues of the argasid tick, Ornithodoros moubata, were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in rabbits repeatedly fed on by ticks. This immune response appears to have little adverse affects on the biology of the tick; blood intake was found to be sometimes smaller and the feeding period somewhat longer. Attachment to the host and oviposition were not adversely affected. There exists a linear relationship between a) the weight of unfed and engorged females, and b) the weight of engorged females and the number of deposited eggs.

Animals↗

[Epidemiological survey in a natural focus of Rickettsia transmitted by Ixodes ricinus in Switzerland (author's transl)].

A spotted fever group Rickettsia referred to as "Swiss agent" was detected in 8.5% of Ixodes ricinus collected in a marshy forest of the Swiss plateau. This organism, in its tick vector, was found to be transmitted stadially as well as ovarially; of 433 larval, nymphal or adult ticks from 17 parental tick females, all were infected. A total of 3,612 larval I. ricinus were collected from 168 small mammals including 127 Clethrionomys glareolus, 29 Apodemus sylvaticus and flavicolis, 7 Microtus agrestis, and 5 Sorex araneus from the same forest. 143 sera were obtained from these rodents: 114 (82%) had microagglutinating antibodies to the "Swiss agent".

Animals↗

Sexual transmission of spotted fever group rickettsiae by infected male ticks: detection of rickettsiae in immature spermatozoa of Ixodes ricinus.

Electron microscopic evidence is provided showing that the newly described "Swiss agent," a spotted fever group rickettsia, is incorporated into the reproductive cells of its male tick vector, Ixodes ricinus. Rickettsiae were found in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and maturing spermatids. The potential significance of these observations is briefly discussed in relation to published data on sexual transmission of rickettsiae by ticks.

Animals↗

[New aspects of the part of the vector played by Ixodes ricinus L. in Switzerland. Preliminary note (author's transl)].

The authors, after having recalled their recent work on Ixodes ricinus ecology, give the new results about the part played by this species in the transmission of different infectious agents in Switzerland. I. ricinus was already known to be the most important vector of the tick borne encephalitis virus, and of protozoans of the Babesia genus. In this article, we describe the existence in the hemolymphe of different I. ricinus populations, of a rickettsia species related to the RMST group (Rocky-Mountain Spotted Fever), of a trypanosome, which is close to T. theileri, and of an infectious larval form (L3) of Dipetalonema rugosicauda. An outline is suggested with the object of illustrating the functioning of a natural foci of tick encephalitis. The biological significance of the unusual presence of trypanosomes and of larval filariae in ticks is also discussed. The authors underline the fact that rickettsia, trypanosomes and filarial forms are observed for the first time in Swiss I. ricinus.

Animals↗

Ixodes ricinus: vector of a hitherto undescribed spotted fever group agent in Switzerland.

A tick/rickettsial survey in various parts of Switzerland revealed the presence of a new, hitherto undescribed spotted fever group rickettsia ("Swiss agent") in up to 11.7% of I. ricinus collected off vegetation. Infection in ticks was found to be generalized with rickettsiae developing intracellularly and occasionally also intranuclearly. As a result of massive growth in ovarial tissues, including the germinative cells, the rate of transovarial and filial infection was 100%. The "Swiss agent" appears to be nonpathogenic for guinea pigs, domestic rabbits, and Swiss mice, but in male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) it produces a microscopically detectable infection in the tunica vaginalis. The rickettsia grows well in tissue culture systems including chick embryo fibroblast, Vero, and vole tissue cells, when inoculated via yolk sac into 5-day-old hens' eggs, it kills 100% of the embryos after 5 to 7 days. Antigenic relatedness of the "Swiss agent" to rickettsiae of the spotted fever group was indicated by indirect and direct fluorescent antibody staining. Preliminary serologic typing by microimmunofluorescence and by microagglutination indicated that the "Swiss agent" differs from all prototype strains of spotted fever group rickettsiae studied so far.

Animals↗