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Biomedical subjects

A Robertson

Publications and source records attributed to A Robertson.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Some observations on the diagnosis and epidemiology of leptospirosis in swine.

The results of combined epidemiological, clinical, serological, bacteriological and histopathological studies following an outbreak of disease caused by L. pomona on a farm stocked with cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses maintained for experimental purposes, are reported.The incidence of infection was high in horses, cattle and pigs. A few low titres were seen in sheep. The goats were not infected. Apart from a single bovine abortion all the clinical symptoms observed occurred in pregnant sows. Seven of these aborted or gave birth to stillborn pigs within a six week period. Fifteen species of wildlife were trapped or shot on the farm during the year following the outbreak. L. pomona was isolated from four skunks and a porcupine. Epidemiological studies indicated that wildlife reservoir hosts were the primary source of infection for the domestic livestock. Leptospiruria and the serological response were studied in a group of eight infected sows. Microscopic agglutination titres of 10(2) or less could not be associated with leptospiruria and the duration of leptospiruria was found to range from a few weeks to over two years in individual sows. Direct dark-field examination of urine proved superior to guinea-pig inoculation as a method of detecting leptospiruria and it is suggested that the former technique could be adopted with advantage as a routine aid to diagnosis.

Agglutination Tests↗

A study of Toxoplasma infection in chickens and cats on a family farm.

Presumptive evidence of toxoplasmosis was obtained following histological and serological studies of tissues from chickens and cats kept on a family farm. This was confirmed by transmission of the infection to experimental laboratory animals and back to chickens. The significance of the low grade serological reaction in one of the persons living on the farm was not clear.

Animals↗

Hog cholera. V. Demonstration of the antigen in swine tissues by the fluorescent antibody technique.

The fluorescent antibody technique was employed to detect hog cholera virus in tissue sections of various organs from experimentally infected swine. The method proved to be highly sensitive and infection could be detected in these animals as early as three days after inoculation with the virus. Best results were obtained when tissues were collected from young animals in advanced disease rather than from sows or from pigs in the early febrile phase. Tonsil, spleen and lymph node were the tissues of choice and were most satisfactory when removed from freshly killed animals rather than from those that had died.

Animals↗

Symptoms and pathology produced by toxic Microcystis aeruginosa NRC-1 in laboratory and domestic animals.

Toxicity tests with lyophilized M. aeruginosa NRC-1 cells have been conducted using mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, two calves and one lamb as the test animals. The symptoms and pathological changes are described. On an equivalent weight basis it required three to five times the oral dosage to kill the large animals and birds as it did to kill the laboratory animals. The symptoms were less pronounced and the survival times were longer in the more resistant animals. Enlargement and congestion of the liver with necrosis of the hepatic cells were constant and pathognomonic. These findings are in general agreement with the observations of other workers who have examined the toxicity of naturally occurring Microcystis waterblooms. The toxicities and structures of microcystin and of six other biologically active cyclic polypeptides are summarized. The pathological effects produced by microcystin in laboratory and domestic animals resemble those produced in man but differ from those produced in animals by the toxic peptides of Amanita phalloides.

Animals↗

Hog cholera IV. Detection of the virus in tissue culture preparations by the fluorescent antibody technique.

The fluorescent-antibody technique was employed for detection of hog cholera virus in tissue cultures inoculated with spleens of infected animals. As controls, cultures were also inoculated with material from normal swine and from those infected with other agents. In the first series 71 of 73 infected spleens, or 97 per cent, were detected. There were no false positive reactions among the controls. Results obtained with the second series of pigs showed that spleens collected during advanced stages of the disease were more satisfactory specimens than those collected earlier during the high temperature phase of infection. Findings with the third series of older swine indicated that their spleens were less satisfactory as a source of virus than those from young pigs. Tissues from freshly killed animals provided better specimen material than those from animals which had died.

Animals↗