Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Wolfensberger

Publications and source records attributed to C Wolfensberger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Experimental oral transmission of Ehrlichia phagocytophila to calves.

Three groups of four calves were used to determine whether Ehrlichia phagocytophila could be transmitted orally to calves via infected milk. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of four-week-old calves and group 3 of newborn calves. The calves in group 1 were fed for several days with milk from cows infected experimentally with E phagocytophila. The calves in groups 2 and 3 were fed 200 ml of whole blood containing E phagocytophila organisms; for group 2 the blood was added to milk before being fed, and for group 3 the blood was added to colostrum before being fed within three hours after birth. Blood samples for haematological, serological and cytological examination, and for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were collected from all the calves, starting on the first or only day of administration and then every four days for four weeks. The calves of groups 1 and 2 showed no clinical, haematological or serological changes, and there was no direct or indirect evidence of the agent. In contrast, all the calves in group 3 had mild pyrexia and seroconverted on day 8, and in one of them E phagocytophila organisms were visible in leucocytes, and the PCR on the buffy coat was positive on day 8.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Partial protection by vaccination with recombinant feline immunodeficiency virus surface glycoproteins.

In an effort to induce a strong immune response that might protect against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) challenge infection, three groups of five specified pathogen-free (spf) cats each were immunized subcutaneously with different FIV antigen preparations. Immunizations were done at weeks 0, 2, and 4 with 100 microg of recombinant SU from an FIV Zurich 2 (FIV Z2) strain expressed by E. coli (group 1) or the baculovirus expression system (groups 2 and 3) adsorbed on aluminum hydroxyde and administered with QS-21 (groups 1 and 2) or Freund's adjuvant together with the recombinant nucleocapsid protein (protein NC) of rabies virus (group 3). Protein NC was described to act as an exogenous superantigen. Group 3 cats demonstrated the highest detectable antibody response to the vaccine antigen as determined by ELISA and Western blot analysis. All immunized cats together with seven control animals were challenged with 20 CID50 of cat lymphocyte-grown FIV Z2 3 weeks following the last immunization. Whereas virus was readily recovered from peripheral blood lymphocytes of seven of seven nonvaccinated control cats following this challenge dose, virus was not recovered from two cats of groups 1 and 2. All cats in groups 2 and 3 showed a provirus load significantly decreased to 3% of that of controls up to week 8 after challenge infection. Eleven of 15 vaccinated cats and 5 of 7 control cats developed virus-neutralizing antibodies by week 8 after challenge infection. The two cats negative on virus isolation remained seronegative, developed no detectable virus-neutralizing activities, but were repeatedly positive in provirus PCR. Moreover, starting at week 1 after challenge, both cats showed the lowest provirus load in their respective groups. These results indicate that immunization with recombinant FIV SU in conjunction with appropriate adjuvants may lead to partial protection against FIV challenge infection.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1998

Serological evidence of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Switzerland.

To investigate whether human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is prevalent in Switzerland, 1515 human serum samples from individuals with different risks for tick exposure were tested for antibodies to Ehrlichia phagocytophila, a surrogate marker of the agent of HGE. The distribution of titres showed marked differences between sera of individuals with no or low risk for tick exposure and those with a high risk. The results of serological testing provided evidence of HGE in Switzerland as well as evidence of two types of coinfections: those with the agent of HGE and Borrelia burgdorferi, and those with the agent of HGE and the central European tickborne encephalitis virus.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1998

Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis and of canine granulocytic Ehrlichia infection in dogs in Switzerland.

Serum samples from 996 dogs in Switzerland were examined for antibodies to Ehrlichia canis and to the agent causing canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (CGE). Ehrlichiosis, borreliosis, and systemic illness not associated with ticks were suspected in 75, 122, and 157 of these dogs, respectively. The remainder of the serum samples were obtained from clinically healthy dogs which resided north (n = 235) or south (n = 407) of the Alps. The serum samples were tested by an indirect immunofluorescence technique for antibodies to the two agents incriminated, E. canis and Ehrlichia phagocytophila, a surrogate marker of the agent of CGE. Twenty-two of 996 (2.2%) serum samples had antibodies to E. canis and were distributed as follows: 20 of 75 (26.7%) samples from dogs suspected of having ehrlichiosis, 1 of 122 (0.8%) from dogs suspected of having borreliosis, and 1 of 407 (0.2%) from healthy dogs which resided south of the Alps. Of the 75 (7.5%) serum samples that had antibodies to E. phagocytophila, significantly more samples were from ill dogs than from healthy dogs. Among the sera from healthy dogs, antibodies to E. phagocytophila were significantly more prevalent in the north. Because seropositive dogs had a history of travel outside Switzerland and because Rhipicephalus sanguineus is found exclusively south of the Alps, it was presumed that, in contrast to the agent of CGE, E. canis is not indigenous to Switzerland.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Intrauterine infection with Ehrlichia phagocytophila in a cow.

An infection with Ehrlichia phagocytophila, the agent of tickborne fever, can cause abortion or stillbirth in cows in late pregnancy but, to the authors' knowledge, there have been no reports of intrauterine infection in cows followed by clinical signs in the calf. To study the effect of E phagocytophila on the fetus, a cow was infected experimentally after 270 days of pregnancy. It developed the clinical and haematological signs characteristic of tickborne fever six days after infection. At 287 days of pregnancy the cow gave birth to a live calf, which became ill at 13 days of age. The general condition and behaviour of the calf were only mildly affected but it had a high temperature and swollen prescapular lymph nodes. Its appetite and suck reflex remained normal. E phagocytophila inclusion bodies were visible, predominantly in neutrophils and eosinophils, for seven days. The calf seroconverted, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence, 14 days after it became ill.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Laboratory findings in cows after experimental infection with Ehrlichia phagocytophila.

The goal of this study was to assess various hematological variables in 10 cows after experimental infection with Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Blood samples were collected at regular intervals for examination of leukocytes for Ehrlichia organisms and for determination of hematological and biochemical variables. In addition, PCR amplification was performed throughout the disease period on blood and milk samples for the detection of E. phagocytophila organisms. The time of seroconversion and the duration of serum titers indicating positivity were determined by indirect immunofluorescence. For all cows, E. phagocytophila organisms were first detected microscopically in leukocytes 5 to 8 days postinfection and could be demonstrated for a period of 6 to 14 days. For all cows, the appearance of E. phagocytophila organisms in leukocytes coincided with transient erythropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia and a decrease in hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration. For five lactating cows, E. phagocytophila organisms were identified in leukocytes of milk samples during the acute phase of the disease, which, we believe, has not previously been reported. E. phagocytophila DNA was detected in blood samples by nested PCR from 1 to 2 days before to 2 to 12 days after the organisms were identified microscopically. In milk samples, E. phagocytophila DNA was detected for an average of 11 days.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae infection and correlation with disease status in cats in Switzerland.

The prevalence of infection with Bartonella henselae was investigated in cats from different areas of Switzerland. Serum samples of 728 cats were examined for antibodies to B. henselae by immunofluorescent antibody testing, and the results were analyzed with a view to a possible correlation between a positive titer and signalment, clinical signs, infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline coronavirus (FCoV), or feline spumavirus (FeSFV), and the living environments of the cats. The seroprevalence in all cats was 8.3%. No significantly different prevalence was found in sick versus healthy cats (9.2 versus 7.2%); however, in sick cats seropositive for B. henselae, there was an increased frequency of stomatitis and a variety of diseases of the kidneys and the urinary tract. There was an increased prevalence of B. henselae in cats positive for FCoV (P = 0.0185) or FeSFV (P = 0.0235) and no statistically significant increased prevalence in cats infected with FeLV or FIV. There was no correlation between a positive titer and sex or breed. The same prevalence of B. henselae antibodies was found in cats with and without access to the outdoors and in cats from single- and multicat households. The seroprevalence was increased in cats living south of the Alps (12.1%); however, this difference was not significant (P = 0.0616).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Granulocytic ehrlichiosis in two dogs in Switzerland.

This case report describes two dogs with granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Dog 1 was a male Labrador retriever with clinical signs of lymphosarcoma. Dog 2 was a female Airedale terrier, whose clinical signs included apathy, pyrexia, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Examination of blood smears revealed Ehrlichia organisms in the neutrophils of both dogs. There was thrombocytopenia in both dogs, and dog 2 also had leukopenia. In both dogs, bands of identical length were amplified from DNA of leukocytes via nested PCR. The bands had identical nucleotide sequences, which differed from the gene sequences of Ehrlichia equi and E. phagocytophila in three and two positions, respectively. Interestingly, the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA was 100% homologous to that of a human granulocytic ehrlichia.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Serologic studies on the occurrence of bovine ehrlichiosis in the cantons Zürich, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, St. Gallen and Obwalden].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the geographical distribution of bovine ehrlichiosis in the Cantons Zürich, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, St. Gallen and Obwalden. To this end, an indirect immunofluorescence assay was established. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was estimated to be close to 100% based on the results obtained with several reference sera from the US National Veterinary Services Laboratories and the seroconversion panels of 20 heifers and cows. Blood samples from 2557 healthy cattle were tested for antibody response against Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Ninety-three animals (3.6%) were seropositive with titers ranging from 1:20 to 1:320. Most of the positive animals were found in the area north of lake Zürich spanning to the german border, in the area between Walensee and Bad Ragaz, the Rhine valley and Klein Melchtal. All seropositive animals had grazed on pastures or alps with a favourable biotope for the tick Ixodes ricinus.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Vaccination of cats against infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV): first recombinant vaccine and the effect of a pre-existing infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)].

A new recombinant FeLV vaccine was evaluated in 30 specified pathogen-free cats 10 months of age cats. The vaccine consisted of the non-glycosylated FeLV envelope protein p45, aluminium hydroxide and a saponin adjuvant. The cats (n = 18) were vaccinated twice intramuscularly, 3 weeks apart. All animals were challenged intraperitoneally with FeLV subgroup A, 18 weeks later. While 94% of the vaccinated cats showed no viraemia or were only transiently viraemic, 80% of the non-vaccinated animals became persistently viraemic within 2 to 3 weeks. In our hands the preventable fraction of the vaccine was 93%. In order to determine the effect of a pre-existing infection with feline immunodeficiency virus on the efficacy of vaccination, 50% of the cats were previously infected with FIV. The infected cats were protected to the same degree as the non-infected animals. With prolonged duration of FIV infection the probability increases, that the immune system of the cat will fail and clinical signs will appear. In order to observe a state of possible immunodeficiency, an accurate clinical examination of every cat prior to vaccination seems of major importance.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Retrovirus infections in non-domestic felids: serological studies and attempts to isolate a lentivirus.

An African lioness from the Zoo of Zurich had to be euthanized because of an inoperable tumor. The serum tested negative for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) p27 antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) but was strongly positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies by ELISA and Western blot. When her only offspring and mate were tested for FIV, high antibody titers to FIV were also found in their serum. Lymphocytes were prepared from these two lions on different occasions and co-cultivated with specific pathogen free (SPF) cat lymphocytes in the presence of concanavalin A and recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) for 6 weeks. The cell culture supernatants tested negative for Mg(2+)-dependent reverse transcriptase and FIV p24 by a double antibody sandwich ELISA throughout the culture period. Whole blood and buffy coat cells collected from these two lions were transmitted by intraperitoneal injection into two SPF cats. The two cats did not seroconvert for a period of 11 months nor could reverse transcriptase activity and FIV p24 antigen be demonstrated in the supernatant of several lymphocyte cultures. To determine the importance of lentivirus infections in zoo-kept wild felids, 124 serum samples were obtained from African lions, Indian and Siberian tigers, snow leopards, panthers, cheetahs and other wild cats from nine European zoos. In addition, serum samples collected from 12 Asiatic lions originating from Gir forest in the Indian State of Gujarat were included in this study. The sera were tested for antibodies to FIV, FeLV and feline syncytium-forming virus (FeSFV) by ELISA and Western blot using the respective viruses after gradient purification. In addition, some of the sera were also tested for antibodies to equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and Visna-Maedi virus (VMV). Antibodies to FIV were found in 30/53 (57%) of African lions, one of 18 tigers and one of four panthers. All other sera including those collected from the 12 Asiatic lions were negative for FIV antibodies. Some of the FIV positive lion sera had high antibody titers producing strong bands on Western blot strips even in dilutions of >> 1:1000. The Western blot pattern of the lion sera differed from that of domestic cats in that primarily p24 and to a lesser degree p17 was recognized. Antibodies to FeSFV were found in 14 animals (seven with strong, seven with intermediate, reaction). No correlation was found between FIV and FeSFV infection. Antibodies to FeLV were found in two cheetahs which later turned out to have been vaccinated with Leukocell, a FeLV vaccine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Vaccination of cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus, using a recombinant feline leukemia virus vaccine.

A group of 15 cats experimentally infected with a Swiss isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and a group of 15 FIV-negative control cats were inoculated with an FeLV vaccine containing recombinant FeLV-envelope. High ELISA antibody titer developed after vaccination in FIV-positive and FIV-negative cats. Vaccinated and nonvaccinated controls were later challenge exposed by intraperitoneal administration of virulent FeLV subtype A (Glasgow). Although 12 of 12 nonvaccinated controls became infected with FeLV (10 persistently, 2 transiently), only 1 of 18 vaccinated (9 FIV positive, 9 FIV negative) cats had persistent and 2 of 18 had transient viremia. From these data and other observations, 2 conclusions were drawn: In the early phase of FIV infection, the immune system is not depressed appreciably, and therefore, cats may be successfully immunized; a recombinant FeLV vaccine was efficacious in protecting cats against intraperitoneal challenge exposure with FeLV.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Feline immunodeficiency virus in Switzerland: clinical aspects and epidemiology in comparison with feline leukemia virus and coronaviruses].

Serum samples from 1421 domestic cats (561 healthy, 860 sick) were tested for FIV-, FeLV- and coronavirus infection. The results were stored in a computer data base and compared with epidemiologic data and clinical findings. All 3 infections were significantly more prevalent in sick than healthy cats: FIV was found in 0.7% of healthy and 3.4% of sick cats. For FeLV the prevalence was 3.0% and 13.0% and for coronavirus 21% and 36.2%, respectively. FIV-infected cats were mostly male (73%); no sex predilection was observed in FeLV- and coronavirus infection. In sick cats FIV-infection was significantly more prevalent in cats greater than 2 years of age; no age-dependence was found in FeLV- and coronavirus infections. The prevalence of FIV-infection increased significantly with the number of animals per household. In contrast, the frequency of FeLV infection decreased with the number of animals per household. Prevalence of coronavirus infection did not vary with group size or living conditions. The following clinical symptoms were associated with infection: FIV: general depression, diseases of the urinary tract; FeLV: general depression, fever, rough hair coat, lymphadenopathy, impaired functions of heart and circulation and muscle atrophy; coronavirus: lymphadenopathy and alterations in the abdomen. It was concluded that based on the clinical symptoms alone FIV-infection could not be diagnosed nor differentiated from the other 2 infections.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Anticancer activities as well as antiviral and virus-enhancing properties of aqueous fruit extracts from fifty-six European plant species.

Several plant-derived drugs are used in medical oncology today. Since only a small part of the flora has been tested for any kind of bioactivity intensive further screening may be rewarding. Fifty-six plant extracts were studied attempting to explore the feasibility of an assay that screens cytotoxic, antiviral and virus-enhancing activities in the same test. We made use of the property of an avian influenza virus replicating in a human breast cancer cell line. During the first 3 days of the test the cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated by phase-contrast microscopy. From the 4th day on when viral cytopathogenic effect became manifest we were able to identify antiviral and virus-enhancing activity among some of those extracts not showing cytotoxicity during the first 3 days of incubation. Aqueous extracts from the fruits of 56 plant species belonging to 22 families were screened. Twelve species exhibited cytotoxic, eight antiviral, five virus-enhancing and 31 no activity. These results show that the replication of a myxovirus in a human tumor cell offers the possibility of screening cytotoxic, antiviral and virus-enhancing activity in the same assay.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1985

[Ring injuries].

At the Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Kantonsspital Aarau eight cases of ring avulsion injuries in one woman and seven men have been treated during the period 1979-1981. Depending on the soft tissue damage, the ring injuries can be divided into four categories. Representative cases of each group and the special problems and difficulties in the reconstruction of each case are described. Microsurgical revascularisation has been particularly useful in cases of incomplete ring avulsion amputations.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Free flap-plasty in a larger soft tissue defect of the hip and gluteal region].

The purpose of this paper is to show a case in which we felt at the end, that the chosen procedure did not fulfill our expectations and in which an alternative procedure would have been preferable. In a 47 year old woman a deep, healed soft tissue defect between the left trochanter and the iliac crest was built up with a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. The original plan was to suture the vessels to the gluteal vessels and the nerve to the gluteal nerve. The muscle would have been placed in such a way that the muscle fibres would run from the iliac crest to the trochanter to replace the lost gluteal muscle. This plan was proved on a cadaver dissection. In reality, however, the local vessels were not suitable in size. The flap vessels had to be attached directly to the femoral vessels in the groin area. The flap had, therefore, to be orientated in a different way. The final result gave an insufficient correction of the contour with no functional correction. It was felt in retrospect that contour correction without functional correction would probably have been better performed with an inferior rectus femoris musculocutaneous free flap.

Buttocks↗