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Biomedical subjects

D E Moorhouse

Publications and source records attributed to D E Moorhouse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1986

Toxocariasis--an unlikely cause of Palm Island mystery disease.

After the suggestion was made that the "Palm Island mystery disease" might have been an epidemic of visceral larva migrans that was caused by the flying fox parasite, Toxocara pteropodis, work was undertaken to elucidate this nematode's life-cycle and pathogenicity. Studies of infections in various laboratory animals have shown unexpectedly variable susceptibility patterns, with mice harbouring most larvae for the longest time period. However, in all susceptible animals (which include mice, guinea-pigs and suckling rats), the larvae demonstrated marked hepatotropism. Experimental infections in monkeys demonstrated that primates are susceptible to this infection, but large doses of 20,000 infective eggs produced blood eosinophilia and focal granulomatous hepatitis without clinical disease or biochemical abnormalities in the blood. It is concluded that humans are susceptible to larval infections with this nematode, but that clinical manifestations would be unlikely to develop.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Factors affecting the development of Dipylidium caninum in Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835).

Ctenocephalides felis felis larvae were infected with Dipylidium caninum at a range of temperatures from 20 degrees - 35 degrees C at 3 mm Hg saturation deficit (SD) and 30 degrees C at 8 mm Hg SD. Hosts were subsequently dissected at 6, 9 and 12 days after infection. Four replicate experiments were performed and results of development, and host reactions analysed by the Genstat computer programme. These were found to depend on the temperature and saturation deficit of the environment. Unlike previous findings, parasite development and host reaction were found to be independent of host development. Host reaction was more marked and prolonged at 20 degrees - 25 degrees C than at higher temperatures. No perceptible growth of the parasite occurred at 20 degrees C. The development patterns of growth at the higher temperatures were similar but shifted in time so that faster growth occurred at higher temperatures. Rate of growth was fastest at 35 degrees C, despite the fact that this temperature was unfavourable to the hosts, all of which died at the time of pupation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Equine onchocerciasis in Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia.

Investigations were conducted on the taxonomy, distribution in the carcase, pathology and transmission of Onchocerca spp. in equids from Queensland and the Northern Territory. Examination of small groups of horses and ponies revealed high infection rates with O. cervicalis, while lesser numbers were infected with O. gutturosa. O. reticulata was not found. Neither of the Australian species is likely to be of economic importance to the horsemeat industry. The findings support the belief that O. cervicalis is a pre-disposing factor in the aetiology of equine nuchal disease, most commonly seen clinically as fistulous withers. O. gutturosa is virtually non-pathogenic. Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) townsvillensis, Austrosimulium pestilens and Culicoides victoriae are suggested as potential vectors, and it is unlikely that C. brevitarsis is involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Toxocariasis. A possible cause of the Palm Island mystery disease.

Toxocariasis may have been the cause of the outbreak of a hepatitis-like illness amongst residents of the Palm Island community in 1979. Baby fruit bats on the island were infected with Toxocara pteropodis, and many eggs of this worm were recovered from mangoes. The lifecycle of T. pteropodis is described and compared with that of T. canis. If T. pteropodis was responsible, the infection could be prevented by washing the mangoes before eating them.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Morphological variations in Onchocerca sp. from atypical hosts and sites: the validity of O. stilesi.

Minor morphological variations occur in some specimens of Onchocerca gutturosa and O. lienalis developing in unusual anatomical sites in their normal hosts and in unusual Hosts. These variations may affect characters usually considered to be important diagnostic features. Variations in O. lienalis show a range which encompass the features used by Eberhard (1979) to distinguish a new species, O. stilesi. Further studies on fresh material are needed before O. stilesi can be accepted as a valid species.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Host acquisition by Ornithodoros capensis Neumann (Ixodoidea: Argasidae).

Forty percent of white-capped noddy tern, Anous minutus, nests tagged in January 1977 were re-occupied the following nesting season in February 1978. This re-use of nests allows host acquisition by O. capensis, as the ticks remain in the core of the abandoned nest during the non-nesting season.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Bovine onchocerciasis: aspects of carcase infection.

The distribution of the three known species of Onchocerca in Australian cattle is described. O. gutterosa was found in the ligamentum nuchae, on the scapular cartilage and in the hip, stifle and shoulder regiobns. Nodules of O. gibsoni were found in the brisket, stifle and hip regions, while O; lienalis occurred along the gastrosplenic ligament and above the xiphisternum. O. gutturosa is potentially the most important species to the meat industry since it is widely distributed in the carcase and is easily missed during inspection. Trimming procedures which could be used to ensure removal of known sites of infection are outlined.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Nematode larvae (Spirurida: Physalopteridae) causing infarction of the bowel in an infant.

A case is reported of an 11-month-old baby suffering from gangrene of the distal portion of the small bowel due to infestation by larval worms belonging to the order Spirurida, family Physalopteridae and probably the genus Physaloptera. Microscopically, the resected bowel showed ischaemic necrosis, eosinophilic granulomata and larval worms in the lumen and wall of blood vessels. The inflammatory process extended into the mesentery, where the vessels showed focal necroses, thrombosis and endarteritis. Infection in this child in the Queensland countryside is considered to have resulted from ingestion of insects on grass eaten when at play, the grass having been contaminated by bandicoots.

Humans↗
PubMed1977

Toxoplasmosis.

Recent research has shown that Toxoplasma gondii, the cause of human toxoplasmosis, is a protozoan close to the genus Isospora, whose life cycle involves cats as the definitive host, and other mammals, including man, and birds as intermediate hosts. Cats shed oocysts in their faeces; these are infective to the intermediate hosts when ingested. But the non-felid intermediate hosts can also become infected by eating other intermediate hosts. Probably most human infections occur in this manner and result from eating raw or insufficiently cooked meats. Most people become infected during their life time, but most infections are benign and unnoticed. Occasionally the disease picture may simulate infectious mononucleosis. However, in intrauterine or neonatal infections the disease may be most severe and chorioretinitis, encephalomyelitis, hydrocephalus or microcephaly may result. Diagnosis depends upon demonstrating the parasite in biopsy material or through changing titres in serological tests.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Human pulmonary dirofilariasis associated with pleural effusion.

Tuberculosis, untreated pneumonia and other chest infections were excluded as possible causes of histological features observed in patient who had been discovered in a chest X-ray survey. Pleural effusion was eventually attributed to a dirofilarial granuloma found in a small pulmonary artery.

Adult↗