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Biomedical subjects

E L Biberstein

Publications and source records attributed to E L Biberstein.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Species distribution of coagulase-positive staphylococci in animals.

A total of 268 isolates of coagulase-positive staphylococci from a variety of animal species, including dogs, horses, cats, monkeys, goats, and cows, were assigned to species on the basis of the API Staph- Ident system (Analytab Products, Inc., Plainview , N.Y.). Of 195 isolates from dogs, 179 (91.8%) were Staphylococcus intermedius, as were 9 of 25 (36%) isolates from horses, 7 of 15 (46.6%) isolates from cats, and 4 of 6 (66.6%) isolates from goats. Only 1 of 10 isolates from monkeys and none of 7 isolates from cows were S. intermedius. Of the remaining 68 cultures, 63 were identified as Staphylococcus aureus and 5 as Staphylococcus hyicus. The latter identifications were rendered doubtful on the basis of conventional tests. Identification appeared to be more certain in the S. aureus sample than in the S. intermedius sample. Distribution of biotypes within the two bacterial species as represented by different API profile numbers and reactivity on test substrates showed no significant variations among the host species, except for the S. aureus biotypes in dogs. Both Staphylococcus species were represented about equally among samples from different tissues and lesions, apart from skin-related infections in dogs, which were associated exclusively with S. intermedius (P less than 0.01). Differences between S. aureus and S. intermedius in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, prevalence of clumping factor, and occurrence of beta-toxin were found to be not significant.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Nutritionally variant streptococci from corneal ulcers in horses.

Of 24 isolates of nutritionally variant streptococci recovered from equine corneal ulcers, 22 were tested for growth requirements, physiological and biochemical reactions, and susceptibility to different antimicrobial agents. Satisfactory growth was obtained by supplementing blood agar and Todd-Hewitt broth with pyridoxal hydrochloride, and all of the media for the culture and the biochemical testing were supplemented with 0.002% of this substance. Biochemical patterns of 12 of the isolates resembled those of two viridans streptococcal species, Streptococcus intermedius and Streptococcus constellatus. Patterns of 10 isolates did not resemble those of any recognized viridans species. All of the isolates were inhibited by less than or equal to 0.25 microgram of erythromycin per ml, less than or equal to 4 micrograms of chloramphenicol per ml, and less than or equal to 4 micrograms of gentamicin per ml, and all but two were inhibited by less than or equal to 0.1 microgram of penicillin per ml.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Cross-reactivity of Haemophilus somnus antibody in agglutination and complement fixation tests and in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The specificity and sensitivity of agglutination, complement fixation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures in the detection of antibodies to Haemophilus somnus was investigated. H. somnus rabbit immune sera were found to agglutinate Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus agni and, in some instances, also Pasteurella haemolytica, Salmonella dublin, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Corynebacterium pyogenes. In complement fixation tests with saline extracts as antigens, only H. agni reacted with H. somnus antisera to any significant degree. In ELISA tests with sonicated or heat-extracted antigens, cross-reactions were seen with the two Pasteurella spp. and with H. agni. When whole cells and saline extracts were used as antigens in ELISAs, only H. agni showed any cross-reactivity. The greatest specificity in distinguishing homologous from heterologous reactions was achieved by ELISA with saline extracts as antigens. Escherichia coli and Brucella abortus antigens failed to react with H. somnus antibody in any of the tests. A rabbit serum containing antibody to bovine type isolates of P. multocida, P. haemolytica, S. aureus, S. agalactiae, S. dublin, C. pyogenes, and E. coli gave no positive reaction in ELISA tests with saline extract of H. somnus as antigen. It is concluded that such saline extract, which appears to consist largely of H. somnus common antigen, has the potential of being a useful diagnostic reagent in the study by ELISA of antibody response to H. somnus.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1982

Serological diversity in Haemophilus somnus.

Serological interrelations among 46 strains of Haemophilus somnus of various geographical and pathological origins were studied by agglutination and agglutinin adsorption procedures. Sera prepared against nine representative American and Swiss isolates agglutinated all other strains to various titers. Adsorption of antisera to American strains by Swiss cultures tended to remove mainly the reactivity with Swiss antigens, whereas adsorption of such antisera to American strains in most instances abolished all agglutinating activity. Analogous observations were made when sera against Swiss cultures were adsorbed with cells of American and Swiss origin, respectively. Results of tests involving unadsorbed and adsorbed sera suggest the existence of at least three sets of antigen in H. somnus: American, Swiss, and common, which appear to exist in various combinations, accounting for four agglutination groups. These reflect to a considerable degree the geographical, although not the pathological or anatomical, origin of the respective strains.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1982

Growth requirements of Haemophilus somnus.

The growth factor needs of Haemophilus somnus, which have not been defined to date, were found to be provided by 1% IsoVitaleX (IVX; BBL Microbiology Systems) in tryptose broth. Some growth, however, occurred in unsupplemented tryptose broth. Of the ingredients of IVX, cocarboxylase was found to stimulate growth to about the same degree as the total supplement. Cocarboxylase was without direct effect in 2% peptone broth, which supported no growth of 25 H. somnus strains until supplemented with IVX, optimally at the 10% level. This could be substituted for by proportional amounts of cysteine or cystine, but by no other IVX ingredient. Cysteine-cystine and IVX but not cocarboxylase supplementation allowed H. somnus to grow in Eagle minimal medium, a completely synthetic medium, but attempts at serial passage were unsuccessful.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1980

A Pasteurella sp associated with respiratory disease in captive desert tortoises.

Bacteria isolated from captive healthy desert tortoises were compared with bacteria from captive tortoises with respiratory illness and with bacteria from free-ranging tortoises from the Mojave Desert. Major differences were not observed among these groups when bacteria from the mouth, nares, trachea, lungs, and cloaca were compared. Frequently encountered organisms in all 3 groups included: coagulase-negative, catalase-positive, gram-positive cocci; Corynebacterium sp; members of Enterobacteriaceae, including Proteus spp; and a bacterium apparently belonging to the genus Pasteurella. The Pasteurella sp was consistently found to be associated with respiratory lesions in captive tortoises with signs of respiratory disease but was also found to be part of the gastrointestinal and nasal flora of healthy tortoises. It was hypothesized that respiratory disease in captive desert tortoises involves a commensal bacterium with the potential to be an opportunistic pathogen when the tortoise is stressed by a captive environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Serogroups and biotypes among beta-hemolytic streptococci of canine origin.

A study of hemolytic streptococci from clinical infections in dogs revealed the presence of four serogroups, with one to four biotypes in each, based on carbohydrate fermentation patterns. Of 254 isolates tested, 206 belonged to Lancefield group G, 30 to group C, 7 to group E, and 1 to group A. Ten isolates could not be grouped. Reactions on the three key carbohydrates, lactose, trehalose, and sorbitol, revealed four biotypes each in groups G and C, and two in group E and among the ungroupable cultures. The most common pattern, seen in 154 cultures, was lactose fermentation with no action on trehalose and sorbitol, and corresponded to that described for Streptococcus canis (Stafseth et al., J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 90:769-781, 1937). Most of the strains originated from skin, subcutaneous and wound infections, genitourinary lesions, otitis externa, and respiratory disease. Data suggest that group G streptococci may be preferentially parasites of the urogenital tract.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Obligate anaerobes in clinical veterinary practice.

Clinical specimens obtained from domestic animals were examined to determine the relative prevalence of obligate anaerobic bacteria and the species represented. Of 3,167 samples cultured anaerobically as well as aerobically, 2,234 were bacteriologically positive. Of these positive samples, 583 (26%) contained species of obligate anaerobic bacteria in a total of 641 isolates. Most positive samples contained anaerobes admixed with aerobic species, although 6% of such samples yielded pure cultures of obligate anaerobes. The most common sites from which anaerobes were isolated were abscesses (32% of abscesses cultured contained species of obligate anaerobes), peritoneal exudates (24%), and pleural effusions (20%). Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Bacteroides spp., Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Bacteroides ruminicola accounted in the aggregate for approximately 50% of all anaerobic isolates. Bacteroides fragilis accounted for 1% of all the isolates, and members of the genus Clostridium accounted for 8%.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1979

Differentiation of Pasteurella haemolytica biotypes A and T with growth inhibitors.

Differentiation of type A and type T cultures of Pasteurella haemolytica was accomplished by paper disks containing 0.3 microgram of penicillin G, which produced zones of inhibition larger than 10 mm with type A but not with type T strains. Basic fuchsin (0.2 microgram/ml), brilliant green (0.005 microgram/ml), methylene blue (3.1 micrograms/ml) in brain heart infusion broth permitted the growth of type T but that of type A isolates.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the A and T types of Pasteurella haemolytica.

Minimal concentrations of penicillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, kanamycin and gentamicin inhibitory to Pasteurella haemolytica biotypes A and T were determined. They were found to be significantly higher for T than for A type strains in the case of all the antimicrobial drugs tested except the two aminoglycosides kanamycin and gentamicin, for which no differences were observed. In the case of penicillin the differences were so marked that they may be useful as a basis for biotyping P haemolytica isolates. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains observed in recent years, however, may limit such application.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1977

Cultural and biochemical criteria for the identification of haemophilus spp from swine.

Twenty-two Haemophilus cultures of types prevalent in swine and of different geographic origins were subjected to biochemical and cultural examinations. Three subgroups were identified: One was unrease-positive, produced porphyrin from delta-aminolevulinic acid, and grew on infusion mediums supplemented only with V factor; the 2nd was unrease-negative, porphyrin-positive, and grew only on serum-enriched mediums with added V factor; and the 3rd was unrease-negative, porphyrin-negative, and grew only on serum-enriched mediums with added V and X factors. The groups generally corresponded to Haemophilus parahaemolyticus, Haemophilus parasuis, and Haemophilus suis, respectively. By means of the unrease and porphyrin tests, it was possible to assign, presumptively, porcine haemophilus cultures to 1 of the 3 species. Other tests, such as beta-galactosidase, hemolysis, and fermentation of carbohydrates were of secondary value in differentiating between these species.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Septicemia and meningoencephalitis in pastured cattle caused by a Haemophilus-like organism ("Haemophilus somnus").

Septicemia and meningoencephalitis developed in 10 pastured cattle 7 months to 3 years of age. Two unrelated herds were involved. Necropsy findings were similar to those previously reported in cattle infected with a Haemophilus-like organism, including multifocal intramuscular hemorrhages, suppurative polyarthritis, and multifocal hemorrhagic thrombi in the brain. A Haemophilus-like organism was isolated from one animal. It was characterized by growth on blood agar or tryptose agar plus a feeder streak under raised carbon dioxide tension, and lack of response to Haemophilus growth factors X and V.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Vaccination of dairy cattle against Q fever (Coxiella burneti): results of field trials.

A phase I formalin-inactivated Q fever vaccine, using the Nine Mile strain of the organism, was tested for its ability to prevent dairy cows from shedding Coxiella burnetti in their milk. More than 1,400 Holstein-Friesian dairy calves and heifers from 5 dairies were used in field trials lasting over a 3-year period. Vaccination of 476 calves resulted in a geometric mean antibody titer of 1:123.3 compared with 1:2.4 for 486 nonvaccinated calves. The milk samples from 163 vaccinated calves were tested by mouse inoculation after the cows commenced lactation and were placed in their respective milking herds. Of these vaccinated animals, only 2 cows (1%) from 1 herd were suspected shedders, but on subsequent testing gave negative results. Among 164 nonvaccinated (control) cows, 39 (24%) were shedding C burnetii in their milk; this figure corresponded to the prevalence (23%) of shedders in the general population of dairy cows in California. The results of the current field trials indicated that vaccination greatly reduced the shedding of the Q fever organism in the milk of dairy cows.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Septicemia and meningoencephalitis in pastured cattle caused by a Haemophilus-like organism ("Haemophilus somnus").

Septicemia and meningoencephalitis developed in 10 pastured cattle 7 months to 3 years of age. Two unrelated herds were involved. Necropsy findings were similar to those previously reported in cattle infected with a Haemophilus-like organism, including multifocal hemorrhages in some muscles, suppurative polyarthritis, and multifocal hemorrhagic thrombi in the brain. A Haemophilus-like organism was isolated from one animal. It was characterized by growth on blood agar or tryptose agar plus a feeder streak under raised carbon dioxide tension, and lack of response to Haemophilus growth factors X and V.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Feline brain abscesses due to Cladosporium trichoides.

Cladosporium trichoides was isolated from brain abscesses of two cats. No obvious route of entry was found in either case. The brain was the only organ cultured. No other significant lesions were observed during necropsy. These are the first reported cases of such infection in animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Serologic studies on porcine strains of Haemophilus parahaemolyticus (pleuropneumoniae): agglutination reactions.

Fifteen strains of Haemophilus parahaemolyticus (pleuropneumoniae) represented by 6 American isolates, 6 Swedish isolates, and 3 reference strains of Nicolet's serotype 1, 2 and 3, were used in serologic studies by agglutination and agglutinin-adsorption tests. By whole cell-agglutination tests in rabbit antiserums, 3 additional serotypes, 4, 5, and 6, were identified. All strains had strong serotype-specific agglutinating properties. Occasional weak cross reactions could be eliminated by appropriate adsorptions without effect upon type-specific reactivity. The Swedish isolates were assigned to serotypes 2, 3, 4, and 6, and the American isolates, to serotypes 4 and 5. All European isolates were distinct from 5 of the 6 American strains. An American culture isolated from a steer and another from a lamb were identical in their agglutination reactions with the porcine isolates of serotype 5. The serotyping of isolated strains is important in the epizootiologic and immunologic studies of H parahaemolyticus infections.

Adsorption↗