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Biomedical subjects

H L Thacker

Publications and source records attributed to H L Thacker.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome: the Cleveland Clinic experience.

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome is a recently described clinical syndrome caused by a suspected contaminant of L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid that was manufactured and sold as a nutritional supplement. This study reports the clinical and pathological findings of 22 cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome evaluated at the Cleveland Clinic and includes data for up to 1 year of follow-up (for the epidemic cases). Nineteen of the 22 cases were evaluated and followed prospectively in the time period from November 1989 to November 1990. Two of the 22 represented nonepidemic forms of the syndrome which occurred prior to the 1989 epidemic. During a review of all cases of biopsy-proven diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia at the Cleveland Clinic since 1978, one of the 22 was retrospectively identified as having an epidemic form of the syndrome, with onset in July 1989. In this study, adverse prognosticating factors in eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome included nerve and muscle involvement, fasciitis, and weight loss. Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome is striking in its severity and diversity, and its features are similar to those of two other unusual illnesses--toxic oil syndrome and diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia. With the recent purification of the suspected contaminant, it is hoped that further clues to the etiology of this syndrome and similar syndromes will be uncovered.

Adult↗
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A carotid body and glomus jugulare paraganglioma secreting norepinephrine.

Extra-adrenal paragangliomas (PGOMAs) are rare and can occur anywhere along the sympathetic chain including the carotid body, glomus jugulare, vagal bodies, ganglium tympanicum, larynx, ciliary bodies, organs of Zuckerkandl, urinary bladder, and other locations. These are microscopically identical. The embryological origin is from neural crest cells. One to three percent are reported to be functioning, predominantly secreting norepinephrine. Diagnosis of a functioning PGOMA can be delayed, even when symptoms of catecholamine hypersecretion are present. Furthermore, diagnostic testing and surgery have a significant morbidity if the diagnosis is not considered in advance, as illustrated by the following cases. PGOMAs can be sporadic or familial with an autosomal dominant pattern with variable penetrance. They can be multicentric and associated with other endocrine gland tumors. Benign and malignant PGOMAs have been described, with malignancy being defined by lymph node metastasis. Few cases of functioning glomus jugulare and carotid body tumors have been reported in the medical literature.

Journal Article↗
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Detection of antibody to turkey coronavirus by antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay utilizing infectious bronchitis virus antigen.

An antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibody to turkey coronavirus (TCV) utilizing infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) antigen was developed. Anti-TCV hyperimmune turkey serum and normal turkey serum were used as positive or negative control serum for optimization of the ELISA system. Goat anti-turkey immunoglobulin G (light plus heavy chains) conjugated with horseradish peroxidase was used as detector antibody. The performance of the ELISA system was evaluated with 45 normal turkey sera and 325 turkey sera from the field and the cutoff point was determined. Serum samples of turkeys experimentally infected with TCV collected sequentially from 1 to 63 days postinfection were applied to the established antibody-capture ELISA using IBV antigens. The optimum conditions for differentiation between anti-TCV hyperimmune serum and normal turkey serum were serum dilution at 1:40 and conjugate dilution at 1:1600. Of the 325 sera from the field, 175 were positive for TCV by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA relative to IFA test were 93.1% and 96.7%, respectively, based on the results of serum samples from the field turkey flocks using the optimum cutoff point of 0.18 as determined by the logistic regression method. The ELISA values of all 45 normal turkey sera were completely separated from that of IFA-positive sera. The ELISA results of serum samples collected from turkeys experimentally infected with TCV were comparable to that of the IFA assay. Reactivity of anti-rotavirus, anti-reovirus, anti-adenovirus, or anti-enterovirus antibodies with the IBV antigens coated in the commercially available ELISA plates coated with IBV antigens could be utilized for detection of antibodies to TCV in antibody-capture ELISA.

Animals↗
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Focal hepatic necrosis in turkeys with hemorrhagic enteritis.

Disseminated acute focal hepatic coagulation necrosis was present in 9 turkeys submitted from 5 outbreaks of hemorrhagic enteritis. The lesion was unaccompanied by inflammatory cell infiltrate, biliary hyperplasia, or pancreatic necrosis, all of which tentatively distinguish this lesion from that of turkey viral hepatitis. No inclusion bodies were found.

Animals↗
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Immune response and pathogenicity of different strains of infectious bursal disease virus applied as vaccines.

Eight strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were characterized by the criteria of immunity and pathogenicity engendered in young chickens. Some strains have been used commercially, and the others are potential candidates for vaccines. They were administered by drinking water, eyedrop, vent drop, and subcutaneous and aerosol routes. The viruses varied widely in pathogenicity in terms of bursal damage, morbidity, and mortality. Immunity induced with different routes of administration also differed markedly when measured by challenge, virus serum-neutralizing antibody titers, and the agargel precipitin test. Maternally derived immunity interfered with stimulation of active immunity by some of the less pathogenic strains. The more virulent strains, however, were able to provide protection under similar circumstances, although bursal damage was frequently severe. Two strains proved relatively virulent by the criteria employed. Characteristics desirable for IBDV strains to be given as vaccines under field conditions to young chickens are discussed briefly.

Aerosols↗
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Comparison of the nephropathogenicity of four strains of infectious bronchitis virus.

Experiments were conducted to characterize renal lesions in chickens induced by four strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); each has been described as nephropathogenic. Those strains were also compared in vaccinated and unvaccinated older chickens for nephropathogenicity. The younger birds were much more susceptible to the nephritogenic effects of the strains. All four strains produced acute renal changes consisting of tubular damage and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and edema. Although both cortex and medulla were involved, the latter was generally affected more severely. The Holte strain proved to be the least pathogenic, followed by the more pathogenic Gray and Italian strains and finally by the Australian strain. All four strains produced similar chronic renal changes in unvaccinated birds, with no correlation to the severity of lesions seen at the acute phase. Chronic active and inactive types of interstitial nephritis were seen at the chronic phase. Vaccinated birds challenged with the Australian strain had the highest prevalence of the chronic active type of interstitial nephritis. The implication of renal viral persistence in the development of chronic active interstitial nephritis is discussed.

Animals↗
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Characteristics of apparent derivatives of the 2512 strain of infectious bursal disease virus when used as vaccines.

The 2512 infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strain maintained in the authors' laboratory was compared with apparent 2512 IBDV isolates designated I-2512, P-2512, and H-2512. The latter three viruses were obtained from different sources and, ostensibly, had their origin in the Purdue laboratory. Their effects on immunogenicity, transmissibility, pathogenicity, and cell cultures varied. One of these isolates was said to be only 2 embryo passages higher than the original seed virus in our laboratory. Included in the study, also for comparison, was a cell-cultured-adapted 2512-cloned attenuated virus. The findings emphasize changes that may occur in the identity of a virus from manipulation, mutation, storage, errors in labeling, or other factors. These characteristics should be identified if the virus is to be used as a vaccine, in research, or for other purposes. The need for well-characterized reference strains in repositories is discussed relative to their importance in potential vaccine research and development.

Animals↗
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Lesions induced in the respiratory tract of chickens by serologically different adenoviruses.

Ten strains of adenovirus representing 10 serotypes were administered intratracheally to two groups of 3-week-old specific-pathogen-free chickens. Birds in group 1 were given only adenovirus. Birds in group 2 were inoculated with a virulent infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by eye-drop at one day of age as well as with the adenovirus at 3 weeks. The chicks were examined daily. Respiratory rales were observed in some birds with the dual infection. Gross pathologic alterations were minimal and limited to multiple scattered, pale foci in the lungs of an occasional bird in various groups. Histopathologic changes in the lungs were those of multifocal interstitial and, occasionally, diffuse pneumonia. The pneumonic lesions were more severe in the chickens given IBDV. Tracheitis was seen with two of the serotypes.

Adenoviridae↗
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Toxoplasmosis in mynahs.

Visceral toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 23 mynahs (Acridotheres) imported from Mexico, which resulted in the death of all birds in the shipment. The affected birds were inappetent and depressed and had ruffled feathers before death. Gross alterations included mottled, enlarged livers with multiple diffuse subcapsular white foci, congested lungs, mottled spleens, and thickened air sacs. Microscopic alterations were multifocal granulomatous hepatitis, pneumonitis, diffuse splenitis, focal mononuclear myocarditis, and airsacculitis. Foamy macrophages in affected areas of the livers contained 8-10 protozoan organisms 1-3 nm in diameter. Similar organisms were present in affected spleens. The organisms were identified with special stains and electron microscopy as Toxoplasma gondii. Human infection was diagnosed in the caretaker by an attending physician. He was treated with pyrimethamine and apparently recovered.

Animals↗
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Quaternary ammonium compound toxicity in chickens.

Two commercial White Leghorn flocks of 41,000 and 57,000 25-week-old hens experienced death losses of 676 and 1,089 birds in a week. Six birds from each flock were presented for necropsy to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University with a clinical history of excessive deaths, unsatisfactory production, and dehydration. Gross lesions were present on the tongue and on oral and pharyngeal mucosa as uniformly pale or white areas with interspersed multifocal sites of ulceration. Other changes were cyanotic, shriveled combs and wattles and ruptured ovarian follicles with concurrent egg yolk peritonitis. Microscopic examination revealed large areas of coagulative necrosis with multifocal epithelial ulceration of the oral and pharyngeal mucosae. There was an intense inflammatory, heterophilic response at the periphery of affected areas. Alterations in the abdominal viscera were limited to egg yolk peritonitis. The high death rate and oral lesions were attributed to accidental use of excessive levels of a quaternary ammonium disinfectant in the drinking water.

Animals↗
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Atypical histomoniasis in Bobwhite quail.

An outbreak of histomonad infection of an apparent atypical nature was diagnosed in a flock of about 850 Bobwhite quail. Mortality was 95% over a 3-week period. The most prominent gross pathologic lesions were in the livers: disseminated white foci of necrosis, 1 to 2 mm in diameter, and subcapsular multifocal splenic necrosis was seen occasionally; lower intestinal lesions were infrequent. Histologic examination of liver and spleen sections revealed focal necrosis associated with variable numbers of protozoal organisms identified as a Histomonad spp. Identification of the protoza was ascertained by electron microscopy. Histmonads were isolated from affected quail livers and propagated in specific-pathogen-free chicken embryos. Lesions produced in embryos were evaluated. Isolates of the organism were used to reproduce the disease in young Bobwhite quail.

Animals↗
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Respiratory cryptosporidiosis in broiler chickens.

A flock of 7-week-old broiler chickens in northwestern Arkansas showed signs of respiratory distress. Gross pathologic alterations were excessive exudate in the tracheas and congestion of the nasal turbinates. An adenovirus was isolated from fresh trachea specimens. Microscopically, alterations in tracheal sections were thickened mucosa with inflammatory-cell lamina-proprial infiltrate and epithelial squamous metaplasia. Protozoan parasites present on the epithelial surface were identified by electron microscopy as Cryptosporidium spp. These organisms were attached to the tracheal mucosa epithelium and the luminal surface of mucous glands. The significance of the intercurrent adenovirus infection was not determined.

Animals↗