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Biomedical subjects

J M Gaskin

Publications and source records attributed to J M Gaskin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A model for experimental bacterial cystitis in the dog.

To induce an experimental model of bacterial cystitis, ten preconditioned dogs underwent bladder irritation with a 0.1% alcoholic solution of salicylic acid followed in 24 hours by an intravesicular infusion of Proteus mirabilis. The dogs were observed for the following 14 days (five dogs) and 17 days (five dogs) and then euthanatized and necropsied. Tenesmus, dysuria, hematuria, and pollakiuria occurred in all dogs, but the severity of these signs diminished with time. The total white cell, neutrophil, and monocyte counts in the peripheral blood increased and urinalysis results were consistent with infection and severe inflammation. The infection persisted for the duration of the study, although the average quantitative bacterial count in urine progressively declined. No changes occurred in the measured clinical chemistry values. Severe inflammation was present on gross examination of the bladder and microscopic examination of the bladder, prostate, and renal pelvis. Less severe inflammation was present on microscopic examination of the urethra and ureter.

Animals↗

Amoxycillin and clavulanic acid combination in the treatment of experimentally induced bacterial cystitis in cats.

Clavulanic acid (CA) competitively inhibits beta-lactamase hydrolysis of penicillins in vitro. Treatment with amoxycillin combined with clavulanic acid (A-CA) was compared with placebo in a blind study in cats with experimental cystitis caused by Escherichia coli demonstrating in vitro resistance to amoxycillin. Bacterial cystitis was induced in 20 cats by bladder infusion of 5 ml of 0.05 per cent alcoholic salicylic acid followed after 24 hours by a brain-heart infusion broth of E coli (10(8) colony forming units ml-1) previously found to be resistant to amoxycillin in vitro (minimum inhibitory concentration over 512 micrograms ml-1). Four days after infection, cats were randomly divided into two groups of 10 and treated with amoxycillin combined with clavulanic acid or placebo for 10 days. When compared to the placebo-treated group, the A-CA treated group showed: reduced quantitative bacterial counts in urine on days 7 (P less than 0.001) and 14 (P less than 0.02); reduced culture positive urine on days 7 (P less than 0.001) and 14 (P less than 0.001); and less severe inflammation on histological examination of the bladder and urethra (P less than 0.01). It was concluded that A-CA was effective in reducing the bacterial count and reducing the histopathological changes in the bladder and urethra in an experimental model of acute bacterial cystitis in cats infected with an E coli demonstrating in vitro resistance to amoxycillin.

Amoxicillin↗

Panophthalmitis and otitis interna in fire-bellied toads.

Microbiologic and histologic studies were made of fire-bellied toads with signs of ocular and central nervous system disease. Providencia alcalifaciens, Citrobacter freundii, Aeromonas hydrophila, and other gram-negative bacilli were isolated from the eyes and multiple tissues of ill toads. The histologic evaluations revealed severe panophthalmitis and otitis interna.

Animals↗

Herpesvirus-like infection in map turtles.

Two map turtles housed in an aquarium with a group of other map turtles became lethargic and anorectic, and subcutaneous edema developed prior to their deaths. Gross postmortem findings included subcutaneous edema and swollen, diffusely pale livers. Histologic examination of the livers revealed multifocal to diffuse areas of necrosis, with intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions in hepatocytes. Intranuclear and intracytoplasmic aggregates of particles morphologically resembling herpesvirus were identified in degenerating hepatocytes by electron microscopy.

Animals↗

Papilloma-like virus infection in Bolivian side-neck turtles.

Five Bolivian side-neck turtles had multifocal small, round to confluent, white skin lesions distributed over the head. Several gram-negative microorganisms were isolated from the lesions. Light microscopy revealed hyperkeratosis and hyperplasia of the epidermis. Ultrastructural evaluation demonstrated crystalline aggregates of virus particles within nuclei of cells in the stratum granulosum and free within the stratum corneum. On the basis of size, location, arrangement, and tissue affected, the particles resembled papillomaviruses.

Animals↗

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis: clinicopathologic study.

Chronic arthritis caused by caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus was observed after the introduction of new animals into a goat herd. There were high frequency of carpal hygroma and clinical signs of stiffness. The disease was progressive and produced a debilitating lameness among 30% of the affected animals. Laboratory findings were limited to alterations in synovial fluid which showed increased numbers of lymphocytes. Pathologic changes were observed in the joints, bursae, and adjacent tissues. Vascular injury and capillary leakage resulted in exudation into synovial cavities. Fibrin coated the synovial lining and formed (amorphous) long thread-like or broad-based villi. The articular cartilage was eroded. Cartilage erosion and penetration of the articular cartilage by pannus were associated with the presence of subchondral pseudocysts. The morphologic changes in bone and synovial tissues were like those described in human rheumatoid arthritis, except that rheumatoid nodules were not observed.

Animals↗

Illness associated with paramyxo-like virus infection in a zoologic collection of snakes.

Of 438 snakes in a zoologic collection, 35 died during a 3-month period; all were members of the family Viperidae. Clinical signs consisted of gaping of the mouth followed within 1 day by convulsions. All necropsied animals had a mucoid exudate throughout the respiratory tract. Histologic evaluation of lung revealed evidence of interstitial pneumonia, with occasional eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions in epithelial cells. A paramyxo-like virus, isolated in viper heart cells from lung tissue, was observed by electron microscopy to be budding from cell membranes. The virus hemagglutinated chicken red blood cells at 5 C, and antibody titers were assayed by hemagglutination inhibition. In a random survey of 22 snakes from the zoologic collection, antibody titers to the virus ranged from 1/20 to 1/2,560.

Animals↗

Morphological and immunological comparison of caprine arthritis encephalitis and ovine progressive pneumonia viruses.

Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) causes a variety of pathological conditions ranging from mild to very severe and from acute to chronic, depending upon the age of initial infection and other variables. Although the virus has been reported to have properties of characteristic of retroviruses and to be related to maedi-visna virus (also called progressive pneumonia virus [PPV]), relatively little information about its morphological and immunological characteristics has been reported. We describe the morphological features of CAEV replicating in cultured caprine cells. Although the virus replicates slowly and very little virus is released from productively infected cells, it is apparent that the morphogenesis of CAEV is strikingly similar to that of maedi-visna. After the transmission of CAEV to a more permissive permanent cell line derived from Himalayan tahr ovary, it was possible to grow and purify enough virus to initiate biochemical characterization. The structural proteins of CAEV are generally very similar to those of PPV, suggesting that the two viruses are closely related but not identical. This was substantiated by showing that serum from a CAEV-infected goat immunoprecipitated both CAEV and PPV virion structural antigens from extracts of radiolabeled virus and also precipitated putative nonstructural viral antigens from extracts of both CAEV- and PPV-infected cells.

Animals↗

Paramyxo-like virus infection in a rock rattlesnake.

A rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus) with a history of progressive central nervous disease was submitted for necropsy. The histopathologic findings included evidence of interstitial pneumonia, multifocal areas of gliosis in the brain, and ballooning degeneration and demyelination of brainstem and upper spinal cord axons. By electron microscopy, brainstem tissue was found to contain numerous virus particles in the extracellular spaces. A paramyxo-like virus, isolated in viper heart cells from lung tissue, was observed by electron microscopy to be similar in size and shape to the particles seen in nerve tissue.

Animals↗

Poxlike skin lesions in captive caimans.

Three juvenile captive spectacled caimans (Caiman sclerops) had scattered, gray-white, circular, 1- to 3-mm skin lesions. In one caiman, the lesions were particularly prominent on the phalanges, palpebrae, and integument overlying the maxillae and mandible. Digital biopsy revealed large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions within epithelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy of lesions from the lower jaw revealed viral particles morphologically similar to poxvirus.

Alligators and Crocodiles↗

Herpesvirus-like infection of the venom gland of Siamese cobras.

The light and electron microscopic appearance of venom glands from two Siamese cobra snakes with a history of production of poor-quality venom was determined. Light microscopy revealed degeneration and necrosis of patches of columnar epithelial cells of glands and infiltration of the subepithelium by inflammatory cells. The lumina contained debris, venom, and necrotic cells. Electron microscopy revealed a deficiency of microvilli on the luminal surfaces of both degenerated and necrotic epithelial cells. The lumina contained fragmented microvilli, coated vesicles containing venom, and degenerated and necrotic cells. Naked and enveloped herpesvirus-like particles were seen in necrotic and ruptured cells. Occasionally, naked herpesvirus-like particles were seen in the nuclei of attached epithelial cells. It was concluded that herpesvirus-like infection of the venom gland was the probable cause of the production of poor-quality venom.

Animals↗

Ehrlichiosis in wolves, dogs, and wolf-dog crosses.

Canine ehrlichiosis was diagnosed in wolves, dogs, and wolf-dog crosses at a small zoo in northcentral Florida. Five of 9 adult canids and all 8 pups confined to a common kennel died as a result of the infection. The epizootic was associated with a massive Rhipicephalus sanguineus infestation. Hematologic and pathologic findings in an adult wolf-dog cross that died were characteristic of canine ehrlichiosis. That animal and four other canids were seropositive for Ehrlichia canis. No deaths occurred following the oral treatment of remaining canids with tetracycline hydrochloride and the treatment of canids and premises with acaricides.

Animals↗

Mycotic pneumonia in mariculture-reared green sea turtles.

Microbiologic examination of 29 juvenile green sea turtles with a buoyancy abnormality revealed pulmonary infection with Sporotrichium sp, Cladosporium sp, and Paecilomyces sp. Histologic examination of the lungs revealed granulomatous lesions containing branching septate hyphae. The diagnosis was mycotic pneumonia.

Animals↗

Effects of influenza, mumps, and western equine encephalitis viruses on fetal rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Pregnant Rhesus monkeys were infected via instillation of influenza, mumps and western equine encephalomyelitis viruses respectively into the amniotic sacs at approximately 90 days gestation to determine if fetal infections would occur. Virus was recovered from fetal tissues after seven days in 100% of the exposed animals. Thus, the viruses are capable of causing fetal infection. Rhesus monkey fetuses were inoculated with influenza, mumps and WEE viruses by the direct intracerebral route at approximately 90 days gestation to determine possible teratogenicity of the viruses. influenza virus caused no malformations or measurable fetal effects. Mumps virus resulted in significant fetal mortality. WEE virus resulted in a 100% incidence of encephalitis and hydrocephalus. Thus, mumps and WEE viruses are teratogens in primates and are potential teratogens of man.

Animals↗