Biomedical subjects

L Eriksen

Publications and source records attributed to L Eriksen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Intestinal parasites in swine in the Nordic countries: multilevel modelling of Ascaris suum infections in relation to production factors.

In Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, 413 sow herds were randomly selected for sampling. Faeces from pigs of 7 age groups/categories were examined for helminth eggs (11,233 individual samples), and an accompanying questionnaire was completed at each visit. In total, 1138 pigs on 230 farms were found to be positive for Ascaris suum. Considerable differences in the occurrence of A. suum could be observed directly for several of 20 independent variables at the herd or category level. However, given that univariate analyses may be severely affected by confounding of covariates resulting in spurious inference, additional multivariate analyses were undertaken. An ordinary logistic regression on Ascaris positive/negative farms showed that Denmark had the highest frequency of infected herds, while Iceland and Finland had the lowest frequencies and that herds using 'late weaning' and 'Class 2' drugs (pyrantel, levamisole) were most often infected. Because many herds were found to be totally negative for A. suum, mixed hierarchical logistic-normal regression models (both the penalized quasi-likelihood and the Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods) were developed for both a full (all herds) and a reduced (the 230 infected herds) data set using either a cut-off of > 0 eggs per gram (epg) or > 200 epg to counter for false-positive egg counts. Estimates for identical models, but where the animal level variance was constrained to the binomial assumption, were also calculated. Significant covariates were robust to model development with 'Age group', 'Country', 'Weaning age', 'Water system' and simple interactions between the latter two and 'Age group' being significantly associated with the occurrence of A. suum, while all variables concerning anthelmintic drug, anthelmintic strategy, floor type, bedding, dung removal, washing and disinfection were not. These findings are discussed in the light of the complex relationship between A. suum and its pig host.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1999

Experimental Ascaris suum infection in the pig: protective memory response after three immunizations and effect of intestinal adult worm population.

The protective immune response to larval migration in pigs, with or without adult intestinal worm populations, 10 weeks after 3 weekly Ascaris suum inoculations, was studied in 45 pigs. Controlled adult worm populations were achieved by oral transfer of 10 adult worms to previously immunized pigs after anthelmintic drenching. A significant reduction in larval recovery from lungs on day 7, and small intestine on day 14, was observed in immunized pigs compared with previously uninfected control pigs after challenge inoculation. The strong anamnestic response to larval migration was characterized by blood eosinophilia and specific immune responses measured by peripheral blood enzyme-linked immunospot and immunosorbent assays using larval excretory-secretory products and adult body fluid as well as Western blotting with a panel of stage-specific A. suum antigens. Immune detection of a previously unreported 10 kDa band, specific to the L2 larval stage and egg hatch fluid, emerged in all pigs after challenge, while the major adult body fluid constituent, ABA-1, remained unrecognized. No significant effect of an intestinal adult worm burden on the larval recovery after a challenge inoculation or on the immune response before or after challenge inoculation could be detected. These results indicate that a significant protective memory immune response to A. suum challenge inoculation can be induced in pigs, and that this protective immunity is not significantly modulated by the presence of adult parasites in the gut.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1999

Fast acting nervous regulation of immunoglobulin A secretion from isolated perfused porcine ileum.

BACKGROUND: The intestinal mucosa harbours a large number of nerve fibres and also plasma cells, providing the anatomical basis for studies of neuroimmune interactions. AIMS: To study the effect of different neurotransmitters and electrical stimulation of the extrinsic intestinal nerves on secretion of immunoglobulin A (IgA). METHODS: IgA was measured, using a specific ELISA, in the luminal and venous effluent from isolated vascularly perfused porcine ileal segments with preserved extrinsic nerve supply. RESULTS: Infusion of several neuropeptides stimulated IgA output. Somatostatin (10(-8) M) stimulated IgA secretion in the luminal effluent from 46.6 (14.3) to 79.3 (19.0) microg/5 min and increased the venous output to 148.3 (23.0)% (n=6) of basal output, whereas noradrenaline (10(-6) M) inhibited the secretion (to 49.2 (6.5)% of basal output, n=6). Electrical stimulation of the mixed extrinsic nerves supplying the intestinal segment had no effect by itself. However, electrical stimulation during infusion of alpha adrenergic blockers or coinfusion of both alpha adrenergic and muscarinic blockers resulted in an immediate and significant increase in IgA, an effect that was abolished by nicotinic blockade. CONCLUSION: The extrinsic nerve supply to the intestine could be involved in fast acting regulation of mucosal immune functions.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Centrids, a pair of asymmetrically arranged sense organs in Ascaris suum (Nematoda, Ascaridoidea).

Two prominent, asymmetrically placed cuticular somatic sensilla, called centrids, are reported in Ascaris suum Goeze, 1782, the pig roundworm. The right centrid is situated much more anteriorly on the body than is the left one. The centrids are globular in the fourth-stage larva and obviously void of an apical pore, suggesting at least a tactile function. In adult worms, the centrids are platelike, lacking a globular expansion. The observation on the presence of asymmetrically placed centrids in A. suum gives further impetus to the importance assigned to sense organs in the classification and identification of nematodes. The name centrid was originally chosen to indicate the placement of the papillae in the midbody region of worms. The name centrid, rather than, e.g. postdeirid, is proposed to be used when denoting asymmetrically oriented midbody sensilla among the Ascaridida and papillae, when shown homologous to these, of species within the Rhabditea generally. This proposal is in line with the name "Mittelkörperpapillen" originally adopted to denote homologous sensillae in Cucullanidae (Seuratoidea) by Törnquist in 1931.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

The morphogenesis of Ascaris suum to the infective third-stage larvae within the egg.

Studies of the morphology of Ascaris suum larvae developing in the egg during embryonation in vitro at room temperature showed that 2 molts take place within the egg. The first larval stage (L1) appeared in the egg after 17-22 days of cultivation, the first molt to the second larval stage (L2) took place from day 22 to day 27, and the second molt to the third larval stage (L3) started on day 27 and continued during the 60-day observation period. Infectivity of the eggs was studied by oral egg inoculation in mice and showed that the L3 are the infective stage for mice. Molting to the L3 stage occurs gradually over a period of 2-6 wk, and it is recommended to have an additional maturation period so the infectivity of an egg batch may reach maximum level.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Hemorrhagic septicemia in fallow deer (Dama dama) caused by Pasteurella multocida multocida.

Four outbreaks of hemorrhagic septicemia caused by Pasteurella multocida multocida occurred in a population of 1,800 fallow deer (Dama dama) during 1992-1996. A total of 340 fallow deer were submitted for postmortem examination. Pasteurellosis was diagnosed in 273 of 312 deer suspected of having septicemia. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from 257 animals, and the diagnosis was based on typical pathologic changes alone in the other 16 animals. Pasteurella multocida was isolated in pure culture from 219 of 248 samples of cerebrospinal fluid. Eighteen animals were observed moribund with severe depression, foamy nasal discharge, and respiratory distress, and 257 were found dead. Major clinical signs and pathologic changes included extensive swelling of the head and the neck and peracute or acute septic pneumonia, petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages on serous membranes, and severely hemorrhagic adrenal glands and abomasum. Rhinitis and necrotic pharyngeal mucosae were common. Histologically, the most advanced lesions were in the nasal mucosa and pharynx. The swelling of the head and the neck arose from a diffuse cellulitis in the subcutaneous and intermuscular tissues. The earliest lesions in the lungs included large numbers of bacteria in the pulmonary capillaries, but various degrees of fibrinous exudation to the alveoli and infiltration with heterophils usually were observed.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed1999

Iron status and iron balance during pregnancy. A critical reappraisal of iron supplementation.

BACKGROUND: Iron supplementation in pregnancy is a controversial issue. The aim of this review was to summarize the results of relevant papers on this subject. METHODS: Placebo-controlled studies on iron treatment in pregnancy were identified from the Cochrane database. RESULTS: Among fertile women, 20% have iron reserves of >500 mg, which is the required minimum during pregnancy; 40% have iron stores of 100-500 mg, and 40% have virtually no iron stores. The demand for absorbed iron increases from 0.8 mg/day in early pregnancy to 7.5 mg/day in late pregnancy. Dietary iron intake in fertile women is median 9 mg/day, i.e. the majority of women have an intake below the estimated allowance of 12 18 mg/day. Iron absorption increases in pregnancy, but not enough to prevent iron deficiency anemia in 20%, of women not taking supplementary iron. Iron-treated pregnant women have greater iron reserves, higher hemoglobin levels, and a lower prevalence of iron deficiency anemia than placebo-treated women both in pregnancy as well as postpartum. Furthermore, children born to iron-treated mothers have higher serum ferritin levels than those born to placebo-treated mothers. An iron supplement of 65 mg/day from 20 weeks of gestation is adequate to prevent iron deficiency anemia. CONCLUSIONS: In order to avoid iron deficiency in pregnancy, prophylactic iron supplement should be considered. Iron supplements may be administered on a general or selective basis. The selective approach implies screening with serum ferritin in early pregnancy, in order to identify women who can manage without prophylactic iron.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Typing of Pasteurella multocida from haemorrhagic septicaemia in Danish fallow deer (Dama dama).

Isolates of Pasteurella multocida ssp. multocida (n = 31) from a Danish population of fallow deer which succumbed to haemorrhagic septicaemia during 1992 1993 and isolates from the palatine tonsils of apparently healthy fallow deer from the same area (n=6) were typed and compared with P. multocida from other sources. Plasmids were net observed in the fallow deer strains and one unique pattern was observed by ribotyping using HindIII and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis using SanlI as restriction endonuclease. All Danish fallow deer isolates belonged to serotype B:3,4. On restriction endonuclease analysis using HhaI as restriction endonuclease, all had a profile identical to that of a fallow deer isolate from the United Kingdom: profile 0033 of Wilson et al. On restriction endonuclease analysis using HpaII as restriction endonuclease, the Danish fallow deer isolates had a unique profile, designated 0062, which differed slightly from that of a fallow deer isolate from the United Kingdom. P. multocida from other animal species were genotypically different from the fallow deer isolates. It is concluded that a specific clone of P. multocida was responsible for the outbreak of haemorrhagic septicaemia among Danish fallow deer. A carrier rate of 27% was demonstrated among apparently normal animals from the same population.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Schistosoma japonicum infection and serum and tissue concentrations of retinol and zinc in pigs.

The effects of Schistosoma japonicum infection on the concentrations of zinc in serum, liver, spleen and muscle and on the concentrations of retinol in serum and liver were studied in 48 pigs. Twenty-four of the pigs were each infected by intramuscular inoculation with 2000 cercariae of S. japonicum in medium and the rest were similarly inoculated with parasite-free medium, as controls. On each of weeks 4, 11, 17 and 24 post-inoculation (PI), 12 pigs (six of which were infected) were killed. Tissue samples were collected at necropsy. Blood samples were taken prior to infection and at necropsy from all pigs, and bi-weekly from the pigs killed 24 weeks post-infection. In an analysis of variance in which serum retinol was the dependent variable, the interaction infection x time was found to be significant (P = 0.009). The main reason for this significance was that the concentration of retinol in the sera collected from infected pigs at necropsy at 11 weeks PI was significantly lower than in the control pigs killed at the same time (P = 0.02). Although, overall, infection led to higher zinc concentrations in the liver (P = 0.04) and spleen tissue (P = 0.01), it had no apparent effect on liver retinol, muscle zinc or serum zinc. However, among the pigs which were tested bi-weekly, serum zinc was consistently lower in the infected pigs than in the controls (P = 0.01). The transient declines seen in the concentrations of retinol and zinc in sera from the infected pigs were not accompanied by similar changes in the tissue concentrations, and may reflect an acute-phase response to infection. Schistosoma japonicum infection in pigs is considered a useful model of S. japonicum infection (and probably also of S. mansoni infection) in humans. Similar effects, if they occur in the human infections, may lead to misclassification of vitamin-A and zinc status in endemic populations if this status is based on serum retinol and serum zinc.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Zone therapy of children with nocturnal enuresis].

The purpose of the study was to clarify whether reflexology is a relevant treatment for enuresis nocturna, and to test a research design applicable to controlled experiments with reflexology. An unblinded method was used comparing a treatment group (1) receiving reflexology to a non-treatment group (2) keeping the same record of symptoms. At the start of the study, the volumes of night urine in the two groups were comparable. By the end of the study, there was no significant decrease in the volume of night urine in either of the groups. Two children in the treatment group and one in the non-treatment group became dry during the night in the course of the study. In conclusion, reflexology given as 14 treatment sessions over a period of four months did not result in a significant fall in enuresis nocturna in children aged seven to eleven years old. It must be concluded that the treatment result can not be distinguished from the conditions in the non-treatment group even though the average night diuresis in group one showed a slightly decreasing tendency while morning diuresis increased, in contrast to group two which exhibited a slight increase in night diuresis. As the total diuresis remained constant, this could be interpreted as an increased urinary bladder capacity, but in both cases the changes were far from significant.

Child↗

PubMed1998

Intestinal parasites in swine in the Nordic countries: prevalence and geographical distribution.

In Denmark (DK), Finland (FIN), Iceland (I), Norway (N), and Sweden (S), 516 swine herds were randomly selected in 1986-1988. Individual faecal analyses (mean: 27.9 per herd) from eight age categories of swine showed that Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum spp., Isospora suis, and Eimeria spp. were common, while Trichuris suis and Strongyloides ransomi-like eggs occurred sporadically. Large fatteners and gilts were most frequently infected with A. suum with maximum prevalences of 25-35% in DK, N and S, 13% in I and 5% in FIN. With the exception of the remarkably low A. suum prevalence rates in FIN, no clear national differences were observed. Oesophagostomum spp. were most prevalent in adult pigs in the southern regions (21-43% in DK and southern S), less common in the northern regions (4-17% adult pigs infected), and not recorded in I. I. suis was common in piglets in DK, I, and S (20-32%), while < 1% and 5% were infected in N and FIN, respectively. Eimeria spp. had the highest prevalences in adult pigs (max. 9%) without clear geographical differences. I. suis and Eimeria spp. were recorded for the first time in I, and I. suis for the first time in N.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1998

Embryonation and infectivity of Ascaris suum eggs isolated from worms expelled by pigs treated with albendazole , pyrantel pamoate, ivermectin or piperazine dihydrochloride.

The effect of anthelmintic treatment of pigs on the embryonation and infectivity of Ascaris suum eggs isolated from expelled worms was investigated. Four groups of two naturally infected pigs were dosed with albendazole, pyrantel pamoate, ivermectin or piperazine dihydrochloride, respectively. Following worm expulsion, the eggs were removed from the uteri of female worms and embryonated in sulphuric acid. The infectivity of the embryonated eggs was tested through mouse inoculation. Egg development appeared normal in cultures from worms of the piperazine. pyrantel and ivermectin treated groups. In the albendazole cultures, egg development was largely arrested at the one-cell stage (81%). Where development occurred, irregular cell division was observed and only 7% of the eggs in the culture developed into fullgrown larvae. Following mouse inoculation with 2500 embryonated eggs, significantly lower lung larval counts on day 8 post inoculation (p.i.) were observed for mice in the piperazine and pyrantel treated groups (P < 0.01) compared to untreated controls. The larvae that developed in the eggs from ivermectin and albendazole treated groups appeared fully infective for mice. It was concluded that ovicidal activity of albendazole in vivo inhibits subsequent A. suum egg development in vitro; albendazole is, therefore, not suitable to obtain worms for egg embryonation to produce experimental inoculums. The anthelmintic treatment of pigs with ivermectin had only a limited effect on both embryonation and infectivity of A. suum eggs isolated from expelled worms.

Albendazole↗

PubMed1998

Prevalence of eating disorders in Norwegian general hospitals 1990-1994: admissions per year and seasonality.

OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence of eating disorders in patients admitted to somatic hospitals. METHOD: For all, approximately 3.3 million, admissions to Norwegian general hospitals in the period 1990-1994, admissions with the primary diagnoses for the eating disorders anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) were selected. Data on gender, age groups, emergency admission, different hospital types, length of stay, seasonal differences, and differences along the latitudes were related to the primary diagnosis. RESULTS: A small number of men with eating disorders were admitted; 9-17 times more women were admitted (140-183 female and 11-15 male admissions per year). The male/female ratio was on the mean 8% for the period. About two thirds to three fourths were emergency admissions. The mean length of stay was 12-19 days, and the median stay was 6-8 days. A significant (p = .03) season of admission was found. A significant number of admissions occurred in the beginning of March and a minimum in June. The best model was two harmonics without trend. DISCUSSION: There are few reports on eating disorders in somatic inpatients in the literature, but our results indicate that it is important to consider the general hospital in this connection. Bulimia nervosa was rather unusual in the present study, while anorexia nervosa was prevalent, specifically for women. Seasonality has rarely been reported in relation to hospitalization.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Distribution of Ascaris suum in experimentally and naturally infected pigs and comparison with Ascaris lumbricoides infections in humans.

This paper describes the distribution of Ascaris suum in experimentally and naturally infected pigs, and offers a comparison with A. lumbricoides infections in humans. In the first study, worms were recovered post-mortem from a group of 38 pigs that had been trickle inoculated with 10,000 infective A. suum eggs twice weekly for 12 weeks. In the second study, worms were collected from a group of 49 pigs that had been kept on a pasture contaminated with infective A. suum eggs for 10 weeks, after which they received treatment with an anthelmintic; they then were turned out on the same pasture for a second 10-week period before slaughter. The worm burdens of the naturally infected pigs were recorded both at treatment and post-mortem. Mean worm counts were similar at all occasions but the prevalence of infection was higher in the trickle infected and naturally reinfected pigs. Furthermore, the prevalence in naturally infected pigs increased significantly over the study period. Worm burden distributions in all groups were heavily overdispersed, but the distribution patterns differed significantly between groups: lower exposure (initial natural infection) gave a low prevalence and an almost uniform distribution of worm burdens among infected hosts. Continued or higher exposure (trickle and natural reinfection) resulted in increased prevalence and a reduction in the proportion of hosts with increasing worm load. A positive correlation was found between initial and reinfection worm burdens in the naturally infected pig population, suggesting that individual pigs are predisposed to a high or low intensity of infection. The prevalence and intensity as well as the distribution observed for A. suum infection in pigs were comparable to those reported for A. lumbricoides in endemic areas, and there is evidence for predisposition to A. suum in pigs, with an estimated correlation coefficient similar to that found in humans. It is concluded that A. suum infections in pigs are a suitable model to study the population dynamics of A. lumbricoides in human populations.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1998

False-positive Trichuris suis egg counts in pigs in relation to coprophagia.

Sixteen non-infected control pigs housed together with 16 pigs infected with Trichuris suis, excreted T. suis eggs in their faeces (range 20-4, 960 eggs per gram faeces (EPG)). When the control pigs were moved to clean pens, their egg counts dropped to zero EPG within five days. A significant correlation was found between T. suis egg counts of infected and control pigs penned together (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). These results suggest that false-positive faecal egg counts may be the result of coprophagia.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Early Ascaris suum migration in mice as a model for pigs.

A study was made of the early migratory pattern of Ascaris suum in mice. Mice were each inoculated orally with a single dose of 2,500 infective eggs and then killed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hr postinoculation (PI). At necropsy, it was observed that the larvae had penetrated the mouse cecum and colon and had reached the liver by 4 hr PI. This migratory behavior closely mimics what is observed in the pig and suggests that the mouse may serve as an experimental model for intestinal immunity in the early phase of A. suum infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Growth and structural features of the adult stage of Ascaris suum (Nematoda, Ascaridoidea) from experimentally infected domestic pigs.

For studying the morphogenesis of the adult stage of Ascaris suum, worms were obtained from experimentally infected domestic pigs. Structural and morphometric features of A. suum are analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that the increase in length of the worm from days 35 to 56 is based on a region-specific lengthening of individual transverse annuli in the cuticle. An increased worm size also results in an increased diameter of different cuticular sense organs. It is shown that a pair of lateral midbody papillae, the centrids, are prominent sensilla in the adult male and female worm. The centrids have an asymmetric placement, the right centrid being more anterior on the worm than the left.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

In vitro maintenance of Schistosoma japonicum and surgical transfer from donor to naïve recipient pigs.

An objective of this study was to find a culture medium and a temperature range suitable for in vitro maintenance of adult Schistosoma japonicum during surgical transplantation experiments. Adult S. japonicum were cultivated in four different media (NCTC 135, NCTC 109, RPMI 1640 and 0.85% physiological saline) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated normal pig serum (hiNPS) at either 4 degrees C, 22-25 degrees C (room temperature) or 37 degrees C. Based on survival and morphologic evaluation, NCTC 135 at room temperature was found to be the best medium/temperature combination for maintenance of worms. An additional objective was to develop a method for transplanting adult S. japonicum from experimentally infected donor pigs to naïve recipient pigs. Six Landrace/Yorkshire crossbred pigs were used as donors to supply worms for two recipient pigs. Worms for transplantation were obtained by perfusion of the mesenteric veins of the donor pigs and maintained for a maximum of 3 h in NCTC 135 + 10% hiNPS at room temperature. A total of 148 and 132 worms were surgically transferred by way of an infusion tube into caecal veins of the two recipients. Six weeks after transplantation, 14% and 36% of the transferred worms were recovered by perfusion and subsequent manual inspection of the mesenteric veins of the two recipient pigs, respectively. The successful results suggest that surgical transfer of S. japonicum worms from donor to naïve recipient pigs may be useful for future studies on population genetics, dynamics and regulation in the pig/S. japonicum model.

Animals↗