Nosocomial ultraviolet keratoconjunctivitis.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L G Smith.
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Six-day-old turkeys were inoculated with turkey coronavirus (TCV) and an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (isolate R98/5) that were isolated from poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS)-affected turkeys. Turkeys inoculated with only R98/5 did not develop clinically apparent disease, and only mild disease and moderate growth depression were observed in turkeys inoculated with only TCV. Turkeys dually inoculated with TCV and R98/5 developed severe enteritis with high mortality (38/48, 79%) and marked growth depression. R98/5 infection resulted in attaching/effacing (AE) intestinal lesions characteristic of EPEC: adherence of bacterial microcolonies to intestinal epithelium with degeneration and necrosis of epithelium at sites of bacterial attachment. AE lesions were more extensive and were detected for a prolonged duration in dually inoculated turkeys compared with turkeys inoculated with only R98/5. An apparent synergistic effect in dually inoculated turkeys was indicated by increased mortality, enhanced growth depression, and enhanced AE lesion development. The results suggest that TCV promoted intestinal colonization by R98/5; however, R98/5 did not appear to alter TCV infection. The present study provides a possible etiologic explanation for PEMS.
A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure and two monoclonal antibody (MAb)-based immunohistochemical procedures were developed for detection of turkey coronavirus (TCV) in tissues and intestinal contents/dropping samples. The RT-PCR, MAb-based fluorescent antibody (FA), and MAb-based immunoperoxidase (IP) procedures were compared with virus isolation (VI) for detection of TCV in experimentally infected turkeys. TCV was detected in experimentally infected turkeys as early as day 1 postexposure (PE) by each of the four detection procedures. TCV was detected as late as day 35 PE by FA or IP and days 42 and 49 PE by VI and RT-PCR, respectively. With VI as a reference, sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR were 93% and 92%, respectively; specificity of both FA and IP was 96%, and sensitivities were 69% and 61%, respectively. Each of the examined procedures was highly specific, but the RT-PCR procedure was also highly sensitive. These findings demonstrate the utility of both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR for detection of TCV. In addition, the findings indicate that RT-PCR is a highly sensitive and specific alternative to conventional diagnostic procedures.
The nucleocapsid (N) gene of turkey coronavirus (TCV) was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, cloned, and expressed in the baculovirus expression system. A recombinant baculovirus containing the TCV N gene (rBTCV/N) was identified by polymerase chain reaction and expression of TCV N protein as determined by western immunoblot analysis. Two TCV-specific proteins, 52 and 43 kDa, were expressed by rBTCV/N; one of these proteins, p52, was comparable in size to native TCV N protein. Baculovirus-expressed N proteins were used as antigen in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of TCV-specific antibodies. The ELISA detected antibodies specific for TCV and infectious bronchitis virus, a closely related avian coronavirus, but did not detect antibodies specific for other avian viruses (avian influenza, avian reovirus, avian paramyxovirus 3, avian adenovirus 1, or Newcastle disease virus). These findings indicate that baculovirus-expressed TCV N protein is a suitable source of antigen for ELISA-based detection of TCV-specific antibodies in turkeys.
Homeless people in America are at risk for numerous health hazards. Diarrhea and consequent dehydration commonly affect homeless infants and children. Dehydration, if not treated, can quickly become a medical emergency. If, however, signs of diarrhea and dehydration are recognized and treated early, medical complications may be avoided. Fortunately, some homeless people now have access to shelter facilities that provide health education and services. Education is a fundamental tool in the prevention of disease. For homeless children sick with diarrhea, an educated parent may mean the difference between life and death. Therefore, an educational program was developed to help homeless parents recognize and treat mild, acute diarrhea and secondary dehydration. Participants were urged to treat mild diarrhea at home with oral rehydration therapy, thus preventing expensive medical treatment and hospitalization. The project was based on a format used in workshops designed for battered women's shelters. The program's philosophy reflects the belief that people possess many answers to problems, but often lack the opportunity or encouragement to make use of their knowledge.
Young adult rats were given three weekly intratracheal instillations of 30 mg of raw oil shale or spent oil shale suspended in 1.0 ml sterile physiological saline. Positive control groups received similar instillations of 30 mg or 5 mg of quartz. Animals were sacrificed and tissue samples taken for histopathology and biochemical analyses at 3 weeks, 7 weeks, 4 months, and 8 months following the first instillation. Rats exposed to raw shale, spent shale or quartz had increased lung weights compared with controls. Microscopically, all exposed groups developed granulomatous pneumonia and alveolar lipoproteinosis; pulmonary fibrosis was most severe in the quartz-exposed groups and progressed with time in these groups. Total amounts of pulmonary hydroxyproline, prolyl hydroxylase, total protein, and lipid phosphate were increased in shale or quartz-exposed groups; however, concentration of these substances on a per gram of lung tissue basis was not different from control groups.
Tom turkeys were experimentally inoculated with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus or Highlands J (HJ) virus; semen was examined for presence of virus and ability to transmit infection by artificial insemination. Mild depression and inappetence were observed in tom turkeys inoculated with either EEE virus or HJ virus. Toms were viremic on days 1-2 postinoculation (PI), and virus was shed in semen on days 1-5 PI. Semen collected from EEE-virus-inoculated or HJ-virus-inoculated toms on days 1-2 PI and inseminated into turkey breeder hens transmitted the infection. EEE virus was detected in one of 10 hens after insemination with semen from EEE-virus-inoculated toms, and HJ virus was detected in three of 10 hens after insemination with semen from HJ-virus-inoculated toms. These results indicate that semen is a potential vehicle for transmission of EEE virus and HJ virus.
Turkey breeder hens were experimentally infected with strains of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus or Highlands J (HJ) virus previously isolated from turkey hens experiencing decreased egg production. Depression and inappetance were observed on day 1 postexposure (PE) in hens inoculated with either EEE virus or HJ virus, and egg production fell in each virus-inoculated group from approximately 75% to less than 20% within 2-3 days PE. Egg production remained depressed (less than 20%) for 15 days in EEE-virus-inoculated hens and for 7 days in HJ-virus-inoculated hens. EEE virus and HJ virus were recovered from various tissues on days 1-5 PE, and virus was detected in eggs laid on days 2-5 PE. The findings of this study confirm that EEE virus and HJ virus are potential causes of decreased egg production in turkey breeder hens.
Two-week-old broiler chickens were experimentally infected with either eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus or Highland J (HJ) virus. Mortality rates were 24/30 (80%) in EEE-virus-inoculated chickens and 2/30 (7%) in HJ-virus-inoculated chickens. Chickens inoculated with EEE virus exhibited severe depression and somnolence on days 1-6 postexposure (PE), with 17/30 birds dying during this period. After day 6 PE, EEE-virus-inoculated chickens exhibited abdominal distention, depression, and growth retardation, and an additional seven chickens died. Pathologic changes in EE-virus-inoculated chickens dying on days 1-6 PE consisted of multifocal necrosis in the heart and liver, as well as lymphoid depletion and necrosis in the thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius. Ascites, pericardial effusion, and right ventricular dilatation of the heart were the predominant lesions in chickens dying after day 6 PE. No clinical signs were observed in sham-inoculated controls or in most HJ-virus-inoculated chickens. Ascites, pericardial effusion, and multifocal myocardial necrosis were observed in 2/30 HJ-virus-inoculated chickens that died or were euthanatized after development of clinical signs. These findings indicate that both EEE virus and HJ virus are pathogenic for young chickens.
The pregnant trauma patient with a blunt or penetrating injury presents a unique and challenging clinical situation. Two patients must be treated simultaneously: the mother and fetus. The author reviews the assessment changes of pregnancy, which can both mask and mimic injury. The unique injuries that occur in this patient population are described, including abruptio placentae, preterm labor, fetomaternal hemorrhage, and uterine and fetal trauma. Successful resuscitation of the pregnant trauma patient requires early and frequent collaboration with the obstetrical staff. Within a team approach, the dual assessment of mother and fetus can render prompt identification and treatment of injuries. Diagnostic tests, including laboratory data, radiographic exams, and abdominal and obstetrical procedures, are reviewed.
Depression, somnolence, and increased mortality were observed in 2-week-old turkeys inoculated intramuscularly with either eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus or Highlands J (HJ) virus. Mortality rates in EEE virus- and HJ virus-inoculated turkeys were 7/30 (23%) and 9/30 (27%), respectively; no sham-inoculated controls died. Both EEE virus- and HJ virus-inoculated turkeys developed viremia that lasted 2 days; peak mean titers were 5.5 and 3.2 log10 plaque-forming units per ml of blood, respectively. Pathologic changes in both EEE virus- and HJ virus-inoculated turkeys consisted primarily of multifocal necrosis in the heart, kidney, and pancreas, and lymphoid necrosis and depletion in the thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius. The findings indicate that EEE virus and HJ virus are pathogenic for young turkeys.
A turkey coronavirus (TCV [NC95]) was characterized by antigenic comparison with other avian and mammalian coronaviruses using immunofluorescence (FA) and immunoperoxidase (IP) procedures. Based on FA and IP procedures, TCV (NC95) was determined to be antigenically indistinguishable from turkey enteric (bluecomb) coronavirus (TECV). In addition, TCV (NC95) and TECV were found to be closely related to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); a one-way antigenic relationship was demonstrated. Polyclonal antibodies specific for TECV and IBV reacted strongly against TCV (NC95), as determined by FA procedures. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for IBV matrix protein (MAb 919) reacted strongly against TCV (NC95) and TECV as determined by FA and IP procedures; an IBV peplomer protein-specific MAb (MAb 94) did not recognize the two viruses. These studies suggest an identification of TCV (NC95) as a strain of TECV, and provide evidence of a close antigenic relationship between these viruses and IBV.