Biomedical subjects

M T Kearney

Publications and source records attributed to M T Kearney.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1985

Distribution of staphylococcal species on clinically healthy cats.

Among 827 isolates derived from 113 clinically healthy cats, 12 species of staphylococci were identified. Staphylococci were isolated from each cat and from 54.9% of the anatomic sites evaluated. A mode of 6 (range = 2 to 11) of the 11 anatomic sites evaluated per cat yielded staphylococci. A mode of 8 (range = 2 to 12) isolates were found per cat. Staphylococcus simulans was the most isolated (43.9% of total) coagulase-negative species. Moreover, S simulans was the most isolated species from each of the 11 sites evaluated and, except for the mouth and haircoat, comprised greater than 50% of the isolates from each site. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most isolated (13.5% of the total) coagulase-positive species. Three other species (S epidermidis, S xylosus, and S aureus) comprised 32.2% of the isolates, and 7 species (S haemolyticus, S hominis, S hyicus, S capitis, S warneri, and S saprophyticus) comprised 10.4% of the isolates. Six species (S intermedius [96 of 112 isolates], S haemolyticus [20 of 22], S sciuri [17 of 18], S warneri [10 of 13], S hyicus [10 of 10], and S capitis [7 of 8]) were isolated primarily from household cats. Only 1 species, S xylosus (75 of 87), was isolated primarily from cattery cats. Haircoat specimens (n = 452) yielded 508 isolates (61.4% of the total) distributed among all 12 staphylococcal species and included greater than 50% of the isolates of all species other than S simulans and S sciuri. A more heterogeneous population of staphylococci was isolated from household cats than was isolated from cattery cats.

Anal Canal↗

PubMed1985

Complications following thiacetarsamide sodium therapy in Louisiana dogs with naturally-occurring heartworm disease.

Four hundred and sixteen dogs with naturally-occurring heartworm disease were evaluated for complications following thiacetarsamide sodium therapy. Of these, 109 dogs (26.2%) experienced complications. Increased lung sounds was the most commonly seen complication, followed by fever and coughing. In dogs with complications, 83.5% of them presented without clinical evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism or heart failure. There were no statistically significant differences between the age, sex, breed and body size of dogs that experienced complications following thiacetarsamide therapy and dogs that did not. Complications were most frequently seen 5 to 9 days following thiacetarsamide therapy although some dogs experienced initial complications as late as 28 days. Thirty-three of 109 dogs (33.0%) with complications responded to exercise restriction. The remaining 76 dogs with complications prior to or following thiacetarsamide required adjunct drug therapy. Of these, 35 dogs responded favorably to anti-inflammatory doses of prednisolone or prednisone. Five dogs died or were euthanatized because of the complications experienced. Eighteen of 416 dogs (4.3%) presented with clinical evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism or heart failure prior to the thiacetarsamide therapy. All 18 dogs experienced complications in spite of adjunct drug therapy and exercise restriction prior to, during, and following thiacetarsamide therapy. Survival rate following resolution of the thiacetarsamide-induced complications was greater than 98%.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Brainstem auditory-evoked potential assessment of congenital deafness in Dalmatians: associations with phenotypic markers.

To screen for congenital deafness, brainstem auditory-evoked potential (BAEP) testing was performed on 1031 Dalmatians from three geographically separated areas. Phenotypic marker assessment was done to determine markers possibly associated with deafness. Markers included sex, hair coat color, pigmentation of different areas of skin (eye rims, nose, and ears), presence of a patch, spot size and marking (density of spotting), sire and dam BAEP status, and presence of iris and retinal tapetal pigmentation. Combined data from all test sites showed 8.1% bilateral deafness (N = 83 dogs) and 21.6% unilateral deafness (N = 223), or an overall 29.7% incidence of hearing disorders. Significant (P less than 0.05) associations with deafness for the data from all test sites combined were seen for patch, sire and dam BAEP, iris pigment, and retinal pigment. However, results differed for several of the significant phenotypic markers when analyses were done on the data from the individual test sites; changes from significant to not significant were found. This suggested the existence of multiple populations of deafness patterns, and reinforced the precautionary conclusion that associations of phenotypic markers with deafness are not necessarily functionally significant.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Persistence of avian influenza viruses in water.

Persistence of five avian influenza viruses (AIVs) derived from four waterfowl species in Louisiana and representing five hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes was determined in distilled water at 17 C and 28 C. Infectivity was determined over 60 days by microtiter endpoint titration. One AIV was tested over 91 days at 4 C. Linear regression models for these viruses predicted that an initial concentration of 1 x 10(6) TCID50/ml water could remain infective for up to 207 days at 17 C and up to 102 days at 28 C. Significant differences in slopes for AIV persistence models were detected between treatment temperatures and among viruses. Results suggest that these viruses are adapted to transmission on waterfowl wintering habitats. Results also suggest a potential risk associated with waterfowl and domestic poultry sharing a common water source.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of pH, temperature, and salinity on persistence of avian influenza viruses in water.

The combined effects of water temperature, salinity, and pH on persistence of avian influenza virus (AIV) were evaluated in a model distilled-water system using three isolates from ducks sampled in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Variables were tested within the ranges normally associated with surface water. Differences were detected between temperature (17 C and 28 C), pH (6.2, 7.2, 8.2), and salinity (0 ppt and 20 ppt), with a strong interactive effect observed between pH and salinity. Estimated persistence of infectivity for 1 x 10(6) mean tissue-culture infective dose of A/mottled duck/LA/38M/87 (H6N2) was longest at 17 C/0 ppt/pH 8.2 (100 days) and shortest at 28 C/20 ppt/pH 8.2 (9 days). Differences in the response to these variables were apparent between viruses. The ability of AIV to persist in surface water was also evaluated using samples collected from varied waterfowl habitats in coastal Louisiana. Observations were consistent with the model system, with duration of infectivity decreasing with increased salinity and pH. This suggests that experimental results may have application to field conditions.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Avian influenza viruses from migratory and resident ducks of coastal Louisiana.

Cloacal and tracheal swabs were collected from 1389 hunter-killed ducks in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, during the 1986 and 1987 waterfowl seasons. Twenty-eight avian influenza viruses (AIVs) were isolated from 605 blue-winged teal (Anas discors), 75 mottled ducks (A. fulvigula), 375 gadwalls (A. stepera) and 334 green-winged teal (A. crecca). Prevalence estimates of AIV in ducks sampled during September, November, and December through January were 3.1%, 2.0%, and 0.4%, respectively. Differences in prevalence were detected by season (P = 0.044) and age class (P = 0.036). Two isolations from resident mottled ducks document transmission of AIV on these wintering areas. Much subtype diversity was present, with nine of 13 hemagglutinin (HA) and nine of nine neuraminidase (NA) subtypes recovered. Predominant HA and NA subtypes were typical of AIVs commonly associated with waterfowl. Results indicate that AIVs are transmitted in the wintering areas, and, although prevalence is low, these viruses continue to circulate within these duck populations during winter.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancement of Campylobacter jejuni virulence by serial passage in chicks.

Four isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were studied to determine changes in virulence following six serial passages in chicks. Chicks that received invasive isolates exhibited diarrhea and depressed weight gain. Immature mice were used to assess virulence of the passaged isolates of C. jejuni. Nine-day-old mice infected with passaged isolates showed lethargy, dehydration, depression, decreased weight gain, and occult blood in feces. Mouse pups inoculated with the third and sixth chick passage levels of an invasive isolate showed significant depression in mean daily weight gain and elevated mortality compared with controls and subjects inoculated with unpassaged isolates. This study demonstrated enhancement of virulence in a C. jejuni isolate following chick passage. In contrast, three other passaged isolates failed to show any consistent increase in virulence.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Heart failure: an old problem.

Heart failure is an increasingly common problem in the UK, particularly in older patients. This article reviews the available information is available on heart failure in the older population, and provides clinically useful guidelines on the investigation and treatment of patients with this condition.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of procedures to detect Chlamydia psittaci antibodies in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus).

Diagnostic serologic procedures for psittacine chlamydiosis were evaluated using experimentally inoculated cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). Chlamydia psittaci was recovered from subjects on day 16 postinoculation. Seroconversion was confirmed by the direct complement fixation (DCF) test. The blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was demonstrated to be the most sensitive of three serodiagnostic procedures evaluated from inoculation until day 24 postinfection, with 92% sensitivity and 73% specificity. The DCF test was progressively more sensitive over the duration of the experiment, attaining 100% sensitivity and specificity on the day 24 postinfection. This study confirms the ability of the DCF procedure to adequately detect C. psittaci antibodies. Limitations relating to reproducibility of serologic results under clinical conditions found in this study indicate that a further refinement of tests is required to consistently detect and quantify antibodies.

Analysis of Variance↗