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Biomedical subjects

R G Thomson

Publications and source records attributed to R G Thomson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Serological types of Pasteurella haemolytica in Kenya.

The 12 known serotypes of P. haemolytica and two biotypes A and T were found to occur in Kenya. Biotype T was more common in disease conditions than biotype A, which was more common in the nasal passages of healthy animals. Only biotypes A strains were recovered from cattle and the majority were serotypes 1 and 2, but serotypes 4 and 11 were also isolated. All serotypes were found to occur in sheep and goats, but serotypes 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 were more commonly associated with pneumonia. It was observed that chickens could harbour both biotypes A and T in pathological conditions. Biotype A serotype 2 was isolated from an adult wildebeest, but the prevalence of P. haemolytica in wild animals needs furter investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis: experimental induction in vaccinated and nonvaccinated calves.

A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the immune response induced by combined aerosol and parenteral vaccination on the lung lesions induced in calves by Pasteurella haemolytica AI. Twenty-four calves, twelve of which had been vaccinated with killed P. haemolytica by aerosol and subcutaneous injection in Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvant were challenged by intratracheal inoculation of live P. haemolytica. Serological response to vaccination was not marked but was best measured by the whole cell agglutination test or by indirect bacterial agglutination rather than by the passive haemagglutination test. Titres of vaccinates were positively correlated with the degree of pneumonic change following challenge while in nonvaccinated controls, titres were negatively correlated with lung lesions. These findings suggest the occurrence of an immunologically mediated hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the lungs of vaccinates and point to the potential efficacy of live bacterial aerosols for stimulation of protective immunity in pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1977

Pulmonary lesions induced by Pasteurella hemolytica in cattle.

Twelve four month old calves were inoculated intratracheally with a large dose of Pasteurella hemolytica and the lungs examined 18 hours, three days and seven days later. The gross and microscopic lesions were graded in each calf. The most extensive gross lesions were present at three days and were characteristic of a fibrinous pneumonia. Discrete areas of coagulation necrosis were present at three days and granulation tissue had formed around these by seven days. Characteristic swirly dark cells accumulated in alveoli and alveolar ducts and were observed from three days onwards. The gross and microscopic lesions were similar to those seen in field cases of pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The pulmonary clearance of Pasteurella hemolytica in calves infected with bovine parainfluenza-3 virus.

The purpose of this study was to determine if parainfluenza-3 virus in calves interfered with normal pulmonary bacterial clearance. Three groups (A, B and C) of four calves each were exposed to an aerosol of parainfluenza-3 virus. Three days later the four hour pulmonary clearance of Pasteurella hemolytica was determined on the first group (A), seven days later on the second (B) and 11 days later on the third (C). Group A had a mean pulmonary bacterial retention of 3.6 +/- 3.5%. Group B was 83.1 +/- 35.9% and Group C was 41.2 +/- 30.9%. The results demonstrate that parainfluenza-3 virus interfered with the pulmonary bacterial clearance of Pasteurella hemolytica particularly on day 7 and also on day 11 but not on day 3. This inhibition of pulmonary clearance caused by the virus may be a key factor in the pathogenesis of pneumonic pasteurellosis. Histological examination of the lungs did not demonstrate a correlation between pulmonary retention of bacteria and the development of pathological changes.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus infection: virus replication in bovine embryonic cell cultures and virion separation by rate-zonal centrifugation.

Replicative sequences of a bovine strain of parainfluenza type 3 virus in bovine embryonic kidney and spleen cell cultures were investigated by light and fluorescence microscopy and by ultrathin section and negative-contrast electron microscopy. Observations from light and fluorescence microscopy showed that intracytoplasmic inclusions were detected as small granules surrounding the nuclei of more than 90 percent of the cell population by day 2 postinoculation. With the increase of postexposure times, these inclusions coalesced into larger bodies which occupied large portions of the cell. Ultrastructurally, the first sign of virus development was the appearance of aggregates of viral nucleocapsids in the vicinity of the nucleus. With the concomitant accumulation of viral nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm, the virus maturation was expressed by budding processes through the cell membrane into round, oval, or elongated forms. Eosinophilic inclusions were demonstrable in many mitotic cells. Ultrastructurally, these cells were observed to produce virus particles by a process identical to that of resting cells. Virions, prepared from infected culture fluid and negatively stained, appeared to be pleomorphic and their diameter ranged from 200 to 600 mm. The virions were separated, by rate-zonal centrifugation, into two subclasses in a sucrose gradient (15 to 60 percent, wt/wt). The slowly sedimenting virions had a density approximately 1.20 gm/cm3 and an average size of 200 nm in diameter, whereas the faster-sedimenting virions had a density of 1.24 gm/cm3 and average diameter of 400 nm.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus infection: ultrastructural aspects of viral pathogenesis in the bovine respiratory tract.

After aerosolization of a bovine strain of parainfluenza type 3 virus, the pathogenesis of the virus was followed from the trachea to the bronchioalveolar compartments of the lung of colostrum-free calves and of conventionally reared calves during a 5- to 12-day postexposure interval. By tissue titration, plaque assay, and electron microscopy, it was found that virus infection could be established in colostrum-free calves as well as in conventionally reared calves, even though sequential changes of virus replication were observed mainly in the infected colostrum-free calves during the 5- to 6-day postexposure periods. Electron microscopy demonstrations of (i) aggregates of viral nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm, (ii) alterations of cilia and basal bodies, (iii) dissolution of cytoplasmic membranes, and (iv) the shedding of virus into luminal spaces confirmed that epithelial cells of the respiratory tract were the primary target cells for the virus replication leading to cell destruction. These observations revealed further that productive infection was more efficient in the bronchioalveolar regions than in the tracheal regions, although large aggregates of viral nucleocapsids and destructive changes were more pronounced in the tracheal epithelium. The finding that parainfluenza type 3 virus replicates in the alveolar type II cells suggests that changes in surfactant production may occur during the peak of infection of these cells. The demonstration of virus budding through the basement membrane of small bronchioles and the presence of virus particles in the interstitial regions imply that one of the host defense lines, the basement membrane, may be impaired by virus invasion.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1975

Investigation of factors of probable significance in the pathogenesis of pneumonic pasteurellosis in cattle.

Six groups of ten beef calves six to eight months of age were shipped from western Canada and observed untreated for one week after arrival. The following parameters were measured daily: body temperature, plasma fibrinogen, nasal bacterial mean colony counts of Pasteurella hemolytica and Pasteurella multocida, total and differential leukoyte counts, packed cell volumes and the following, twice during the week: serum and nasal antibody titres to P. hemolytica and parainfluenza-3 virus. The lungs from 44 of the calves were obtained at post mortem and given a numerical score based on the degree of pneumonia present. Animals were designated SICK and WELL according to body temperature and plasma fibrinogen. The SICK animals had higher nasal mean colony counts of P. hemolytica than the WELL animals. The SICK animals had lower levels of serum antibody to P. hemolytica than the WELL on day 1 but had a greater rise in titre over the week than did the WELL animals. Both groups were similar with regard to serum antibody to parainfluenza-3 virus and there was little change in these titres. The SICK animals had a much greater degree of pneumonia than the WELL. The values of some of the parameters were combined with the data of previously studied animals in order to provide a comparison of SICK and WELL with larger numbers of animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

The effect of edema, hydrocortisone acetate, concurrent viral infection and immunization on the clearance of Pasteurella hemolytica from the bovine lung.

The influence of pulmonary edema, hydrocortisone, immunization against Pasteurella hemolytica and concurrent infection with parainfluenza-3 virus upon pulmonary clearance of aerosolized P. hemolytica was studied in 31 calves. Following the various treatments calves were challenged with an aerosol of P. hemolytica. One control calf was killed immediately after the aerosol and the numbers of bacteria in the lung taken as 100%. Two calves were killed four hours after challenge and the numbers of bacteria in the lungs were compared to the 100% of the control calf. The result was the percentage clearance of bacteria at four hours. PULMONARY EDEMA WAS INDUCED BY THREE DIFFERENT METHODS: by an aerosol of histamine, by intravenous injection of endotoxin and by intravenous injection of croton oil emulsion. The edema impaired the clearance of P. hemolytica, which was reflected in high numbers of P. hemolytica present in the lungs at four hours after challenge: 260% after histamine, 300% and 400% after endotoxin and 92% after croton oil. SIX DAYS OF TREATMENT OF FOUR CALVES WITH HIGH DOSES OF HYDROCORTISONE ACETATE PRODUCED INCONSISTENT RESULTS: two calves treated with a higher daily dose (36 mg/kg) had normal clearance whereas two calves treated with a lower dose had pulmonary edema and displayed lowered clearance with 111% and 31% respectively of P. hemolytica retained in the lungs four hours after challenge. Immunization of calves by three different methods, a subcutaneously injected bacterin of P. hemolytica (2 calves), single aerosol (2 calves) and four aerosols (4 calves) of live P. hemolytica was reflected in an accelerated pulmonary clearance of P. hemolytica (with a mean of 1.55% of bacteria retained at four hours). Concurrent infection with parainfluenza-3 virus did not lower the clearance of P. hemolytica in the lungs of 12 calves over 15 days except on the first day following the exposure to parainfluenza-3 virus. These calves had hemagglutinating antibodies against P. hemolytica before exposure.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1972

The pulmonary clearance of bacteria by calves and mice.

Using a modified aerosol generator, white mice and calves were exposed to aerosols of viable Staphylococcus aureus and Pasteurella haemolytica and the clearance of the inhaled organisms by the lungs of the experimental animals was measured. Fifty-seven percent of inhaled S. aureus were cleared in two hours by the mouse lungs, 79% were cleared in four hours and 93% were cleared in eight hours. Fifty-six percent of inhaled P. haemolytica were cleared in two hours by the mouse lungs, 76% were cleared in four hours and 93% were cleared in eight hours. Seventy percent of inhaled S. aureus were cleared in two hours by the calf lungs, 90% were cleared in four hours and 95% were cleared in eight hours. Seventy-five percent of inhaled P.haemolytica were cleared in two hours by the calf lungs, 90% were cleared in four hours and 92% were cleared in eight hours.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1971

Pasteurella haemolytica in the tracheal air of calves.

Pasteurella haemolytica was shown to be present in the tracheal air of calves and was likely transported in droplet nuclei formed in the nasal passages. The number of colonies of P. haemolytica found in the tracheal air of the calves ranged from 1.9 to 12.5 colonies per cu ft of air. As long as P. haemolytica colonized the nasal passage in numbers detectable in nasal swabs it could be found in the tracheal air but there was no direct correlation between the numbers in the nasal flora and the numbers found in the tracheal air. Of the P. haemolytica which travel via the tracheal air 47.8% were in droplets of the aerodynamic size of from less than one to five microns, the size range which is considered hazardous for lung penetration in man. The technique used demonstrated the presence of P. haemolytica in the tracheal air of calves and provides a useful tool for monitoring and determining the phase in the colonization of the respiratory tract in which the majority of the potential pathogen P. haemolytica pass from the nose to the tracheal air and presumably to the lung.

Age Factors↗