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Biomedical subjects

W A Agger

Publications and source records attributed to W A Agger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Effects of bovine serum albumin on the ability of Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium to detect Borrelia burgdorferi.

The ability of decreasing inocula of Borrelia burgdorferi to grow in otherwise identical Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) media containing different lots of bovine serum albumin (fraction V) was determined. These media differed significantly in ability to detect B. burgdorferi. Some BSK media required inocula of 2 x 10(5) organisms per ml for detection, while other media could stimulate growth after inoculation with less than 2 organisms per ml. In addition, organisms from the less sensitive BSK media were thinner, longer, and less tightly coiled. The endpoint dilutions of indirect fluorescent-antibody titers, especially immunoglobulin M, exhibited up to 16-fold decreases, and both immunoglobulin G and M titers were more difficult to interpret with diagnostic slides prepared from some longer, thinner B. burgdorferi. These results demonstrate that, when performing laboratory investigations which rely on B. burgdorferi, it is essential that the quality of the BSK medium be determined.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1989

Efficacy of the urinary bladder for isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi from naturally infected, wild Peromyscus leucopus.

The efficacy of culturing urinary bladder tissue for Borrelia burgdorferi from naturally infected, wild Peromyscus leucopus mice was determined. The urinary bladder cultures were as efficient as spleen, kidney, and blood tissue cultures. The rapid B. burgdorferi isolation (mean, 6 days) from mouse urinary bladders should aid in defining new Lyme disease foci.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Borrelia burgdorferi infection surrounding La Crosse, Wis.

This investigation defined the extent of Borrelia burgdorferi infection surrounding La Crosse, Wis. White-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus or P. maniculatis, were captured from sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa and cultured for B. burgdorferi to define the local boundaries of the midwestern Lyme disease area. All foci of B. burgdorferi infection (N1, N2, N3, and N4) were located north of interstate highway 90 except focus S2, which was south of the highway near Fort McCoy, Wis. The interstate highway may have been a barrier to deer movement which slowed the southward dispersal of Ixodes dammini. B. burgdorferi was isolated from 12 (63%) of the mice captured from site N4, which was adjacent to the western border of Fort McCoy. Unexpectedly, no B. burgdorferi-infected mice were isolated at site N0, located north of interstate highway 90 and enclosed by areas in which B. burgdorferi infection is endemic. This site is surrounded by natural barriers which may have slowed the spread of I. dammini by deer. The Wisconsin area in which B. burgdorferi is endemic should now include the surrounding area north of interstate highway 90 west from Fort McCoy to the Mississippi River. Additional studies are needed to define the rapidity, limits, and means of I. dammini dispersal into southern Wisconsin.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Enterococcal bacteremia: clinical features, the risk of endocarditis, and management.

The enterococci, members of the group D streptococci and the predominant aerobic streptococci of the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts, have long been recognized as significant pathogens in infective endocarditis. Over the past 2 decades, enterococci have become increasingly important nosocomial pathogens, related to their intrinsic resistance to many antibiotics, especially the cephalosporins, and the greatly increased use of antimicrobial therapy in hospitals. Recent reports have documented an alarming increase in the frequency of high-level resistance to aminoglyclosides, and strains resistant to ampicillin by production of a beta-lactamase and to vancomycin have now been encountered. We have reviewed the clinical features and course of 153 cases of enterococcal bacteremia occurring in a university hospital over the 14-year period, 1970 to 1983, 1) to understand better the importance of enterococci as human pathogens, 2) to identify the clinical features of enterococcal bacteremia, 3) to isolate those findings that help to identify associated endocarditis, and 4) to develop guidelines for more effective antimicrobial therapy of bacteremic enterococcal infections. The annual incidence of enterococcal bacteremia in our center rose three-fold over the period reviewed. In 65 cases (42%), bacteremia was polymicrobial, caused by Enterococcus and at least 1 other microorganism, usually an aerobic gram-negative bacillus. Most bacteremias were nosocomial and derived from infections of the urinary tract (29 cases), intravenous catheters (24 cases), intra-abdominal infections or surgical wounds (46 cases), burn wounds (25 cases), or cholangitis (21 cases); only 1 case originated from a pneumonia. Endocarditis was identified in association with 12 of 35 community-acquired bacteremias, but only 1 of 118 bacteremias acquired in the hospital (P less than .001). Endocarditis was also significantly associated with pre-existent valvular heart disease and cryptogenic bacteremia, and was negatively associated with polymicrobial enterococcal bacteremia (no endocarditis in 65 cases, P less than .001). Isolated enterococcal bacteremia produced an indolent infection rarely associated with shock (3 of 64 cases evaluated, all cases due to valve destruction by endocarditis); conversely, with polymicrobial enterococcal bacteremia, primarily with gram-negative bacilli, shock or disseminated intravascular coagulation developed in 50% of cases (P less than .001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Enumeration and characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae isolated from grocery store produce.

Starch-ampicillin agar was used to quantitatively isolate Aeromonas sp. from retail grocery store produce. All produce sampled, including parsley, spinach, celery, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, and lettuce, contained Aeromonas sp. In most instances, the count of Aeromonas sp. increased 10- to 1,000-fold during 2 weeks of storage at 5 degrees C. Eleven (92%) of 12 kinds of produce yielded cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. Identification as Aeromonas hydrophila was the strongest indicator of cytotoxicity, and all 29 (100%) A. hydrophila isolates and 1 (6%) of 16 A. caviae isolates were cytotoxic. Twenty-seven (90%) of 30 cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. strains produced hemolysins. Strong correlations were also noted between ability to produce cytotoxin and positive Voges-Proskauer, lysine decarboxylase, and sorbitol fermentation reactions. It appears that grocery store produce is a potentially significant source of cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. and should be considered in the epidemiology of A. hydrophila gastroenteritis.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1987

Cryptosporidiosis.

In the United States, the four groups at high risk of cryptosporidiosis are animal handlers, foreign travelers, children in day care centers and immunocompromised patients, including those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In immunocompetent patients, the sporadic diarrheal illness is self-limited. Diagnosis is made by the identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts in stool specimens, but these parasites are easily overlooked and may be confused with yeast. At present, there is no specific therapy for this infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Clinical and microbiological features of Aeromonas hydrophila-associated diarrhea.

The prevalence of Aeromonas hydrophila in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea was studied during 18 months. A. hydrophila was found in 1.1% of patients with diarrhea and in none of 533 control patients (P less than 0.02). Cases were detected 1.5 times more often during the summer months than the winter months, and most occurred in children less than 2 years of age. Clinical features included fever greater than 38 degrees C (55%), abdominal cramps (35%), vomiting (25%), and duration of illness greater than 10 days (50%). Detection of A. hydrophila in stools was facilitated by the use of sheep blood agar with 15 micrograms of ampicillin per ml which was flooded with oxidase reagent after growth. A cytotoxin was produced by 62% of the isolates, and the cytotoxic strains showed positive results in a hemolysin assay and a lysine decarboxylase reaction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Granulomas of the vocal cords caused by Sporothrix schenckii.

A 42-year-old female acquired an acute respiratory infection one week after working in a sphagnum moss packing plant. Three and one half months later direct laryngoscopic examination, done because of persistent hoarseness, revealed granulomas of the left true cord. Initial biopsy showed noncaseating granulomas, and a repeat biopsy with fungal cultures grew Sporothrix schenckii. The patient was treated with an oral solution of saturated potassium iodide and gradually improved although mild hoarseness has persisted.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Psoas muscle abscess due to Yersinia enterocolitica.

A psoas muscle abscess due to Yersinia enterocolitica developed in a 71-year-old man with mild type II diabetes mellitus. There was no evidence of gastrointestinal infection or septicemia, and treatment with computed tomography-directed percutaneous drainage and cefoxitin resulted in cure. This represents the first known reported case of psoas abscess due to Y. enterocolitica.

Abscess↗
PubMed1983

Human orf infection complicated by erythema multiforme.

A 35-year-old woman developed an orf infection of the fingers after contact with an infected goat. Following the primary orf infection, erythema multiforme developed and was controlled with prednisone. The association between erythema multiforme and orf is discussed; also, it is noted that orf is another viral condition that should be added to the agents that can initiate erythema multiforme.

Adult↗