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Borrelia burgdorferi was isolated from the blood of a bushy-tailed wood rat (Neotoma cinerea) from northeastern California, USA. This is the first isolation of live B. burgdorferi spirochetes from a wild animal in California. Spirochetes were observed in stained tissues from the brain, liver, spleen, and kidneys.
Using an indirect immunofluorescence assay, we determined the prevalence of Anaplasma-reactive antibody in three herds of bighorn sheep, each a different subspecies and occupying a different habitat in California (USA). Antibodies to Anaplasma spp. were identified in none of twenty California bighorn (Ovis canadensis californiana) sampled from the Mt. Baxter herd, 11 of 17 peninsular bighorn (O. canadensis cremnobates) sampled in the Santa Rosa Mountains, and all 20 desert bighorn (O. canadensis nelsoni) sampled at Old Dad Peak/Kelso Mountains. Based on an assay and an adsorption technique, the titers most likely were due to Anaplasma ovis. The presence and species of tick vectors in each of the habitats, and the presence or absence of deer or livestock were identified as factors potentially influencing seroprevalence of antibodies.
Sera from 111 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and 95 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were tested using an indirect immunofluorescence assay for antibodies to two isolates of Babesia spp. recently obtained from these hosts in California (USA). The study populations were from six locations: three areas of real or potential sympatry of bighorn sheep and deer, one area with deer only, and two areas with bighorn sheep only. Antibody titers from seroreactive individuals were similar with both babesial isolate antigens (P < 0.05), and seroprevalence was highest in the areas of host sympatry. A moderate to high seroprevalence (> or = 30%) in some of the study populations was evidence that babesial parasites may be common in bighorn sheep and mule deer in some areas of California.
Sixty-six (18%) cases of widely metastatic carcinoma of probable transitional cell origin were identified in 370 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) stranded alive along the central California (USA) coast, between January 1979 and December 1994. Live animals were usually emaciated and anorectic, with perineal edema and occasionally hind-flipper paralysis or paresis. Large yellow caseous masses were observed in the sub-lumbar lymph nodes, often extending around the ureters resulting in hydroureter. Histologically, metastases were usually widespread, and the primary neoplastic focus undetectable. This is the highest reported prevalence among necropsied animals of neoplasia in a pinniped population to date.
An undescribed species of Demodex (Acari: Demodecidae) was observed in hair follicles and ducts of sebaceous glands in the ear canals of seven California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) from Santa Clara County, California (USA). The animals had died of unrelated causes and were submitted for necropsy between September 1994 and February 1996. Similar mites were observed in the lumens of hair follicles and ducts of Meibomian glands in the eyelids of two of these squirrels. Microscopic changes in the epithelium and surrounding dermis, when present, were minimal. No associated clinical signs of disease or macroscopic lesions were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Demodex sp. in a ground squirrel.
In order to determine the importance of wild felids in the epidemiology of Bartonella spp. infection, 136 Nobuto strips or serum samples from free-ranging mountain lions (Felis concolor) and bobcats (Felis rufus) captured in California (USA) between 1985 and 1996 were tested for B. henselae antibodies (titer > or = 1:64) using an immunofluorescence test. Similarly, 124 serum samples from 114 captive wild cats representing 26 species or subspecies collected between 1991 and 1995 were retrieved from the serum banks of four California zoological parks. Fifty-three percent (33/62) of the bobcats, 35% (26/74) of the mountain lions, and 30% (34/114) of the captive wild felids (genera Acinonyx, Panthera and Felis) had B. henselae antibodies. In captive wild felids, prevalence varied widely among the species, but seropositivity was more likely to occur in the genus Felis than in the genus Acinonyx or Panthera. Prevalence was evenly distributed between sexes, except for free-ranging mountain lions. Antibody prevalence ranged from 25% in 0- to 2-yr-old captive felids to 35% in cats > or = 9-yr-old, but the highest antibody titers were observed in cats < 5-yr-old.
During a routine telemetry flight of the Mojave Desert (California, USA) in August 1995, mortality signals were detected from two of 12 radio-collared female desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the vicinity of Old Dad Peak in San Bernardino County (California). A series of field investigations determined that at least 45 bighorn sheep had died near two artificial water catchments (guzzlers), including 13 bighorn sheep which had presumably drowned in a guzzler tank. Samples from water contaminated by decomposing bighorn sheep carcasses and hemolyzed blood from a fresh bighorn sheep carcass were tested for the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, strychnine, blue-green algae, Clostridium botulinum toxin, ethylene glycol, nitrates, nitrites, sodium, and salts. Mouse bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected type C botulinum toxin in the hemolyzed blood and in fly larvae and pupae. This, coupled with negative results from other analyses, led us to conclude that type C botulinum poisoning was most likely responsible for the mortality of bighorn sheep outside the guzzler tank.
An epizootic of vesicular disease occurred in a group of semi-domesticated California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) during the months of April and May 1997. Ten castrated mature male sea lions, ages 12 to 19 yr, were housed in three adjacent open-ocean net enclosures in San Diego Bay (California, USA). Four animals (40%) developed oral and extremity vesicles, anorexia, and were reluctant to perform learned behaviors. One animal developed vesicles but maintained a normal appetite and behavior. The remaining animals showed no clinical signs of infection. Virus (designated FADDL 7005) was isolated from four of the five animals that developed vesicles. Serum antibody titers to FADDL 7005, a previously untyped calicivirus, were demonstrated in animals that showed any combination of clinical signs and in two animals that did not show any clinical signs. No virus was isolated from five fecal samples collected from four of the group animals. Clinical signs lasted 4 to 20 days in affected animals. All affected animals recovered from infection. An experimental swine was inoculated with FADDL 7005 and developed vesicular disease, which was transmitted to another experimental swine upon contact. It is proposed that FADDL 7005 is a new San Miguel sea lion virus.
Fifty-four black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) (five juvenile males, 22 adult males, five juvenile females, and 22 adult females) from Humboldt County, California (USA) were evaluated for sex and age-specific differences in parasite prevalences and intensities, 26 February through 30 October 1996. Nematodes found included Biogastranema leporis in 42 hares (78% prevalence), Rauschia triangularis in 26 hares (48%), Trichostrongylus calcaratus in 14 hares (26%), and Trichuris sylvilagi in two hares (4%). Cestodes found included Taenia sp. cysticerci in five hares (9%) and Taenia sp. coenurus found in one hare (2%). Ectoparasites found included the ticks Dermacentor variabilis on 10 hares (19%) and Ixodes spinipalpis (= Ixodes neotomae) on nine hares (17%), as well as the anoplurid louse Haemodipsus setoni on 12 hares (22%). No significant differences in the parasite prevalences or intensities were found between male and female jackrabbits; this was for all males and females collectively, juvenile males and females only, as well as adult males and females only. Combining male and female hosts, adult jackrabbits had a significantly higher prevalence of B. leporis and R. triangularis compared to juveniles. This is the first known report of Trichostrongylus calcaratus, Rauschia triangularis, Trichuris sylvilagi, and Dermacentor variabilis among black-tailed jackrabbits and the first known report of T. calcaratus and T. sylvilagi in the western USA. This is the first published report of I. spinipalpis, the vector for Lyme disease in California, on black-tailed jackrabbits.
Between 1994 and 2000, 141 Arcanobacterium phocae isolates were recovered from marine mammals that stranded along the central California coast (USA). Arcanobacterium phocae was cultured from tissue sites with abnormal discharge or evidence of inflammation in 66 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), 50 Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii), 19 northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), five southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis), and one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). The overall prevalence of A. phocae among cultured stranded marine mammals was 8%. This is the first report of A. phocae in animals from the Pacific Ocean. Sequence analysis of a portion of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene confirmed recent isolates as A. phocae. Prior to phylogenetic testing and the routine use of the esculin hydrolysis and motility tests, A. phocae isolates may have been misidentified as Listeria ivanovii. Arcanobacterium phocae was commonly isolated from superficial abscesses, was often present in mixed infections, and was susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested.
Leptospirosis was identified in six northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) that were stranded in 1995 along the coast of California (USA). Histologic lesions in all seals included tubulointerstitial nephritis with tubular degeneration and necrosis. Infection was confirmed through identification of spirochetes using an immunohistochemical stain for Leptospira sp. antigens. One affected seal had an elevated titer to Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona. Four of the six seals developed leptospirosis during rehabilitation, and two seals had evidence of exposure in the wild. Potential sources of infection during rehabilitation include other elephant seals, California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsii), or free-ranging wildlife. These results indicate that northern elephant seals are susceptible to leptospirosis and can develop disease both in the natural environment and in a rehabilitation setting.
A stranded yearling male California sea lion was admitted to a rehabilitation center June 2003. On presentation, the sea lion was emaciated and had diarrhea and neutrophilia. Two weeks later, the animal became anorexic, blood and mucus were observed around the oral cavity, and corneal opacity was noted in the right eye. Hematology results at that time included leukocytosis consisting of neutrophilia with a left shift, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Despite supportive care, the sea lion died. On post mortem examination, there were multiple areas of hemorrhage scattered throughout all lung lobes, and pulmonary blood vessels were occluded by fibrin thrombi. Nematodes identified as immature forms of Otostrongylus circumlitus were found in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries. Histologic findings in the lungs included severe suppurative and necrotizing arteritis with vascular thrombosis, interstitial pneumonia, and large areas of pulmonary hemorrhage. This report of O. circumlitus infection in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) might indicate a potentially new host-parasite association.
Cutaneous pox-like lesions are a common complication in the rehabilitation of pinnipeds. However, the exact identity, taxonomy, and host range of pinniped parapoxviruses remain unknown. During a poxvirus outbreak in May 2003 in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) at a marine mammal rehabilitation facility, multiple raised, firm, 1-3-cm skin nodules from the head, neck, and thorax of one sea lion weanling pup that spontaneously died were collected. Histologically, the nodules were characterized by inflammation and necrosis of the dermis and epidermis, acanthosis, and ballooning degeneration of the stratum spinosum. Large, coalescing eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in the ballooned cells. A parapoxvirus (sea lion poxvirus 1, SLPV-1) was isolated on early passage California sea lion kidney cells inoculated with a tissue homogenate of a skin nodule. The morphology of the virions on electron microscopy was consistent with that of parapoxviruses. Partial sequencing of the genomic region encoding the putative major virion envelope antigen p42K confirmed the assignment of the sea lion poxvirus to the genus Parapoxvirus. Although SLPV-1 is most closely related to the poxvirus of harbor seals of the European North Sea, it is significantly different from orf virus, bovine papular stomatitis virus, pseudocowpox virus and the parapoxvirus of New Zealand red deer.
AIMS: The aim of this study was to measure personal exposure to dust, endotoxin and crystalline silica during various agricultural operations in California over a period of one year. METHODS: Ten farms were randomly selected in Yolo and Solano counties and workers were invited to wear personal sampling equipment to measure inhalable and respirable dust levels during various operations. The samples were analysed for endotoxin using the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay and crystalline silica content using X-ray diffraction. In total 142 inhalable samples and 144 respirable samples were collected. RESULTS: The measurements showed considerable difference in exposure levels between various operations, in particular for the inhalable fraction of the dust and the endotoxin. Machine harvesting of tree crops (Geometric mean (GM) = 45.1 mg/m3) and vegetables (GM = 7.9 mg/m3), and cleaning of poultry houses (GM = 6.7 mg/m3) showed the highest inhalable dust levels. Cleaning of poultry houses also showed the highest inhalable endotoxin levels (GM = 1861 EU/m3). Respirable dust levels were generally low, except for machine harvesting of tree crops (GM = 2.8 mg/m3) and vegetables (GM = 0.9 mg/m3). Respirable endotoxin levels were also low. For the inhalable dust fraction, levels were reduced considerably when an enclosed cabin was present. The percentage of crystalline silica was overall higher in the respirable dust samples than the inhalable dust samples. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable differences exist in personal exposure levels to dust, endotoxin and crystalline silica during various agricultural operations in California agriculture with some operations showing very high levels.
To examine the effect of restrictive state, federal, and private hospital reimbursement policies in California, we examined trends in uncompensated care and other deductions from hospital revenues from 1981 to 1986. During a period when the number of uninsured in California increased substantially, uncompensated care grew, but not as rapidly as other deductions from revenue, especially Medi-Cal and private-sector contractual allowances. A trend toward redistribution of uncompensated care from public to private hospitals reversed. Voluntary teaching hospitals, whose Medi-Cal and private-sector contractual allowances grew rapidly, recently reported a decline in uncompensated care. As reimbursement pressures increase, private hospitals may resist pressures to provide uncompensated care, increasing the burden on public institutions and perhaps limiting the access of indigents to quality care.
On behalf of patients and hospitals who care for them, CAHHS developed this year's public policy agenda in cooperation with the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, the Hospital Council of San Diego and Imperial Counties, and the Hospital Council of Southern California. CAHHS and the Hospital Councils work with the hospital constituency groups to maximize the effectiveness of hospitals and present a unified front on major issues. As advocates for patients and hospitals, CAHHS places the highest value on life, the treatment of patients with dignity, and equitable access to quality care.
Competition in California has cost lives and money. Shifting care out of hospitals reduced hospital spending relative to other states, but overall health spending per capita rose to the second highest in the nation in 1990. High spending coexists with low rates of coverage--the state ranks seventh in percentage of people lacking insurance. Hospitals have closed emergency rooms and other unprofitable services while marketing duplicative and often unnecessary services to the well-insured. With real free markets unattainable in health care, California's competitive rhetoric has rationalized growing inequalities and higher costs. The market's invisible hand has picked Californians' pockets and endangered both rich and poor.
The following proposed technician regulations represent the final draft after having received public comment. This draft is the latest in a series of events that have transpired in California in the Board of Pharmacy's efforts to adopt technician regulations. In June, the California Board of Pharmacy was notified by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) that the Board's technician regulations had been disapproved on grounds of "clarity and consistency." However, Board officials did not consider any of the objections to be insurmountable. When the Board established its timetable for incorporation of the technician regulations, it was expected that OAL would reject the proposed guidelines at least once. For previous reports see jPT 1992;8:87 and 1991;7:201.