Use of tilmicosin in a severe outbreak of respiratory disease in weaned beef calves

In a liability lawsuit an expertise had to answer the question whether a mania in the course of an affective psychosis could have been caused by chronic mercury intoxication resulting from dental amalgam fillings. On the basis of current psychiatric and toxicological knowledge, such an association can be disproved. Mercury intake from amalgam fillings does not lead to toxic concentrations in organs or body fluids. Therefore physicians and dentists should avoid alarming patients and thus causing iatrogenic harm.     

Determination of tilmicosin in bovine and porcine sera by liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic (LC) assay is described for determining tilmicosin in bovine and porcine blood sera. Tilmicosin is isolated from the serum matrix and purified by solid-phase extraction with C18 sorbent. Sample is analyzed by LC using a gradient system with a phenyl reversed-phase column that separates tilmicosin from the matrix in 30 min. Tilmicosin is measured by UV absorbance at 280 nm. Validation of assay included evaluation of accuracy, precision, linearity, specificity, sensitivity, range, and sample stability. The method has a limit of quantitation of 0.1 ppm and a validated range of 0.1 to 10.0 ppm. Recoveries were 91-95% for bovine serum and 85-93% porcine serum. The limit of detection was 0.05 microgram/mL. Limits of detection and quantitation were based on 3 and 6 times the baseline noise of control serum samples, respectively. Relative standard deviations of precision samples (n = 6) were 2% or less for both sera. The method has better specificity and analysis time than previous microbiological methods for tilmicosin in sera.     

Recognition of Mycoplasma canis as part of the mycoplasmal flora of the bovine respiratory tract

Mycoplasma strain C3b was isolated in the Netherlands from the lung of a pneumonic calf. Forty similar strains were isolated afterwards from calves in 19 other herds in different parts of the Netherlands. Eight strains from eight different herds were investigated in this study. Results of tests to determine whether the organism catabolized glucose were inconclusive. Four strains, including strain C3b, apparently catabolized glucose under some test conditions; the remaining four strains did not. Although strain C3b and similar strains were slightly different from canine M. canis strains in growth inhibition tests and glucose metabolism tests, we concluded that strain C3b and similar strains have to be classified as M. canis. A close contact between calves and dogs was observed in several herds where strain C3b or similar strains were isolated. This is the first report of M. canis isolated from cattle.     

Upper respiratory tract disease and mycoplasmosis in desert tortoises from Nevada

A population of desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) at Yucca Mountain (Nevada, USA) was monitored during four sampling periods using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to determine the percentage of individuals that had been exposed to Mycoplasma agassizii, a causative agent of upper respiratory tract disease. Respiratory tract disease has been considered a significant factor in the decline of desert tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert (USA). Few differences between sexes in ELISA values or percentages testing positive were noted. From 15 to 23% of samples per period tested positive for exposure to the mycoplasma. However, we noted few clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease. This is in contrast to an earlier study which reported a similar proportion of seropositive tortoises as well as a high percentage of tortoises with clinical signs. However, our results are consistent with that study's conclusion that seropositivity for M. agassizii was a poor predictor of the likelihood to exhibit clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease. Earlier reported epizootics of mycoplasma-associated respiratory disease occurred mainly during times of drought. Our samples were collected during a period of average to above-average rainfall, suggesting that manifestation of clinical signs of the disease may depend upon the physiological condition of tortoises which, in turn, is related to environmental conditions.     

Prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic ear disease

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The role of prophylactic antibiotics in otologic surgery continues to be debated and perhaps misused. Prior studies have provided conflicting evidence with regard to the benefit obtained from the use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic otitis media. The current study was designed to evaluate the role of prophylactic antibiotics in the outcomes of surgery for chronic ear disease. It was the authors' impression that there was no indication for prophylactic antibiotics in such surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized prospective study performed in a tertiary care facility. METHODS: Patients who met inclusion criteria (n = 146) were randomly assigned to an antibiotic treatment group or a control group receiving no prophylactic antibiotics. Patients in the antibiotic treatment group were given preoperative intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics for 5 days after surgery. Patients were followed postoperatively and observed for clinical evidence of infection and graft failure. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to the incidence of postoperative infection or graft survival. CONCLUSIONS: The use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic ear disease cannot be recommended based on the findings of this study.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae as an etiologic factor in disease of the respiratory tract

The described recently species of Chlamydia pneumoniae is the subject of a large number of scientific reports. The majority of infections caused by this microorganism are asymptomatic. However, a lot of cases of symptomatic infections have been described with both mild and severe clinical course. Symptoms related to infection may affect both upper and lower parts of the respiratory tract and may be accompanied by disorders in other systems and organs. Reports on the influence of chronic inflammation by Chlamydia pneumoniae on the development of arteriosclerosis are still controversial. The effective drugs in the treatment of Chlamydia pneumoniae infections are macrolides and tetracyclines.     

Videothoracoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of respiratory tract diseases

Orthopaedic nurses often are well-educated in dealing with patients' physical and psychologic needs but lack education in caring for the spiritual needs of man. Nurses must realize they, themselves, have spiritual needs and must invest in clarifying their own values and beliefs as well as their patients. To perform a complete spiritual assessment, nurses need to become familiar with the concept of spirituality and what it means in the care of patients. Providing spiritual care is individualized and often complex. The nursing process enables the nurse to plan patient care. Providing spiritual care is a challenge orthopaedic nurses must recognize and assume responsibility for.     

Immunopotentiation of bovine respiratory disease virus vaccines by interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-2

Three experiments, using 85 crossbred beef calves, were conducted to evaluate the adjuvanticity of single, multiple, and combined doses of recombinant bovine IL-1 beta (rBoIL-1 beta) and recombinant bovine IL-2 (rBoIL-2), with a modified-live bovine herpesvirus-1/parainfluenza-3 (BHV-1/PI-3) virus vaccine and a killed bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus vaccine. Cytokines were administered intramuscularly at vaccination but at different injection sites. All cytokine treatments increased non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytolytic capability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) against virus-infected target cells and serum neutralizing (SN) antibody titers to BHV-1 and BVD virus. Multiple, consecutive injections of rBoIL-2 generally showed the greatest adjuvant effect, and no additive effect was observed when rBoIL-1 beta and rBoIL-2 were administered together. In a challenge experiment, calves were vaccinated with a modified-live BHV-1/PI-3 vaccine and infected with BHV-1 on Day 21. Cytokine-treated calves had higher SN antibody titers to BHV-1 than did the control calves at the time of challenge. Calves that were administered rBoIL-2 on 5 consecutive days shed less BHV-1 and had the highest SN antibody titer to BHV-1 (Day 28). These data suggest that rBoIL-1 beta and rBoIL-2 may be useful immunoadjuvants for bovine respiratory disease virus vaccines.     

Blastomatous tumors of the respiratory tract

Two cases of blastomatous tumors of the respiratory tract are presented. The first is a pulmonary blastoma of an 81-year-old man, diagnosed as adenocarcinoma by cytologic examination, the cells being exfoliated from the large carcinomatous component. The patient died 1 year after manifestation of the symptoms. The second case is a tumor that developed in the nasopharynx of a 62-year-old man. This is the first reported case of a nasopharyngeal blastoma that presented a histology comparable to that seen in the pulmonary tumor. The presence of a hamartomatous benign mesenchymal component raises histogenetic considerations as to whether this was an independent part of an otherwise malignant tumor or whether it was induced by the malignant growth. Following incomplete surgical treatment and postoperative radiation, no recurrence was observed during the next 8 months.     

Prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of an avian antitoxin in ricin intoxication

This study was designed to demonstrate the efficacy in animals of a ricin antitoxin consisting of purified avian antibodies. Antitoxins consisting of avian antibodies have significant advantages when compared to conventional mammalian (e.g. horse) antibodies; (a) avian antibodies do not fix human complement, eliminating associated inflammatory reactions, and, (b) avian antibodies can be manufactured more economically. Ricin toxoid was injected into laying hens followed by collection of eggs bearing hyperimmune immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulin was extracted from yolks and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. In a mouse model for toxin neutralization it was shown that immunoaffinity purified ricin antibodies could prevent ricin lethality. Furthermore, it was shown that passive antibody treatment leads to active ricin immunization in animals given lethal ricin doses. Highly purified avian antibodies, as developed in this study, should offer enhanced clinical effectiveness, greater safety, and reduced manufacturing costs when compared to other technologies.     

Immunobiology of bovine respiratory syncytial virus infections

This paper describes recent findings on the immunobiology of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infections. The pathobiology of alveolar macrophages and BRSV, and the immunological reaction of cattle to the virus after natural or experimental infection, or vaccination, were studied. Because in severe cases BRSV infection leads to lower respiratory tract disease, replication of BRSV in alveolar macrophages was studied. Alveolar macrophages, which are important aspecific defense cells in the lower respiratory tract, exhibited a high intrinsic resistance to BRSV. Furthermore, BRSV-infected alveolar macrophages produced significantly less nitric oxide (which has a bacteriocidal effect) than uninfected macrophages. The kinetics of antibody titres against the envelope protein G were different from those of antibody titres against the envelope protein F. For example, many animals that are reinfected do not possess antibodies against the G protein. After vaccination or after natural infection, antibody titres against the F and G protein, and against epitopes on the F protein, differed markedly, and also in animals with different MHC haplotypes. These findings may be related to differences in protection. The strains of BRSV that circulate in the Netherlands belong to the subgroups A and AB. There was no evidence for differences in virulence between these subgroups. BRSV could be detected in 30% of lungs obtained from calves suffering from severe lower respiratory tract disease. Based on cross-protection studies, calves that were infected with a virus from a particular BRSV subgroup were protected against reinfection with a virus from a different subgroup. A recombinant gE-protein negative bovine herpesvirus 1 vaccine carrying a gene encoding the G protein of BRSV, and a DNA vaccine encoding the same protein afforded protection after experimental challenge of calves. This offers the possibility to develop effective multivalent (gE-negative BHV1) marker vaccines in the future.     

Hiatus hernia and the respiratory tract

Hoarseness, asthma, and bronchitis are common but sometimes obscure manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux, the etiology of when respiratory symptoms predominate. In 300 consecutive patients who underwent surgical correction for gastroesophageal reflux, 129 (43%) had major respiratory complaints. Group 1 patients (82, 64%) were those referred for respiratory problems alone. In Group 2 (patients referred because of peptic complaints), 47 had associated respiratory problems in various combinations, including an additional 10 patients who had bronchiectasis. Treatment with appropriate surgical resection, in addition to antireflux procedures, was carried out in these people. Noticeable relief of respiratory symptoms was obtained in 96 (74%) of the 129 patients; 30 were improved and 2 were unchanged. Recurrent hiatus hernia or esophagitis was documented in 21 (7%) of the 300 patients.