External Signs Of Infection Research Articles

The Application of Sonic Tomography (PiCUS 3 Sonic Tomograph) to Detect and Quantify Hidden Wood Decay in Managed Norway Spruce Stands

Tree mortality plays a vital role in the accuracy of growth and yield calculations. Economic loss caused by Heterobasidion sp. and Armillaria sp. is a common issue in forestry. Estonian forests, which are mostly managed, are susceptible to fungal infection due to freshly exposed wood surfaces, such as stumps and mechanical wounds. External signs of infection are often scarce and may lead to incorrect stand vitality valuation. Modern devices, such as the PiCUS 3 Sonic Tomograph, can be used for non-destructive decay assessment. We assessed decay in two intensively managed Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) stands in order to identify the reliability of sonic tomography in tree vitality assessment. We hypothesize that the tomograph assessment is more accurate than the visual assessment for detecting the extent of decay damage in Norway spruce stems. The sample trees were first visually assessed without additional equipment. In the second phase, the same sample trees were measured with the PiCUS 3 Sonic Tomograph. In the last part of the study, the sample trees were assessed from the tree stumps following the clear-cut. We identified a relationship (p-value < 0.001) between the tomograph assessment and the stump assessment when major decay was present. We did not discover a relationship between the visual assessment and stump assessment, indicating that evaluating the decay from external signs is inaccurate according to our results. Our data also indicate that the tomograph is not able to detect the early stages of decay damage, since it has no substantial effect on the wood structure.

Morphological Examination and Histopathological Investigation of Gills In Common Carp, Experimentally Infected With Arenomas hydrophila

Infectious diseases are the main reason for economic harm in the aquaculture industry, which is depressingly impacted by numerous pathogenic organisms. Arenomas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) recognized as an opportunistic pathogen. Forty fish were used in the present study, which was divided into two groups. One serves as control group (n=20) and the other group was experimentally infected with a strain of A. hydrophila. The clinical response was observed every day for 7 days. Then at the end of the experimental period, the fish dissected and the gills were removed for histological investigation. External signs of infection revealed many lesions such as hemorrhage in fins as well as a caudal peduncle. Also, reddish/gray ulcers with necrosis extending to the muscle were observed. Histopathologically, gills of Cyprinus carpio exhibited a varying degree of histopathological changes. Epithelial changes such as lifting and rupture of the lamellar epithelium, lamellar fusion.

MUCUS EXTRAVASATION PHENOMENON HIDING A MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA IN THE FLOOR OF MOUTH

Background Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common salivary gland malignancy. Approximately more than half these tumors present in the major salivary glands, the parotid gland being the most frequent location.1 The others occur in the minor salivary glands, primarily in the palate.2 The submandibular gland is rarely involved, about less than 10% of all other major salivary glands.1 This tumor develops over a wide age range—from the second to the seventh decades of life.3 Histologically, mucoepidermoid carcinoma is classified, on the basis of its aggressiveness, into 3 grades: low, intermediate, or high grade.1,2 Clinical and Radiologic Findings A 49-year-old female with a mass on the left side of the floor of the mouth was complaining of neck pain for the last 2 to 3 days and had noticed the mass growing in size and becoming tender to palpation. There was no exacerbation of pain during eating, drinking, or opening of mouth. Clinical examination showed no external signs of infection or inflammation. The patient denied any medical disease or history of surgeries. A multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan was made. Definitive Interpretation The radiographic examination revealed a mostly well-defined hypodense area suggestive of mucus extravasation phenomenon (“ranula”), which was corroborated by the clinical findings. The treatment of choice was complete excision of the ranula and the left submandibular salivary gland. The histopathologic examination surprisingly revealed low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. No further treatment was recommended; however, a follow-up was scheduled in 4 months. Discussion/Conclusions This atypical location of mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the floor of the mouth simulated the clinical and radiographic features of a mucus extravasation phenomenon. This case highlights the value and importance of using all the available diagnostic tools and modalities for optimal patient management because histopathologic analysis played an important role in confirming the diagnosis.

1H‐NMR‐based Metabolomic Study of Miamiensis avidus‐infected Olive Flounder

The scuticociliate Miamiensis avidus (M. avidus) is an aetiological agent of mass mortalities in cultured fish worldwide. The external signs of infection by this histiophagous parasite are hemorrhage, muscle ulceration, and exophthalmia. In this study, we infected olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) with M. avidus under laboratory conditions, and used 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to detect the metabolomic alterations during the infection. Multivariate data analysis showed that there were distinct differences in metabolomes between the control and the infected groups. Analysis of the metabolomic changes indicated that the olive flounder experienced severe metabolic shifts to anaerobic respiration and hypoxia.

Idiopathic vitritis in the setting of Boston keratoprosthesis.

The aim of this study was to revisit the clinical paradigm attributed to Boston keratoprosthesis recipients presenting with idiopathic vitreous inflammation. A retrospective chart review was performed of keratoprosthesis recipients at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, from January 2000 to August 2013, for demographic data, indication(s) for surgery, timing and presentation of vitreous inflammation, and best-corrected visual acuity at baseline, on presentation, and after resolution of vitritis. Twenty-three (23 eyes) of 346 patients developed idiopathic vitreous inflammation after keratoprosthesis implantation. Six of 23 patients presented with signs and symptoms similar to infectious endophthalmitis but were culture negative. The proportion of patients who fit the previous paradigm of sudden painless loss of vision without external signs of infection ("sterile vitritis") at their first presentation with vitritis was only 4 of 23. Vision decline was variable (median, 9 lines on Snellen chart; range, 0-24), as was time to recovery of best vision (median, 8.9 weeks; range, 0.9-36.7). Nine eyes had repeat bouts (43 episodes in 23 patients). Ten of 43 episodes did not recover to baseline vision. Seventeen of 23 eyes with idiopathic vitritis after keratoprosthesis later developed other complications. The current paradigm for idiopathic vitritis after keratoprosthesis implantation includes sudden painless loss of vision with full recovery of vision on treatment with periocular corticosteroids. However, idiopathic vitritis after keratoprosthesis can also mimic infectious endophthalmitis with pain and external signs of inflammation. Visual loss can be gradual. Vision may not recover to baseline despite treatment. Vitritis may be a part of a common pathway of chronic inflammation after keratoprosthesis.

Screening of microbial contamination and antimicrobial activity of sea cucumber Holothuria polii

Microbiological studies were carried out on microbial contamination and antimicrobial activity of sea cucumber Holothuria polii collected from Mediterranean Sea at Abu-kir shore of Alexandria, Egypt. The obtained results revealed the presence of isolates of five human Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, representing five genera were identified to species level, including, Esherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. In addition, an yeast Candida albicans was isolated. The pathogenic bacteria were identified using API 20E strip system (BioMereux). All collected H. polii specimens were healthy with no external signs of infection. Histopathological study of the tegument, intestine and gonads showed no abnormal changes. The antimicrobial activity of two tegumental ethanol extracts (A and B, differ in the method of dehydration) were tested against wide range of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including intestinal, skin and nosocomial pathogens and one plant fungal pathogen. The results revealed a remarkable antifungal activity of the extract B at 2.5 mg/ml MIC90, especially on Aspergillus niger, Scloretium sp, C. albicans, Aspergillus flavus and Malassezia furfur, and limited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella choleraesuis ATCC 14028 and Aeromonas hydrophila). The domain of bacterial and limited fungal contamination confirms the results that showed strong antifungal activity of investigated extract.

Successful implantation of physiologically functional bioengineered mouse internal anal sphincter.

We have previously developed bioengineered three-dimensional internal anal sphincter (IAS) rings from circular smooth muscle cells isolated from rabbit and human IAS. We provide proof of concept that bioengineered mouse IAS rings are neovascularized upon implantation into mice of the same strain and maintain concentric smooth muscle alignment, phenotype, and IAS functionality. Rings were bioengineered by using smooth muscle cells from the IAS of C57BL/6J mice. Bioengineered mouse IAS rings were implanted subcutaneously on the dorsum of C57BL/6J mice along with a microosmotic pump delivering fibroblast growth factor-2. The mice remained healthy during the period of implantation, showing no external signs of rejection. Mice were killed 28 days postsurgery and implanted IAS rings were harvested. IAS rings showed muscle attachment, neovascularization, healthy color, and no external signs of infection or inflammation. Assessment of force generation on harvested IAS rings showed the following: 1) spontaneous basal tone was generated in the absence of external stimulation; 2) basal tone was relaxed by vasoactive intestinal peptide, nitric oxide donor, and nifedipine; 3) acetylcholine and phorbol dibutyrate elicited rapid-rising, dose-dependent, sustained contractions repeatedly over 30 min without signs of muscle fatigue; and 4) magnitudes of potassium chloride-induced contractions were 100% of peak maximal agonist-induced contractions. Our preliminary results confirm the proof of concept that bioengineered rings are neovascularized upon implantation. Harvested rings maintain smooth muscle alignment and phenotype. Our physiological studies confirm that implanted rings maintain 1) overall IAS physiology and develop basal tone, 2) integrity of membrane ionic characteristics, and 3) integrity of membrane associated intracellular signaling transduction pathways for contraction and relaxation by responding to cholinergic, nitrergic, and VIP-ergic stimulation. IAS smooth muscle tissue could thus be bioengineered for the purpose of implantation to serve as a potential graft therapy for dysfunctional internal anal sphincter in fecal incontinence.

Detection and phylogeny of Lymphocystivirus in sea bream Sparus aurata based on the DNA polymerase gene and major capsid protein sequences

Lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) is the causative agent of a condition affecting marine and freshwater fish worldwide. In this study, PCR primers based on the DNA polymerase gene sequence were employed for the detection of LCDV in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata and for monitoring the course of the disease from onset to full clinical recovery. In spontaneously infected fish, viral DNA was detected in different organs, including skin, caudal fin, eyeball, brain, liver and kidney, and a correlation was found between PCR intensity and the persistence of the virus in organs of recovered fish with no residual clinical symptoms. In experimentally infected fish, PCR detection was achieved almost two weeks before appearance of external signs. LCDV remained detectable in skin, caudal fin and eyeball for up to four weeks after external signs of infection had cleared. A phylogenetic analysis based on the major capsid protein (MCP) gene sequence revealed that LCDV from sea bream cultured in Eilat, Israel, clusters within a genotype that includes two sub-clusters: one consisting of Japanese flounder isolates, the second of three isolates from three distinct host species belonging to different perciform families: sea bass Lateolabrax sp. (Lateolabracidae), sea bream S. aurata (Sparidae) and cobia Rachycentron canadum (Rachycentridae).

Genetic characterization and experimental pathogenesis of Piscirickettsia salmonis isolated from white seabass Atractoscion nobilis

An intracellular bacterium originally isolated from hatchery-reared juvenile white seabass Atractoscion nobilis in southern California, USA, was identified by sequences of the small and large subunit ribosomal (16S and 23S) DNA and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) as Piscirickettsia salmonis. Considering all rDNA sequences compared, the white seabass isolate (WSB-98) had a 96.3 to 98.7% homology with 4 previously described strains of P. salmonis isolated from salmon in Chile, Norway, and British Columbia, Canada. Experimental infections induced by intraperitoneal injections of juvenile white seabass with WSB-98 resulted in disease and mortality similar to that observed in P. salmonis infections in salmon. After 60 d, the cumulative mortality among P. salmonis-injected white seabass was 82 and 40%, respectively, following a high (1.99 x 10(4) TCID50) or low (3.98 x 10(2) TCID50) dose-challenge with WSB-98. The bacterium was recovered by isolation in cell culture or was observed in stains from tissues of injected white seabass but not from control fish. There were no external signs of infection. Internally, the most common gross lesion was a mottled appearance of the liver, sometimes with distinct nodules. Microscopic lesions were evident in both the capsule and parenchyma of the liver and were characterized by multifocal necrosis, often with infiltration of mononuclear leukocytes. Macrophages filled with bacteria were present at tissue sites exhibiting focal necrosis. Foreign body-type granulomas were prevalent in livers of experimentally infected white seabass, but not in control fish. Similar granulomatous lesions were observed in the spleen, kidney, intestine and gills, but these organs were considered secondary sites of infection, with significantly fewer and less severe histologic lesions compared to the liver. The results from this study clearly indicate that infections with P. salmonis are not restricted to salmonid fishes and that the bacterium can cause a disease similar to piscirickettsiosis in nonsalmonid hosts.

Ultrastructural identification of a herpes-like virus infection in common carp Cyprinus carpio in Korea

We report on a herpes-like virus, which was found to be associated with mass mortality of common carp Cyprinus carpio for the first time in Korea in 1998. The external signs of infection in moribund fish were darkened coloration and severe branchial necrosis in the gill. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of herpes-like viruses in spleen tissue. Infected spleen cells showed hypertrophied nuclei and degeneration. Numerous nucleocapsids of about 82 nm in diameter were found within the nucleus and cytoplasm of infected cells, and extracellular enveloped particles were also observed. We conclude that this virus was a likely significant cause of the high mortality of common carp in Korea in 1998.

New North American Records of Aquatic Insects as Paratenic Hosts of Pheromermis (Nematoda: Mermithidae)

Several species of aquatic insects in Trout Park Nature Preserve (Elgin, IL) were observed to have small, black spots (<0.1 mm diameter) visible within their bodies. Microscopic examination revealed these spots to be coiled juveniles of a mermithid (Nematoda: Mermithidae). Based on host habitat (seepage areas and rivulets), host species (aquatic insects), and size (mean diameter of coiled juveniles=79 μm), it is likely that these mermithids were in the genus Pheromermis. Since adult mermithids were not found, species determination was not feasible, and the possibility of a new species cannot be ruled out. Pheromermis pachysoma and Pheromermis vesparum, however, are two species known to use aquatic insects as paratenic (i.e., transport) hosts in order to reach their definitive hosts, vespid wasps. Wasp larvae are infected by consuming the flesh of adult aquatic insects that contain the coiled juveniles of these Pheromermis spp. Of the 19 macroinvertebrate species examined in this study, Pheromermis juveniles were found in 4 caddisfly species (Hesperophylax designatus, Lepidostoma liba, Glossosoma intermedium, and Diplectrona modesta) and in 2 stonefly species (Clioperla clio and Amphinemura delosa). In addition to all 6 insect species being new host records for Pheromermis infection, this also represents the first report of nematode infection in stoneflies within the Western Hemisphere and of a Pheromermis sp. in Illinois. Among trophic groups, insect detritivores have been frequently recorded infected with coiled Pheromermis juveniles because of their direct consumption of eggs, and we also observed this for detritivores in our investigation (e.g., L. liba and A. delosa). Because C. clio was intensively infected, however, our study also provided evidence that predatory insects can be paratenic hosts. Coiled juveniles were typically present in muscle and fat body and present in almost all body regions. Not every infected paratenic host had external signs of infection; thus, dissections are required for accurate determination of infection prevalence and intensity. Our findings, in conjunction with those made in previous studies, indicate that a wide variety of aquatic insects may be used as paratenic hosts by Pheromermis. Because of their small size, it is highly likely that coiled juveniles are either overlooked or mistaken for melanized integumental wounds during field studies of aquatic insects. A more careful inspection for these coiled juveniles in aquatic insects, especially detritivores and their predators in seepage areas, would probably reveal that Pheromermis is far more common than presently documented.

Concordance of ultrasonographic and physical findings in cattle with an umbilical mass or suspected to have infection of the umbilical cord remnants: 32 cases (1987-1989)

Summary Medical records of 32 cattle treated for umbilical abnormalities that had undergone ultrasonographic examination of the umbilicus followed by umbilical resection or postmortem examination were reviewed. Thirty of the cattle were between 6 and 240 days old (mean, 73 days); the remaining 2 cattle were a 3-year-old bull and a 5-year-old cow. Thirty (94%) animals had external evidence of infection associated with the umbilicus. Two calves did not have external signs of infection; 1 had an abscess of the urachus and the other was found to be normal. Two-dimensional real-time ultrasonography was used to identify abnormal umbilical cord remnants. Ultrasonographic results were most reliable for the urachus, and the urachus was the most commonly affected internal umbilical cord remnant. Statistical agreement between ultrasonographic and physical (surgical or postmortem) findings was good to excellent for all umbilical structures. Intra-abdominal adhesions were found at surgery in 47% of animals with umbilical abnormalities; however, adhesions were not detected ultrasonographically.

Natural Infections of Leishmania and Trypanosomes Demonstrated by Skin Culture

In the search for potential reservoirs of leishmaniasis, cultures were made from the skin of 61 wild-caught animals, of 17 genera, which showed no lesions or other external signs of infection. Leptomonad flagellates were obtained in culture from the skin of six of eight porcupines, Coendou rothschildi. These organisms were tested in hamsters and shown to be Leishmania sp. Sections of skin of positive porcupines showed L-D bodies in cells of the upper dermis. A few leptomonad flagellates were found in a small proportion of laboratory-reared Phlebotomus sandflies fed on infected porcupines. Trypanosomes were cultured from the skin of an opossum, Didelphis marsupialis, and of a marmoset, Saguinus geoffroyi. The search for the reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Panama has been carried on for a number of years at Gorgas Memorial Laboratory. Natural infections have been demonstrated in the spiny rats, Proechimys semispinosus (Tomes) and Hoplomys gymnurus Goldman (Ann. Rep. G.M.L. 1957-58), but in both cases only by culture of heart blood. There were no external signs of infection. Various members of the staff had examined by means of cultures and smears a great number of other animals, of at least 35 genera, from various parts of Panama, without isolating Leishmania or finding any external leishmanial lesion, until Thatcher et al. (1965) found an inconspicuous lesion containing L-D bodies on the ear of a kinkajou, Potos flavus (Schreber). In Peru it had been found (Herrer, 1948) that dogs naturally or experimentally infected with the Leishmania of Peruvian uta had skin lesions which were at best very inconspicuous, showing only slight depigmentation, and often had no external sign of infection. Nevertheless, smears from such lesions or the sites of inoculation often contained L-D bodies which could be revealed by prolonged examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS In March 1965 we began the examination of apparently normal skin of a variety of wildcaught Panamanian forest animals by means of stained smears. In one case smears were made Received for publication 8 April 1966. * The work reported here was supported in part by a research grant (AI-01251) from the NIAID, NIH, U. S. Public Health Service. from ample scrapings of sound skin on the rump of a porcupine, Coendou rothschildi Thomas. In one smear three L-D bodies were found. This positive finding was followed by the examination of other porcupines, in the course of which a biopsy-culture technique was developed. This method was based on previous work in Peru (Herrer, to be published elsewhere) in which tissue obtained by biopsy of the mucosa of Peruvian espundia (mucocutaneous leishmaniasis) patients was triturated in saline-plus-antibiotics, refrigerated for 24 hr, and then injected into dogs. Leishmania forms were recovered in culture from the developing papule. The technique finally developed for making cultures from the skin of porcupines and other animals is as follows: (1) After ether anesthesia, suitable areas are prepared by plucking out the spines of porcupines; hair of other animals is clipped and the skin shaved; (2) the skin is swabbed with iodine, followed by ether before the iodine has dried; (3) about 1.5 cm2 of skin is removed with a scalpel and dropped into 2.5 ml saline containing 500 units of potassium penicillin and 1 mg streptomycin sulphate per ml of saline; (4) the skin is triturated with scissors as finely as possible; (5) saline and tissue are transferred to a rubbertoppered test tube and refrigerated at 4 to 6 C for 24 to 72 hr; (6) cultures are made by inoculating each of five or six tubes with 0.3 to 0.4 ml of the saline containing the finer skin particles. The culture medium is prepared as follows: To 1,000 ml distilled water is added 25.0 g Difco Bacto-beef, which is boiled and filtered through filter paper. Distilled water is added to bring the m xture to its original volume. There is then added 20.0 g Difco Bacto-peptone, 5.0 g NaCl, and 30.0 g Difco Bacto-agar. The pH is adjusted to 7.2 to 7.4 and this stock medium is then autoclaved. Whole rabbit blood (no anticoagulant or defibrination) is added to the melted medium in the proportion of 10 to 13%, and the medium is tubed and slanted. The above differs from the modification of