History Of Potential Exposure Research Articles

SUPERFICIAL CERVICAL LYMPHADENITIS ASSOCIATED WITH STREPTOCOCCUS PHOCAE IN FIVE COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS): A CASE SERIES.

Between 2009 and 2018, five common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at the US Navy Marine Mammal Program presented with superficial cervical lymphadenitis. Clinical findings included ultrasonographic evidence of cervical lymph node enlargement, severe leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and reduced serum iron. Three of the dolphins presented with clinicopathologic changes without presence of clinical signs, and the other two cases additionally presented with partial to complete anorexia, lethargy, and refusal to participate in training sessions. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration or biopsy of the affected lymph nodes yielded Streptococcus phocae by PCR in all cases, and the organism was cultured in one of five cases. Animals were treated with a combination of enteral, parenteral, intralesional antimicrobial, or a combination of those therapies and supportive care. Time to resolution of clinical disease ranged between 62 and 188 days. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Streptococcus phocae cervical lymphadenitis in cetaceans. Streptococcus phocae lymphadenitis should be a differential for cervical lymphadenopathy in this species, especially when associated with pronounced systemic inflammation and a history of potential exposure.

Prevalence of Demodex gatoi in shelter and feral cats in a southeastern region of the United States.

Demodex gatoi is a contagious ectoparasite that causes pruritic dermatitis in otherwise healthy cats. The diagnosis of this mite can be difficult, and its prevalence is unknown. The goal of this study was to identify the prevalence of D.gatoi in a population of cats with no known previous exposure to treatments using real-time PCR and superficial skin scrapings. Fifty cats from shelters and 50 cats from feral populations of eastern Tennessee were included in this study. To identify the presence of D.gatoi, superficial skin scrapings and plucked hairs were collected from multiple sites for microscopic and PCR evaluation, respectively. Ten of 100 cats were positive for D.gatoi. Nine cats had a positive PCR for D.gatoi with negative skin scrapings. One mite was identified on superficial skin scrapings from one cat, which was negative on PCR. Four of 50 feral cats (8%) were positive for D.gatoi. Of the shelter cats, four of 20 stray cats (20%) and two of 30 owner-surrendered cats (6.67%) were positive. Only one of 10 positive cats had skin lesions. These findings demonstrate that asymptomatic cats represent a source of infection for D.gatoi to healthy cats. This mite should be considered a differential diagnosis in pruritic cats with a history of potential exposure. Additionally, skin scrapings appear to be insensitive; thus, multiple diagnostic tests, including PCR, should be performed to identify the presence of D.gatoi.

Coronavirus: A Laboratory Perspective

COVID-19 is a virus of the species of the Family coronaviridae known as as SARS-COV-2. This virus is easily contracted and/transmitted from an infected person to another healthy individual and has continued to spread rapidly. The aim of this review is to identify laboratory methods used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 test are aimed at detecting active infection, or past infection, or an immunization so as to treat and curb the further spread of the virus. The initial viral detection is typically carried out with the upper respiratory tract (URT) sample. Repeated testing is particularly helpful and essential if a patient has a clinical appearance of viral pneumonia, radiographic results consistent with pneumonia and/or a history of potential exposure. The Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, CDC recommends the collection of specimens from the lower respiratory tract, upper respiratory tract, and the blood. The lower respiratory tract sample includes; the sputum, broncheoalveolar lavage, bronchial wash, tracheal aspirate, and pleural fluid. The upper respiratory tract specimens include; the nasopharyngeal swab, and oropharyngeal swab (NP/OP swabs). Some laboratory techniques developed and in use for the detection of Covid-19 are; nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), antibody detection, and viral antigen detection. The role of the laboratory assay in diagnosis of COVID-19 infection or disease cannot be under-estimated, timing and site of specimen collected must be followed by adequate professional training to ensure result accuracy. This review provides information on available laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of the viral infection and their potential merits and limitations.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection among People Aged 15 to 89 Years Inhabiting the Department of Casanare (Colombia)

The purpose of this study was to calculate the seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a sample of inhabitants from a region considered to be at high risk of natural transmission of Chagas disease in Colombia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in subjects from 5 municipalities, recruited in urban and rural locations, distributed by gender according to the demographic information available. Socio-demographic information, history of potential exposure to insect vectors, blood donating, as well as symptoms suggesting cardiac disease were collected using a questionnaire. After giving written informed consent, blood specimens were obtained from 486 people to determine the serologic evidence of past exposure to T. cruzi. Infection was diagnosed when two different tests (ELISA and IHA) were positive. The seroprevalence of antibodies against T. cruzi was 16.91% considering an estimated population of 44,355 aged between 15 and 89 years (95%IC: 13.72 to 20.01). The factors significantly associated with the infection were: 1- Housing materials like vegetable material, adobe or unfinished brick walls; 2- The fact of having previous tests for Chagas disease (regardless of the result). Of note, the mean ages among infected and not infected participants were significantly different (49.19 vs. 41.66, p≤0.0001). Among the studied municipalities, the one with the highest frequency of T. cruzi infection was Nunchia, with 31.15% of the surveyed subjects. Therefore it may be concluded that T. cruzi infection is highly prevalent in the north region of Casanare, in Colombia.

Strongyloides stercoralis: risks posed to immigrant patients in an Australian tertiary referral centre

Strongyloides stercoralis is a nematode human parasite with a global prevalence that is able to maintain a prolonged infestation by means of its autoinfective life cycle. Immunosuppression may result in a life-threatening hyperinfection syndrome. Recent changes in migration have resulted in the arrival of many immigrants from endemic areas. As to whether physicians are alert to the risks of strongyloidiasis in these patient groups is unclear. The aim of the study was to assess the risks posed by chronic strongyloidiasis in patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre and the need for screening of immigrant patients before immunosuppression. The study comprised a retrospective review of cases of strongyloidiasis presenting to the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Thirty-three cases were diagnosed by either positive serology or faecal microscopy between January 1998 and January 2005. The medical records for 29 cases were examined with regard to demographics, clinical features and complications. Two major groups were identified: immigrants (17) and returned travellers (11). Six immigrants, but no returned traveller, developed a hyperinfective syndrome. Five immigrants received immunosuppressive therapies before developing symptoms of hyperinfection and this was complicated by life-threatening sepsis in two patients. Diagnosis was frequently delayed in the immigrant group who were significantly more likely to present with respiratory symptoms. Four immigrants and two returned travellers were treated with corticosteroids for symptoms that were probably related to larval migration. Before giving immunosuppressive therapies, patients with a history of potential exposure must be investigated for strongyloidiasis and consideration given to empirical treatment.

The performance of specialized collections of bisphenol A epoxy resin system components in the evaluation of workers in an occupational health clinic population.

Epoxy resin of the bisphenol A type (ERBA) is a common cause of occupational contact dermatitis. 167 patients with a history of potential exposure were patch tested with epoxy resin (molecular weight 340) (ERBAM) 1% in pet. and with a number of other ingredients in ERBA systems. 18% of the test patients exhibited a positive response to ERBAM. Phenyl glycidyl ether was the most frequent system component other than ERBAM itself to elicit a positive response (6.1%). Approximately 80% of those tested were unresponsive to ERBAM or any other of the system components, while 20% exhibited a positive response to one or more of the test materials. Only a small % were positive to system materials, but negative to ERBAM, in keeping with previous studies. The study suggests that there is a marginal benefit to testing with other than ERBAM 1%, except in instances where there is known exposure to another ERBA system ingredient, in which event, the patient should also be tested with the specific material to which they have been exposed if there is no response to ERBAM.