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Biomedical subjects

A F Kaufmann

Publications and source records attributed to A F Kaufmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Mycotic infections of the alimentary tract of nonhuman primates: a review.

Lesions of candidiasis, mucormycosis (phycomycosis), entomophthoramycosis, geotrichosis, cryptococcosis, paracoccidioidomycosis and coccidioidomycosis have been reported in the alimentary tract of nonhuman primates. Candidiasis and mucormycosis were reported most often. Both Old and New World monkeys and great apes are susceptible; infection is rare in prosimians. Ulcers and necrosis of the mucosa of the alimentary tract are the principal gross lesions. A granulomatous inflammatory process occurs in which the fungi are visible histologically on hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections, but they are seen and characterized better when stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) or Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) techniques. Cultural or immunofluorescence studies, or both, are necessary for specific identification of the fungi. Immunosuppression is suggested as a predisposing factor in certain mycotic diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Pontiac fever: isolation of the etiologic agent (Legionella pneumophilia) and demonstration of its mode of transmission.

Pontiac fever, a unique epidemiologic form of legionellosis, is characterized by a short (one- to two-day) incubation period and a self-limited grippe-like illness without pneumonia. In 1968, the first documented outbreak of this syndrome affected persons who had entered a health department building in Pontiac, Michigan. Epidemiologic analyses clearly implicated as airborne agent and suggested that evaporative condenser water aerosols being disseminated by a defective air conditioning system played a key role in the outbreak. Guinea pigs that were exposed in the building and to laboratory aerosols of evaporative condenser water developed bronchopneumonia. Legionella pneumophilia (serogroup 1) was isolated from the exposed guinea pigs' lungs. Paired acute and convalescent serum specimens from 37 patients were tested by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique using L. pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen, and 31 (84%) had rises in titer from less than 32 to greater than or equal to 64.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMed1981

Comparison of selective media for primary isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni.

Three selective media, Skirrow, Butzler, and a modification of Butzler medium, were compared for the primary isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni. This organism was isolated from 87 of 347 specimens (72 from 240 dogs rectal swabs and 15 from 107 cats rectal swabs). The positive rate for dogs (30%) was twice as high as that for cats (14%). Skirrow and Butzler media were comparable in their isolation of C. fetus subsp. jejuni. A significantly higher rate of positive results was obtained with modified Butzler medium. The best combination of two media was that of modified Butzler and Skirrow media, which detected 98% of the isolates obtained. The percentage of Campylobacter-positive specimens was increased by 9% by holding primary isolation plates 72 h.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Airborne spread of brucellosis.

review of epidemic and endemic brucellosis at six abattoirs demonstrates a correlation between case distribution and flow of air from the kill department (stage II) to other areas within an abattoir. Air from the kill department disseminated to nearby departments led to abnormally high brucellosis attack rates for persons who worked in these areas at two abattoirs. Complete physical separation or maintaining negative air pressure in the kill department was associated with reduced risk for workers in other areas at four abattoirs. Cases in persons who had exposure to kill department air but no contact with animal tissues provide strong evidence for airborne transmission of infection. Brucellosis is also contracted through skin contact with infectious animal tissues, but this route of transmission appears less important than formerly believed.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1980

Legionella pneumophila: identification in tissue sections by a new immunoenzymatic procedure.

A modified glucose oxidase immunoenzyme technique was shown to be highly sensitive and specific for detection of serogroup 1 Legionella pneumophila in 4% formaldehyde solution-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. There was complete concordance between infection with L pneumophila and detection of the organisms in tissue sections by glucose oxidase immunoenzyme staining. The L pneumophila organisms stained blue-black and were found within phagocytic cells as well as in the extracellular space. A cloud of blue-black pigment, probably representing diffusable antigen, was present in the extracellular spaces in the area of L pneumophila localization. No false-positive or false-negative reactions were found. This technique requires no specialized equipment, may be applicable to retrospective diagnostic problems, and can be adapted to routine diagnostic practice.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Tularemia pneumonia in Washington, DC. A report of three cases with possible common-source exposures.

In June 1978, three cases of tularemia pneumonia occurred in persons residing in the Washington, DC, area. The patients, all men, became ill three to four days after a brief session training their hunting dogs in an undeveloped wooded area adjacent to a housing complex. One of the dogs, which later died, had captured a wild rabbit during the training session. All three men had handled the rabbit while familiarizing their dogs with the rabbit's scent. The men had no other common exposure that was a likely source of infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Endemic human plague in New Mexico: risk factors associated with infection.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted to identify risk factors, other than contact with infected animal tissues, for infection caused by Yersinia pestis in non-Indian residents of areas with endemic sylvatic plague in New Mexico. The study group consisted of 16 persons who had bacteriologically confirmed cases of plague in the period 1975-1976 and 45 controls who were matched by age, sex, and location of residence. Participants were questioned about outdoor activities, environmental conditions in and around the home, procedures of pet care, exposure to animals and insects, and medical history. The availability of harborage and food sources for wild rodents as a result of human activity in the immediate home environment was associated with risk of infection. Failure to take steps to control fleas on dogs and cats also appeared to be a possible risk factor. No other significant differences were found between patients and controls. Plague in New Mexico appears to result primarily from entry of the reservoir host into the habitat of the human rather than from entry of the human into the sylvatic habitat of the reservoir host.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Exotoxin activity associated with the Legionnaires disease bacterium.

Hemolysis occurred around growth of the Legionnaires disease bacterium on supplemented Mueller-Hinton agar containing sterile defibrinated blood from each of five mammalian species. Hemolysis was most pronounced with guinea pig or rabbit blood, was less intense with horse or sheep blood, and was slight with blood from a human donor. Sterile filtrates of allantoic fluid from embryonated hen's eggs that had been infected with this organism displayed hemolytic activity in a radial hemolysis assay with guinea pig cells in agar. Growth of the Legionnaires disease bacterium on F-G agar with 5% hen's egg yolk was surrounded by a zone of clearing and more circumscribed zones of iridescence and increased opacity on and in the medium. Attempts to detect activity analogous to that of Escherichia coli heat-labile or heat-stable enterotoxin in allantoic fluid from infected eggs or in cultures of the Legionnaires disease bacterium were not successful.

Agar↗
PubMed1978

Inhalation anthrax in a home craftsman.

Inhalation anthrax with complicating subarachnoid hemorrhage due to simultaneous infection with two capsular biotypes of Bacillus anthracis of different virulence for the mouse is reported. The patient, a home craftsman, acquired his infection from imported animal-origin yarn.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Psittacosis outbreak in employees of a turkey-processing plant.

In June 1976, 28 employees of a Nebraska poultry processing plant had clinical onset of an illness compatible with psittacosis. The diagnosis was serologically confirmed in 22 patients by fourfold or greater changes in their complement fixation antibody titers, using a Chlamydia group antigen. Lack of serologic response in the remaining patients could not be readily explained by therapy differences, timing of serologic evaluation, or severity of clinical illness. The comparable attack rates in the various processing departments were consistent with an airborne infection. However, results of the investigation also suggested that workers having both frequent contact with turkey tissues and skin injuries were more likely to be infected than other processing workers. The cost of the outbreak for reimbursed medical costs, workmen's compensation, and lost wages was $19,000. A single turkey flock was implicated as the source of infection. This flock had been screened on a voluntary basis for evidence of infection prior to slaughter, using criteria developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Although the preslaughter screening failed to detect psittacosis infection, two turkeys from the same flock which inadvertently had not been sent to slaught were subsequently found to be infected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Leptospirosis: a common-source outbreak due to leptospires of the grippotyphosa serogroup.

In the period August 1-10, 1975, seven cases of leptospirosis occurred in residents of Stewart County, Tennessee. Based on serologic evidence, the infection was caused by leptospires of the Grippotyphosa serogroup. Epidemiologic study showed that the patients apparently acquired their infection while swimming in Cub Creek, a small local stream. Stagnation of the stream resulting from subnormal rainfall may have contributed to the timing of the outbreak. The source of leptospiral contamination for the stream could not be determined.

Adolescent↗