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Biomedical subjects

C S Foil

Publications and source records attributed to C S Foil.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Differential diagnosis of feline pruritus.

Pruritic skin diseases in the cat are best approached in a problem-oriented fashion. The presentations of pruritic skin disease in the cat include miliary dermatitis, pruritus of the head, scaling and crusting dermatoses, alopecia, erythroderma and exfoliation, eosinophilic granuloma complex, macular and pustular eruptions, and pruritic nodular dermatoses. There is a specific differential diagnosis for each presentation. A rational diagnostic plan, based on the likelihood of each disease in the differential diagnosis, may be formulated for each presentation of pruritus in the cat.

Animals

Efficacy of ivermectin in paste and injectable formulations against microfilariae of Onchocerca cervicalis and resolution of associated dermatitis in horses.

The efficacy of a single dose of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), in injectable or paste formulations, against microfilariae of Onchocerca cervicalis and associated skin lesions was evaluated in 20 naturally infected horses during midsummer months in Louisiana. All horses had clinical signs of dermatitis of the ventral midline and/or limbs, shoulders, thorax, and withers. Efficacy was monitored at 21, 42, and 63 days after treatment. Procedures done at these intervals included microfilarial counts of 6-mm skin biopsy specimens of affected ventral midline, grading of gross lesions, and photography and histologic assessment of ventral midline biopsy specimens. Microfilarial numbers were reduced to 0 by 21 days after treatment in all but one horse. Active lesions improved or were resolved completely by 63 days after treatment. Total inflammation, as judged by histologic methods, was reduced in all horses by 63 days after treatment, but there was a residual population of inflammatory cells in all horses. Adverse reactions after treatment were not observed in any of the horses.

Animals

Temporal study of staphylococcal species on healthy dogs.

During a 1-year period, specimens were obtained monthly from 5 hair coat and 7 mucous membrane sites of 11 healthy dogs. Among 804 isolates of staphylococci, 13 species were identified. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most frequently isolated (40.2% of total isolates) coagulase-positive species, and S xylosus was the most frequently isolated (17.3%) coagulase-negative species. Moreover, S intermedius was the most frequently isolated species from the 12 sites evaluated and was isolated persistently from 8 of the 9 dogs that completed the 1-year study. On the basis of a commercial identification system, 14 profile numbers were identified for isolates of S intermedius. However, 2 profile numbers accounted for a majority (70.9%) of the isolates. Specific S intermedius biotypes identified on the basis of hemolysis, coagulase production, beta-lactamase activity, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were found repeatedly in 3 dogs. Seemingly, S intermedius was a resident of the normal bacterial microflora of these dogs; however, the inability to isolate S intermedius from 1 dog during the study year indicated that not all dogs harbor S intermedius as a resident microorganism.

Animals

Seasonal changes in density and tissue distribution of Onchocerca cervicalis microfilariae in ponies and related changes in Culicoides variipennis populations in Louisiana.

Seasonal changes in density and spatial distribution of Onchocerca cervicalis microfilariae were studied in ventral-midline skin of 15 infected pony mares in southern Louisiana. Triple running mean analysis of data over a 13-mo period indicated that a distinct pattern exists in total microfilariae population density and in microfilariae occurrence in different levels of the dermis. Microfilariae density reaches peak levels in the spring followed by a 58% decrease in the summer, a 19% increase in the fall, and a decrease to the lowest numbers in the winter. Microfilariae were found in all levels of the skin during the spring, summer, and fall but were not found in the superficial layers of the dermis during the winter months. The population density of Culicoides variipennis, a demonstrated vector of O. cervicalis, appeared to have seasonal fluctuations similar to the changes in microfilarial density. Harmonic wave analysis of microfilariae density data in individual ponies showed that all individuals did not follow the population trend.

Animals

Follicular cysts in sheep.

A flock of 188 sheep was surveyed for cutaneous lesions that were noticed 3 days after shearing. On the basis of histologic features of the cyst wall, ie, association with sebaceous glands and lack of follicular structures or rete pegs, the cysts were classified as follicular cysts.

Animals

Disseminated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a ferret.

A 3-year-old male ferret was admitted with ulcerated nodules and fistulous draining tracts on the pads and digits of the right front and left hind feet. Proteus sp and Escherichia coli were isolated from the exudate. Histologic examinations revealed that all skin lesions were associated with an underlying squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical removal was attempted, followed by chemotherapy. Regression of remaining lesions was noted before discharge; however, the ferret died 5 days later and was not available for necropsy.

Animals

Detection of beta-lactamase produced by Staphylococcus intermedius.

One iodometric, 2 chromogenic, and 3 acidometric methods were compared for the detection of beta-lactamase produced by Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 105) isolated from dogs. Of 575 tests performed, using the 6 methods evaluated, 316 (55.0%) were positive for beta-lactamase production. The iodometric method was the reference method. With the exception of a high correlation (r = 0.962) between 1 acidometric method and 1 chromogenic method, the 5 commercial methods had correlation coefficients less than 0.900 when comparisons were made among them. The 6 methods were in agreement for 69 (65.7%) of the isolates. Based on the findings of this study, an inexpensive, laboratory-prepared, paper strip iodometric method was as reliable as 5 commercial methods for beta-lactamase detection and is recommended for routine use in clinical laboratories.

Animals

Comparison of coagulase test methods for identification of Staphylococcus intermedius from dogs.

Staphylococcus intermedius isolates from dogs were tested for coagulase activity by 6 commercial methods and by conventional methods, using rabbit and dog plasma. When compared with the conventional tube method using rabbit plasma, none of the 6 commercial methods was suitable for identification of S intermedius, although the 6 tests performed well using strains of S aureus. Use of rabbit plasma identified more S intermedius isolates than did use of dog plasma.

Agglutination Tests

Distribution of staphylococcal species on clinically healthy cats.

Among 827 isolates derived from 113 clinically healthy cats, 12 species of staphylococci were identified. Staphylococci were isolated from each cat and from 54.9% of the anatomic sites evaluated. A mode of 6 (range = 2 to 11) of the 11 anatomic sites evaluated per cat yielded staphylococci. A mode of 8 (range = 2 to 12) isolates were found per cat. Staphylococcus simulans was the most isolated (43.9% of total) coagulase-negative species. Moreover, S simulans was the most isolated species from each of the 11 sites evaluated and, except for the mouth and haircoat, comprised greater than 50% of the isolates from each site. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most isolated (13.5% of the total) coagulase-positive species. Three other species (S epidermidis, S xylosus, and S aureus) comprised 32.2% of the isolates, and 7 species (S haemolyticus, S hominis, S hyicus, S capitis, S warneri, and S saprophyticus) comprised 10.4% of the isolates. Six species (S intermedius [96 of 112 isolates], S haemolyticus [20 of 22], S sciuri [17 of 18], S warneri [10 of 13], S hyicus [10 of 10], and S capitis [7 of 8]) were isolated primarily from household cats. Only 1 species, S xylosus (75 of 87), was isolated primarily from cattery cats. Haircoat specimens (n = 452) yielded 508 isolates (61.4% of the total) distributed among all 12 staphylococcal species and included greater than 50% of the isolates of all species other than S simulans and S sciuri. A more heterogeneous population of staphylococci was isolated from household cats than was isolated from cattery cats.

Anal Canal