Biomedical subjects

Claus D Buergelt

Publications and source records attributed to Claus D Buergelt.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Attachment of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis to bovine intestinal organ cultures: method development and strain differences.

Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis (MAP) causes chronic granulomatous inflammation of the intestinal tract in many species of animals, but the mechanisms of disease are poorly understood. Attachment of bacteria to epithelial cells is a critical step in pathogenesis of many mucosal diseases. The goal of these studies was to develop an in vitro method to study attachment of MAP to bovine intestinal epithelial cells. Short-term, bovine intestinal organ cultures were used to show a significant difference in the ability of radiolabelled MAP strains to attach to intestinal epithelium. We found significant differences in the ability of different strains of MAP to attach, but there were no differences in attachment among different regions of the intestinal tract. Examination of acid fast stained tissue sections of organ cultures demonstrated that organisms were located adjacent to mucosal epithelium or within goblet cells. Coating of the organisms with fibronectin, which has been shown to be involved in attachment of many mycobacteria, including MAP, affected the attachment of the MAP strains in different ways, but did not affect the overall attachment of the organisms to different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. This organ culture method should also prove useful for defining the molecular mechanisms of attachment and interactions of MAP with intestinal epithelium.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

West Nile virus encephalomyelitis in horses: 46 cases (2001).

OBJECTIVE: To determine signalment, clinical findings, results of diagnostic testing, outcome, and postmortem findings in horses with West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 46 horses with WNV encephalomyelitis. PROCEDURE: Clinical data were extracted from medical records of affected horses. RESULTS: On the basis of clinical signs and results of serologic testing, WNV encephalomyelitis was diagnosed in 46 of 56 horses with CNS signs. Significantly more males than females were affected. Increased rectal temperature, weakness or ataxia, and muscle fasciculations were the most common clinical signs. Paresis was more common than ataxia, although both could be asymmetrical and multifocal. Supportive treatment included anti-inflammatory medications, fluids, antimicrobials, and slinging of recumbent horses. Results of the IgM capture ELISA and the plaque reduction neutralization test provided a diagnosis in 43 horses, and only results of the plaque reduction neutralization test were positive in 3 horses. Mortality rate was 30%, and 71% of recumbent horses were euthanatized. One horse that had received 2 vaccinations for WNV developed the disease and was euthanatized. Follow-up communications with 19 owners revealed that most horses had residual deficits at 1 month after release from the hospital; abnormalities were resolved in all but 2 horses by 12 months after release. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings were similar to those of previous WNV outbreaks in horses but provided additional clinical details from monitored hospitalized horses. Diagnostic testing is essential to diagnosis, treatment is supportive, and recovery rate of discharged ambulatory horses is < 100%.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Equine cardiovascular pathology: an overview.

The few data collections that evaluate the involvement of organ systems in horse diseases are in agreement that the locomotor, gastrointestinal and nervous systems are the sites of primary disease in the vast majority of sick horses. When compared with diseases of these organ systems, equine cardiovascular diseases occur infrequently. The most detailed and comprehensive survey of equine cardiac pathology was reported in 1972 by Else and Holmes, who summarized the gross and microscopic cardiac findings from 1500 abattoir horses. This paper reviews the pathology of the cardiovascular diseases typically encountered in horses. Most of the pathological examples are from the files of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida, encompassing 24 years (1978-2002) and some 6000 equine necropsy cases. Preceding the specific topics are principles of the anatomy and function of the normal equine heart. Pathological entities include equine congenital cardiovascular diseases, acquired diseases of the pericardium, myocardium, endocardium and valves, cardiac neoplasms, and common equine vascular diseases and vascular neoplasms. Extensive use is made of photographs to illustrate the features of individual case examples.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Causes of mortality of free-ranging Florida panthers.

The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is one of the most endangered mammals, with the entire population estimated to consist of only 30-50 adult animals. Between 1978 and 1999, 73 free-ranging Florida panther carcasses were submitted for postmortem evaluation, of which 47 (64%) were radiocollared and 26 (36%) were uncollared cats. Overall, mortality of panthers > 6-mo-old was due to vehicular trauma in 25 (35%), intraspecific aggression in 19 (26%), illegal kill in seven (10%), research activities in two (3%), infectious diseases in two (3%), esophageal tear in one (1%), pleuritis in one (1%), pyothorax in one (1%), aortic aneurysm in one (1%), atrial septal defect in one (1%), and causes of death were undetermined in 13 (18%) due to autolysis. Of the 25 panthers that were killed by vehicular trauma, 20 (80%) died between October and April. This coincides with increased number of winter visitors to south Florida. Among radiocollared panthers, intraspecific aggression was the primary cause of mortality for 19 (41%) dead cats. Of these cats, 16 (84%) were males and 14 (88%) were either less than 3 or more than 8-yr-old. These animals were probably fighting to establish or retain territory. Among the 26 uncollared panthers, vehicular trauma was the primary cause of mortality and was responsible for 16 (62%) deaths. This study documents the causes of mortality and the age, sex, and seasonal mortality trends for both radiocollared and uncollared free-ranging endangered Florida panthers over a 21-yr-period.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Generalized osteosclerosis in a cat.

A 12-year-old, neutered male, domestic long-hair cat was evaluated for a 6-month history of inspiratory stertor and epiphora. In computed tomography of the skull and pelvis, and radiographs of the thorax, right femur and stifle there was generalized osteosclerosis, with obliteration of the nasal turbinates and nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The cat also had a large fibrosarcoma involving the right pelvic limb. Osteosclerosis is a rare disorder that is poorly understood but has been described in several species. Various manifestations, potential causes, and radiologic findings of osteosclerosis are discussed.

Animals↗