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Biomedical subjects

H M Ross

Publications and source records attributed to H M Ross.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Morbillivirus infection in two common porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the coasts of England and Scotland.

Two common porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), one found stranded on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, and the other in the Moray Firth, Scotland, in late 1990, were examined post mortem. Lesions of diffuse bronchointerstitial pneumonia were present in both animals; they were characterised by the infiltration of alveoli with leucocytes, macrophages and multinucleate syncytia, the necrosis of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium, focal proliferation of type II pneumocytes and occasional acidophilic cytoplasmic inclusions in alveolar macrophages and syncytia. Lymphoid depletion was apparent in the spleen, thymus and lymph nodes of both porpoises. Other changes in the Isle of Sheppey porpoise included severe dacryoadenitis. Marked pharyngitis, oesophagitis and balanoposthitis were present in the Moray Firth porpoise. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed the presence of morbillivirus antigen in a range of epithelia from both porpoises. This is the first report of morbillivirus infection in cetaceans from the coast of Great Britain.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The role of bacteria in phocine distemper.

The death of many seals believed to be infected with phocine distemper virus was found to be associated with a variety of mainly opportunistic bacterial pathogens. The bacteria most frequently involved were Bordetella bronchiseptica, Corynebacterium species and a variety of Streptococci. Seals dying on different parts of the coast of Britain were infected with these organisms in differing proportions.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The serological response of the common seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) to phocine distemper virus as measured by a canine distemper virus neutralisation test.

The application of a canine distemper virus (CDV) neutralisation test revealed that antibody titres of up to 11,620 were present in the sera of common seals during the epizootic of phocine distemper in British waters. However, during the later stages of the epizootic and afterwards, a surprisingly high proportion of animals were still seronegative. Titres of from 90 to 183 were common in diseased animals and were probably indicative of partial immunosuppression. A few animals with proven phocine distemper had titres of less than 64, this being evidence of a more profound immunosuppression. Recovered animals tended to have moderate to high titres and in some cases these persisted for at least 6.5 months. By contrast, the administration of an inactivated CDV vaccine produced antibody which declined rapidly to very low levels within the same period. Infection also occurred in grey seals in 1988 but without severe mortality. Antibody titres in this species nearly always lay in the range 128-734 and persisted at or around this level for at least 12 months. In both common and grey seals, antibody was transferred by suckling from mother to pup but absorption by the pup seemed to take place more slowly than in domestic mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Organochlorine levels in common seals (Phoca vitulina) which were victims and survivors of the 1988 phocine distemper epizootic.

We compared concentrations of organochlorines in the blubber of common seals (Phoca vitulina) found dead during the 1988 phocine distemper epizootic with levels in animals which survived it. There were highly significant differences between the live and dead animals, and between sample sites. These were not fully accounted for by seasonal and condition-related changes in blubber thickness.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Serologic study of phocine distemper in a population of harbor seals in Scotland.

A serologic survey of the prevalence of morbillivirus antibodies was conducted in a population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from northeastern Scotland, where mortality was comparatively low during the 1988 phocine distemper virus outbreak. None of the 12 seals sampled before the epizootic were seropositive. Thirty-five (52%) of 68 seals sampled after the beginning of the epizootic were seropositive, although there were significant age-related differences in both the number of seropositive individuals and in antibody levels. Marking studies showed that most seropositive seals caught during the peak of the epizootic survived for several months. Thus, the low mortality observed in this population did not appear to result from a lack of contact with the virus.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Appraisal of the Angelchik anti-reflux prosthesis based on clinical and manometric data and pH monitoring.

Data are presented from manometric and prolonged pH monitoring studies in 11 patients in whom the Angelchik anti-reflux prosthesis was inserted for control of symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux. Symptomatic and objective improvement was seen in the majority of our patients, although three suffered major side effects (erosion of prosthesis into the stomach in two, severe dysphagia in one). Impaired lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation noted after operation may explain both the transient dysphagia observed in five patients and the reduction in reflux episodes. Improvement in oesophageal acid clearance may result from fixation of the oesophagus within the abdomen by the device. While continued use of the prosthesis should be viewed with caution, it is effective and may have a place in the management of selected patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Prevalence of herpesvirus infection in British red deer and investigations of further disease outbreaks.

A serological survey of the prevalence of a new herpesvirus isolated from red deer (Cervus elaphus), tentatively designated herpesvirus of Cervidae type 1 (HVC-1), has shown that the virus is widespread in free-living and farmed red deer. Neutralising antibodies were detected in hill deer culled at three different locations in the north of Scotland, in farmed deer on five of eight Scottish farms and in four of 12 groups of English farmed or park deer. Fifty-eight of 145 (40 per cent) hill deer, 67 of 203 (33 per cent) Scottish farmed deer and 26 of 172 (14 per cent) English deer had antibody, the overall prevalence being 29 per cent. Further outbreaks of ocular disease in farmed red deer calves caused by HVC-1 were investigated. Deer sent to an auction from one farm were found after sale to have been incubating the disease and it was thus spread to seven deer farms. Despite a high incidence of clinical disease in the calves from the original farm, few in-contact deer showed clinical signs.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Prolonged gestation in sheep in western Scotland associated with diffuse neuronal necrosis of the fetal central nervous system.

A specific disorder of sheep resulting in gestation periods extending up to eight months is reported for the first time. The condition, which is of low prevalence, occurs on hill farms in coastal regions of western Scotland and affected ewes usually die unless relieved of their fetuses by surgery. The fetuses may weigh up to 12 kg and have long hairy coats, skeletal deformities, precocious gonadal development and extensive liquefaction of central nervous system tissue. The aetiology has not been determined but some mechanisms which may be involved in the pathogenesis are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Feed associated haemorrhagic disorder in pigs accompanied by pancreatic lesions.

The introduction of a new batch of feed to 400 pigs aged five to eight weeks resulted in 38 deaths and further morbidity associated with multiple haemorrhages. Signs abated within two days of withdrawal of the feed. Widespread haemorrhages were present in many tissues including the pancreas. Additional pancreatic lesions comprised focal necrosis, atrophy and fibrosis of exocrine tissue. The condition was reproduced experimentally in pigs and vitamin K protected mice against the injurious effects of the feed. The cause was not determined but it is speculated that more than one toxic factor and an imbalance of nutritional factors may have been present in the diet.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1982

Absorbed dose to man from the Se-75 labeled conjugated bile salt SeHCAT: concise communication.

The absorbed radiation dose that would result from the oral or intravenous administration of SeHCAT (23-[75Se]selena-25-homotaurocholate) has been calculated using the MIRD tables and formulas and data from measurements of whole-body distribution and from long-term whole-body counting in rats, mice, and man. When SeHCAT is administered to normal subjects, the gallbladder is the critical organ, receiving 12 mrad (oral dose) or 22 mrad (i.v.) per microcurie. The whole-body dose is 1 mrad/microCi, whatever the route of administration. In severe hepatic failure the liver might receive 200 mrad/microCi. The activity likely to be used in routine clinical practice is 10 microCi. Where a whole-body counter is used, an activity of 1 microCi has proved adequate. Even at an administered activity of 25 microCi, the absorbed dose is small compared with established techniques of investigating the gastrointestinal tract.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1982

Enterohepatic circulation in man of a gamma-emitting bile-acid conjugate, 23-selena-25-homotaurocholic acid (SeHCAT).

A conjugated bile acid, 23-selena-25-homotaurocholic acid (SeHCAT), labeled with the gamma emitter Se-75, has been evaluated in man. Absorption and excretion were compared with that of simultaneously administered [23-14C]cholic acid. SeHCAT is absorbed quantitatively following oral administration, secreted into the bile at the same rate as cholic acid, reabsorbed from the small intestine, and resecreted. It is not absorbed when the terminal ileum has been excised or bypassed. SeHCAT is therefore the first of a new class of radiopharmaceuticals, namely, gamma-emitting tracers of the complete cycle of the enterohepatic circulation. Its use will simplify investigation of the functional state of the terminal ileum by eliminating the need to collect and process feces.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1980

Properties of a cell-wall-defective variant of Brucella abortus of bovine origin.

The properties of an atypical Brucella strain isolated from lymph node tissue of a cow slaughtered as a brucellosis reactor were examined. The organism was Gram negative and highly pleomorphic, existing as cocci, coccobacilli, rods, branched and irregular forms which stained with fluorescent antibody conjugates prepared against rough and smooth Brucella abortus strains. It produced lecithinase and required at least 15% v/v equine or bovine serum for growth. It did not need supplementary CO2 for growth, produced H2S and was inhibited by brucella dyes and partially by i-erythritol. Growth inhibition or lysis was produced by brucella-phages. The organism was not pathogenic for guinea-pigs or mice but evoked antibodies mainly to rough Brucella antigens.

Animals↗