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Biomedical subjects

J Pohlenz

Publications and source records attributed to J Pohlenz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Studies of the detection of Listeria monocytogenes by culture and PCR in cerebrospinal fluid samples from ruminants with listeric encephalitis.

A total of 14 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from ruminants clinically suspected of suffering from listeric encephalitis were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes (L. m.). Of these samples, 11 were examined bacteriologically. Although the clinical diagnosis was confirmed in eight of 11 ruminants by histological and/or bacteriological examination of the brains, L. m. was only detected in one of the CSF samples using PCR, and in none by culture. The PCR-positive CSF sample was obtained from a sheep which had been treated with antibiotics prior to CSF sampling. From these findings, it was concluded that L. m. only occasionally gains access to the meningoventricular system in the course of listeric encephalitis of ruminants and that a reliable aetiological in vivo diagnosis of listeric encephalitis generally cannot be based on the detection of L. m. in the CSF of affected ruminants.

Animals

Phenotypic variability in patients with generalised resistance to thyroid hormone.

Genetic linkage of generalised resistance to thyroid hormone (GRTH) to the human thyroid receptor beta 1 gene has been identified. To date 38 different mutations in several kindreds have been documented. We report on a family with GRTH displaying an adenine for guanine substitution at nucleotide 1234 resulting in a threonine for alanine substitution at codon 317 of exon 9. This mutation has been described for different phenotypes, suggesting that the heterogeneity in GRTH may be the result of multiple genetic factors.

Adult

[The hemorrhagic form of acute bovine virus diarrhea: literature review and case report].

Infection of cattle with certain strains of BVD-virus causes a severe thrombocytopenia. The most obvious clinical and pathological lesions are multiple hemorrhages. Until now, problems with the Hemorrhagic syndrome have been reported predominantly from veal calf operations in the U.S.A. This publication presents first a literature review about the Hemorrhagic syndrome. The current data are based upon retrospective studies of field cases and experimental infections. Afterwards clinical, pathological and virological findings from three herds of veal calves in Germany are reported in which hemorrhagic diathesis was observed in calves and BVD-virus was isolated from tissues of diseased calves. The findings in these herds closely resemble the ones described in the literature for the Hemorrhagic syndrome. Therefore, infection with BVD-virus should be considered as differential diagnoses in Germany too, when hemorrhagic diathesis is observed in cattle.

Animals

[The differentiation between premature thelarche and pubertas praecox on the basis of clinical, hormonal and radiological findings].

In a retrospective study of 39 girls (aged 10 months to 7 10/12 years) with premature breast development criteria for distinguishing between premature thelarche and precocious puberty were analysed. Serum estradiol levels and bone age were determined and a test with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) performed (inclusion criteria). On the basis of the LHRH test and bone age, premature thelarche was diagnosed in 29 patients and precocious puberty in ten: while those with premature thelarche had a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) pattern of rise, in those with precocious puberty the rise in gonadotropin was of the LH type. The LH/FSH ratio 30 min after stimulation was < 1 (median 0.15 [0.03-0.34] in patients with premature thelarche, but > 1 (median 2.1 [1.34-5.67] in those with precocious puberty. Bone age was accelerated by at least 18 months in those with precocious puberty, but it corresponded to their chronological age or was only slightly accelerated in those with premature thelarche. These data thus indicate that premature thelarche and central precocious puberty can be reliably distinguished by the LHRH test and bone age.

Age Determination by Skeleton

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Germany.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been described as an epidemic central nervous disorder in cattle from the United Kingdom. The disease is thought to have emerged by an interspecies transmission of the scrapie agent of sheep to cattle, after feeding scrapie-contaminated meat and bone meal (MBM). The disease has caused substantial economic losses for the British cattle industry. Because of strict veterinary regulations for the import of adult British cattle by the European Union and for MBM by most of the member states the spread of BSE to continental Europe could be efficiently controlled, and only few cases have been described outside the UK. Here we report the first German case of BSE diagnosed in a Scottish Highland cow. The affected cow was imported into Germany before the import ban for cattle from the UK was implemented. BSE was confirmed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, animal experiments, immunoblotting and by electron microscopic detection of scrapie-associated fibrils (SAFs).

Animals

[Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency: clinical picture and differential diagnosis].

The pathological clinical and laboratory findings obtained in 50 calves and young cattle affected with Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency are compared with those found in 114 calves and young cattle showing marked neutrophil leukocytosis of other origin (age: < 2 years; leukocyte count: > 30,000 per microl; percentage of lymphocytes: < 55%).

Animals

[Use of an immunoenzyme histochemical method for the improvement of the etiologic diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease in swine].

With regard to the legal regulations for the diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease in pigs, a retrospective immunoenzymatic study was performed on brains of 20 pigs, in which Aujeszky's disease had been diagnosed based only on clinical, macroscopical and histological findings, although the etiological agent could not be demonstrated neither by immunofluorescent technique nor by virological cultivation. Applying the peroxidase-antiperoxidase-(PAP) method, in 6 of 20 animals (30%) viral antigen of porcine herpesvirus type 1 was demonstrated in situ in at least two of five different locations of the brain. Reasons for negative results in immunohistological and virological investigations are discussed and the significance of the performed immunoenzymatic technique is pointed out.

Animals

[The significance of bredavirus as a diarrhea agent in calf herds in Lower Saxony].

The objective of this investigation was to determine the distribution of Bredavirus in cattle herds in Lower Saxony and to evaluate its significance as potential cause of diarrhea in calves. Fecal samples and paired blood samples of 119 diarrheic and 46 healthy calves up to two months of age were collected from herds where diarrhea of calves was a problem. Fecal samples were examined for Breda-, rota- and coronavirus by solid phase immune electron microscopy and by ELISA, for K99-positive E. coli and salmonella by microbiological methods, and for cryptosporidia in smears. Antibody titers against Bredavirus, total serum protein and serum gamma globulin content were evaluated in the blood samples. Bredavirus was found in fecal samples from 5% (n = 6) of diarrheic calves which came from four different herds, but not in healthy calves. Rotavirus (31.9%), coronavirus (18.5%) and cryptosporidia (29.9%) were detected more frequently in fecal samples than Bredavirus. In this investigation rotavirus, coronavirus and cryptosporidia were present in addition in all herds where Bredavirus was found. In contrast to the low percentage of fecal samples containing Bredavirus, antibody titers in 75% of calves confirmed the high prevalence of Bredavirus infection in the cattle population of Lower Saxony.

Animals

[Chronic hepatitis B. Treatment in childhood with alpha-interferon].

BACKGROUND: In adults several trials of successful therapy for chronic hepatitis B using alpha-interferon with rates of seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe of 30-40% have been reported. Despite the experiences in children are limited, alpha-interferon seems to be a promising drug in this age group as well. We report on our results in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus carrier using the recombination interferon alpha-2b. METHODS: 24 children aged 0.6-16 years with chronic active or chronic persistent hepatitis B were included in the study. 12 children received 9 million units of alpha-interferon/m2 body surface area three times a week during four months. 12 control patients were not treated. The follow-up period was 9-12 months after the beginning of therapy. HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBe and Hepatitis-B-Virus-DNA were assessed during this time on a regular basis. RESULTS: Only seroconversion of HBe-Ag to anti-HBe was considered as response to interferon treatment. During the follow-up period anti-HBe could be detected in 5 (41.6%) of the treated and in one (8.3%) of the untreated children. In one case additional seroconversion of HBsAg to anti-HBs due to virus elimination was observed. In all children a marked reduction of viral replication could be shown. 9 patients cleared Hepatitis-B-Virus-DNA at least for one time during therapy. Alpha-interferon was well tolerated and no severe side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that alpha-interferon can be successfully applied to a considerable number of children with chronic hepatitis B. In patients responding to alpha-interferon usually serum transaminases become normal and infectivity of the disease is markedly reduced. alpha-Interferon treatment should be primarily recommended for children with chronic active inflammation.

Adolescent

[Spongiform encephalopathy in a red-necked ostrich (Struthio camelus)].

The paper describes anamnestic, macroscopic and microscopic findings in a female ostrich (Struthio camelus), euthanatized because of central nervous and locomotion disorders. Systemic arteriosclerotic lesions were combined with adiposis and signs of spongiform encephalopathy, localized in the brain stem and the medulla oblongata. Aetiopathogenesis of the disease remains unknown. Differential diagnosis is discussed and the disease compared to similar findings in mammals which suffered from BSE/scrapie.

Animals

[Pathomorphologic course study in fattening pigs after olaquindox poisoning].

In an investigation over five months the adrenal toxic effect of the quinoxaline derivate olaquindox in pigs of different ages (10 and 16 weeks) after accidental feeding of a 15-fold overdosage of olaquindox is demonstrated. The substance induced clinical and hematological changes comparable with Addison's disease. A reduced gain of body weight was observed, predominant hematological findings were a hyperkalemia and a hyponatremia, which reversed to normal values after 17 weeks in the younger group and after 14 weeks in the older group. Whereas five weeks after the first intake of the feed, degenerative changes of the zona arcuata were most prominent, a destructive fibrosis and a reduction of the adrenal cortex were more marked 12 and 13 weeks later. Due to the loss of aldosterone the electrolyte imbalances led to degenerative changes in the skeletal muscles and in the myocardium. Pigs of younger age were more affected than elder ones. Subcapsular cells with basophilic nuclei resembling normal cells of the zona arcuata appear 18 to 22 weeks after the first overdosage of olaquindox and are suggestive in combination with normal electrolyte values of a regeneration of the zona arcuata.

Adrenal Glands

Reproduction of mucosal disease with cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea virus selected in vitro.

Isolates of non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus from 18 persistently infected calves from one herd were compared by using monoclonal antibodies directed against the major viral glycoprotein gp53. All the isolates displayed an almost identical reaction pattern. Based on this antigenic analysis three cytopathogenic BVD and three non-cytopathogenic BVD viruses closely related to the non-cytopathogenic BVD herd isolate were selected. Six of the persistently infected calves were inoculated with a pool of the three closely related cytopathogenic BVD viruses and two with a pool of the three non-cytopathogenic BVD viruses. In addition three animals were infected with one closely related cytopathogenic BVD strain (Indiana) and two animals with the antigenetically different cytopathogenic BVD viral strain A1138/69. Regardless of the inoculation route all the animals superinfected with closely related cytopathogenic BVD viruses developed the characteristic lesions of mucosal disease within 14 days of infection. Animals which were inoculated with non-cytopathogenic BVD viruses which closely resembled the herd isolate, or with cytopathogenic BVD viruses which did not resemble the herd isolate did not develop any signs of disease. However, the latter group produced antibodies to the superinfecting virus.

Animals

A case report: encephalitis in lions. Pathological and virological findings.

An acute outbreak of encephalomyelitis in lions from a safari-park was investigated. Three moribund lions were euthanatized and a post mortem examination was performed. A disseminated non-suppurative polioencephalomyelitis with demyelination in the spinal cord was the only pathological finding. From tonsil material of one lion feline herpesvirus type 1 was isolated. Canine distemper virus, pseudorabies virus, feline infectious peritonitis virus and rabies were excluded as cause of the disease. The possible role of FHV-1 in etiology of the disease is discussed.

Animals

Viral antigen distribution in the central nervous system of cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Distribution of viral antigens in the central nervous system of 25 cattle with a persistent bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection was studied. Using a polyclonal antiserum produced in pigs and the direct immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase technique, BVDV antigen was located exclusively in neurons. Predilection sites for viral persistence were cerebral cortex and hippocampus; in other areas of brain and spinal cord, viral antigens were in single neurons or small groups of neurons. There was no morphological evidence of cellular alteration due to viral persistence. Perivascular lymphocytic infiltrations were in affected nervous tissue. It is concluded that the central nervous system is an important location for persistence of BVDV.

Animals

[Micronema deletrix as the cause of a granulomatous nephritis in a horse].

Infections with Micronema deletrix are described sporadically in humans and horses. This case report describes the infection with Micronema deletrix in a horse. The animal was sent to the clinic because of recurrent colic. On rectal palpation a mass was detected in the area of the right kidney and the horse was destroyed on its owners request. At slaughter a greatly enlarged right kidney interspersed with numerous white nodules was found. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous nephritis with numerous sections of nematodes. Based on their morphology and size, they were identified as Micronema.

Animals

[Pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Evaluation criteria for an animal model].

The origin of Crohn's disease is controverted. Experimental animal studies have not thus far supported a specific pathogenetic factor, a situation ascribed to the fact that the standard requirements of an "ideal" animal model are unsuited to diseases with a multifactorial pathogenesis such as Crohn's disease. In a new experimental animal model the hypothesis of a causal relationship between chemically processed dietary fats and the development of Crohn's disease was studied in 32 pigs. One finding was that experimental animals showed early morphologic lesions of the mucosa as specific to regional enteritis. The primary changes in the mucosa are thought to play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The model opens up new perspectives for planning, management and evaluation of experimental animal models in studying further aspects of etiology in Crohn's disease.

Animals