PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W M Boyce

Publications and source records attributed to W M Boyce.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Histopathology of nymphal pentastomid infections (Sebekia mississippiensis) in paratenic hosts.

The histopathologic alterations occurring in mice, hamsters, turtles, and a frog were described following experimental infection with nymphs of Sebekia mississippiensis. Initially, nymphal migration caused traumatic tissue damage and hemorrhage characteristic of larva migrans. Subsequent inflammatory responses included cellular infiltration with eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes, and fibrotic encapsulation of the nymphs. Dead nymphs were surrounded by a necrotic granulomatous response similar to that reported previously in humans and other animals. Differences were not seen in animals given single or multiple infections, but mice and hamsters exhibited a more marked inflammatory response than turtles. Overall, the histopathologic response to nymphal infections resembled those seen in infections resulting from ingestion of eggs, and both sources of infection should be considered in epidemiologic investigations of naturally occurring pentastomiasis.

Animals↗

Seasonal transmission of Fasciola hepatica in north central Florida (U.S.A.).

To assess seasonal transmission of Fasciola hepatica 37 groups of fluke-free tracer sheep, one group of four sheep each month in succession, grazed an infected pasture in north central Florida (U.S.A.) from June 1984 to June 1987. At the end of each month, tracers were moved to a fluke-free barn for 2 months, then necropsied and flukes counted. Fluke transmission mostly occurred during the first half of the year, with peak transmission from February to April. No transmission occurred during the warm summer months, having ceased in either May or June of each year to begin again in late autumn or early winter (November-January).

Animals↗

Physicochemical characterization and monoclonal and polyclonal antibody recognition of Baylisascaris procyonis larval excretory-secretory antigens.

Baylisascaris procyonis larval excretory-secretory (ES) antigens consisted of complex glycoproteins ranging from 10 kDa to over 200 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and lectin binding. Five monoclonal antibodies (Bapr1-Bapr5) produced against B. procyonis ES antigens were assayed by western blotting with larval ES antigens from B. procyonis, Baylisascaris melis, Baylisascaris transfuga, Ascaris suum, and Toxocara canis. Bapr1 and Bapr2 recognized periodate-sensitive epitopes on 14-kDa ES components of B. procyonis, B. melis, and B. transfuga, whereas Bapr4 and Bapr5 recognized periodate-resistant epitopes present on 55-kDa ES components of B. procyonis and B. melis. Bapr3 primarily recognized periodate-resistant epitopes on 33-45-kDa components of B. procyonis and B. melis ES. Heterologous rabbit antisera cross-reacted with many B. procyonis ES antigens on western blots, but recognition of the 33-45-kDa components was genus-specific. Normal human sera and T. canis-positive human sera also cross-reacted with many B. procyonis ES antigens, including those of 33-45 kDa. However, periodate oxidation markedly decreased cross-reactions and allowed for differential immunodiagnosis of B. procyonis versus T. canis. These studies demonstrated that antibody recognition of carbohydrate epitopes on ES components is an important cause of cross-reactions in antibody detection assays. Recognition of periodate-resistant (protein) epitopes on the 33-45-kDa B. procyonis ES components appears to be useful for genus-specific immunodiagnosis of larva migrans caused by Baylisascaris spp.

Animals↗

Pathology of pentastomid infections (Sebekia mississippiensis) in fish.

Differential pathogenesis was observed in two species of fish naturally infected with the pentastome Sebekia mississippiensis. Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) showed a mild inflammatory response to developing nymphs, whereas swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri) had an extensive granulomatous inflammatory reaction with accompanying hemorrhage, myositis, and myodegeneration. This suggested that certain species of tropical fish reared in the southeastern United States may be at risk to potentially harmful infections with this parasite.

Alligators and Crocodiles↗

Heterologous resistance to Fasciola hepatica conferred upon rats by passive transfer of serum from different breeds of sheep.

Two experiments compared the protection against oral challenge with 20 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica conferred on rats by intraperitoneal injection of serum from three breeds of sheep infected with F. hepatica (Barbados Blackbelly, St. Croix, Florida Native). Experiment 1 used serum from sheep 5-6 months of age following two infections of 250 metacercariae each, while Experiment 2 utilized serum collected from the same sheep at 10-11 months of age following either a primary (first exposure) or challenge (after two previous exposures of 250 metacercariae each) infection with 500 metacercariae. Similar numbers of flukes were recovered from rats given either immune or nonimmune (control) serum from each breed of sheep in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, rats given serum from infected St. Croix sheep had significantly fewer flukes than rats given either control or immune serum from Barbados Blackbelly or Florida Native sheep. There was no significant correlation of fluke counts between individual serum donors (sheep) and serum recipients (rats).

Analysis of Variance↗

The isolation and partial characterization of a Babesia sp. from desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni).

A novel Babesia parasite of desert bighorn sheep was isolated. Its taxonomic description, host range, pathogenicity and antigenic relatedness were investigated. The parasite was infective for black-tailed and white-tailed deer, but with host-specific differences compared to that of bighorn sheep. A splenectomized calf and domestic sheep were refractory to infection. A comparative immunofluorescence assay detected antigens cross-reactive with Babesia odocoilei, B. divergens, B. equi and B. caballi, but not with B. bovis or B. bigemina. Babesia odocoilei was also infective for bighorn sheep, allowing comparison by a cross-challenge experiment, the results of which supported the conclusion that this parasite was not B. odocoilei. However, the bighorn sheep Babesia cannot currently be distinguished from B. capreoli described from roe deer in northern Germany. Data indicate that, while this parasite may not present a problem for domestic animals, it may cause disease in bighorn sheep and deer populations.

Animals↗

Bartonella spp. isolated from wild and domestic ruminants in North America.

Bartonella species were isolated from 49% of 128 cattle from California and Oklahoma, 90% of 42 mule deer from California, and 15% of 100 elk from California and Oregon. Isolates from all 63 cattle, 14 deer, and 1 elk had the same polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles. Our findings indicate potential for inter- and intraspecies transmission among ruminants, as well as risk that these Bartonella spp. could act as zoonotic agents.

Animals↗