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Biomedical subjects

W R Mitchell

Publications and source records attributed to W R Mitchell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Nitroreduction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene in vitro by cytochrome P-450 induced H4IIE cells.

Conditions have been established for H4IIE rat hepatoma cell cultures in which effects of cytochrome P-450 induction on the metabolism of a munitions wastestream pollutant can be studied. Under these conditions, the polychlorinated hydrocarbon 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzfuran (PCDBF) induced cytochrome P-450 (1A1) aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity over a wide range of concentrations without significant cytotoxic effects. The munition pollutant 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) did not induce AHH activity itself, but its metabolism was considerably altered when applied to PCDBF induced cultures. Production of amino nitrotoluene isomers was greatly enhanced in induced cultures as compared to uninduced controls, as was the conversion of radiolabeled 2,4-DNT to relatively more polar metabolites. To some extent, the results with H4IIE cells parallel those reported for animals exposed to 2,4-DNT after induction of cytochrome P-450 AHH activity. The preliminary findings suggest that with further development and validation, H4IIE cultures could be of use in characterizing metabolites that result from exposure to chemical mixtures involving a P-450 (1A1) inducer.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Streptococcus suis in slaughter pigs and abattoir workers.

The detection and identification of Streptococcus suis type 2 in 8.1% of 347 pig herds of southwestern Ontario revealed that the infection is widespread in this area. A herd suspected to be infected showed a carrier rate of 9.7% among the 62 animals sampled. These subclinical carriers represent a potential source of infection for slaughterhouse workers. From studies of contamination of hands and knives, it was concluded that eviscerators involved in removing the larynx and lungs from the carcasses have a significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.05) risk of exposure to Streptococcus suis than other abattoir workers.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1986

Isolation of Streptococcus suis using a selective medium.

A selective medium containing tryptic soy agar, 5% defibrinated bovine blood, crystal violet, nalidixic acid and gentamicin significantly improved the isolation rate of Streptococcus suis from tonsilar tissue of slaughtered pigs. Ninety-five percent of the S. suis isolates identified in Guelph were confirmed as S. suis in Copenhagen, but only six out of 21 isolates typed as capsular serotype 2 in Guelph were confirmed to possess serotype 2 antigen in Copenhagen. Sixty-four percent of the S. suis isolates were not typable within the current scheme of capsular serotypes from 1 to 13 and type 1/2.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Thermoregulatory responses to central injections of excess calcium in monkeys.

In unanesthetized monkeys (4-8 kg), artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) containing excess (greater than 1.3 mM) amounts of Ca2+ was infused at 20 microliters/min for 5 min into the cerebral ventricles. Core and skin temperatures, respiratory gas exchange, heart rate, and sweat rate were monitored. At 22 degrees C, intracerebroventricular infusions of 13-39 mM Ca2+ produced a dose-related hypothermia associated with a dose-related fall in metabolic rate and heart rate and a rise in average skin temperature. General body sweating was not initiated, and respiratory water loss was unaffected; however, exercise activated sweating and elevated it from 0.05 to 0.22 mg X (cm2 X min)-1. At 35 or 40 degrees C, infusion of 26 mM Ca2+ failed to influence ongoing general body sweating; however, subsequent exercise increased sweat rate by 63%. Heart rate was unaffected. At 15 degrees C metabolic rate increased 50%. After infusing 26 mM Ca2+, metabolism decreased 6% and core temperature declined 0.8 +/- 0.24 degrees C. Skin temperatures continued to fall, heart rate fell, and sweating was not initiated. In contrast, infusing ACSF increased metabolism 11% and core temperature fell only 0.18 +/- 0.14 degrees C. The inability of exogenous Ca2+ to 1) initiate sweating at 22 degrees C, 2) elicit vasodilation at 15 degrees C, 3) initiate or stimulate sweating at 35 or 40 degrees C, or 4) lower core temperature at 35 or 40 degrees C argues against a set-point function for this cation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Epidemiology of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae infection in pigs: a survey of Ontario Pork Producers, 1981.

Information about factors associated with the spread and the effect of pleuropneumonia was obtained from 418 pork producers in Ontario, who returned a mailed questionnaire. The overall herd prevalence of pleuropneumonia was 23.2%. The prevalence among herds with feeder pigs only was 34.3% and 16% among sow herds. The chance of pleuropneumonia breaking out in a herd was increased with increased traffic of pigs into the herd. The source of supplementary stock had an important effect on the chance of pleuropneumonia occurring. The highest risk resulted from introducing stock from salesbarns and the lowest from stock of health status known to the purchaser and supplied by one breeder only. Mortality, primarily among feeder pigs, and unthriftiness were the major effects of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae infection. Stress, such as crowding or inclement climatic conditions, was associated with outbreaks of pleuropneumonia. This would suggest that the infection with H. pleuropneumoniae can be subclinical until stress precipitates the disease.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1982

Evaluation of the complement fixation test for the diagnosis of pleuropneumonia of swine caused by Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae.

Evaluation of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was based on test results of 346 sera from pigs known to be infected and 139 sera from pigs known not to be infected. All sera were tested with a monospecific antigen (serotype 1) and a polyspecific antigen (serotypes 1-5). The sensitivity of the polyspecific antigen was approximately 85% at serum dilution 1:2 and was significantly higher than the monospecific antigen at all serum dilution levels. The specificity of the two antigen preparations was not significantly different at any dilution and increased from approximately 78% to 1:2 to 100% at 1:128. When pigs from herds with unknown incidence of infection were studied, it was found that a high proportion seroconverted, presumably as a response to subclinical infection. However, the antibody titres waned rapidly. This indicated that seroreaction expresses current or recent infection. Thus, the complement fixation test provides a reliable means of diagnosing pleuropneumonia of pigs and might be useful as a tool to control this disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The application of the soluble antigen fluorescent antibody test for the diagnosis of avian influenza.

The application of the soluble antigen fluorescent test as a tool for serological investigation of influenza type A infection in wild birds was studied. The soluble antigen fluorescent antibody test is basically an indirect fluorescent antibody test except that an artificial matrix of cellulose acetate discs is used as a substrate for antigen and the test results are scanned and recorded by a fluorometer. THe influenza type A soluble antigen fluorescent antibody was obtained from concentrated and detergent disrupted virus particles, absorbed onto cellulose acetate discs. Anti-influenza sera were prepared in pheasants and ducks to A/turkey/Ontario/6118/67 and in pigeons to A/turkey/Ontario/6213/68. The antigen-antibody complex was detected by specific staining with monovalent or polyvalent fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated rabbit anti-avian immunoglobulins. The soluble antigen fluorescent antibody test is a sensitive technique for the detection of specific influenza A antibodies in several avian species, and could be adapted for use in large scale surveys.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Vaccination against pleuropneumonia of pigs caused by Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae.

A strain of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae was isolated from a pig with pleuropneumonia from a herd where this condition was frequent. A formalin inactivated culture of this isolate was used as antigen in two vaccine preparations: A and B. Vaccine A had peanut oil + arlacel 80 + tween 80 as adjuvant and vaccine B had aluminum hydroxide gel as adjuvant. Twenty pigs were vaccinated twice with vaccine A and 19 with vaccine B. Twenty additional pigs were not vaccinated. All pigs were transferred to the herd. Eleven pigs in the nonvaccinated group developed pneumonia and seven of these died within eight days after exposure. None of the vaccinated pigs had signs of pneumonia. It is concluded that the vaccines prevented the acute form of pleuropneumonia due to H. pleuropneumoniae.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Prevalence of reovirus 1, 2 and 3 antibodies in Ontario racehorses.

The sera of 2596 thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses from Ontario were examined by hemagglutination-inhibition for antibodies to reovirus types 1, 2 and 3. The prevalence of antibodies differed between the standardbred and thoroughbred horses and varied with the age groups within the two populations. While reovirus 1 was the principal virus type infecting thoroughbreds, all three types seemed to infect standardbred horses. Differences of these findings with data from similar studies in Europe are mentioned and the epizootiological and pathological significance of these findings are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Epidemiology of equine upper respiratory tract disease on standardbred racetracks.

The outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infections in horses at Standardbred racetracks were investigated over a three year period. The most serious epidemics of respiratory disease occurred in the winter and spring seasons. Both influenza viruses and equine herpesvirus 1 were shown to be present in the horse population. The herpesvirus was associated with respiratory disease particularly in the winter but the equine influenza viruses apparently were responsible for the major epidemics of respiratory disease at these tracks. Younger horses, two or three years of age, were particularly susceptible to upper respiratory disease and showed the greatest rate of seroconversion to influenza viruses. Major outbreaks of respiratory disease occurred when the proportion of young horses which had not previously been exposed to epidemics of respiratory disease reached 30 to 40% of the population at the track. Most horses over four years of age appeared to develop resistance to the infections.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Salmonella investigation in an Ontario feed mill.

The frequency of Salmonella contamination of feedstuffs and finished broiler chicken feeds at an Ontario feed mill were investigated over a four-month period. Samples of feed ingredients and finished pelleted feeds were collected at various points during manufacture and cultured in trypticase soy broth prior to selective enrichment for isolation of Salmonella. Salmonella contamination was found in 4.3% of 93 finished pelleted broiler feeds examined. The contamination appeared to result primarily from the incorporation of contaminated animal protein ingredients into the feed. Meatmeal and the broiler, premix, which contained meatmeal as a filler, were most frequently contaminated followed by feather meal. Pelleting failed to eliminate the Salmonellae from the feeds. The methods used failed to detect Salmonella in the environment of the feed mill or its delivery trucks. Recommendations for control are made.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1978

Sources of Salmonellae in broiler chickens in Ontario.

Sources of Salmonellae infecting broiler chicken flocks in Ontario were investigated from July, 1975 to April, 1976. Three broiler flocks were investigated on each of four farms which received chicks from a common hatchery. Samples of feed and new litter were preenriched in nonselective broth subcultured to Salmonella-selective enrichment broth and plated on Salmonella-selective differential agar. Samples of used litter, water, culled chicks, insects, mice, wild birds and environmental swabs were not cultured initially in the nonselective broth. Fecal samples from principal and occasional flock attendants were examined for Samonellae. Salmonella infection, as judged by contaminated flock litter was detected in six flocks on two of the farms while the flocks on the other farms remained negative. Salmonellae were isolated from 23 of 412 feed samples (nine serotypes), six of 35 new wood shaving samples (four serotypes), one of 29 pools of culled chick viscera (one serotype) and 44 of 267 used litter samples (14 serotypes). These results indicate that broiler chicken flocks were infected with diverse Salmonellae introduced in day old chicks, pelleted feeds, wood shavings and residual contamination from the preceding flock.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1977

Infectious causes of equine respiratory disease on Ontario standardbred racetracks.

Upper respiratory disease has been a serious problem in Standardbred horses on racetracks in Ontario, with outbreaks occurring once or twice annually in late winter and early spring seasons. To determine the causes of these epidemics, a 3-year investigation was carried out in which nasal swabs and serum samples were obtained at intervals from apparently healthy horses and from horses suffering from upper respiratory disease. The nasal swabs were used to isolate bacteria and viruses. The serum samples were examined for the presence and level of antibodies to equine influenza viruses and equine herpesvirus 1. None of the bacteria isolated were associated with the outbreaks of disease. Equine herpesvirus 2 was isolated 72 times from both diseased and apparently healthy horses. Equine herpesvirus 1 was isolated 10 times from horses with respiratory disease, both during and between epidemics. Influenza equine/1 virus was isolated seven times and influenza equine/2 was isolated once during severe outbreaks of upper respiratory disease. Serological evidence confirmed that influenza viruses were the causes of the major epidemics, with the equine/1 strain being involved most often.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates from the broiler chicken industry in Ontario.

Antibacterial drug resistance among 219 salmonella isolates recovered during 1974 from poultry and poultry environments at the various production stages of broiler chickens in three integrated Ontario companies are recorded. All isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, trimethroprim-sulfamethoxazole complex, furazolidone, cephaloridine and amoxicillin. A relative increase in resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin with an accompanying decrease in resistance to triple sulfa compound was recorded when compared to a previous investigation of avian salmonella isolates in Ontario. The percentage and patterns of antimicrobial resistance were comparable at the various stages of production. Resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin was the most common pattern found among both Salmonella typhimurium and other serotypes. A notably high prevalence of resistance was found among Salmonella enteritidis isolates including some isolates with R factors for chloramphenicol resistance. This latter finding is of particular concern because of the high prevalence of this serotype in poultry and in human salmonellosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Observations on bacteriophages of Clostridium botulinum type C isolates from different sources and the role of certain phages in toxigenicity.

Twenty strains of Clostridium botulinum type C, including 12 isolates from avian sources with varying toxigenic properties, were examined by electron microscope for the presence of bacteriophages. All toxigenic strains were infected with one or two types of phages. Three types of phages designated large, small, and intermediate were observed. Most of the strains carried the large and small phage, with the large phage being present in much greater numbers. Since there is evidence that highly toxigenic strains of C. botulinum type C are responsible for large outbreaks of botulism in wild birds, the phenomenon of toxigenic variation among the type C strains was investigated. Experiments were carried out employing a broth medium on a phagefree nontoxigenic strain for elucidating the role of bacteriophages in toxigenicity. All phage suspensions contained large phages, with the exception of one that caused conversion. The exception was a preparation containing an intermediate type of phage. Phages from different strains produced cultures of varying toxigenic characteristics. By employing a tube-lytic test and an agar-overlay-phage assay technique, it was determined that whenever the phage-bacterium relationship resulted in an initial high degree of lysis, the potency of toxin in the culture was weak. It appeared that in highly toxigenic strains, the phage-bacterium relationship is characterized by a stable lysogenic type of association. It was also found that in a highly toxigenic converted culture the percentage of toxigenic cells was 100, whereas in hypotoxigenic culture the percentage was only 20.

Animals↗