Dembo polymerase chain reaction technique for detection of bovine abortion, diarrhea, and respiratory disease complex infectious agents in potential vectors and reservoirs

Bovine abortion, diarrhea, and respiratory disease complexes, caused by infectious agents, result in high and significant economic losses for the cattle industry. These pathogens are likely transmitted by various vectors and reservoirs including insects, birds, and rodents. However, experimental data supporting this possibility are scarce. We collected 117 samples and screened them for 44 bovine abortive, diarrheal, and respiratory disease complex pathogens by using Dembo polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is based on TaqMan real-time PCR. Fifty-seven samples were positive for at least one pathogen, including bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine enterovirus, Salmonella enterica ser. Dublin, Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, and Neospora caninum; some samples were positive for multiple pathogens. Bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine enterovirus were the most frequently detected pathogens, especially in flies, suggesting an important role of flies in the transmission of these viruses. Additionally, we detected the N. caninum genome from a cockroach sample for the first time. Our data suggest that insects (particularly flies), birds, and rodents are potential vectors and reservoirs of abortion, diarrhea, and respiratory infectious agents, and that they may transmit more than one pathogen at the same time.

Effective Treatment of Reactive Hypoglycemic Coma with Acarbose: A Case Report / 日本農村医学会雑誌

We report a case of reactive hypoglycemic coma in a 77-year-old man. Seven months after partial gastrectomy for early gastric cancer, he presented with syncopal attacks and seizure. His plasma glucose and insulin levels at coma were 18 mg/dl and 27μU/ml. Insulinoma was neglected with computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. Because dietary control was insufficient, oral diazoxide therapy was done. But diazoxide did not protectthe overresponse of the insulin and reactive hypoglycemia in 75 g GTT. Octreotide (100 micrograms IM) inhibited insulin release and prevented hypoglycemia. Acarbose delayed the response of insulin butdid not inhibited insulin release. However, acarbose also prevented reactive hypoglycemia. We concluded that acarbose is an effective therapy for reactive hypoglycemic coma.

A Case of Wegener's Granulomatosis: Effect of Combination Therapy with Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole and Prednisone / 日本農村医学会雑誌

This report concerns a 62-year-old woman with Wegener's granulomatosis. She complained cough, macroscopic hematuria and oligulia. She had a consolidation without a cavity in the left upper lung field, massive proteinuria (2.5 g/day) and massive hematuria. The serum creatinine level was 2.5 mg/dl. The C-ANCA was positive. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis. She wa treated with prednisone and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The lung shadow, proteinuria and hematuria disappeared in one month. The C-ANCA titer also decreased. The use of trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole which may eliminate an infection as a cause to promote Wegener's granulomatosis should be actively included in the conventional treatment.

A Case of Diabetes Mellitus with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus / 日本農村医学会雑誌

The patient was a 56-year-old male. He had a history of alcoholism since 1975 and diabetes mellitus since 1978. He was treated with insulin therapy. But the control of diabetes mellitus was very poor and he had six hypoglycemic comas attacks. He had diabetic triopathy but no symptoms of gait disturbance, dementia and incontinence. Brain computerized tomography and magneting resonance imaging revealed severe communicating hydrocephalus with mild brain atrophy.<SUP>111</SUP>In-DPTA cisternography revealed retension of isotope in the ventricle after 48 hours. The pressure of cerebrospinal fluid was normal.<BR>This case report is interesting as it suggests the relationship between normal pressure hydrocephalus and hypoglycemia.

A Case of Digitalis Intoxication Brought about by Eating digitalis Leaves by Mistake / 日本農村医学会雑誌

An 78-year-old woman visited our hospital with the chief complaints of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. She was operated on for gastric ulcer when she was 56 years old and complained of abdominal discomfort after operation. One day she wished to take Confrey (<I>Symphytum officinale</I>), but she took digitalis leaves (<I>Digitalis purpurea</I>) by mistake. On admission she was drowsy and the systolic blood pressure was 60 mmHg on palpation. Electrocardiograms showed bradycardia, irregular AV-nodal rhythm and ST depressions and T wave inversions with the shortening of the QT interval. Serum levels were potassium, 6.4 mEq/1 ; BUN, 34.4 mg/di ; creatinine, 1.5 mg/di ; digoxin, 2.0 ng/ml (therapeutic level, up to 2.0 ng/ml); and digitoxin, 111ng/ml (therapeutic level, up to 25 ng/ml). Hemodynamic data showed HR, 49 beats/min ; CO, 2.81/min; CI, 2.31/min/m<SUP>2</SUP>; SV, 57 ml/beat and SI, 47 ml/beat/m<SUP>2</SUP> on administration of dopamine 7μg/kg/min. So VVI pacing was started at 70 bpm and CO increased to 3.6 1/min after pacing. But unfortunately she died of ventricular fibrillation. The digitalis leaves resemble the Confrey leaves and it is easy to mix up these two plants. Although this is a rare case, digitalis intoxication can be life-threatening. So we should prepared ourselves for the treatment of patients poisoned with digitalis and other poisonous herbs.