Primary blast injuries to the eye: a review of the evidence.

OBJECTIVES: Eye injuries are relatively common following detonations. The majority of these are caused by secondary fragments. Primary blast injury to the eye (from the air-blast alone) has been described historically, but the differentiation of air-blast and fragment aetiologies in the reports is not clear. The aim of this review is to consider the evidence in the literature for true primary blast injury to the eye. METHODS: A literature review using Medline, Pub-med and Web of Knowledge databases. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is little conclusive evidence that primary ocular blast injury occurs in survivors of explosions. However, some case reports do surmise its occurrence and it cannot be unequivocally ruled out. If it does occur, it is more likely to be at high overpressures that will produce life-threatening injuries. The development of enhanced blast weapons may result in an increased incidence. At present however, the most severe and damaging threat to the eyes from blast remains the impact of fragments and debris.

Hexamita meleagridis (Spironucleus meleagridis) infection in chukar partridges associated with high mortality and intracellular trophozoites.

An outbreak of infectious catarrhal enteritis, associated with the flagellated protozoan Spironucleus meleagridis (syn. Hexamita meleagridis), is reported from a commercial flock of chukar partridges in California. The disease affected birds between the ages of 4 and 6 wk and resulted in diarrhea, listlessness, depression, and high mortality. Concurrent infection with other intestinal pathogens, including Cryptosporidia, group E Salmonella, long-segmented filamentous microorganisms (LSFMOs), and Rotavirus-like virus particles, was found in some but not all affected birds. Dermatitis of the face, shanks, and feet, suggestive of B-complex vitamin deficiency, was present in most affected birds as well. Flagellated protozoan parasites could be found in the lumen of the duodenum and jejunum and in the intestinal crypts. In some cases the flagellates were wedged between epithelial cells or were located intracellularly within cells of the mucosal epithelium and the intestinal lamina propria.

Postural and neurological deficits in broiler chicks after cervical vaccination with live vaccine.

A disease characterized by paresis and paralysis was seen in 7-9-day-old broiler chicks after vaccination in the neck area at day-of-age with a live virus vaccine containing viruses of Marek's disease, fowl pox, and infectious bursal disease. Affected birds presented with variable signs of ataxia, lateral recumbency, leg paralysis, and twisting or S-shaped flexure of the neck. Gross lesions noted at necropsy included swelling and edema of the subcutaneous tissues and muscles of the neck at the injection site area. A heavy mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration was seen in the subcutaneous tissues, connective tissues, and muscles of the neck at the injection site. In some cases, the inflammatory process extended along fascial planes to involve the epidural spaces surrounding the spinal cord. Fatty changes with possible demyelination of nerve fibers were noted in some sections of the spinal cord adjacent to the inflammatory lesions. Clusters of poxviruses were found within some inflammatory lesions on transmission electron photomicrographs.

An outbreak of erysipelas in 2-day-old poults.

Systemic erysipelas infection was seen in 2-to-4-day-old poults from three separate ranches owned by the same company. The affected poults were all from the same breeder source; poults from other breeder sources were seemingly unaffected. Mortality increased on days 2 and 3, ranging from 2% to 8.5%. Birds submitted were dehydrated and very weak, with one half of the poults submitted having died during transport to the lab. Gross lesions included swollen, congested livers and spleens, as well as hemorrhagic breast muscle in one case. Toes were swollen and reddish-purple in color. The poults had been toe-trimmed during hatchery processing using a commercial microwave. Histologically, periportal inflammation with heterophilic infiltration in the liver was noted. Spleens showed hyalinization of arteries, lymphoid depletion, and necrosis. Toe joints showed purulent synovitis and cellulitis. Gram stains done on impression smears of liver and spleen showed rare to moderate numbers of small gram-positive rods. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from 18 of 22 livers cultured, five of six toe joints cultured, and from the yolk sac in two birds.

Egg production drops in breeder turkeys associated with western equine encephalitis virus infection.

Egg production drops associated with western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus infection occurred in three turkey breeder flocks in California during summer 1993 and again in one flock the following year. Egg production losses totaled 8.76%, 9.57%, 9.71%, and 10.12% and were accompanied by an increase in small white-shelled and shell-less eggs. The outbreaks coincided with peak WEE virus activity in the state on the basis of statistics compiled by the California Department of Health Services on seroconversion rates in sentinel chicken flocks. Paired serum samples taken 2-3 wk apart showed increased titers to WEE between acute and convalescent sera in turkeys from three affected flocks. Convalescent sera were not available for testing from the fourth flock. WEE virus was isolated from one breeder hen submitted to the diagnostic laboratory during the early stages of the outbreak.

Pasteurella multocida infection involving cranial air spaces in White Leghorn chickens.

Seven 18-wk-old pullets from a commercial layer flock experiencing increased mortality associated with neurologic and respiratory symptoms were submitted to the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System at the Turlock Branch for necropsy. Clinical signs included depression, torticollis, swollen eyelids, conjunctivitis, and sinusitis. Meningoencephalitis and suppurative inflammation of the cranial air spaces were found on histopathology. The brain, sinuses, and air spaces of the cranium were infected with Pasteurella multocida. Complicating the condition was Mycoplasma gallisepticum infecting the sinus and paramyxovirus-I affecting the trachea.

Experimental infection of turkey poults with western equine encephalitis virus.

The pathogenicity of a field isolate of western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus, which was recovered from a breeder hen during investigations of egg production drops in California turkey flocks, was tested in 2-wk-old turkey poults. No symptoms or mortality were observed in poults inoculated intramuscularly with 4.2 log10 50% embryo lethal doses of virus; however, the infection did result in mild to moderate lymphoid necrosis in the bursa of Fabricius and thymus glands beginning on the first day postinoculation. In addition, WEE virus could be isolated from the blood of infected poults for up to 3 days postinoculation.

Sticktight fleas associated with fowl pox in a backyard chicken flock in California.

A mixed breed rooster, from a backyard flock of 13 chickens, was received at California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System-Turlock Branch for postmortem examination. The bird presented with thickened, featherless, scab-encrusted skin around the head region. Numerous sticktight fleas were found attached to the encrusted skin. Microscopic evaluation of the skin revealed a lymphoplasmacytic reaction in the dermis with visible embedded flea mouthparts. Also noted histologically in this region were epidermal hyperplasia and ballooned epidermal cells containing intracytoplasmic inclusions indicative of fowl poxvirus.

Evaluation of SEF14 fimbrial dot blot and flagellar western blot tests as indicators of Salmonella enteritidis infection in chickens.

The serological responses to Salmonella enteritidis flagella (H: g,m) and its fimbrial antigen SEF14 were evaluated as indicators of infection in chickens and to confirm serological results obtained by an ELISA using S enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (O: 9,12) as the detecting antigen. The SEF14 antigen and flagella were extracted from S enteritidis and transferred to nitrocellulose paper for use in Western and dot blot tests. Antisera to 19 salmonella serotypes including S enteritidis were raised in rabbits and their cross reactivity to the flagellar and SEF14 antigens was evaluated. Cross reactivity with the SEF14 antigen was found in one antiserum, raised against S blegdam, and to flagella in eight of 19 antisera raised against various salmonella serotypes, most of which shared the flagellar factors g or m with S enteritidis. The intensity of cross reaction to flagella was strongest in S derby and S blegdam antisera. Antisera raised in chickens against S typhimurium and S panama did not cross react in either test, and neither did pooled sera from eight-week-old salmonella-free, broiler breeder parent chickens. Field sera from two commercial flocks with no history of salmonella infection were negative when tested by the LPS ELISA. These sera were also negative when tested by the flagellar and SEF14 blots. S enteritidis infection in a commercial laying flock was detected initially when the sera were tested by the LPS ELISA and confirmed in individual and pooled sera by the SEF14 and flagellar tests. S enteritidis PT4 was isolated from this flock post mortem.

Ascaridia dissimilis larval migration associated with enteritis and low market weights in meat turkeys.

A meat turkey ranch had a history of producing flocks with low market weights. Live bird samples and environmental samples from the ranch were collected over a period of eight months and analyzed at the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System-Turlock Branch. The disease condition consistently present was enteritis associated with Ascaridia dissimilis infection in birds from growout houses. After aggressive control measures for A. dissimilis were implemented, subsequent flocks reached expected market weights.

Esophageal trichomoniasis in chickens.

Esophageal trichomoniasis has been rarely reported in chickens. At the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System-Turlock Branch, this disease was recently diagnosed in two cases submitted from backyard chicken flocks. The esophageal lesions observed were similar to those seen in several other important diseases of chickens. The causative trichomonad organisms were readily demonstrated on wet smears and by histologic studies. In both cases, the investigated flocks were afflicted with several concurrent diseases. California has experienced an increase in the number of small nontraditional chicken production operations. These facilities are sometimes in close proximity to commercial poultry operations and biosecurity barriers occasionally fail. The poor husbandry practices often used in these small flocks make them a potential reservoir for rare diseases such as trichomoniasis and also for disease organisms that are devastating to commercial poultry.

Enteritis in turkeys associated with an unusual flagellated protozoan (Cochlosoma anatis).

Outbreaks of enteritis associated with an unusual flagellated protozoan occurred in six California turkey flocks during the summer of 1992. Certain morphological and ultrastructural details of the parasite, which resembles Cochlosoma anatis, are illustrated with scanning and transmission electron micrographs. The flagellate attached to the intestinal mucosa by means of a sucker-like apparatus, and circular impressions of the sucker were created on the surface epithelium. Histological lesions were characterized by blunting and fusion of villi; cellular infiltration of the lamina propria with lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes, and heterophils; and increased numbers of mitotic figures in crypt epithelium.

Invasiveness and persistence of Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, and a genetically defined S. enteritidis aroA strain in young chickens.

Newly hatched chicks were dosed orally with a Salmonella typhimurium wild-type strain, an S. enteritidis wild-type strain, and a genetically defined S. enteritidis aroA vaccine candidate, strain CVL30. The S. typhimurium strain, 2391 Nalr, was virulent in newly hatched chicks and caused deaths in 7 of 20 chicks after an oral dose of 10(5) organisms. The S. enteritidis wild-type strain, LA5, caused death in 1 of 25 chicks and gross pathology including pericarditis and perihepatitis in 6 of the 24 survivors after an oral dose of 10(9) organisms. S. enteritidis aroA CVL30, attenuated by ca. 6.5 log10 in BALB/c mice, was nonvirulent when administered orally to chicks and did not cause morbidity. When newly hatched chicks were dosed, the pattern of invasion and colonization of the reticuloendothelial system by strain CVL30 was similar to that of its parent strain, LA5, irrespective of the dose. Oral inoculation of newly hatched chicks with < 10 organisms of S. enteritidis LA5 or CVL30 was followed by multiplication in the cecal contents. Within 3 days of hatching, the pH of the cecal contents was reduced from ca. 7 to 5. Samples of gut contents were inoculated in vitro. The S. enteritidis strains multiplied in samples taken from the ileum and duodenum irrespective of age but multiplied in the cecal samples from newly hatched chicks only. Invasion from the gut by S. enteritidis LA5 and CVL30 was both age and dose dependent.

Vaccination of chickens with strain CVL30, a genetically defined Salmonella enteritidis aroA live oral vaccine candidate.

Newly hatched chicks were vaccinated orally with a genetically defined Salmonella enteritidis aroA candidate, strain CVL30. In chickens immunized with 10(5) or 10(9) CFU and challenged by the intravenous route with 10(8) CFU of S. enteritidis 109 Nalr at 8 weeks old, there were similar reductions in colonization of the spleens, livers, and ceca of vaccinees compared with unvaccinated controls. Two groups of newly hatched female chicks were vaccinated orally with 10(9) CFU of strain CVL30, and one group was revaccinated intramuscularly with 10(9) CFU at 16 weeks old. When challenged intravenously with S. enteritidis 109 Nalr at 23 weeks old, there was a reduction in the colonization of spleens, livers, ovaries, and ceca compared with unvaccinated controls. Inclusion of the intramuscular booster gave increased protection to the ovary, although the vaccine strain was isolated on one occasion from a batch of eggs laid at 20 weeks old. In chickens immunized with 10(9) CFU of strain CVL30 and challenged orally with 10(9) CFU of S. enteritidis 109 Nalr, there was a reduction in intestinal shedding of the challenge strain from vaccines compared with unvaccinated controls. Circulating immunoglobulin G antibodies to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were detected in unvaccinated controls within 7 to 10 days of oral challenge. In contrast, circulating immunoglobulin G antibodies to LPS in vaccinees were not altered by the oral challenge, which suggested that vaccination reduced or prevented invasion by the challenge strain from the gut or multiplication of the challenge strain in the tissues. Newly hatched chicks were vaccinated orally with ca. 10(9) CFU of strain CVL30, and 1 day later, the vaccines and unvaccinated controls were challenged orally with 10(5) or 10(9) CFU of S. enteritidis 109 Nalr. Colonization of the ceca and invasion from the gut by the S. enteritidis challenge strain was reduced in the vaccines up to 5 days postchallenge compared with controls. In a second trial, vaccinees and controls were challenged orally with 10(7) or 10(9) CFU of S. typhimurium 2391 Nalr. In contrast to the challenge with S. enteritidis, colonization of the ceca and invasion by the S. typhimurium strain were not greatly reduced.

An outbreak of infectious laryngotracheitis in California broilers.

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) was diagnosed as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory disease in broiler chickens in California. The classical form of ILT is characterized by dyspnea, gasping, coughing, and expectoration of bloody exudate. Most of the broilers submitted to the diagnostic laboratory showed a non-classical presentation of ILT, in which mucoid tracheitis and conjunctivitis were the most consistent lesions. Historically, most of the ILT cases diagnosed in our laboratory have consisted of layers with classical signs and lesions. It is not known whether this non classical presentation of ILT in broilers is due to differences in the way broilers respond to ILT infection or to the nature of the ILT virus isolate.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of multiple myeloma in a patient with renal-cell carcinoma: a case report.

A case of multiple myeloma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and confirmed by laboratory studies in a patient with a history of renal-cell carcinoma is presented. The patient was diagnosed with renal-cell carcinoma of the right kidney and a radical nephrectomy was performed. Eighteen months after this diagnosis was made, the patient developed chest wall pain and was found to have osteolytic bone lesions of the ribs and vertebral bodies. FNA of an osteolytic rib lesion disclosed multiple myeloma. Additional laboratory studies confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. This case report demonstrates the value of FNA as a diagnostic tool for the follow-up of cancer patients, the subsequent discrimination between metastatic lesions and a second primary malignancy, and the cytology of multiple myeloma.