Effect of fenbendazole on an autoimmune mouse model.

Fenbendazole is an anthelmintic drug widely used to treat and prevent pinworm infection in laboratory rodents. Data regarding possible side effects of fenbendazole on the immune system are conflicting, potentially due to the design of treatment protocols. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of 2 fenbendazole therapeutic regimens (continuous for 5 wk and alternating weeks [that is, 1 wk on, 1 wk off] for 9 wk) on the development of autoimmune disease in (NZB × NZW)F1 mice. No significant differences in survival curves or weight were observed between the treatment groups and cohort mice receiving nonmedicated feed. At the termination of the experiment, there were no differences in tissue pathology. Hematocrit decreased and BUN increased over time in all groups, but no significant differences were present between groups. After the cessation of treatment, mice fed the medicated diet continuously for 5 wk showed an increase in antiDNA antibody. Although this difference was significant, it did not affect survival curves or disease-related tissue or blood changes. These data indicate that common protocols of fenbendazole treatment do not alter the progression of autoimmune disease in (NZB × NZW)F1 mice.

Application of galactomannan analysis and protein electrophoresis in the diagnosis of aspergillosis in avian species.

Previous studies support the possible application of galactomannan, a major antigen of Aspergillus sp., to aspergillosis diagnosis in avian and other animal species. An assay is commercially available for use with human serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples. In the current study, galactomannan results from plasma samples were compared between birds with histologically confirmed aspergillosis and those that were clinically normal presumptively non-Aspergillus infected birds per submitting practitioners' responses to a questionnaire. It was observed that infected birds demonstrated a 2.6-fold increase in galactomannan over birds without evidence of aspergillosis. With the use of a galactomannan index of 0.5 as a cutoff, the sensitivity and specificity of the test were found to be 67% and 73%, respectively. In addition, plasma samples were analyzed for abnormalities in protein electrophoretic patterns. Infected birds had a higher incidence of increased beta and/or gamma globulin concentrations. Test sensitivity and specificity were 73% and 70%, respectively. If the 2 tests were used as a panel, then the sensitivity was 89% and specificity was 48%. These data indicate that both galactomannan and protein electrophoresis may be valuable tools in the diagnosis of avian aspergillosis.

Serosurvey and diagnostic application of antibody titers to Aspergillus in avian species.

A multiyear study was conducted using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure antibody to address the application of the test to the diagnosis of aspergillosis in avian species. In general serostudies (n=1314), four avian groups (psittaciform, raptor, penguin, and zoo) were found to have samples with antibody reactivity. Penguin, raptor, and zoo groups were found to have higher levels of antibody to Aspergillus than the psittaciform group. Additional clinical information was collected on 303 cases, which resulted in the definition of presumptive normal, probable, and confirmed infection groups. Although the confirmed group was more likely to have antibody reactivity, the mean antibody index was not found to be significant between presumptive normal and probable or confirmed cases.