A review of mucormycosis in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne H. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Disease Entity ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
Disease Agent ◽  
Tree Frogs ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

Many infectious agents and parasites have been reported from the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), but most do not cause serious disease. The fungus, Mucor amphibiorum, is the only disease agent known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the free-living platypus in Tasmania. Infection has also been reported in free-ranging cane toads and green tree frogs from mainland Australia, but not confirmed in platypuses from the mainland. This paper reviews mucormycosis in the platypus and includes the epidemiology, clinical features, mycology, pathology as well as possible surveillance, treatment and/or control modalities. The emergence and geographical spread of mucormycosis as a disease entity in Tasmanian platypuses from 1982 till 2005 are discussed. The host, agent and environment factors of the traditional epidemiological paradigm are discussed as they contribute to the conditions that lead to the selection or emergence of Mucor amphibiorum as a pathogen in a population of platypuses.

scholarly journals Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Review of the Options, Indications, and Outcomes

2014 ◽  
Vol 8s1 ◽  
pp. CMC.S15718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha A. Gilotra ◽  
Gerin R. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽  
Mechanical Circulatory Support ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Ventricular Assist Devices ◽  
Blood Pump ◽  
Circulatory Support ◽  
Disease Entity ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Ventricular Assist ◽  
Acute Setting

Cardiogenic shock remains a challenging disease entity and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) can be implemented in an acute setting to stabilize acutely ill patients with cardiomyopathy in a variety of clinical situations. Currently, several options exist for temporary MCS. We review the indications, contraindications, clinical applications, and evidences for a variety of temporary circulatory support options, including the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), CentriMag blood pump, and percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs), specifically the TandemHeart and Impella.

scholarly journals Molecular survey of Besnoitia spp. (Apicomplexa) in faeces from European wild mesocarnivores in Spain. Short running title: Molecular survey of Besnoitia spp in faeces from wild carnivores.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David González-Barrio ◽  
Pamela C. Köster ◽  
Miguel Habela ◽  
Manuel Martín-Pérez ◽  
José Fernández-García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Definitive Host ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Besnoitia Besnoiti ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Wild Carnivores ◽  
Molecular Survey ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Bovine Besnoitiosis ◽  
Western Spain ◽  
Free Ranging

Numerous studies have unsuccessfully tried to unravel the definitive host of the coccidian parasite Besnoitia besnoiti. Cattle infections by B. besnoiti cause a chronic and debilitating condition called bovine besnoitiosis that has emerged in Europe during the last two decades, mainly due to limitations in its control associated to the absence of vaccines and therapeutical tools. Although the exact transmission pathway of B. besnoiti is currently unknown, it is assumed that the parasite might have an indirect life cycle with a carnivore as definitive host. Current lack of studies in wildlife might underestimate the importance of free-living species in the epidemiology of B. besnoiti. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess the presence of Besnoitia spp. in free-ranging mesocarnivores in Spain. DNA was searched by PCR on faeces collected from wild carnivores as a first approach to determine which species could be considered as potential definitive host candidates in further research. For this purpose, a total of 352 faecal samples from 12 free-living wild carnivore species belonging to the Canidae, Felidae, Herpestidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, and Viverridae families were collected in seven Spanish regions. PCR testing showed that Besnoitia spp. DNA was present in four faecal samples from red foxes collected in western Spain, an area with the greatest density of extensively reared cattle and associated to high incidence of bovine besnoitiosis in the country. To date, this is the first report of a Besnoitia besnoiti-like sequence (99.57% homology) from carnivore faeces in a worldwide context. Red foxes might contribute to the epidemiology of B. besnoiti, although further studies, mostly based on bioassay, would be needed to elucidate the accuracy and extent of these interesting findings.

Could this be whooping cough?

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 639-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Nee ◽  
Elaine Weir ◽  
Madhur Vardhan ◽  
Ankita Vaidya
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Respiratory Infection ◽  
Bordetella Pertussis ◽  
Whooping Cough ◽  
Pertussis Infection ◽  
Respiratory Disorders ◽  
Very Young Children ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Serious Disease

Whooping cough is a notifiable bacterial respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It may produce serious disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals and very young children. The number of reported cases increases in the winter months and the incidence peaks every 4–5 years. However, this periodicity is variable and is inconsistent between different geographical regions. Bordetella pertussis infection (BPI) may be underdiagnosed because of its seasonality and the fact that clinical features may be indistinguishable from other respiratory disorders in the paediatric ED setting. Treatment with antibiotics reduces the period of infectivity but may not shorten the illness. This review discusses the epidemiology of the disease, its clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and the disposition of patients with BPI.

Vascular Spinal Cord Disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W. English ◽  
Nicholas L. Zalewski
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Vascular Anatomy ◽  
Venous Congestion ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Vascular Disorders ◽  
Radiographic Findings ◽  
Spinal Cord Disorders ◽  
Improve Patient

AbstractVascular disorders of the spinal cord are uncommon yet under-recognized causes of myelopathy. Etiologies can be predominantly categorized into clinical and radiographic presentations of arterial ischemia, venous congestion/ischemia, hematomyelia, and extraparenchymal hemorrhage. While vascular myelopathies often produce significant morbidity, recent advances in the understanding and recognition of these disorders should continue to expedite diagnosis and proper management, and ideally improve patient outcomes. This article comprehensively reviews relevant spinal cord vascular anatomy, clinical features, radiographic findings, treatment, and prognosis of vascular disorders of the spinal cord.

Clinical features

2019 ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Andrew Davies
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Breakthrough Pain ◽  
Circadian Variation ◽  
Initial Presentation ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Successful Management ◽  
Heterogeneous Condition ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Background Pain

Breakthrough pain is a heterogeneous condition that can have several causes and several pathophysiologies. Breakthrough pain can present with numerous clinical features and numerous complications. Breakthrough pain is a cause of significant morbidity. The clinical features of the breakthrough pain are often related to the clinical features of the background pain. The diagnosis of breakthrough pain depends on the presence of well-controlled background pain, and so the initial presentation of the breakthrough pain often coincides with the successful management of the background pain. It appears that there is also a circadian variation in the occurrence of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer, with a much greater incidence reported during the day. Breakthrough pain can result in a number of physical, psychological, and social sequelae.

The effects of barotrauma on the ear

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
N Roocroft ◽  
E Hogg ◽  
R Williams
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Normal Functioning ◽  
Limiting Condition

AbstractEar barotrauma represents a spectrum of pathology ranging from a mild, self-limiting condition, to significant morbidity with occupational implications. This article describes the anatomy of a normal functioning ear and how this function is disrupted in patients with ear barotrauma. It will discuss the clinical features of the condition, as well as how to investigate and manage a patient presenting with ear barotrauma, including the occupational considerations that should be made.

scholarly journals Eight-Year-Old Male With Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chairut Vareechon ◽  
Thomas Tarro ◽  
Claudia Polanco ◽  
Vikram Anand ◽  
Pia S Pannaraj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Naegleria Fowleri ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Free Living Amoeba ◽  
Nægleria Fowleri ◽  
Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis

Abstract Naegleria fowleri is a thermophilic free-living amoeba that is found in warm, fresh water and causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The following report demonstrates the rapid and destructive clinical features of PAM in an 8-year-old male who presented with severe headaches approximately 12 days after swimming in a hot spring.

Body Temperatures of Free-Ranging Platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Monotremata), with Observations on their Use of Burrows

1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
TR Grant
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stresses ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
The Face ◽  
Free Ranging

Body temperatures (T*h) of free-ranging platypuses were monitored by means of radiotelemetry; although fluctuations of up to 2.8�C occurred in some individuals, most T*b measured were close to 32�C, even during immersion in cold water for up to 12 h. Platypuses spent up to 51% of their day foraging in water, and during such activities 71% of the animals studied used more than one particular burrow. One platypus maintained its T*b, while swimming in water of 0�C in a partly frozen river for at least 5 h. The platypus is a competent homeotherm which maintains a constant T*b in the face of the considerable thermal stresses imposed on it during winter in the southern part of its range.

Differential clinical features and long-term prognosis of acute aortic syndrome according to disease entity

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (32) ◽  
pp. 2727-2736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Min Ahn ◽  
Hoyun Kim ◽  
Osung Kwon ◽  
Sang Yong Om ◽  
Ran Heo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Type A ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Anatomical Location ◽  
Acute Aortic Syndrome ◽  
Disease Entity ◽  
Type B ◽  
Long Term Prognosis ◽  
Location Type

Abstract Aims To evaluate the acute and long-term prognosis of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) according to the disease entity [intramural haematoma (IMH) vs. aortic dissection (AD)] and the anatomical location (type A vs. B). Methods and results A total of 1012 patients [672 with AD and 340 with IMH (33.6%)] were enrolled between 1993 and 2015. Compared with AD patients, IMH patients were older and had higher frequency of female sex and distal aorta involvement. The overall crude in-hospital mortality of AAS was 8.6%; type A AD [15.0%; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 30.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.62–107.3; P < 0.001], type A IMH (8.0%; aHR 4.85; 95% CI 1.29–18.2; P = 0.019), type B AD (5.0%; aHR 3.51; 95% CI 1.00–12.4; P = 0.051), and type B IMH [1.5%; aHR 1.00 (reference)]. During a median follow-up duration of 8.5 years (interquartile range: 4.0–13.5 years), AD (aHR 2.78; 95% CI 1.87–4.14; P < 0.001) and type A (aHR 2.28; 95% CI 1.45–3.58; P < 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of aortic death. After 90 days, a risk of aortic death was no longer associated with anatomical location (aHR 0.74; 95% CI 0.40–1.36; P = 0.33), but remained associated with disease entity (aHR 1.83; 95% CI 1.10–3.04; P = 0.02). Conclusion The clinical features, response to treatment strategy, and outcomes of IMH patients were distinct from those of AD patients. Both early and late survival was better for IMH than for AD. In addition to the anatomical location of AAS, the disease entity is an independent factor associated with both acute and long-term mortality in patients with AAS. Further investigation is necessary to confirm the prognostic implication of disease entity in different patient populations.

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