Clinical, culture, serology, and histopathology outcomes of bighorn sheep experimentally infected with Brucella ovis.

Disease caused by Brucella ovis has not been previously reported in bighorn sheep (BHS; Ovis canadensis canadensis). Antibodies to B. ovis, however, are occasionally detected in free-ranging BHS, and this has been a concern for managers involved in translocation programs.

Brucella pinnipedialis infections in Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) from Washington State, USA.

In 1994 a novel Brucella sp., later named B. pinnipedialis, was identified in stranded harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

Brucella sp. vertebral osteomyelitis with intercurrent fatal Staphylococcus aureus toxigenic enteritis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

A previously beach-stranded, juvenile, male, bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis of unknown etiology. Antemortem serological testing suggested past or current Brucella sp. infection; however, this could not be confirmed prior to death despite multiple isolation attempts from aspirates, blood, and biopsies.

Pathogenesis and epidemiology of brucellosis in yellowstone bison: serologic and culture results from adult females and their progeny.

Our objective in this prospective study was to determine the natural course of Brucella abortus infection in cohorts of seropositive and seronegative, female bison (Bison bison) and their offspring in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) for 5 yr. We collected specimens from 53 adult females and 25 calves at least once and from 45 adults and 22 calves more than once. Annual seroconversion rates (negative to positive) were relatively high (23% for calves and juvenile bison, 6% in the total sample of adult female bison in our study, and 11% in the adult females that began the study as seronegatives).

HOOF prints: Brucella strain typing by PCR amplification of multilocus tandem-repeat polymorphisms.

A critical component of limiting bacterial disease outbreaks is the tracing of the infection to the index source, which can be facilitated by using a highly discriminating bacterial identification system that will reliably identify genetically related bacterial populations. For pathogenic bacteria with highly conserved genomes, such as the zoonotic pathogen Brucella, finding distinguishing markers or traits for strain identification is challenging. This chapter describes a relatively new procedure for identifying Brucella strains.

Familial ureteroceles: an evidence for genetic background?

In the pediatric population, ureteroceles may present with different clinical pictures, and the severity of the renal damage is greater than in adults. Ureterocele, an anomaly of ureteric budding, is likely a component of a spectrum of anomalies including vesicoureteral reflux and ureteral duplications. Both have been confirmed to have a genetic and familial basis.

Long-term outcome of transcatheter embolization of renal angiomyolipomas due to tuberous sclerosis complex.

Purpose: Complications from renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) are common in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and tumors greater than 4 cm are more likely to cause symptoms. AMLs are the most common cause of death in adults with TSC. We present our long-term experience with transcatheter tumor embolization as a definitive treatment for AMLs due to TSC.

Evaluation of the HOOF-Print assay for typing Brucella abortus strains isolated from cattle in the United States: results with four performance criteria.

Background: A fundamental question that arises during epidemiological investigations of bacterial disease outbreaks is whether the outbreak strain is genetically related to a proposed index strain. Highly discriminating genetic markers for characterizing bacterial strains can help in clarifying the genetic relationships among strains. Under the auspices of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, the European Study Group for Epidemiological Markers (ESGEM) established guidelines for evaluating the performance of typing systems based of a number of criteria.

Renal metanephric adenoma with previously unreported cytogenetic abnormalities: case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of a renal metanephric adenoma in a 10-year-old boy, in which cytogenetic analysis showed a balanced translocation, t(9;15)(p24;q24) and a balanced paracentric inversion of chromosome 12, inv(12)(q13q15). Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed diffuse reactivity for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, CAM5.2, CD57, and WT1; patchy reactivity for CD56; and focal reactivity for cytokeratin 7, epithelial membrane antigen, and CD10.

Evidence of Brucella sp. infection in marine mammals stranded along the coast of southern New England.

After recent isolations of Brucella sp. from pinnipeds and cetaceans, a survey was initiated to investigate the prevalence of Brucella sp. infections and serologic evidence of exposure in marine mammals stranded along the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island.

MRI of fetal genitourinary anomalies.

Objective: The objective of our study was to show examples of fetal MRI evaluations of congenital genitourinary anomalies and to review the embryology in relation to the MRI findings.

Conclusion: MRI was performed on 35 pregnant women with sonographic findings that suggested that their fetuses had genitourinary anomalies. Oligohydramnios or anhydramnios was identified in 22 of 35 women and did not hinder visualization of anomalies.

Evaluation of the Brucella abortus species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay, an improved version of the Brucella AMOS polymerase chain reaction assay for cattle.

In a blind test, 344 samples representing 80 bacterial isolates were analyzed by the Brucella abortus species-specific polymerase chain reaction (BaSS PCR) assay for the identification and discrimination of B. abortus field strains (wild-type biovars 1, 2, and 4) from 1) B. abortus vaccine strains, 2) other Brucella species, and 3) non-Brucella bacteria.

Brucella 'HOOF-Prints': strain typing by multi-locus analysis of variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs).

Background: Currently, there are very few tools available for subtyping Brucella isolates for epidemiological trace-back. Subtyping is difficult because of the genetic homogeneity within the genus. Sequencing of the genomes from three Brucella species has facilitated the search for DNA sequence variability.

Prenatal diagnosis of a prolapsed ureterocele with magnetic resonance imaging.

Ectopic ureterocele with ureteral duplication is the most common type of ureterocele found in children. Early accurate diagnosis is desirable to decrease the risk of urosepsis and renal damage. Prenatal imaging with ultrasonography detects the vast majority of ureteroceles; however, in some cases, the diagnosis may remain in doubt.

Mutational analysis of the von hippel lindau gene in clear cell renal carcinomas from tuberous sclerosis complex patients.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by seizures, mental retardation, autism, and tumors of multiple organs. Renal disease in TSC includes angiomyolipomas, cysts, and renal cell carcinomas. It is known that somatic mutations in the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene occur in most clear cell renal carcinomas.

Is endoscopic decompression of the neonatal extravesical upper pole ureterocele necessary for prevention of urinary tract infections or bladder neck obstruction?

Purpose: It has been hypothesized that endoscopic decompression of the duplex extravesical ureterocele is necessary to prevent the complications of urinary tract infections and progressive hydronephrosis. This study was performed to test this premise.

Materials And Methods: Infants younger than 2 weeks with an extravesical ureterocele associated with a duplex upper pole moiety were assigned to immediate endoscopic puncture of the ureterocele followed by antibiotic prophylaxis or antibiotic prophylaxis with plans for delayed surgical intervention.

Seroconversion and abortion in cattle experimentally infected with Brucella sp. isolated from a Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi).

Previously unrecognized Brucella species have been isolated from a number of marine mammals, including harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) in the Puget Sound area of the state of Washington. Because of the presence of dairy herds in proximity to the harbor seal populations, a study was conducted to determine the effects of the harbor seal Brucella isolate in experimentally inoculated cattle. Six pregnant cattle were exposed by intravenous injection (n = 3) or intraconjunctival inoculation (n = 3).

Experimental exposure of llamas (Lama glama) to Brucella abortus: humoral antibody response.

Positive antibody reactions to brucella were observed in the sera of four llamas receiving Brucella abortus Strain 19 subcutaneously at 2-3 weeks post-exposure (PE) using five of eight conventional brucella serologic tests and an ISU-ELISA. Positive brucella antibody reactions were detected in sera of four llamas exposed by intraocular instillation (IOI) of 1.02x10(8) (high dose) B.

Pathology of brucellosis in bison from Yellowstone National Park.

Between February 1995 and June 1999, specimens from seven aborted bison (Bison bison) fetuses or stillborn calves and their placentas, two additional placentas, three dead neonates, one 2-wk-old calf, and 35 juvenile and adult female bison from Yellowstone National Park (USA) were submitted for bacteriologic and histopathologic examination. One adult animal with a retained placenta had recently aborted. Serum samples from the 35 juvenile and adult bison were tested for Brucella spp.

Brucellosis in ringed seals and harp seals from Canada. lforbes@em.agr.ca.

A novel Brucella sp. was isolated from lymph nodes of four ringed seals (Phoca hispida) collected near Pangnirtung (Baffin Island, Canada) in January and February 1995 and in one harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) collected near the Magdalen Islands (Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada) in March 1996.

Validation of the abbreviated Brucella AMOS PCR as a rapid screening method for differentiation of Brucella abortus field strain isolates and the vaccine strains, 19 and RB51.

The Brucella AMOS PCR assay was previously developed to identify and differentiate specific Brucella species. In this study, an abbreviated Brucella AMOS PCR test was evaluated to determine its accuracy in differentiating Brucella abortus into three categories: field strains, vaccine strain 19 (S19), and vaccine strain RB51/parent strain 2308 (S2308). Two hundred thirty-one isolates were identified and tested by the conventional biochemical tests and Brucella AMOS PCR.

Molecular characterization of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals.

Recently, gram-negative bacteria isolated from a variety of marine mammals have been identified as Brucella species by conventional phenotypic analysis. This study found the 16S rRNA gene from one representative isolate was identical to the homologous sequences of Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, B.

Outpatient penile aspiration and epinephrine irrigation for young patients with sickle cell anemia and prolonged priapism.

The optimal management of prolonged priapism for patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) has not been established. We prospectively studied in an outpatient setting the efficacy and safety of a procedure that employs aspiration of blood from the corpora cavernosa and irrigation with a dilute epinephrine solution under local anesthesia to relieve priapism in young patients with SCA. If hydration and analgesics failed to produce detumescence or if priapism had lasted >4 hours, the protocol was activated in the emergency room or clinic.