More on x-ray exposure
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standard form of recording has been devised for gross examination of the lungs and also for histological study of representative lung sections. Swabs have been taken from selected sites for culture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Microbiology has also included culture for mycoplasmas, chlamydiae and respiratory viruses. Bmnchiolar washes have been taken for cytology and lung samples have been retained for future immunofluorescencework and electron microscopy. Interesting variations have been noted in the histopathology and anaerobes have been isolated more frequently than aerobes. These will need further correlation and evaluation to assess such factors as age, clinical history, the use of anaesthesia and antibiot- ics prior to death, the time interval between death and postmortem and gross autopsy findings. Further horses will need to be exam- ined before the preliminary investigations are completed. The present study will provide valuable information with regard to the histological features and flora of normal and diseased lungs in different age groups. Equine Virology Unit The Equine Virology Unit directed by Dr. J.Mumford pro- vides a diagnostic service for a range of virus infections including equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), influenza, equine viral arteritis, equine picornaviruses, adenovirus, equine coital exanthema (EHV-3)and rotavirus. These viruses are mainly involved in three disease syndromes namely respiratory disease, abortion and foal diarrhea. The Unit's diagnostic service employs 4 technicians and at least one full time scientist. Samples are received from the UK, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Far EasL Specific disease prob- lems are investigated and serological surveys are also undertaken to monitor virus infections and vaccine efficacy in individual establishments such as training stables or studs. During the year, 4900 serum samples were screened for virus antibody titers, and virus isolation was attempted on 200 sets of tissues, 19 whole blood samples, 84 nasopharyngeal swabs, 14 fecal samples, 7 tracheal washes, 7 eye swabs and 12 various other tissue samples. Investigations associated with viral abortions, screening of mares for EVA before covering and serological surveys in training stables accounted for a large proportion of samples. EHV-1 abortions were confirmed on 20 separate premises in the UK. The abortion strain (subtype 1) was isolated from 33 aborted fetuses, virus was also isolated from nasal swabs taken from two mares in contact with an EHV-1 abortion case, and from one whole blood sample from a horse presenting with ataxia. The respiratory strain (subtype 2) of EHV-1 was isolated from 6 nasal swabs, from horses on 5 premises. Rotavirus has been shown to be a major cause of scour in young foals. An outbreak of rotavirus occurred in one stud in May 1986. The virus was detected by electron microscopy in the feces of nine animals. One further case of rotavirus was identified on a second stud. All isolates were typical rotavirus. There have been no reported cases of equine influenza in the UK For the past seven years. However, an outbreak of the H3N8 strain (AJequi-2) was diagnosed by serology on samples received from Denmark, and virus was isolated from a nasal swab by culture in embryonated hens eggs, and was established as influenza A/ equine/2, using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. A serious outbreak of Arteritis (EVA) disease among Thor- oughbreds in Kentucky USA occurred in 1985. Since then the EVU has screeded approximately 3,000 serum samples. From the 536 UK horses screened during 1986, 4 had neutralizingantibody. All four seropositive horses had histories of travelling outside the UK. No active infection was demonstrated by rising antibody titcrs in sequential samples. Vaccination Studies There is an ongoing research commitment to improving safety and efficacy of vaccines against influenza. This includes studies on standardization of vaccine antigen content and meas- urement of antibody, strain variation, antigen presentation sys- tems, local and cell mediated responses stimulated by vaccination and vaccine reactions. This work has been undertaken in collabo- ration with WHO Influenza Laboratories at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London and National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Holy Hill, Hampstead London, Central Veterinary Laboratories, Weybridge, ISCOTEC Sweden and vaccine manufacturers. A three-year program of research employing a post-doctoral research assistant and technician has begun to study immune responses to infection and vaccination with EHV-1 subtype 1 and to evaluating immune stimulating complexes (ISCOMs: lattice structures formed from viral subunits which stimulate strong protective responses) as a method for EHV-1 antigen presentation for the horse. The study is being undertaken in collaboration with ISCOTEC, Sweden, Royal Veterinary College, London and Cambridge Veterinary School. (The preceding report is reprinted from the 1986 annual report of the British Animal Health Trust.) MORE ON X-RAY EXPOSURE I was lucky to read Vol. 7, No.l, 1987 issue of theJournal of Equine Veterinary Science at my place of work. The Editorial regarding X-ray technique interested me very much. I am a student at the Universityof Delaware, College of AgriculturalScience and hope to enter the horse business after graduation next year. Last summer a veterinarian at the local Delaware Park Race Track had an ad for summer employment in our school paper. I applied and was hired. I enjoyed the work and I obtained a great deal of knowledge as well. This past semester I took a course in the Principles of Plant and Animal Genetics. It was this course which helped open my eyes. I was one of the assistants discussed in the above Editorial. I held the x-ray plate in place on the horse while the veterinarian took the x-ray. I was not given any protection. At the time I did not think much of it because I felt that if it was necessary my employer would have given it to me. I held approxi- mately 6-8 plates per day, 3-4 days per week for almost three months. Since then I have called several radiologists for informa- tion on the subject but none could give me any satisfactory information. I am a 21-year-old female and very concerned about my future. Joli Marini New Castle, DE 246 EQUINE VETERINARYSCIENCE
Transcript of More on x-ray exposure
standard form of recording has been devised for gross examination of the lungs and also for histological study of representative lung sections. Swabs have been taken from selected sites for culture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Microbiology has also included culture for mycoplasmas, chlamydiae and respiratory viruses. Bmnchiolar washes have been taken for cytology and lung samples have been retained for future immunofluorescence work and electron microscopy.
Interesting variations have been noted in the histopathology and anaerobes have been isolated more frequently than aerobes. These will need further correlation and evaluation to assess such factors as age, clinical history, the use of anaesthesia and antibiot- ics prior to death, the time interval between death and postmortem and gross autopsy findings. Further horses will need to be exam- ined before the preliminary investigations are completed. The present study will provide valuable information with regard to the histological features and flora of normal and diseased lungs in different age groups.
Equine Virology Unit The Equine Virology Unit directed by Dr. J.Mumford pro-
vides a diagnostic service for a range of virus infections including equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), influenza, equine viral arteritis, equine picornaviruses, adenovirus, equine coital exanthema (EHV-3)and rotavirus. These viruses are mainly involved in three disease syndromes namely respiratory disease, abortion and foal diarrhea. The Unit's diagnostic service employs 4 technicians and at least one full time scientist. Samples are received from the UK, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Far EasL Specific disease prob- lems are investigated and serological surveys are also undertaken to monitor virus infections and vaccine efficacy in individual establishments such as training stables or studs.
During the year, 4900 serum samples were screened for virus antibody titers, and virus isolation was attempted on 200 sets of tissues, 19 whole blood samples, 84 nasopharyngeal swabs, 14 fecal samples, 7 tracheal washes, 7 eye swabs and 12 various other tissue samples. Investigations associated with viral abortions, screening of mares for EVA before covering and serological surveys in training stables accounted for a large proportion of samples.
EHV-1 abortions were confirmed on 20 separate premises in the UK. The abortion strain (subtype 1) was isolated from 33 aborted fetuses, virus was also isolated from nasal swabs taken from two mares in contact with an EHV-1 abortion case, and from one whole blood sample from a horse presenting with ataxia. The respiratory strain (subtype 2) of EHV-1 was isolated from 6 nasal swabs, from horses on 5 premises.
Rotavirus has been shown to be a major cause of scour in young foals. An outbreak of rotavirus occurred in one stud in May 1986. The virus was detected by electron microscopy in the feces of nine animals. One further case of rotavirus was identified on a second stud. All isolates were typical rotavirus.
There have been no reported cases of equine influenza in the UK For the past seven years. However, an outbreak of the H3N8 strain (AJequi-2) was diagnosed by serology on samples received from Denmark, and virus was isolated from a nasal swab by culture in embryonated hens eggs, and was established as influenza A/ equine/2, using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test.
A serious outbreak of Arteritis (EVA) disease among Thor- oughbreds in Kentucky USA occurred in 1985. Since then the EVU has screeded approximately 3,000 serum samples. From the 536 UK horses screened during 1986, 4 had neutralizing antibody. All four seropositive horses had histories of travelling outside the UK. No active infection was demonstrated by rising antibody titcrs in sequential samples.
Vaccination Studies There is an ongoing research commitment to improving
safety and efficacy of vaccines against influenza. This includes studies on standardization of vaccine antigen content and meas- urement of antibody, strain variation, antigen presentation sys- tems, local and cell mediated responses stimulated by vaccination and vaccine reactions. This work has been undertaken in collabo- ration with WHO Influenza Laboratories at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London and National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Holy Hill, Hampstead London, Central Veterinary Laboratories, Weybridge, ISCOTEC Sweden and vaccine manufacturers.
A three-year program of research employing a post-doctoral research assistant and technician has begun to study immune responses to infection and vaccination with EHV-1 subtype 1 and to evaluating immune stimulating complexes (ISCOMs: lattice structures formed from viral subunits which stimulate strong protective responses) as a method for EHV-1 antigen presentation for the horse. The study is being undertaken in collaboration with ISCOTEC, Sweden, Royal Veterinary College, London and Cambridge Veterinary School. (The preceding report is reprinted from the 1986 annual report of the British Animal Health Trust.)
MORE ON X-RAY EXPOSURE
I was lucky to read Vol. 7, No.l, 1987 issue of theJournal of Equine Veterinary Science at my place of work. The Editorial regarding X-ray technique interested me very much. I am a student at the University of Delaware, College of Agricultural Science and hope to enter the horse business after graduation next year.
Last summer a veterinarian at the local Delaware Park Race Track had an ad for summer employment in our school paper. I applied and was hired. I enjoyed the work and I obtained a great deal of knowledge as well. This past semester I took a course in the Principles of Plant and Animal Genetics. It was this course which helped open my eyes. I was one of the assistants discussed in the above Editorial. I held the x-ray plate in place on the horse while the veterinarian took the x-ray. I was not given any protection. At the time I did not think much of it because I felt that if it was necessary my employer would have given it to me. I held approxi- mately 6-8 plates per day, 3-4 days per week for almost three months. Since then I have called several radiologists for informa- tion on the subject but none could give me any satisfactory information. I am a 21-year-old female and very concerned about my future.
Joli Marini New Castle, DE
246 EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE
