RESUMEN
West Nile virus (WNV) first emerged in the US in 1999 and has since spread across the Americas. Here, we report the continued expansion of WNV to the British Virgin Islands following its emergence in a flock of free-roaming flamingos. Histologic review of a single chick revealed lesions consistent with WNV infection, subsequently confirmed with PCR, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Full genome analysis revealed 99% sequence homology to strains circulating in the US over the past decade. This study highlights the need for rapid necropsy of wild bird carcasses to fully understand the impact of WNV on wild populations.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de las Aves/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Aves/virología , Culex/virología , Brotes de Enfermedades/veterinaria , Insectos Vectores/virología , Fiebre del Nilo Occidental/epidemiología , Virus del Nilo Occidental/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Animales Salvajes/virología , Enfermedades de las Aves/transmisión , Aves/virología , Mordeduras y Picaduras/virología , Islas Vírgenes Británicas , Inmunohistoquímica , Hibridación in Situ , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Fiebre del Nilo Occidental/transmisión , Fiebre del Nilo Occidental/virología , Virus del Nilo Occidental/genéticaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Injuries are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Injuries disproportionately affect people living in low and middle income countries, including the Caribbean; however little is known about the epidemiology of injuries in these areas. An accident and emergency (A&E) department injury surveillance system was established at the San Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago, to address this important data gap. METHODS: A detailed overview of the objectives, data collection methods, and inherent strengths and limitations of this surveillance system are presented, along with results of an analysis of data collected during the first three years of operations (from 2002 to 2004). RESULTS: Trained hospital staff collect a variety of injury/poisoning, demographic and clinical data on nearly 20,000 patients presenting each year with injury to the A&E Department. The total number of injuries in men was almost twice that in women. The majority of injuries were seen in those 25-44-years of age. Falls, other blunt force, stab/cut, traffic injury and poisoning represented the leading causes of injury. Nearly half of all the injuries occurred in the home, with the street/highway and work environments also accounting for an appreciable number of injuries. The majority of injuries were reported as unintentional. CONCLUSION: Injuries represent an important population health and health services issue in South Trinidad. Data from the A&E Department injury surveillance system represent an important resource to inform evidence-based health policy decisions on injury prevention and public health resource allocation.
Asunto(s)
Heridas y Lesiones/epidemiología , Accidentes por Caídas/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Preescolar , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Vigilancia de la Población , Trinidad y Tobago/epidemiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
This paper describes the causes of death of 54 maras (Dolichotis patagonum) in a captive colony in Mexico over a period of seven years. There were 35 adults, 11 juveniles, five neonates, two fetuses and one stillbirth--27 males, 21 females and six whose sex was not determined. Trauma was the cause of 25 deaths, and there were eight cases of fatal bacterial infection. Besnoitiosis was the only parasitic disease found frequently (13 cases), and was associated with fatal interstitial pneumonia in three juveniles. Right-sided hypertrophic cardiomyopathy attributed to high altitude was observed in 26 maras, and in three cases death was attributed to acute cardiac dysfunction. Two maras died of disseminated histoplasmosis and two of hyperthermia. Additional causes of death included one case each of uterine torsion, intestinal intussusception, aspiration pneumonia and hydranencephaly. Gastric erosions with luminal haemorrhage were found in 27 of the maras and splenic lymphoid depletion in 20, changes that were attributed to stress.
Asunto(s)
Coccidiosis/veterinaria , Enfermedades Transmisibles/veterinaria , Infestaciones Ectoparasitarias/veterinaria , Enfermedades de los Roedores/mortalidad , Siphonaptera , Heridas y Lesiones/veterinaria , Factores de Edad , Animales , Animales de Zoológico , Causas de Muerte , Coccidiosis/mortalidad , Coccidiosis/patología , Enfermedades Transmisibles/mortalidad , Enfermedades Transmisibles/patología , Infestaciones Ectoparasitarias/mortalidad , Infestaciones Ectoparasitarias/patología , Femenino , Fiebre/etiología , Fiebre/mortalidad , Fiebre/veterinaria , Masculino , México/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Roedores/etiología , Enfermedades de los Roedores/patología , Roedores , Heridas y Lesiones/mortalidad , Heridas y Lesiones/patologíaAsunto(s)
Histoplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Histoplasmosis/veterinaria , Enfermedades de los Roedores/diagnóstico , Animales , Recuento de Colonia Microbiana/veterinaria , Resultado Fatal , Histoplasmosis/diagnóstico , Histoplasmosis/patología , Inmunohistoquímica/veterinaria , Masculino , Enfermedades de los Roedores/patología , Roedores , Bazo/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Lens transparency is a function of regular cell shape, regular cell volume, minimal extracellular space, and minimal scatter elements. The cellular structure and molecular structure of the lens is reviewed. The importance of the cytoarchitecture especially the sutures, is discussed. The high cholesterol: phospholipid ratio of the lens fiber cell membranes is related to the functions of low permeability, low fluidity, and mechanical stability. Also reviewed are the contributions of the lens crystallins to lens clarity and to lens refractive index. The importance of intracellular and extracellular cation and water concentrations are reviewed. Finally the effects of systemic diseases, oxidation, and light on lens clarity are discussed relative to changes in lens fiber cell cation concentrations.