1/92. Fulminant infection by uncommon organisms in animal bite wounds.In 1995 and 1996, 215 patients exposed to different species of animals were treated at the Amarnath Polyclinic, Balasore, in india. Among them were two children infected by uncommon organisms, i.e., capnocytophaga canimorsus and pasteurella multocida; the patients recovered with appropriate antibiotic therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/92. Preventing human rabies before and after exposure.rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Recently, most human deaths from rabies have been caused by transmission from bats, in many cases without a documented bite or exposure. rabies is fatal if untreated prior to onset of symptoms. Deaths from human rabies in the united states are rare, largely because of animal control measures and postexposure prophylaxis of people who have been bitten or exposed to the virus. Primary care providers play a pivotal role in the prevention of rabies. Preexposure prevention involves education and immunization of persons at high risk for rabies exposure. rabies is difficult to diagnose antemortem because of the nonspecific presentation of signs and symptoms that may mimic those of respiratory or abdominal infections. Diagnosing rabies once symptoms begin will not save the victim's life but will help to minimize exposure to others, allow for identification and prophylaxis of those who may have been exposed, and identify the animal vector.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.6keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/92. The medusa stage of the coronate scyphomedusa Linuche unguiculata ('thimble jellyfish') can cause seabather's eruption.adult Linuche unguiculata medusae cause seabather's eruption just like that animal's larval form. This observation explains the wide seasonal incidence and the fact that lesions can appear on exposed skin.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/92. Risk to tourists posed by wild mammals in south africa.BACKGROUND: One of south africa's principal tourist attractions is the opportunity to encounter Africa's large mammals in the wild. Attacks by these mammals can be exceptionally newsworthy with potentially deleterious effects on tourism. Little is known about the risk of injury and death caused by wild mammals to visitors to south africa's nature reserves. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of fatal and nonfatal attacks on tourists by wild mammals in south africa and to ascertain avoidable factors, if any. methods: Commercial press records covering all South African newspapers archived at the Independent newspapers' central library were systematically reviewed for a 10-year period, January 1988 to December 1997 inclusive, to identify all deaths and injuries to domestic and international tourists resulting from encounters with wild mammals in south africa. All of these incidents were analyzed to ascertain avoidable factors. RESULTS: During the review period seven tourists, including two students from thailand and a German traveler, were killed by wild mammals in south africa. Three of the four deaths ascribed to lions resulted from tourists carelessly approaching prides on foot in lion reserves. A judicial inquiry found that the management of a KwaZulu-Natal Reserve was culpable for the remaining death. Tourist ignorance of animal behavior and flagrant disregard of rules contributed to the two fatalities involving hippopotami. The unusual behavior manifested by the bull elephant responsible for the final death, resulted from discomfort caused by a dental problem to this pachyderm. During the same period there were 14 nonfatal attacks on tourists, including five by hippo, three by buffalo, two by rhino, and one each by a lion, leopard, zebra and musth elephant. Only the latter occurred while the visitor was in a motor vehicle. Tourist ethological naivete and failure to determine the experience of trail guides prior to travel, resulted in inadvertent agonistic behavior, unnecessary risk-taking and avoidable injury. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study has shown that attacks on tourists by wild mammals in south africa are an uncommon cause of injury and death. Sensible precautions to minimize this risk include remaining in a secure motor vehicle or adequately fenced precincts while in the vicinity of large mammals, rigidly observing nature reserve instructions, never approaching animals that appear ill, malnourished, displaying aggressive behavior traits or female wild mammals with young, and demanding adequately trained and experienced game rangers when embarking on walking trails. Any behavior that might be construed as antagonistic and which could provoke an attack by large mammals should be avoided (e.g., driving directly at a lion). Visitors need to be informed of classic signs of aggression, in particular in elephants, which will allow timely avoidance measures to be taken. The risk-enhancing effect of excessive alcohol intake is undesirable in the game reserve setting, as is driving at high speed after dusk in areas where hippos graze. Local advice on personal safety in wildlife reserves and the credentials of trail guides should be obtained from lodge or reserve management, tourism authorities or the travel industry prior to travel to game reserves.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.4keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/92. Unusual injury pattern in a case of postmortem animal depredation by a domestic German shepherd.A case is presented of a 38-year-old woman with skeletization of the head, neck, and collar region and a circumscribed 26-cm x 19-cm defect on the left chest with sole removal of the heart through the opened pericardium but undamaged mediastinum and lungs. The injuries showed V-shaped puncture wounds and superficial claw-induced scratches adjacent to the wound margins that have been described as typical for postmortem animal depredation of carnivore origin and derived from postmortem animal damage by the woman's domestic German shepherd. The circumscribed destruction of the left chest with unusual opening of the pericardium is explained by the physiognomy of the muzzle of the German shepherd and differs from previous reports. Any case presented as postmortem animal mutilation should be viewed with skepticism and undergo a full autopsy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.4keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/92. Survey of rabies preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis among missionary personnel stationed outside the united states.BACKGROUND: Of the 36 cases of human rabies that have occurred in the united states since 1980, 12 (33%) were presumed to have been acquired abroad. In the united states, it is recommended that international travelers likely to come in contact with animals in canine rabies-enzootic areas that lack immediate access to appropriate medical care, including vaccine and rabies immune globulin, should be considered for preexposure prophylaxis. In 1992, the death of an American missionary who had contracted rabies while stationed in bangladesh highlighted this high-risk group. methods: To assess their knowledge of rabies risk, rabies exposures, and compliance with preventive recommendations, we asked 695 missionaries and their family members to complete questionnaires about their time stationed abroad. RESULTS: Of the 293 respondents stationed in countries where rabies is endemic, 37% reported prior knowledge of the presence of rabies in their country of service. Only 28% of the personnel stationed in rabies-endemic countries received preexposure prophylaxis. Having preexposure prophylaxis specifically recommended increased the likelihood of actually receiving it (O.R. 15.6, 95%CI 7.4 - 34.9). There were 38 reported exposures (dogs = 66%, another human = 20%), proven or presumed to be rabid. Three of the people exposed received rabies immune globulin and vaccine; 11 received vaccine alone; 8 received only basic first aid, and 16 received no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although American missionaries stationed abroad are at an increased risk for exposure to rabies, compliance with established preventive measures was low. Prior to being stationed abroad, an educational rabies-prevention briefing, including encouragement to receive preexposure prophylaxis, could be an effective intervention for missionaries to decrease their risk of rabies.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/92. A baby, a virus, and a rat.The authors present a case initially thought to be a child abuse homicide that, after complete autopsy and thorough investigation, was determined to be caused by a viral infection and complicated by postmortem animal activity. Neonatal herpes simplex infection and postmortem skin defects are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/92. Persian leopard (panthera pardus) attack in oklahoma: case report.The authors report a fatal case of a Persian leopard (panthera pardus) attack in an animal sanctuary in oklahoma. The victim was a 53-year-old Costa Rican woman who was attempting to feed the animal when she was attacked and killed. autopsy, radiography, fingerprint analysis, microbiologic cultures, and dental impressions were used to evaluate the case. These simple techniques can be applied to similar cases involving wild and domestic animal attacks.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.6keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/92. The cutaneous cellular infiltrate to stingray envenomization contains increased TIA cells.Stingrays result in approximately 2000 stings annually in the U.S.A., and thus are one of the most important venomous marine animals. After envenomization, there is immediate, intense pain with subsequent oedema, cyanosis followed by local erythema and petechiae. Progressive local necrosis and ulceration is variable, sometimes leading to gangrene. To characterize the inflammatory infiltrate at the site of a stingray injury, we examined tissue obtained approximately 4 days after stingray envenomization. Routine histology and immunohistochemical stains for lymphoid markers, including CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, KP-1 and TIA were performed, and demonstrated a central area of haemorrhagic necrosis with a surrounding infiltrate of lymphoid cells and eosinophils. Approximately one-third of the mononuclear cells were TIA , and these cells appeared mainly to correspond to the cells which were CD3 and CD4 . The inflammatory cells, including the lymphoid populations, suggest that an immunological reaction may contribute to the delayed healing of stingray injuries.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/92. rabies in israel: decades of prevention and a human case.Animal rabies is endemic in israel, with 50-80 laboratory-confirmed cases being diagnosed annually. Despite the high incidence among animals, human rabies has not occurred in israel for almost four decades. This is likely due to the highly effective prevention policy implemented by the Ministry of health, based on pre-exposure vaccination of populations at risk, post-exposure treatment, and updated rules. Notwithstanding the previous success, a human case occurred in 1996 when a soldier was bitten, while asleep, by an unidentified small animal, which according to his description was a rat or a mouse. Since injuries by these rodents do not require antirabies treatment, no antirabies post-exposure prophylaxis was administered. Five weeks later the soldier complained of fever and nausea with interchanging periods of rage and calm, confusion, and water aversion. His condition deteriorated gradually, leading to deep coma and death. Immunofluorescence examination of a skin biopsy was positive for rabies, and PCR of saliva revealed lyssavirus genotype 1. We review the changes in the epizootiology of rabies in israel, the trends of human exposure to animals, and the pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines, and discuss possible measures that could have been undertaken to prevent the eventuality of this case. This case of rabies, the first after a long period without human disease, accentuates the importance of strict adherence to prevention guidelines. Considerations of geography, epidemiology, and the circumstances of exposure are crucial in the treatment decision-making process.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.6keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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