1/2. Abortion due to infection with chlamydia psittaci in a sheep farmer's wife.A farmer's wife who had helped with lambing aborted spontaneously in March after a short febrile illness in the 28th week of her pregnancy. She developed disseminated intravascular coagulation post partum with acute renal failure and pulmonary oedema. Recovery was complete after two weeks of hospital care. A strain of chlamydia psittaci, probably of ovine origin, was isolated from the placenta and fetus. The patient's serum showed rising titres of antibody against chlamydia group antigen; the placental and fetal isolates; and a known ovine abortion, but not a known avian, strain of C psittaci. IgG against both ovine abortion and enteric strains of C psittaci was detected, but IgM against only an abortion strain was detected. Histological examination showed pronounced intervillus placentitis with chlamydial inclusions in the trophoblast but no evidence of fetal infection or amnionitis. Laboratory evidence of chlamydial infection was found in an aborting ewe on the farm in January and in remaining sheep and lambs in July. Doctors should recognise the possible risk to pregnant women in rural areas where chlamydial infections in farm animals are widespread.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Indigenous human cutaneous anthrax in texas.In December 1988 an indigenous case of cutaneous anthrax was identified in texas. The patient, a 63-year-old male Hispanic from southwest texas, was a sheep shearer and had a recent history of dissecting sheep that had died suddenly. He experienced an illness characterized by left arm pain and edema. A necrotic lesion developed on his left forearm, with cellulitis and lymphadenopathy. After treatment with oral and intravenous penicillins, the patient fully recovered. Western blot testing revealed a fourfold or greater rise in antibody titer to bacillus anthracis protective antigen and lethal factor. This represents the first case of indigenous anthrax in texas in more than 20 years.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |