1/2. Presumptive babesia ovis infection in a spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica).On December 29 1995, a 13-year old, male Spanish ibex was easily captured by hand, with depression, weakness and severe tick infestation, mainly in the periocular and auricular regions. Blood and serum samples were collected and haematological analysis and serum iron levels were determined. Red blood cell count, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were decreased and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increased (macrocytic-hypochromic anemia). serum iron and transferrin saturation were decreased and total and unbound iron-binding capacity were increased. Piroplasms were observed within parasitized erythrocytes and presumptively identified as babesia spp. ticks were identified exclusively as Ripicephalus bursa. The animal was treated with imidocarb but died after 15 days of capture. Histopathological examination revealed congestion of pulmonary capillaries and spleen, glomerulonephritis, hemoglobinuric nephrosis and generalized hemosiderosis. An indirect fluorescent antibody test was performed using a babesia ovis isolate of ovine origin as antigen and the animal was positive with a titre of 1:640.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Unusual manifestations of hypersensitivity after a tick bite: report of two cases.BACKGROUND: ticks are able to transmit, through biting, various viral, parasitic, and bacterial diseases, the best known being lyme disease due to borrelia burgdorferi. In addition, ticks may also induce allergic reactions. OBJECTIVE: A study of immediate and delayed skin reactions are undertaken to give evidence of an IgE-dependent mechanism. methods: Two lumbermen reported having had skin reactions following bites by ticks. skin prick tests and intradermal tests were performed with what was most probably ixodes ricinus extract in one case. Specific IgE to whole body extract of wood tick were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Histological and immunohistologic examinations of skin biopsy obtained from a pruriginous skin lesion and from a delayed reaction following the intradermal test, were performed. RESULTS: One of them had positive immediate reactions to a prick test and an intradermal test with the same extract. Both patients had significant levels of wood tick-specific IgE antibody as well as elevated serum total IgE levels. Histologic examinations of a pruriginous lesion revealed lymphocytic dermal and perivascular infiltration, with evidence of CD8 T lymphocytes and Langerhans' cells in the perivascular infiltrates. A biopsy of the place of the delayed reaction following the intradermal skin test also showed the presence of dermal and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates. CONCLUSION: IgE-dependent allergy to ixodes ricinus can explain allergic reactions. Standardized extracts have to be prepared with sufficient amounts of the relevant tick salivary antigens to permit diagnosis by skin and serologic tests of patients, especially lumbermen who may be allergic to ixodes ricinus.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |