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NEWSLETTER
No 66 July 2002
Archives
THIS
MONTH
Summer
Ears
Sampling
Bias
Next Clin
Path Club meeting
Clin Path
Club Dates for 2001
Get
Converted
NW BVNA
Talk
Beware of
your Dog
About Campylobacter
Sameday
Courier Service Extended
FeLV: Sample
for IF Test
Tail
End: "The Drunken Tom from Next Door"
Summer
Ears
“The annual increase in isolations of Malassezia
from ear swabs has started"
Although the summer has not
been particularly obvious, in Poulton-le Fylde anyway, the annual increase
in isolations of Malassezia from ear swabs, has started. This yeast can
be isolated at all times of the year of course but the number of ears from
which Malassezia is the only isolate tends to coincide with the warmer
weather and exposure to pollens and other seasonal allergens. In fact,
increases in ambient temperature and humidity and of course swimming are
well known to increase the incidence of otitis externa.
To make the most of a swab
try to access the deep vertical or horizontal canal, without contamination
from the external skin. The presence of antibacterials and some ear cleaners
may prevent us from isolating the offending organism but it can be interesting
to make air-dried smears from the swab before dropping it into the transport
medium. These can be submitted to the lab or stained “in house” with Gram
stain or Diff Quick to see what combination of cells and organisms are
present. Some authorities repeat cytology examinations at every revisit
to monitor therapy. Surprisingly, over treatment of the ear can lead to
an erythematous otitis with no discharge or significant bacterial infection.
Maceration (keeping the ear too moist) and irritation are likely to be
significant here.
One of the most difficult
organisms to eradicate is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. If this is isolated alone
or in combination with other organisms, we extend the panel of antibacterials
to include Marbofloxacin, Ticarcillin, a carboxypenicillin which is principally
indicated for the treatment of Pseudomonas infections, and Ciprofloxacin.
Irrigation with 5% acetic
acid (dilute white vinegar 1:3 with water) up to twice daily can help to
eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa and can be useful where the choice of
antibacterials is very limited. Thorough treatment is required to try to
avoid the induction of further resistance patterns in this ‘bug’.
One reason for recurrent
OE is the persistence of infection within the middle ear. Culture and sensitivity
is always indicated here but do withdraw all treatment for up to 2 weeks
prior to submission of the sample.
Use of systemic antibacterials
may be indicated where there is significant thickening of the canals. Of
course, uncooperative patients also tend to be treated in this way but
it is well worth considering the use of pain relief in conjunction with
treatment and oral glucocorticoids at anti-inflammatory doses can help
to relieve inflammatory and proliferative changes within the ear.
Dr Geraldine Hale BVM&S
PhD Cert PM MRCVS
Top
Sampling
Bias
“If the sample isn’t right it is unlikely the
result will be!”
Collecting samples for laboratory
examination is a task littered with pitfalls. Collecting fluids is a particularly
fraught area. Sample bias can be a prickly problem with fluids. For example,
bronchial alveolar washes (BAL), prostatic washes and even urine samples.
A recent example concerned
a BAL submitted as we suggest in both EDTA and plain tubes. When the samples
were examined, they were entirely different, the EDTA contained next to
no cells and the plain tube contained inflammatory cells and bacteria.
This was not a case of inappropriate labels; the samples were indeed from
the same patient. The first saline drawn back from the trachea went into
the EDTA and the last saline withdrawn went into the plain tube.
Similarly, we often receive
samples from obstructed tomcats, which contain no crystals, the sediment
having been left on the bottom of the kidney bowl or within the syringe.
To avoid disappointment please
mix all samples thoroughly before dividing them between appropriate tubes
for submission.
Dr Geraldine Hale BVM&S
PhD Cert PM MRCVS
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CLIN
PATH CLUB
The Clin
Path Club meetings are open to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary
nurses.
Next Meeting: Thurs
12th September 2002
Venue: Swallow Hotel,
Samlesbury, Preston New Road, Preston. (Leave M6 J31, follow A59 signs
to Blackburn, hotel just before 1st traffic lights)
Speaker: Dr Ian Ramsey
BVSc PhD Dip ECVIM MRCVS: Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment
of Canine hyperadrenocorticism
Case book studies: If
you would like to present an interesting case please contact Jane Miller
on 01253 899215 or e-mail
To book your place, request
further information or a location
map call Joanne Kenyon on 01253 899215 or e-mail
IMPORTANT
- This speaker is proving to be very popular. Due to a restriction on the
number of bodies we can accommodate please make sure you reserve your place
early. If you have to cancel we would appreciate a call.
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CLIN
PATH CLUB - Dates for 2002
Please make a note in your
diary of the forthcoming meetings
:-
-
Thurs 14th November
2002 Dr A Coughlan BVSc Cert VA DSAS (Orth) PhD FRCVS Working up
the lame dog "Tricks and Traps"
Quote “An excellent way to
top up your CPD"
Top
Get
Converted
"Convert
your test units"
Do you ever need to convert
American biochemistry and haematology units to SI units?
Click here to convert
Top
NWL
give talk to NW BVNA
“What’s
in a Urine Sediment?”
Members
of the North West Area BVNA were entertained and educated by the combined
team of Alistair Parker the Joint MD of NWL and Bill Atcheson the Lab Manager,
on Thursday 27th June in Liverpool. The theme for the evening was the Examination
of Urine Sediments. Alistair Parker gave a light hearted but very informative
talk, illustrated with a PowerPoint presentation. Pictures of the common
elements to be found in the sediment of small animal urine were complemented
by an informative and often amusing talk enhanced with the experiences
of many years working in the laboratory. Bill followed on with a demonstration
involving examples of actual urine sediments projected on to the big screen
with the aid of a microscope with a built in video camera. The camera was
kindly loaned by Woodley Instruments. Bill demonstrated just how difficult
it can be to identify some urine sediment elements in the live situation
and pointed out some of the artefacts such as fibres and bubbles that can
be mistaken for the significant elements. It was pointed out that all too
often the illustrations in books have been accumulated over a long period
and are the best representation of what in real life can be a very variable
image.
Both
Bill and Alistair made the point that it was perfectly feasible to examine
urine sediments in the practice laboratory situation but emphasised that
the images were not always like those in the book and that there were many
traps for the unwary or inexperienced. Practice makes perfect when it comes
to using a microscope and there is no substitute for experience. They also
made the point of developing a relationship with the laboratory. In addition
to the pathologists, technical staff are available for advice and are always
pleased to help where possible.
Top
BEWARE
of Your Dog
“Half
of Britain’s 6 million dogs are carriers of Campylobacter”
A leading food safety
expert is linking it to a mysterious surge in severe food poisoning.
Hugh Pennington, a government
adviser and professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, has found
evidence that half of Britain’s 6 million dogs are carriers of Campylobacter,
a potent bug that has bewildered scientists.
Victims of Campylobacter
suffer symptoms ranging from severe stomach upsets to paralysis. Infection
has surged in recent years, overtaking Salmonella and Listeria as the biggest
source of food poisoning in Britain, but scientists have been unable to
explain why. They had assumed that poultry was the main source of infection.
In England and Wales confirmed
cases of Campylobacter infection have risen from 25,000 in 1986 to 56,000
last year, but studies show the real incidence could be up to 10 times
higher. In rare cases, it can trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome, a
condition that results in creeping paralysis, starting in the hands and
feet then moving slowly towards the neck.
In dogs, the bug can cause
severe temporary illness but the animals may also be able to transmit the
disease in their faeces for weeks or months afterwards. The bacteria occur
in such a wide range of strains and mutates so fast that it has been impossible
to find a vaccine against it.
Pennington is seeking
to create genetic profiles of the various strains of Campylobacter, which
would enable each outbreak to be identified and traced back to its source.
© Sunday Times 09.07.02
Top
About
Campylobacter
"Relatively
fragile, and sensitive to environmental stresses"
Campylobacter jejuni is a
Gram-negative slender, curved, and motile rod. It is a microaerophilic
organism, which means it has a requirement for reduced levels of oxygen.
It is relatively fragile, and sensitive to environmental stresses (e.g.,
21% oxygen, drying, heating, disinfectants, acidic conditions). Because
of its microaerophilic characteristics the organism requires 3 to 5% oxygen
and 2 to 10% carbon dioxide for optimal growth conditions. This bacterium
is now recognized as an important enteric pathogen. Before 1972, when methods
were developed for its isolation from feces, it was believed to be primarily
an animal pathogen causing abortion and enteritis in sheep and cattle.
Surveys have shown that C. jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial diarrheal
illness in the United States (and UK). It causes more disease than Shigella
spp. and Salmonella spp. combined. Want to know more
?
Top
Sameday
Courier Service Extended
"Expansion
covers the Greater Liverpool area"
By popular demand, we are
expanding our Sameday Courier collection into the Greater Liverpool area.
This will fit in with our other services filling in the area from Southport
in the north to St Helens in the East, the Wirral in the West and Runcorn
in the South. This expansion will complete our coverage of the North West.
If you are anywhere in the North West of England we should be able to collect
your samples and provide you with results SAMEDAY (subject to tests requested).
The NWL Sameday Courier Service catchment area now extends from Lancaster
in the North, Rochdale in the East, Wirral in the West to Stoke on Trent
in the South. This is the largest Sameday coverage of any UK laboratory.
If you fall outside the Sameday
area there is a range of Nextday Courier options via National Veterinary
Services (NVS) and Interlink.
Courier collection reduces
the risk of postal delays and enables NWL to offer a higher quality of
service.
If you would like any further
information about the Courier collection options in your area please contact
Joanne Kenyon on 01253 899215 or e-mail
Top
FELV
Testing
"Confused
over which sample is required for FeLV Immuno Fluorescence testing"
If you require FeLV testing
by Immuno Fluorescence (Test Code : FLVI) it is essential that you send
at least 2 blood smears made from an EDTA blood sample together with the
EDTA blood sample. Serum is not suitable for this test
Test Name: FELV - Antigen
(IF)
Test Code: FLVI
Sample : EDTA + 2 blood
smears
Top
Tail
End
“The
Drunken Tom from Next Door”
A cat is being treated for
liver problems after regularly getting drunk at his local pub in Stockton-on-Tees.
Joey developed a taste for
lager, cider and a rum-based fruit drink during trips to the Teal Arms
in Ingelby Barwick.
The tomcat is now drinking
only milk and has been barred from the pub by landlady Lynne Thomas.
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