Feline sporotrichosis: a report of five cases with transmission to humans

Sporotrichosis was diagnosed in five cats. Seven humans exposed to these cats subsequently developed the disease. All feline cases developed draining ulcers, and in four of five cases there was disseminated cutaneous involvement. Histologically, numerous Sporothrix organisms were noted in cutaneous lesions and overlying exudate. The seven humans who became infected were involved in cleaning and medicating cats with the disease; all human patients developed a localized lymphocutaneous form of sporotrichosis. In four of the human cases there was no history of an associated penetrating wound. The large number of Sporothrix organisms is a distinct feature of feline sporotrichosis and indicates that the cat may be the only domestic animal species that can readily transmit this disease to humans. In addition, any contact with the draining lesions of affected cats offers the potential for human infection.

Polytetrafluoroethylene versus autogenous vein grafts for vascular reconstruction in contaminated wounds

A high incidence of dissolution and disruption of infected autogenous vein grafts has been demonstrated. PTFE, on the other hand, has been shown to maintain its structural integrity in the presence of well-entrenched infection, with a relatively small incidence of anastomotic disruption related to host artery necrosis. In addition, PTFE performed as well as autogenous vein when antibiotics were administered. Therefore, PTFE graft material is advocated for controlled clinical trials in patients with contaminated vascular injuries.

Giant cell tumor of soft parts in six horses

Giant cell tumor of soft parts was diagnosed in 6 horses 3 to 12 years old (mean, 6.8 +/- 3.5 years): 3 Quarter Horse geldings, 2 Standardbred mares, and 1 Standardbred stallion. The neoplasms developed as raised, solitary masses, approximately 1 to 4 cm in diameter, which were firmly attached to subcutaneous tissue of the neck (1 horse), shoulder (1 horse), thigh (2 horses), or stifle (2 horses). Excision was followed by local recurrence in 3 horses within 1 to 1 1/2 months. The neoplasms were firm and cut with resistance. On cut surface, they were white, with mottled red hemorrhagic areas.

Measurement of caprine plasma beta-mannosidase with a p-nitrophenyl substrate

Experimental conditions for measuring caprine plasma beta-D-mannosidase activity are described with p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside as a substrate. The plasma enzyme was stable for 3 months at -20 C or 1 week at 4 C. The optimal pH for activity was 5.0 in citrate-phosphate or acetate buffer. Enzyme activity was linear with time up to 24 hours at 37 C, but incubation of plasma at 56 C for 5 minutes resulted in loss of all activity. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) for the plasma enzyme was 10.0 mM. Plasma beta-mannosidase from clinically normal and beta-mannosidosis carrier goats did not differ with respect to pH optimum, heat stability, or Km. The coefficient of variation for the assay, determined by assaying a plasma pool over a 3-month period, was 10.7% (mean: 115 nmole of p-nitrophenol formed/hour/ml of plasma). The assay described can be used to evaluate plasma beta-mannosidase measurements as a test for detecting carriers of caprine beta-mannosidosis, a newly described lysosomal storage disease.

Caprine alpha- and beta-mannosidase activities: effects of age, sex, and reproductive status and potential use in heterozygote detection of beta-mannosidosis

Effects of age, sex, and reproductive status on caprine plasma alpha- and beta-mannosidase activities were studied. The potential use of these plasma assays was evaluated for heterozygote detection of caprine beta-mannosidosis in populations of control goats and a breeding herd composed of known and putative heterozygotes for beta-mannosidosis. In the control population, the mean plasma alpha- and beta-mannosidase activities decreased in both sexes with maturity. Male goats generally had higher plasma mannosidase activity than did females, and plasma beta-mannosidase activity was affected by the reproductive status of the goats examined. Although putative carriers in the beta-mannosidosis breeding herd could not be differentiated from age- and sex-matched controls, known carriers had plasma beta-mannosidase values intermediate between those of control and affected goats. The lack of any correlation between alpha- and beta-mannosidase activities excluded alpha-mannosidase as a reference enzyme for carrier detection, but there are still differences between known carriers and the control population with respect to the alpha- and beta-mannosidase ratio.

Plasma alpha- and beta-mannosidase activities in caprine beta-mannosidosis

Plasma alpha- and beta-mannosidase activities were measured in goats with beta-mannosidosis, a recently discovered, inherited deficiency of the glycohydrolase beta-D-mannosidase. Plasma beta-mannosidase activity in the affected animals was zero at 1 and 4 weeks after they were born. Enzyme values of age-matched, unaffected goats were between 66 and 222 nmol/hr/ml of plasma, alpha-Mannosidase activities were similar in both affected and unaffected animals. This investigation indicates that deficiency of plasma beta-mannosidases activity may be diagnostic of beta-mannosidosis.