scholarly journals Serological Analysis of Tuberculosis in Goats by Use of the Enferplex Caprine TB Multiplex Test

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda O'Brien ◽  
Clare Whelan ◽  
John B. Clarke ◽  
Alastair Hayton ◽  
Neil J. Watt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis in goats is usually diagnosed clinically, at postmortem, or by a positive skin test. However, none of these approaches detects all infected animals. Serology offers an additional tool to identify infected animals missed by current tests. We describe the use of the Enferplex Caprine TB serology test to aid the management of a large dairy goat herd undergoing a tuberculosis breakdown. Initial skin and serology testing showed that IgG antibodies were present in both serum and milk from 100% of skin test-positive animals and in serum and milk from 77.8 and 95.4% of skin test-negative animals, respectively. A good correlation was observed between serum and milk antibody levels. The herd had been vaccinated against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, but no direct serological cross-reactions were found. Subsequent skin testing revealed 13.7% positive animals, 64.9% of which were antibody positive, while 42.1% of skin test-negative animals were seropositive. Antibody responses remained high 1 month later (57.1% positive), and the herd was slaughtered. Postmortem analysis of 20 skin test-negative goats revealed visible lesions in 6 animals, all of which had antibodies to six Mycobacterium bovis antigens. The results provide indirect evidence that serology testing with serum or milk could be a useful tool in the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis in goats.

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth J. Jones ◽  
Mick Coad ◽  
Bhagwati Khatri ◽  
Javier Bezos ◽  
Natalie A. Parlane ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination sensitizes cattle to bovine tuberculin, which compromises the use of the current bovine tuberculosis (TB) surveillance tests. Although the performance of a blood test (that utilizes antigens expressed by Mycobacterium bovis but not by BCG) capable of discriminating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA interferon gamma test [DIT]) has been evaluated in naturally infected TB field reactors, there is a need to perform similar analysis in a BCG-vaccinated M. bovis-infected population. Furthermore, we explored different scenarios under which a DIT may be implemented alongside BCG vaccination: (i) serial testing to resolve potential false-positive skin test results or (ii) a standalone test to replace the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) skin test. Our results demonstrated significantly better relative test sensitivity when the DIT was evaluated in a serial test scenario. Direct comparison of pre- and post-skin test blood samples revealed that the SICCT test induced significant boosting of the gamma interferon response in M. bovis-infected animals to both the ESAT-6–CFP-10 and Rv3615c peptide cocktails that comprise the DIT, which persisted for the ESAT-6–CFP-10 reagent for at least 14 days. Importantly, no similar boosting effects were observed in noninfected BCG vaccinates, suggesting that DIVA blood testing after a recent skin test would have minimal impact on test specificity.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1959 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1009-1015
Author(s):  
Richard L. London ◽  
Jerome Glaser

A study of 400 allergic patients of all ages, who were skin tested with eggwhite, is reported. The authors agree with those who believe that a positive reaction in infants who have in no known way been exposed to eggwhite after birth is in all probability due to intrauterine sensitization. There is a possibility, however, that some reactions to eggwhite may be due to a primary histamine or serotonin releasing substance present in the eggwhite which has no relationship to antigen-antibody reaction. The circumstances under which this takes place are not known. In all age groups the family history was positive in about 65% of cases. It was surprising to find, in view of previous opinions, that in the youngest age group (infants up to 2 years of age), the skin test was positive in less than half the patients (42%) in the presence of clinical sensitivity. It was also unexpected to find that the number of patients clinically sensitive to eggwhite but giving negative skin tests increased as age advanced. This justifies the common practice of eliminating egg as a trial measure in the diet of the first age group, regardless of the results of skin testing, and suggests that this should be done in any age group where food is considered a possible etiologic factor. In the youngest age group somewhat more than one-third (34%) of the patients reacted positively to eggwhite but were not clinically sensitive. This finding was completely unexpected as it had been thought that in this age group a positive skin test to eggwhite was practically pathognomonic of clinical sensitivity. In this study more positive reactions in children to eggwhite were obtained (70.5%) than in a somewhat comparable series where the incidence was much less (20%). We attribute this to the fact that in our series both scratch and intradermal tests were made while in the other series only scratch tests were done. This reflects the greater sensitivity of the intradermal test. Only about half the patients of all ages who react to eggwhite are also clinically sensitive. Attention is drawn to a theory which explains why a positive cutaneous test to a food, as eggwhite, may be clinically significant in atopic dermatitis even though the test (wheal reaction) does not reproduce the type of dermatitis being studied. There was no definite evidence, because the number of cases studied is far too small, to indicate that the severity of asthma which may ultimately develop in infants not asthmatic at the time of skin testing is proportional to the strength of the initial reaction to eggwhite.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (5-10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Shihah Abdullah ◽  
Nasuruddin Abdullah

Bee hive products such as honey bees, honey, royal jelly and pollen are widely consumed as a health supplement. There has been several cases of allergic reactions to bee hive products reported worldwide. Consumption of bee hive products is common among Malaysians, but the degree of its sensitization is not known. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to Apis mellifera, domesticated locally and the bee hive products such as honey bees, honey, royal jelly and pollen among a group of volunteers. Four types of honey collected from different locations with different plant sources; one sample of imported honey from Australia, one sample of royal jelly, four different sources of bee pollen, and honey bee derivatives were used to prepare allergen extracts for skin testing. 2522 volunteers were skin tested to these allergen extracts. 271 (10.75%) of the subjects had a positive skin prick test result to at least one honey bee derivative or bee hive product allergen. Individuals with skin test positivity to honey bee are most likely to be sensitized to bee pollen followed by honey and royal jelly. Skin test reactivity to honey bee and bee hive products is prevailed to be high in Malaysia. This study has proven that bee hive products sensitization individuals are mostly to be also sensitized to honey bees. Therefore, is recommended these allergens to be included in the skin prick panel


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 366-368
Author(s):  
Gayatri Patel ◽  
Carol Saltoun

Skin tests are used in addition to a directed history and physical examination to exclude or confirm immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis, to aeroallergens, foods, insect venoms, and certain drugs. There are two types of skin testing used in clinical practice: percutaneous testing (prick or puncture) and intracutaneous testing (intradermal). Prick testing involves introducing a needle into the upper layers of the skin through a drop of allergen extract that has been placed on the skin and gently lifting the epidermis up. Various devices are available for prick testing. Intracutaneous (intradermal) testing involves injecting a small amount of allergen into the dermis. The release of preformed histamine from mast cells causes increased vascular permeability via smooth-muscle contraction and development of a wheal; inflammatory mediators initiate a neural reflex, which causes vasodilatation, which leads to erythema (the flare). Prick testing methods are the initial technique for detecting the presence of IgE. These may correlate better with clinical sensitivity and are more specific but less sensitive than intradermal testing. Sites of skin testing include the back and the volar aspect of the arm. By skin testing on the arm, the patient can witness the emergence and often sense the pruritus of the skin test reaction. Because more patients are sensitized (have IgE antibodies and positive skin test reactions) than have corresponding symptoms, the diagnosis of allergy can be made only by correlating skin testing results with the presence of clinical symptoms.


2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 2526-2535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuxiong Chen ◽  
Natalie A. Parlane ◽  
Jason Lee ◽  
D. Neil Wedlock ◽  
Bryce M. Buddle ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe tuberculin skin test for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in cattle lacks specificity if animals are sensitized to environmental mycobacteria, as some antigens in purified protein derivative (PPD) prepared fromMycobacterium bovisare present in nonpathogenic mycobacteria. Three immunodominant TB antigens, ESAT6, CFP10, and Rv3615c, are present in members of the pathogenicMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex but absent from the majority of environmental mycobacteria. These TB antigens have the potential to enhance skin test specificity. To increase their immunogenicity, these antigens were displayed on polyester beads by translationally fusing them to a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase which mediated formation of antigen-displaying inclusions in recombinantEscherichia coli. The most common form of these inclusions is poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB). The respective fusion proteins displayed on these PHB inclusions (beads) were identified using tryptic peptide fingerprinting analysis in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The surface exposure and accessibility of antigens were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Polyester beads displaying all three TB antigens showed greater reactivity with TB antigen-specific antibody than did beads displaying only one TB antigen. This was neither due to cross-reactivity of antibodies with the other two antigens nor due to differences in protein expression levels between beads displaying single or three TB antigens. The triple-antigen-displaying polyester beads were used for skin testing of cattle and detected all cattle experimentally infected withM. boviswith no false-positive reactions observed in those sensitized to environmental mycobacteria. The results suggested applicability of TB antigen-displaying polyester inclusions as diagnostic reagents for distinguishing TB-infected from noninfected animals.


2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3126-3129 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Zanotti ◽  
L. A. Rybicki ◽  
A. W. Kennedy ◽  
J. L. Belinson ◽  
K. D. Webster ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: A high incidence of moderate to severe hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) is noted in patients who have been treated with multiple courses of carboplatin. Presently, there is no reliable way to predict which patients may be at risk for this potentially severe adverse reaction. We developed a skin-test protocol to identify patients at high risk for HR to carboplatin chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing more than seven courses of carboplatin received a 0.02-mL intradermal injection of an undiluted aliquot of their planned carboplatin infusion 1 hour before each course of the agent. A positive skin test was prospectively defined as that resulting in a wheel of at least 5 mm with a surrounding flare. We recently reported a 27% incidence of HRs in patients receiving more than seven courses of carboplatin. These patients served as historical controls for the current study. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients with recurrent ovarian or primary peritoneal carcinoma receiving carboplatin were skin tested. Thirteen of 47 patients (28%) manifested a positive skin test at a median of nine total courses of carboplatin (range, eight to 17 courses). This rate of skin-test positivity was not significantly different from the incidence of documented HR reported in a historical control group (P = .89), suggesting comparable populations. A negative skin test accurately predicted the absence of HR in 166 of 168 courses of chemotherapy. Only two of 47 patients (4%) experienced a HR after a negative skin test. Thus, administering carboplatin only to patients with a negative skin test may result in a significant reduction in HRs relative to historical controls (P = .002). CONCLUSION: An easily performed skin test appears to predict patients in whom carboplatin may be safely administered. Treatment modifications based on the results of skin testing may reduce the incidence of HRs in patients receiving repeated courses of carboplatin.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-162
Author(s):  
Jason S. Krahnke ◽  
Deborah A. Gentile ◽  
Kelly M. Cordoro ◽  
Betty L. Angelini ◽  
Sheldon A. Cohen ◽  
...  

Background Few studies have examined the relationship between subject-reported allergy and results of allergy skin testing in large unselected or unbiased cohorts. The objective of this study was to compare the results of self-reported allergy via verbal questioning with the results of allergy skin testing by the puncture method in 237 healthy adult subjects enrolled in a common cold study. Methods On enrollment, all subjects were verbally asked if they had a history of allergy and then underwent puncture skin testing to 19 relevant aeroallergens, as well as appropriate positive and negative controls. A skin test was considered positive if its wheal diameter was at least 3 mm larger than that obtained with the negative control. Results Forty-eight (20%) subjects reported a history of allergy and 124 (52%) subjects had at least one positive skin test response. A history of allergy was reported in 40 (32%) of the skin test-positive subjects and 8 (7%) of the skin test-negative subjects. At least one positive skin test response was found in 40 (83%) of those subjects reporting a history of allergy and 84 (44%) of those subjects denying a history of allergy. Conclusion These data indicate that there is a relatively poor correlation between self-reported history of allergy and skin test results in subjects enrolled in a common cold study. These results have implications in both clinical practice and research settings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S145-S145
Author(s):  
Neema Mafi ◽  
Marlene Girardo ◽  
Janis E Blair

Abstract Background Making the decision to stop antifungal therapy in patients with coccidioidomycosis can be challenging in patients with risk factors for relapsed infection. Spherulin-based coccidioidal skin testing was re-introduced to the market in 2014 and approved for the detection of delayed-type hypersensitivity in patients with a history of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis Methods We searched electronically for patients who had a spherulin skin test placed in our institution from January 1, 2015 through March 1, 2017, and then included patients age 18 years and older who met the definition for confirmed or probable pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. A retrospective chart review was conducted, and included details of clinical illness, antifungal treatment, serology, and chest imaging Results From January 1, 2015 to August 31, 2017, 172 patients with coccidioidomycosis had a spherulin skin test placed. We included for further study the 129 patients who had primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, followed for a median of 18 months (range 0–50 months); 56 (43.4/%) were male, 108 (85.7/%) Caucasian, median age was 55 years (range18–89).19/12914.7%)) were smokers, 14/129 (10.9%) were diabetic, 2 patients had HIV (1.6%) and 15/129 (11.6) we immunocompromised without HIV. 116/129(89.9%) % received antifungal treatment. Median time from illness to skin test was 13.5 months (range 0–78). Eighty-nine of 129 patients (69%) had a positive skin test, 40 (31%) had a negative test. Antifungal treatment was subsequently discontinued in 75/89 (84%), and one patient (1.2%) with a positive test, experienced relapsed infection. Among 30/40 with negative CST, antifungals were discontinued and none relapsed. Conclusion The presence of delayed-type hypersensitivity to coccidioidomycosis, manifested by a positive spherulin skin test, was associated with discontinuation of antifungal therapy, and a low percentage of relapsed infection. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Author(s):  
Kate W. Sjoerdsma ◽  
W. James Metzger

Eosinophils are important to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, and are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage within four hours after bronchoprovocation of allergic asthmatic patients, and remain significantly increased up to 24 hours later. While the components of human eosinophil granules have been recently isolated and purified, the mechanisms of degranulation have yet to be elucidated.We obtained blood from two volunteers who had a history of allergic rhinitis and asthma and a positive skin test (5x5mm wheal) to Alternaria and Ragweed. Eosinophils were obtained using a modification of the method described by Roberts and Gallin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 1728-1732.e1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosby A. Stone ◽  
Shailesh Choudhary ◽  
Megan F. Patterson ◽  
Christine R.F. Rukasin ◽  
David T. Coleman ◽  
...  

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