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Jeffrey K, Woolford L, Maini R, Basetti S, Batchelor A, Weatherill D, White C, Hammersley V, Millington T, Macdonald C, Quint JK, Kerr R, Kerr S, Shah SA, Rudan I, Fagbamigbe AF, Simpson CR, Katikireddi SV, Robertson C, Ritchie L, Sheikh A, Daines L. Prevalence and risk factors for long COVID among adults in Scotland using electronic health records: a national, retrospective, observational cohort study. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 71:102590. [PMID: 38623399 PMCID: PMC11016856 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Long COVID is a debilitating multisystem condition. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of long COVID in the adult population of Scotland, and to identify risk factors associated with its development. Methods In this national, retrospective, observational cohort study, we analysed electronic health records (EHRs) for all adults (≥18 years) registered with a general medical practice and resident in Scotland between March 1, 2020, and October 26, 2022 (98-99% of the population). We linked data from primary care, secondary care, laboratory testing and prescribing. Four outcome measures were used to identify long COVID: clinical codes, free text in primary care records, free text on sick notes, and a novel operational definition. The operational definition was developed using Poisson regression to identify clinical encounters indicative of long COVID from a sample of negative and positive COVID-19 cases matched on time-varying propensity to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. Possible risk factors for long COVID were identified by stratifying descriptive statistics by long COVID status. Findings Of 4,676,390 participants, 81,219 (1.7%) were identified as having long COVID. Clinical codes identified the fewest cases (n = 1,092, 0.02%), followed by free text (n = 8,368, 0.2%), sick notes (n = 14,469, 0.3%), and the operational definition (n = 64,193, 1.4%). There was limited overlap in cases identified by the measures; however, temporal trends and patient characteristics were consistent across measures. Compared with the general population, a higher proportion of people with long COVID were female (65.1% versus 50.4%), aged 38-67 (63.7% versus 48.9%), overweight or obese (45.7% versus 29.4%), had one or more comorbidities (52.7% versus 36.0%), were immunosuppressed (6.9% versus 3.2%), shielding (7.9% versus 3.4%), or hospitalised within 28 days of testing positive (8.8% versus 3.3%%), and had tested positive before Omicron became the dominant variant (44.9% versus 35.9%). The operational definition identified long COVID cases with combinations of clinical encounters (from four symptoms, six investigation types, and seven management strategies) recorded in EHRs within 4-26 weeks of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. These combinations were significantly (p < 0.0001) more prevalent in positive COVID-19 patients than in matched negative controls. In a case-crossover analysis, 16.4% of those identified by the operational definition had similar healthcare patterns recorded before testing positive. Interpretation The prevalence of long COVID presenting in general practice was estimated to be 0.02-1.7%, depending on the measure used. Due to challenges in diagnosing long COVID and inconsistent recording of information in EHRs, the true prevalence of long COVID is likely to be higher. The operational definition provided a novel approach but relied on a restricted set of symptoms and may misclassify individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Further research is needed to refine and validate this approach. Funding Chief Scientist Office (Scotland), Medical Research Council, and BREATHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Jeffrey
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lana Woolford
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rishma Maini
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Ashleigh Batchelor
- Patient and Public Contributors, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - David Weatherill
- Patient and Public Contributors, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chris White
- Patient and Public Contributors, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | | | - Jennifer K. Quint
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Kerr
- NHS Borders, Melrose, UK
- NHS Dumfries & Galloway, Dumfries, UK
| | - Steven Kerr
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Igor Rudan
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Colin R. Simpson
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, NZ
| | - Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, UK
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Chris Robertson
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lewis Ritchie
- Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Luke Daines
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Amele S, McCabe R, Kibuchi E, Pearce A, Hainey K, Demou E, Irizar P, Kapadia D, Taylor H, Nazroo J, Bécares L, Buchanan D, Henery P, Jayacodi S, Woolford L, Simpson CR, Sheikh A, Jeffrey K, Shi T, Daines L, Tibble H, Almaghrabi F, Fagbamigbe AF, Kurdi A, Robertson C, Pattaro S, Katikireddi SV. Quality of ethnicity data within Scottish health records and implications of misclassification for ethnic inequalities in severe COVID-19: a national linked data study. J Public Health (Oxf) 2024; 46:116-122. [PMID: 37861114 PMCID: PMC10901260 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We compared the quality of ethnicity coding within the Public Health Scotland Ethnicity Look-up (PHS-EL) dataset, and other National Health Service datasets, with the 2011 Scottish Census. METHODS Measures of quality included the level of missingness and misclassification. We examined the impact of misclassification using Cox proportional hazards to compare the risk of severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (hospitalization & death) by ethnic group. RESULTS Misclassification within PHS-EL was higher for all minority ethnic groups [12.5 to 69.1%] compared with the White Scottish majority [5.1%] and highest in the White Gypsy/Traveller group [69.1%]. Missingness in PHS-EL was highest among the White Other British group [39%] and lowest among the Pakistani group [17%]. PHS-EL data often underestimated severe COVID-19 risk compared with Census data. e.g. in the White Gypsy/Traveller group the Hazard Ratio (HR) was 1.68 [95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 1.03, 2.74] compared with the White Scottish majority using Census ethnicity data and 0.73 [95% CI: 0.10, 5.15] using PHS-EL data; and HR was 2.03 [95% CI: 1.20, 3.44] in the Census for the Bangladeshi group versus 1.45 [95% CI: 0.75, 2.78] in PHS-EL. CONCLUSIONS Poor quality ethnicity coding in health records can bias estimates, thereby threatening monitoring and understanding ethnic inequalities in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Amele
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | - Ronan McCabe
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | - Eliud Kibuchi
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | - Anna Pearce
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | - Kirsten Hainey
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | - Evangelia Demou
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | - Patricia Irizar
- Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Dharmi Kapadia
- Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Harry Taylor
- Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - James Nazroo
- Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Laia Bécares
- Department of Global Health & Medicine, King's College London, London WC2B 4BG, UK
| | | | | | | | - Lana Woolford
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SS, UK
| | - Colin R Simpson
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SS, UK
- School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SS, UK
| | - Karen Jeffrey
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SS, UK
| | - Ting Shi
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SS, UK
| | - Luke Daines
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SS, UK
| | - Holly Tibble
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SS, UK
| | | | - Adeniyi Francis Fagbamigbe
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Amanj Kurdi
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurditsan Region Governorate, Erbil, Iraq
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Chris Robertson
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QE, UK
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH, UK
| | - Serena Pattaro
- Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research, School of Social Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow EH16 4UX, UK
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Shi T, Millington T, Robertson C, Jeffrey K, Katikireddi SV, McCowan C, Simpson CR, Woolford L, Daines L, Kerr S, Swallow B, Fagbamigbe A, Vallejos CA, Weatherill D, Jayacodi S, Marsh K, McMenamin J, Rudan I, Ritchie LD, Mueller T, Kurdi A, Sheikh A. Risk of winter hospitalisation and death from acute respiratory infections in Scotland: national retrospective cohort study. J R Soc Med 2024:1410768231223584. [PMID: 38345538 DOI: 10.1177/01410768231223584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We undertook a national analysis to characterise and identify risk factors for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) resulting in hospitalisation during the winter period in Scotland. DESIGN A population-based retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING Scotland. PARTICIPANTS The study involved 5.4 million residents in Scotland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between risk factors and ARI hospitalisation. RESULTS Between 1 September 2022 and 31 January 2023, there were 22,284 (10.9% of 203,549 with any emergency hospitalisation) ARI hospitalisations (1759 in children and 20,525 in adults) in Scotland. Compared with the reference group of children aged 6-17 years, the risk of ARI hospitalisation was higher in children aged 3-5 years (aHR = 4.55; 95% CI: 4.11-5.04). Compared with those aged 25-29 years, the risk of ARI hospitalisation was highest among the oldest adults aged ≥80 years (aHR = 7.86; 95% CI: 7.06-8.76). Adults from more deprived areas (most deprived vs. least deprived, aHR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.57-1.72), with existing health conditions (≥5 vs. 0 health conditions, aHR = 4.84; 95% CI: 4.53-5.18) or with history of all-cause emergency admissions (≥6 vs. 0 previous emergency admissions, aHR = 7.53; 95% CI: 5.48-10.35) were at a higher risk of ARI hospitalisations. The risk increased by the number of existing health conditions and previous emergency admission. Similar associations were seen in children. CONCLUSIONS Younger children, older adults, those from more deprived backgrounds and individuals with greater numbers of pre-existing conditions and previous emergency admission were at increased risk for winter hospitalisations for ARI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shi
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Tristan Millington
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Chris Robertson
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1XQ, Scotland, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, G2 6QE, Scotland, UK
| | - Karen Jeffrey
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Colin McCowan
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9AJ, Scotland, UK
| | - Colin R Simpson
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
- School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand
| | - Lana Woolford
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Luke Daines
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Steven Kerr
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Ben Swallow
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9SS, Scotland, UK
| | - Adeniyi Fagbamigbe
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, Scotland, UK
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200132, Nigeria
| | - Catalina A Vallejos
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, Scotland, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, NW1 2DB, UK
| | - David Weatherill
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Sandra Jayacodi
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Jim McMenamin
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, G2 6QE, Scotland, UK
| | - Igor Rudan
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Lewis Duthie Ritchie
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Tanja Mueller
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE, Scotland, UK
| | - Amanj Kurdi
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE, Scotland, UK
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
- Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, 0208, South Africa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al-Kitab University, Kirkuk, Iraq
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
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Bedston S, Almaghrabi F, Patterson L, Agrawal U, Woolford L, Anand SN, Joy M, Crawford A, Goudie R, Byford R, Abbasizanjani H, Smith D, Laidlaw L, Akbari A, Sullivan C, Bradley DT, Lyons RA, de Lusignan S, Hobbs FR, Robertson C, Sheikh SA, Shi T. Risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes after autumn 2022 COVID-19 booster vaccinations: a pooled analysis of national prospective cohort studies involving 7.4 million adults in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2024; 37:100816. [PMID: 38162515 PMCID: PMC10757260 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Background UK COVID-19 vaccination policy has evolved to offering COVID-19 booster doses to individuals at increased risk of severe Illness from COVID-19. Building on our analyses of vaccine effectiveness of first, second and initial booster doses, we aimed to identify individuals at increased risk of severe outcomes (i.e., COVID-19 related hospitalisation or death) post the autumn 2022 booster dose. Methods We undertook a national population-based cohort analysis across all four UK nations through linked primary care, vaccination, hospitalisation and mortality data. We included individuals who received autumn 2022 booster doses of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) or mRNA-1273 (Spikevax) during the period September 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 to investigate the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between demographic and clinical factors and severe COVID-19 outcomes after the autumn booster dose. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), deprivation, urban/rural areas and comorbidities. Stratified analyses were conducted by vaccine type. We then conducted a fixed-effect meta-analysis to combine results across the four UK nations. Findings Between September 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, 7,451,890 individuals ≥18 years received an autumn booster dose. 3500 had severe COVID-19 outcomes (2.9 events per 1000 person-years). Being male (male vs female, aHR 1.41 (1.32-1.51)), older adults (≥80 years vs 18-49 years; 10.43 (8.06-13.50)), underweight (BMI <18.5 vs BMI 25.0-29.9; 2.94 (2.51-3.44)), those with comorbidities (≥5 comorbidities vs none; 9.45 (8.15-10.96)) had a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation or death after the autumn booster dose. Those with a larger household size (≥11 people within household vs 2 people; 1.56 (1.23-1.98)) and from more deprived areas (most deprived vs least deprived quintile; 1.35 (1.21-1.51)) had modestly higher risks. We also observed at least a two-fold increase in risk for those with various chronic neurological conditions, including Down's syndrome, immunodeficiency, chronic kidney disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, or cardiovascular disease. Interpretation Males, older individuals, underweight individuals, those with an increasing number of comorbidities, from a larger household or more deprived areas, and those with specific underlying health conditions remained at increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation and death after the autumn 2022 vaccine booster dose. There is now a need to focus on these risk groups for investigating immunogenicity and efficacy of further booster doses or therapeutics. Funding National Core Studies-Immunity, UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council and Economic and Social Research Council), Health Data Research UK, the Scottish Government, and the University of Edinburgh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Bedston
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Fatima Almaghrabi
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Lynsey Patterson
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
- Public Health Agency, Belfast, UK
| | - Utkarsh Agrawal
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lana Woolford
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Sneha N. Anand
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark Joy
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anna Crawford
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Rosalind Goudie
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rachel Byford
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hoda Abbasizanjani
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Deb Smith
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Lynn Laidlaw
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Ashley Akbari
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | - Declan T. Bradley
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
- Public Health Agency, Belfast, UK
| | - Ronan A. Lyons
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Simon de Lusignan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - F.D. Richard Hobbs
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chris Robertson
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Sir Aziz Sheikh
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Ting Shi
- Usher Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
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Tibble H, Mueller T, Proud E, Hall E, Kurdi A, Robertson C, Bennie M, Woolford L, Sheikh A. Uptake of monoclonal antibodies and antiviral therapies for COVID-19 in Scotland. Lancet 2023; 401:101-102. [PMID: 36566764 PMCID: PMC9779779 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)02398-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Holly Tibble
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, UK; Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Tanja Mueller
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK; Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - Amanj Kurdi
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK; Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Chris Robertson
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Marion Bennie
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK; Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lana Woolford
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, UK; Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, UK; Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
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Rudan I, Millington T, Antal K, Grange Z, Fenton L, Sullivan C, Buelo A, Wood R, Woolford L, Swann OV, Murray JL, Cullen LA, Moore E, Haider F, Almaghrabi F, McMenamin J, Agrawal U, Shah SA, Kerr S, Simpson CR, Katikireddi SV, Ritchie SLD, Robertson C, Sheikh SA. BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination uptake, safety, effectiveness and waning in children and young people aged 12-17 years in Scotland. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2022; 23:100513. [PMID: 36189425 PMCID: PMC9514975 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background The two-dose BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy against COVID-19 disease in clinical trials of children and young people (CYP). Consequently, we investigated the uptake, safety, effectiveness and waning of the protective effect of the BNT162b2 against symptomatic COVID-19 in CYP aged 12-17 years in Scotland. Methods The analysis of the vaccine uptake was based on information from the Turas Vaccination Management Tool, inclusive of Mar 1, 2022. Vaccine safety was evaluated using national data on hospital admissions and General Practice (GP) consultations, through a self-controlled case series (SCCS) design, investigating 17 health outcomes of interest. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic COVID-19 disease for Delta and Omicron variants was estimated using a test-negative design (TND) and S-gene status in a prospective cohort study using the Scotland-wide Early Pandemic Evaluation and Enhanced Surveillance of COVID-19 (EAVE II) surveillance platform. The waning of the VE following each dose of BNT162b2 was assessed using a matching process followed by conditional logistic regression. Findings Between Aug 6, 2021 and Mar 1, 2022, 75.9% of the 112,609 CYP aged 16-17 years received the first and 49.0% the second COVID-19 vaccine dose. Among 237,681 CYP aged 12-15 years, the uptake was 64.5% and 37.2%, respectively. For 12-17-year-olds, BNT162b2 showed an excellent safety record, with no increase in hospital stays following vaccination for any of the 17 investigated health outcomes. In the 16-17-year-old group, VE against symptomatic COVID-19 during the Delta period was 64.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 59.2-68.5) at 2-5 weeks after the first dose and 95.6% (77.0-99.1) at 2-5 weeks after the second dose. The respective VEs against symptomatic COVID-19 in the Omicron period were 22.8% (95% CI -6.4-44.0) and 65.5% (95% CI 56.0-73.0). In children aged 12-15 years, VE against symptomatic COVID-19 during the Delta period was 65.4% (95% CI 61.5-68.8) at 2-5 weeks after the first dose, with no observed cases at 2-5 weeks after the second dose. The corresponding VE against symptomatic COVID-19 during the Omicron period were 30.2% (95% CI 18.4-40.3) and 81.2% (95% CI 77.7-84.2). The waning of the protective effect against the symptomatic disease began after five weeks post-first and post-second dose. Interpretation During the study period, uptake of BNT162b2 in Scotland has covered more than two-thirds of CYP aged 12-17 years with the first dose and about 40% with the second dose. We found no increased likelihood of admission to hospital with a range of health outcomes in the period after vaccination. Vaccination with both doses was associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of COVID-19 symptomatic disease during both the Delta and Omicron periods, but this protection began to wane after five weeks. Funding UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council); Research and Innovation Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund; Chief Scientist's Office of the Scottish Government; Health Data Research UK; National Core Studies - Data and Connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Rudan
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rachael Wood
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lana Woolford
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Olivia V. Swann
- Department of Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | | | - Fasih Haider
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - Utkarsh Agrawal
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | | | - Steven Kerr
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin R. Simpson
- School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Chris Robertson
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
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Adeloye D, Katikireddi SV, Woolford L, Simpson CR, Shah SA, Agrawal U, Richie LD, Swann OV, Stock SJ, Robertson C, Sheikh A, Rudan I. Uptake, effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in children and young people in Scotland: Protocol for early pandemic evaluation and enhanced surveillance of COVID-19 (EAVE II). J Glob Health 2021; 11:05026. [PMID: 35003715 PMCID: PMC8709900 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.11.05026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dynamics of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and severity of disease among children and young people (CYP) across different settings are of considerable clinical, public health and societal interest. Severe COVID-19 cases, requiring hospitalisations, and deaths have been reported in some CYP suggesting a need to extend vaccinations to these age groups. As part of the ongoing Early Pandemic Evaluation and Enhanced Surveillance of COVID-19 (EAVE II) study, we aim to investigate the uptake, effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in children and young people (CYP) aged 0 to 17 years in Scotland. Specifically, we will estimate: (i) uptake of vaccines against COVID-19, (ii) vaccine effectiveness (VE) against the outcomes of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and death; (iii) VE for first/second dose timing among different age groups and risk groups; and (iv) the safety of vaccines. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will conduct an open prospective cohort study classifying exposure as time-varying. We will compare outcomes amongst first dose vaccinated and second dose vaccinated CYP to those not yet vaccinated. A Test Negative Design (TND) case control study will be nested within this national cohort to investigate VE against symptomatic infection. The primary outcomes will be (i) uptake of vaccines against COVID-19, (ii) time to COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation, ICU admissions or death, and (iii) adverse events related to vaccines. Vaccination status (unvaccinated, one dose and two doses) will be defined as a time-varying exposure. Data from multiple sources will be linked using a unique identifier. We will conduct descriptive analyses to explore trends in vaccine uptake, and association between different exposure variables and vaccine uptake will be determined using multivariable logistic regression models. VE will be assessed from time-dependent Cox models or Poisson regression models, adjusted for relevant confounders, including age, sex, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities. We will employ self-controlled study designs to determine the risk of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval was obtained from the National Research Ethics Committee, South East Scotland 02. We will present findings of this study at international conferences, in peer-reviewed journals and to policy-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davies Adeloye
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Lana Woolford
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin R Simpson
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Utkarsh Agrawal
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Lewis D Richie
- Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Olivia V Swann
- Department of Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah J Stock
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chris Robertson
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Igor Rudan
- Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Tarlinton RE, Fabijan J, Hemmatzadeh F, Meers J, Owen H, Sarker N, Seddon JM, Simmons G, Speight N, Trott DJ, Woolford L, Emes RD. Transcriptomic and genomic variants between koala populations reveals underlying genetic components to disorders in a bottlenecked population. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01340-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractHistorical hunting pressures on koalas in the southern part of their range in Australia have led to a marked genetic bottleneck when compared with their northern counterparts. There are a range of suspected genetic disorders such as testicular abnormalities, oxalate nephrosis and microcephaly reported at higher prevalence in these genetically restricted southern animals. This paper reports analysis of differential expression of genes from RNAseq of lymph nodes, SNPs present in genes and the fixation index (population differentiation due to genetic structure) of these SNPs from two populations, one in south east Queensland, representative of the northern genotype and one in the Mount Lofty Ranges South Australia, representative of the southern genotype. SNPs that differ between these two populations were significantly enriched in genes associated with brain diseases. Genes which were differentially expressed between the two populations included many associated with brain development or disease, and in addition a number associated with testicular development, including the androgen receptor. Finally, one of the 8 genes both differentially expressed and with a statistical difference in SNP frequency between populations was SLC26A6 (solute carrier family 26 member 6), an anion transporter that was upregulated in SA koalas and is associated with oxalate transport and calcium oxalate uroliths in humans. Together the differences in SNPs and gene expression described in this paper suggest an underlying genetic basis for several disorders commonly seen in southern Australian koalas, supporting the need for further research into the genetic basis of these conditions, and highlighting that genetic selection in managed populations may need to be considered in the future.
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Griffith JE, Stephenson T, McLelland DJ, Woolford L. Hypertrophic osteopathy in South Australian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) with concurrent pulmonary actinomycosis. Aust Vet J 2021; 99:172-177. [PMID: 33501661 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Pulmonary actinomycosis is described in 17 South Australian koalas necropsied between 2016 and 2019. From these cases, four koalas had secondary hypertrophic osteopathy. Plain radiographical and computed tomography images demonstrated periosteal reaction on multiple appendicular skeletal bones in all cases, including scapula, humerus, ulna, radius, ilium, femur, tibia, fibula, metacarpus, metatarsus and phalanx. Grossly, periosteal surfaces of the metaphyses and diaphyses of long bones were thickened and roughened; microscopically, this was characterised by bi-layered proliferation of well-differentiated trabecular bony spicules oriented perpendicular to the cortex (pseudocortices) and separated by vascular connective tissue, typical for hypertrophic osteopathy. Well characterised in domestic species and rarely reported in marsupials, this is the first radiographical and pathological characterisation of hypertrophic osteopathy in koalas, associated with pulmonary actinomycosis in all cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Griffith
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - T Stephenson
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - D J McLelland
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Animal Health Centre, Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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10
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Speight N, Gates M, Scriven J, Stephenson T, Woolford L. Symmetric dimethylarginine values in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) based on oxalate nephrosis status. Aust Vet J 2020; 98:247-249. [PMID: 32189333 DOI: 10.1111/avj.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Oxalate nephrosis is a prevalent renal disease in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) of the Mount Lofty Ranges population in South Australia. The symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) assay is widely used in companion animals to diagnose renal disease, particularly in the early stages. This study aimed to determine: (1) reference intervals for SDMA in koalas and (2) SDMA values of koalas with oxalate nephrosis. Blood samples were collected from 41 Mount Lofty Ranges koalas euthanased on welfare grounds. Koalas were necropsied and, based on renal histopathology, were classified as unaffected (n = 22) or affected (n = 19) by oxalate nephrosis. Serum or plasma samples were analysed for creatinine, urea and SDMA and urine samples for urine specific gravity (USG). The reference interval for SDMA in unaffected koalas was 2.4-22.9 μg/dL. In koalas with oxalate nephrosis, SDMA was elevated in 74% of cases above the upper limit of the confidence interval. SDMA was elevated in three affected koalas with normal creatinine values. A positive correlation was found between SDMA and creatinine (R = 0.775, P < 0.001) and SDMA and urea (R = 0.580, P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between SDMA and USG (R = -0.495, P = 0.027). In conclusion, SDMA correlates well with other commonly used tests of renal function in koalas and should be included as part of the standard diagnostic process to increase the accuracy of oxalate nephrosis diagnosis in koalas.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - M Gates
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - J Scriven
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - T Stephenson
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia
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11
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Fabijan J, Sarker N, Speight N, Owen H, Meers J, Simmons G, Seddon J, Emes RD, Tarlinton R, Hemmatzadeh F, Woolford L, Trott DJ. Pathological Findings in Koala Retrovirus-positive Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from Northern and Southern Australia. J Comp Pathol 2020; 176:50-66. [PMID: 32359636 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Koala retrovirus (KoRV) infection shows differences in prevalence and load between northern and southern Australian koala populations; however, the effect of this on diseases such as lymphoma and chlamydial disease is unclear. This study compared clinicopathological findings, haematology and splenic lymphoid area of KoRV-positive koalas from northern (Queensland [Qld], n = 67) and southern (South Australia [SA], n = 92) populations in order to provide further insight into KoRV pathogenesis. Blood was collected for routine haematology and for measurement of KoRV proviral load by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Plasma samples were assessed for KoRV viral load by reverse transcriptase qPCR and conjunctival and cloacal swabs were collected for measurement of the load of Chlamydia pecorum (qPCR). During necropsy examination, spleen was collected for lymphoid area analysis. Lymphoma was morphologically similar between the populations and occurred in koalas with the highest KoRV proviral and viral loads. Severe ocular chlamydial disease was observed in both populations, but urinary tract disease was more severe in Qld, despite similar C. pecorum loads. No associations between KoRV and chlamydial disease severity or load were observed, except in SA where viral load correlated positively with chlamydial disease severity. In both populations, proviral and viral loads correlated positively with lymphocyte and metarubricyte counts and correlated negatively with erythrocyte and neutrophil counts. Splenic lymphoid area was correlated positively with viral load. This study has shown further evidence for KoRV-induced oncogenesis and highlighted that lymphocytes and splenic lymphoid tissue may be key sites for KoRV replication. However, KoRV infection appears to be highly complex and continued investigation is required to fully understand its pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Fabijan
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia.
| | - N Sarker
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - N Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - H Owen
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - J Meers
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - G Simmons
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - J Seddon
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - R D Emes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, UK
| | - R Tarlinton
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, UK
| | - F Hemmatzadeh
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - D J Trott
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
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12
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Fabijan J, Speight N, Boardman W, Hemmatzadeh F, Trott DJ, Woolford L. Haematological reference intervals of wild southern Australian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Aust Vet J 2020; 98:207-215. [PMID: 32037511 DOI: 10.1111/avj.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Current haematology reference intervals (RIs) for koalas were developed in northern Australian koalas, using low numbers and/or individuals of unknown Chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus (KoRV) status. This study developed haematological RIs for wild, clinically healthy southern Australian koalas of known C. pecorum and KoRV infection status and investigated the effects of population, age and sex. METHODS Haematological RIs were determined for 138 clinically healthy South Australian koalas (Mount Lofty Ranges [MLR], n = 68; Kangaroo Island, n = 70) examined in April 2016 and February 2017, respectively. C. pecorum and KoRV status were determined by PCR. RESULTS RIs for southern koala haematological parameters were established for all koalas based on the finding that there were limited differences in haematological values in koalas with subclinical C. pecorum or KoRV infections (P > 0.05), except KoRV-infected koalas had a lower haematocrit than noninfected koalas. MLR koalas had significantly lower erythrocyte mass and leucocyte counts than Kangaroo Island koalas. Young koalas had significantly lower haemoglobin, haematocrit and higher mean cellular haemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte counts than adult koalas. MLR male koalas had elevated erythrocyte, leucocyte and neutrophil counts compared with MLR females. CONCLUSION The haematological RIs developed in this study are based on a large number of clinically healthy koalas, where subclinical C. pecorum and KoRV infections had no effect on haematological values and will be a valuable tool during clinical examination and disease investigation by veterinarians and researchers Australia-wide.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Fabijan
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - N Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Wsj Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - F Hemmatzadeh
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - D J Trott
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
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13
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Manna S, Mulgaonkar A, Woolford L, Nham K, Hao G, Pop L, Bowman I, Brugarolas J, Sun X, Hannan R. Immuno-PET Evaluation of In Vivo Therapeutic Resistance in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patient-Derived Xenografts. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.1064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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14
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Speight KN, Hicks P, Graham C, Boardman W, Breed WG, Manthorpe E, Funnell O, Woolford L. Necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges population in South Australia. Aust Vet J 2018; 96:188-192. [PMID: 29691854 DOI: 10.1111/avj.12690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study reports necropsy findings of koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region in order to identify health threats to this mainland South Australian population. METHODS Koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region (n = 85) that had died or been euthanased on welfare grounds were examined at necropsy during 2012-13 at the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide. Disease findings, approximate age, sex and body condition of koalas were recorded. Histopathological examination was undertaken on gross lesions and in suspect cases, skin scrapings taken for microscopy and PCR performed for Chlamydia pecorum detection. RESULTS Traumatic injury was the most common necropsy finding (48/85; 57%), caused by motor vehicle accidents (35/48; 73%), canine attacks (11/48; 23%) or bushfire burns (2/48; 4%). Oxalate nephrosis (27/85; 32%) was also more common than other conditions. Infectious diseases included chlamydiosis (10/85; 12%) and sarcoptic mange (7/85; 8%). Marked testis asymmetry was evident in 11% (6/56) of males, with histopathology suggestive of atrophic change in four animals. Other pathological conditions included gastrointestinal disease (7/85; 8%) and respiratory disease (3/85; 4%). Almost half of the koalas (38/85; 45%) were found to have two or more abnormalities at necropsy. CONCLUSION This study found trauma, mainly from motor vehicle accidents, and oxalate nephrosis to be the predominant causes of death and/or disease in koalas from the Mount Lofty Ranges region. Recent emergence of both clinical chlamydiosis and sarcoptic mange has also occurred, providing insight into the health status and causes of disease or injury in this South Australian mainland koala population.
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Affiliation(s)
- K N Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy campus, Roseworthy, South, Australia 5371, Australia
| | - P Hicks
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy campus, Roseworthy, South, Australia 5371, Australia
| | - C Graham
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy campus, Roseworthy, South, Australia 5371, Australia
| | - W Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy campus, Roseworthy, South, Australia 5371, Australia
| | - W G Breed
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - E Manthorpe
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy campus, Roseworthy, South, Australia 5371, Australia
| | - O Funnell
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy campus, Roseworthy, South, Australia 5371, Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy campus, Roseworthy, South, Australia 5371, Australia
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Gallacher K, Woolford L, Santos L, Kind K. Real-time-in Vivo Microscopic Imaging of Equine Endometrium Using Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy: Preliminary Observations and Feasibility Study. J Equine Vet Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.05.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Woolford L, Chen M, Dholakia K, Herrington CS. Towards automated cancer screening: Label-free classification of fixed cell samples using wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy. J Biophotonics 2018; 11:e201700244. [PMID: 29283510 PMCID: PMC6540043 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201700244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The ability to provide quantitative, objective and automated pathological analysis would provide enormous benefits for national cancer screening programmes, in terms of both resource reduction and improved patient wellbeing. The move towards molecular pathology through spectroscopic methods shows great promise, but has been restricted by spectral quality, acquisition times and lack of direct clinical application. In this paper, we present the application of wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy for the automated label- and fluorescence-free classification of fixed squamous epithelial cells in suspension, such as those produced during a cervical smear test. Direct comparison with standard Raman spectroscopy shows marked improvement of sensitivity and specificity when considering both human papillomavirus (sensitivity +12.0%, specificity +5.3%) and transformation status (sensitivity +10.3%, specificity +11.1%). Studies on the impact of intracellular sampling location and storage effects suggest that wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy is sufficiently robust to be used in fixed cell classification, but requires further investigations of potential sources of molecular variation in order to improve current clinical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Woolford
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Mingzhou Chen
- SUPA, School of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of St. AndrewsFifeUK
| | - Kishan Dholakia
- SUPA, School of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of St. AndrewsFifeUK
| | - C. Simon Herrington
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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Sarker N, Fabijan J, Emes RD, Hemmatzadeh F, Meers J, Moreton J, Owen H, Seddon JM, Simmons G, Speight N, Trott D, Woolford L, Tarlinton RE. Identification of stable reference genes for quantitative PCR in koalas. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3364. [PMID: 29463845 PMCID: PMC5820254 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21723-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand host and immune response to diseases, gene expression studies require identification of reference genes with stable expression for accurate normalisation. This study describes the identification and testing of reference genes with stable expression profiles in koala lymph node tissues across two genetically distinct koala populations. From the 25 most stable genes identified in transcriptome analysis, 11 genes were selected for verification using reverse transcription quantitative PCR, in addition to the commonly used ACTB and GAPDH genes. The expression data were analysed using stable genes statistical software - geNorm, BestKeeper, NormFinder, the comparative ΔCt method and RefFinder. All 13 genes showed relative stability in expression in koala lymph node tissues, however Tmem97 and Hmg20a were identified as the most stable genes across the two koala populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Sarker
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - J Fabijan
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - R D Emes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom.,Advanced Data Analysis Centre (ADAC), University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
| | - F Hemmatzadeh
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - J Meers
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - J Moreton
- Advanced Data Analysis Centre (ADAC), University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
| | - H Owen
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - J M Seddon
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - G Simmons
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - N Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - D Trott
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - R E Tarlinton
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom.
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Speight KN, Whiteley PL, Woolford L, Duignan PJ, Bacci B, Lathe S, Boardman W, Scheelings TF, Funnell O, Underwood G, Stevenson MA. Outbreaks of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging koala populations in Victoria and South Australia: a case series. Aust Vet J 2017; 95:244-249. [DOI: 10.1111/avj.12598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- KN Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus; The University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
| | - PL Whiteley
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences; The University of Melbourne; Werribee Victoria Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus; The University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
| | - PJ Duignan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Calgary; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; The Marine Mammal Center, Fort Cronkhite Sausalito CA USA
| | - B Bacci
- School of Veterinary Medicine; University of Surrey; Guildford UK
| | - S Lathe
- Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital, Plympton; South Australia Australia
| | - W Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus; The University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
| | - TF Scheelings
- School of Biological Sciences; Monash University; Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - O Funnell
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus; The University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
| | - G Underwood
- Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - MA Stevenson
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences; The University of Melbourne; Werribee Victoria Australia
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Kemper CM, Tomo I, Bingham J, Bastianello SS, Wang J, Gibbs SE, Woolford L, Dickason C, Kelly D. Morbillivirus-associated unusual mortality event in South Australian bottlenose dolphins is largest reported for the Southern Hemisphere. R Soc Open Sci 2016; 3:160838. [PMID: 28083115 PMCID: PMC5210697 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Cases of morbillivirus have been recorded in the Southern Hemisphere but have not been linked to significant marine mammal mortality. Post-mortems were conducted on 58 carcasses (44 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, two common bottlenose dolphins, 12 short-beaked common dolphins) from South Australia during 2005-2013, including an unusual mortality event (UME) in St Vincent Gulf Bioregion (SVG) during 2013. Diagnostic pathology, circumstance of death, body condition, age and stomach contents were documented for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. At least 50 dolphins died during the UME, 41 were Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and most were young. The UME lasted about seven months and had two peaks, the first being the largest. Effect on the population is unknown. Diagnostic testing for morbillivirus was conducted on 57 carcasses, with evidence for infection in all species during 2011-2013. All tested UME bottlenose dolphins were positive for cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV), and the pathology included interstitial pneumonia, lymphoid depletion and syncytia. Concurrent pathologies, including lung parasite and fungal infections, and severe cutaneous bruising were observed in many dolphins. The event coincided with elevated water temperatures, a diatom bloom and significant fish die-offs. We conclude that the cause for the UME was multifactorial and that CeMV was a major contributor.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Kemper
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - I. Tomo
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - J. Bingham
- Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Private Bag 24, 5 Portarlington Road, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia
| | - S. S. Bastianello
- Gribbles Veterinary Laboratory, 33 Flemington Street, Glenside, South Australia 5065, Australia
| | - J. Wang
- Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Private Bag 24, 5 Portarlington Road, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia
| | - S. E. Gibbs
- Lot 30A, Seaview Road, Yatala Vale, South Australia 5126, Australia
| | - L. Woolford
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia
| | - C. Dickason
- Biosecurity SA, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Research Centre, Lenswood, South Australia 5240, Australia
| | - D. Kelly
- Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
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Woolford L, Franklin C, Whap T, Loban F, Lanyon JM. Pathological findings in wild harvested dugongs Dugong dugon of central Torres Strait, Australia. Dis Aquat Organ 2015; 113:89-102. [PMID: 25751852 DOI: 10.3354/dao02825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The dugong Dugong dugon is classified as Vulnerable to extinction but may be endangered in some regions. Cause of death in stranded dugongs has not been determined in a large proportion of animals examined, with investigations hindered by limited information on dugong health and diseases, and paucity of knowledge of common or endemic pathological findings. Here we describe pathological findings in harvested dugongs from the relatively pristine area of central Torres Strait, and we characterise lesions attributable to drowning. Other recorded lesions were mild and predominated by host reaction to the presence of trematodes within the gastrointestinal tracts, liver and pancreas. Ascarid worm burdens were low in comparison to dugongs from developed coastlines. Hepatocellular lipofuscin and ferritin pigmentation were commonly observed, more pronounced in livers of older animals and concurrent with periportal and bridging fibrosis. Lesions attributable to drowning included incomplete collapse of lungs, dorsal or diffuse pulmonary congestion, mild intra-alveolar haemorrhage and oedema, mild interstitial oedema and rupture of peripheral alveolar septae with acute myofibre fragmentation and degeneration. No accumulation of foam or aspiration of water or particulate matter was observed, suggesting that dugongs 'dry drown'. Morphometric features of normal spleen are also presented. Characterisation of common pathological findings and those attributable to drowning in this species will aid in the interpretation of post mortem findings for the significant number of dugongs found deceased along urbanised coastlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Woolford
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia 5371, Australia
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- D. P. Byrne
- Morphettville Equine Clinic; Glengowrie South Australia Australia
| | - L. Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences; University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia Australia
| | - T. M. Booth
- Morphettville Equine Clinic; Glengowrie South Australia Australia
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Graham C, Woolford L, Johnson L, Speight KN. Age-dependent changes in gross and histological morphology of the thyroid gland in South Australian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). AUST J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1071/zo14011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Studies characterising the thyroid gland structure of koalas are limited and have not previously been undertaken in South Australian populations. Hence, this study aimed to describe the thyroid gland morphology of koalas from the Mount Lofty region, South Australia. Results showed that thyroid gland morphology was highly variable between individual koalas (n = 36), ranging from that considered typical for healthy mammals, in which small colloid-filled follicles were lined by cuboidal epithelium, to that consistent with colloidal goitre, in which macrofollicles distended with colloid were lined by flattened epithelium. Juvenile koalas more frequently showed typical thyroid gland morphology than adults, with significantly higher thyroid follicle density (P < 0.05) and a higher proportion of follicles lined by cuboidal epithelium compared with flattened epithelium (P < 0.05). Thyroid glands of most adult koalas were characterised by colloidal macrofollicles (P < 0.01), and classified as colloidal goitre. There were no significant differences in thyroid gland morphology based on health status or sex of koalas. These findings suggest that an age-dependent colloidal goitre occurs in adult koalas, which is unlikely to have ill effects and may be associated with the low metabolic rate of this species, or exposure to a dietary goitrogen.
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23
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Feary DJ, Abraham S, Woolford L, Trott DJ. Identification ofActinomyces denticolensas a cause of a soft tissue abscess in a horse. Aust Vet J 2013; 91:416-417. [DOI: 10.1111/avj.12102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- DJ Feary
- School of Animal and Veterinary Science; University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
| | - S Abraham
- School of Animal and Veterinary Science; University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
| | - L Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Science; University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
| | - DJ Trott
- School of Animal and Veterinary Science; University of Adelaide; Roseworthy South Australia 5371 Australia
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Schöniger S, Woolford L, Jutras L, Head E, de Lahunta A, Summers B. Unusual Features in Four Canine Meningiomas. J Comp Pathol 2013; 149:237-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2013.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Revised: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Speight KN, Boardman W, Breed WG, Taggart DA, Woolford L, Haynes JI. Pathological Features of Oxalate Nephrosis in a Population of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in South Australia. Vet Pathol 2012; 50:299-307. [DOI: 10.1177/0300985812456215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The wild and captive koala population of the Mt Lofty Ranges in South Australia has a high level of renal dysfunction in which crystals consistent with calcium oxalate have been observed in the kidneys. This study aimed to describe the pathological features of the renal disease in this population, confirm the composition of renal crystals as calcium oxalate, and determine whether any age or sex predispositions exist for this disease. A total of 51 koalas (28 wild rescues, 23 captive) were examined at necropsy, of which 28 (55%) were found to have gross and/or histological evidence of oxalate nephrosis. Histopathological features included intratubular and interstitial inflammation, tubule dilation, glomerular atrophy, tubule loss, and cortical fibrosis. Calcium oxalate crystals were demonstrated using a combination of polarization microscopy, alizarin red S staining, infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis with scanning electron microscopy. Uric acid and phosphate deposits were also shown to be present but were associated with minimal histopathological changes. No significant differences were found between the numbers of affected captive and wild rescued koalas; also, there were no sex or age predispositions identified, but it was found that oxalate nephrosis may affect koalas <2 years of age. The findings of this study suggest that oxalate nephrosis is a leading disease in this koala population. Possible causes of this disease are currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. N. Speight
- Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology,
School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Animal and Veterinary
Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - W. Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary
Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - W. G. Breed
- Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology,
School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - D. A. Taggart
- Discipline of Ecology, Evolution and
Landscape Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - L. Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary
Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - J. I. Haynes
- Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology,
School of Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Abstract
Ependymal tumors are reported rarely in domestic animals. The aims of this study were to examine the clinical and pathologic features of ventricular and extraventricular ependymomas and subependymomas in 18 domestic cats examined between 1978 and 2011. Parameters examined included age, sex, breed, clinical signs, and macroscopic and histopathologic features. The mean age of affected cats was 9 years, 4 months; median age, 8.5 years. There were 8 female and 4 male cats, and 6 cats for which sex was not recorded. Breeds included 10 domestic shorthaired, 2 domestic longhaired, 1 Persian, and 1 Siamese. Clinical signs included altered mentation or behavior, seizures, circling, propulsive gait, generalized discomfort, and loss of condition. The tumors often formed intraventricular masses and usually arose from the lining of the lateral or third ventricles, followed by the fourth ventricle, mesencephalic aqueduct, and spinal cord central canal. Three tumors were extraventricular, forming masses within the cerebrum and adjacent subarachnoid space. Histologically, 15 tumors were classified as variants of ependymomas (classic, papillary, tanycytic, or clear cell) and 3 as subependymomas. Tumors were generally well demarcated; however, 6 ependymomas focally or extensively infiltrated the adjacent neural parenchyma. Characteristic perivascular pseudorosettes were observed in all ependymomas; true rosettes were less common. Some tumors had areas of necrosis, mineralization, cholesterol clefts, and/or hemorrhage. This cohort study of feline ependymal tumors includes subependymoma and primary extraventricular ependymoma, variants not previously described in the veterinary literature but well recognized in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Woolford
- University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, Australia
| | | | - K. Baiker
- Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - E. Dobson
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - B. A. Summers
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Fiske-Jackson AR, Pollock PJ, Witte TH, Woolford L, Perkins JD. Fungal sinusitis resulting in suspected trigeminal neuropathy as a cause of headshaking in five horses. EQUINE VET EDUC 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2011.00249.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
An eight-month-old male Pomeranian was presented with hypovolaemic shock 7 days after successful oesophageal foreign body removal. On presentation the dog was anaemic and no coagulation abnormalities were detected. A fluid-filled oesophagus was visible on thoracic radiography and frank blood was aspirated from the oesophagus following oro-oesophageal intubation. Fluid resuscitation and blood transfusions were administered but attempts at stabilisation were unsuccessful and the dog died. At post-mortem examination, a 2-mm aortic oesophageal fistula was identified on the ventral aspect of the aorta at the level of heart base that communicated with the overlying oesophagus. Aortic oesophageal fistula has been reported in human medicine and occurs secondary to a number of conditions including oesophageal foreign bodies. These prove fatal without rapid stabilisation and surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Keir
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA
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Abstract
Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare biphasic tumor of children formed by mixed epithelial-and-mesenchymal elements. In this article, the authors report a pulmonary mass in an equine fetus with characteristics of PPB. A soft multicystic broad-based pleural mass was identified in the right caudal lung lobe. The mass comprised solid areas of loose mesenchyme, fenestrated by small ducts or large cystic areas lined by cuboidal epithelium. Mesenchymal elements had moderate anisocytosis, anisokaryosis, and cellular pleomorphism and were immunoreactive for vimentin. Epithelial cells lining ducts and cystic lumina were nonciliated and cuboidal with central round nuclei, minimal cellular pleomorphism, and strong immunoreactivity for cytokeratin. Pertinent characteristics in common with human PPB were the pleural-based location, the dual solid or delicate multiloculated cystic structure, the primitive mesenchymatous stroma fenestrated by well-differentiated cuboidal epithelial-lined lumina, and the occurrence during gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Woolford
- Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, AL97QT, United Kingdom.
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Woolford L, O'Hara AJ, Bennett MD, Slaven M, Swan R, Friend JA, Ducki A, Sims C, Hill S, Nicholls PK, Warren KS. Cutaneous papillomatosis and carcinomatosis in the Western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). Vet Pathol 2008; 45:95-103. [PMID: 18192585 DOI: 10.1354/vp.45-1-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A progressive wart-like syndrome in both captive and wild populations of the Western barred bandicoot (WBB) is hindering conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of this endangered marsupial. In this study, 42 WBBs exhibiting the papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome were examined. The disease was characterized by multicentric proliferative lesions involving cutaneous and mucosal surfaces, which were seen clinically to increase in size with time. Grossly and histologically the smaller skin lesions resembled papillomas, whereas the larger lesions were most commonly observed to be squamous cell carcinomas. Large amphophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in hyperplastic conjunctival lesions of 8 WBBs under light microscopy. Conjunctival lesions from 2 WBBs examined using transmission electron microscopy contained a crystalline array of spherical electron-dense particles of 45-nm diameter, within the nucleus of conjunctival epithelial cells, consistent with a papillomavirus or polyomavirus. Conjunctival samples from 3 bandicoots that contained intranuclear inclusion bodies also demonstrated a positive immunohistochemical reaction after indirect immunohistochemistry for papillomavirus structural antigens. Ultrastructural and/or immunohistochemical evidence of an etiologic agent was not identified in the nonconjunctival lesions examined. Here we describe the gross, histopathologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical findings of a papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome recently identified in the WBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Woolford
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.
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31
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Bennett MD, Woolford L, O'Hara AJ, Nicholls PK, Warren KS, Friend JA, Swan RA. Klossiella quimrensis (Apicomplexa: Klossiellidae) causes renal coccidiosis in western barred bandicoots Perameles bougainville (Marsupialia: Peramelidae) in Western Australia. J Parasitol 2007; 93:89-92. [PMID: 17436946 DOI: 10.1645/ge-1023.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have described a range of Klossiella species parasitic in marsupial hosts. Klossiella quimrensis is the etiologic agent of renal coccidiosis in the peramelid marsupial hosts Isoodon obesulus and Perameles gunnii in Eastern Australia, but there is no previous report of klossiellosis in Western Australian peramelids. This study describes klossiellosis diagnosed by histology of renal tissue sections collected during necropsy of 20 Perameles bougainville between 2000 and 2005. Sporonts, sporoblasts, and macrogametes were identified within parasitophorous vacuoles of epithelial cells located near the renal corticomedullary junction. The prevalence of renal coccidiosis in P. bougainville diagnosed by renal histology is estimated at 30%. Only a single unsporulated sporocyst was detected by examination of cystocentesis-collected urine, indicating that microscopic evaluation of urine samples is an insensitive diagnostic test for detection of K. quimrensis in P. bougainville. This infection in P. bougainville is indirectly associated with mild multifocal interstitial lymphohistiocytic nephritis and is likely to be only minimally pathogenic in otherwise healthy individuals. Our study also extends the host and geographic range of K. quimrensis to include P. bougainville and Western Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Bennett
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia 6150.
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Bennett MD, Woolford L, Ohara AJ, Nicholls PK, Warren K, Hobbs RP. A new eimeria species parasitic in western barred bandicoots, Perameles bougainville (Marsupialia: Peramelidae), in western Australia. J Parasitol 2007; 92:1292-4. [PMID: 17304809 DOI: 10.1645/ge-892r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Feces from western barred bandicoots, Perameles bougainville, examined during routine monitoring of captive breeding colonies and wild populations were frequently found to contain oocysts. Fecal oocysts from 1 individual housed at Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre were allowed to sporulate in 2% potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) at room temperature. Sporulated oocysts are subspheroidal 18.8 X 17.9 (16.9-21.0 x 16.0-19.9) microm, with length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.05 (1.00-1.15), lack a micropyle and oocyst residuum, but they usually have a polar granule within a smooth trilaminate oocyst wall 1.0 (0.7-1.3) microm thick. Sporocysts are ovoid, 9.1 x 7.0 (8.1-10.8 x 6.1-8.6) microm, with L/W ratio of 1.32 (1.04-1.51), have a Stieda body, sporocyst residuum, and 2 comma-shaped sporozoites, each containing 2 spheroidal refractile bodies. Sporulation takes 2-5 days at room temperature. This is the first formal description of an Eimeria species parasitic in the order Peramelemorphia.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Bennett
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.
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