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Seguel M, George RC, Maboni G, Sanchez S, Page-Karjian A, Wirth E, McFee W, Gottdenker NL. Pathologic findings and causes of death in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus stranded along the Georgia coast, USA (2007-2013). Dis Aquat Organ 2020; 141:25-38. [PMID: 32940248 DOI: 10.3354/dao03509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Between 2007 and 2013, before the 2013 cetacean morbillivirus outbreak, 26 fresh bottlenose dolphin carcasses were necropsied on the coast of Georgia, USA. Here, we present the pathological and microbiological findings associated with their most likely causes of death. The primary cause of death was determined in 25 individuals and included systemic bacterial infection (n = 7), verminous and bacterial bronchopneumonia (n = 5), drowning/entanglement (n = 5), disseminated histoplasmosis (n = 1), intestinal intussusception (n = 1), vegetative endocarditis (n = 1), meningitis (n = 1), necrotizing dermatitis (n = 1), disseminated angiomatosis (n = 1), emaciation (n = 1) and stingray spine trauma (n = 1). Histiocytic and eosinophilic bronchopneumonia associated with Halocerchus sp. infection was observed in 69% of the animals (18/26) and eosinophilic gastritis due to Anisakidae nematodes was found in 36% of the examined stomachs (8/22). Moderate to severe eosinophilic pancreatitis with fibrosis was observed in 4 animals infected with Brachycladiidae trematodes. Proliferative and ulcerative lymphoplasmacytic dermatitis was found in 5 animals and was considered to contribute to deteriorated health status in 2 calves. Pulmonary and lymph node angiomatosis were observed in 15 and 10 animals, respectively. In at least 2 animals, the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the blubber exceeded 1500 µg g-1 of lipid. Bottlenose dolphins stranded on the Georgia coast have a wide range of inflammatory lesions associated with a variety of helminth, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Some resident animals have also been exposed to high levels of PCB contamination, which could reduce host immunocompetence. Higher exposure to these or other pathogens could result in further decline in the health of resident and migrant dolphin populations in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Perez-Venegas DJ, Seguel M, Pavés H, Pulgar J, Urbina M, Ahrendt C, Galbán-Malagón C. First detection of plastic microfibers in a wild population of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) in the Chilean Northern Patagonia. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 136:50-54. [PMID: 30509835 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.08.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The dramatic increase of microplastics (plastic fragments <5 mm) in marine environments is a problem that has attracted public attention globally. Within the different types of microplastics, microfibres are the least studied (size <1 mm). We examined 51 female scats from a population in Northern Patagonia. Our results showed no presence of microplastic particles, however 67% of them showed a remarkable abundance of microfibers, which until now had only been reported in animals fed in captivity. As a result of this work we propose that the examination of scats from South American Fur Seal and also other pinnipeds could be an efficient tool to monitor environmental levels of microfibres and maybe microplastics in the environment due to the easy recognition of the animals and their scats.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Perez-Venegas
- Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Dpto. Ecología & Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - M Seguel
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - H Pavés
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomas, Osorno, Chile
| | - J Pulgar
- Dpto. Ecología & Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - M Urbina
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - C Ahrendt
- Dpto. Ecología & Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Plastic Oceans Foundation, Malibu, CA, USA
| | - C Galbán-Malagón
- Dpto. Ecología & Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Fundación MERI, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile; Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
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Perez-Venegas D, Pavés H, Pulgar J, Ahrendt C, Seguel M, Galbán-Malagón CJ. Coastal debris survey in a Remote Island of the Chilean Northern Patagonia. Mar Pollut Bull 2017; 125:530-534. [PMID: 28951055 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Global marine litter pollution is increasing dramatically, and oceanic islands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems due to their high debris accumulation rate compared to continental sites. Remote areas, such as inhabited islands, represent a perfect study case to track marine debris sources, due to the assumed low rates of local production of debris. Guafo Island is one of the largest islands of the Chilean Northern Patagonia and is considered a remote zone. The accessible coast of Guafo Island was monitored during four austral summers revealing higher levels of marine debris accumulation than continental Chile. Plastic was the most abundant type of debris constituting 50% of the total litter monitored. Our results suggest that most of the plastic identified is likely to be related to local fisheries activities. Mitigation measures including collaboration among fishing communities and scientists could contribute to reduce the coastal debris pollution in remote areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Perez-Venegas
- Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - H Pavés
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomas, Los Carrera 753, Osorno, Chile
| | - J Pulgar
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - C Ahrendt
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - M Seguel
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - C J Galbán-Malagón
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile; Fundación MERI, Av. Kennedy 5682, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile.
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Seguel M, Muñoz F, Paredes E, Navarrete MJ, Gottdenker NL. Pathological Findings in Wild Rats (Rattus rattus) Captured at Guafo Island, Northern Chilean Patagonia. J Comp Pathol 2017; 157:163-173. [PMID: 28942299 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The black rat (Rattus rattus) is an invasive species and potential reservoir of significant pathogens of man, domestic animals and wildlife. During the 2012-2014 austral summers, 201 black rats were captured and examined on the uninhabited Guafo Island, in Northern Chilean Patagonia (43.593029°S, 74.713481°W). The mite Ornithonyssus bacoti caused lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic dermatitis in all infected rats (105/210, 52%), but no skin lesions were observed in rats infected with Nosopsyllus spp. and Plocopsylla spp. fleas. Eighty-eight rats (44%) had mild lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis and 61 of these rats were infected with the nematode Heterakis spumosa. In the liver, 63 animals (31%) had areas of necrosis with histiocytic and eosinophilic inflammation associated with multiple Calodium hepaticum eggs, and in 15 cases there was co-infection with several Taenia taeniaeformis strobilocerci. Mild interstitial lymphoplasmacytic sialadenitis with intranuclear inclusion bodies, suggesting cytomegalovirus infection, was observed in 28 rats (15%). In the lung, alveolar histiocytosis (69 rats, 34%) and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates (46 rats, 23%) were the most common findings. There was mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis in 52 rats (26%) and in 15% of these cases Leptospira spp. antigen was detected in the distal renal tubules. Some of the diseases of black rats on Guafo Island are likely to play a role in rat population dynamics. The endemic Guafo Island long-clawed mole mouse (Geoxus lafkenche), sea lions and fur seals may be at risk for infection by some of these rat pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, 501 DW Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia, USA.
| | - F Muñoz
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja s/n, Valdivia, Chile
| | - E Paredes
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja s/n, Valdivia, Chile
| | - M J Navarrete
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja s/n, Valdivia, Chile
| | - N L Gottdenker
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, 501 DW Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia, USA
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Seguel M, Muñoz F, Navarrete MJ, Paredes E, Howerth E, Gottdenker N. Hookworm Infection in South American Fur Seal ( Arctocephalus australis) Pups. Vet Pathol 2016; 54:288-297. [PMID: 28207376 DOI: 10.1177/0300985816677151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tissues of South American fur seal pups naturally infected with hookworms ( Uncinaria sp) were examined. Hookworm infection was found in nearly all pups examined (132/140, 94%), and hookworm enteritis with secondary bacteremia was considered the cause of death in 46 (35%) pups. Common findings in these pups included severe hemorrhagic enteritis and numerous (mean intensity = 761.8) hookworms in the jejunum. Hookworms were recovered from the abdominal cavity in 12 of 55 pups (22%) examined through peritoneal wash; these pups had an average of 1343.3 intestinal hookworms and marked fibrinohemorrhagic peritonitis. In all pups that died as a consequence of hookworm infection, the intestinal villi were short, blunt, and fused, and there were variable numbers of free and intrahistiocytic gram-negative bacteria in submucosal hookworm feeding tracks, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, blood vessels, and liver sinusoids. Pups that died of causes unrelated to the hookworm infection (trauma) had hookworm feeding tracks confined to the apical portions of the mucosa, and moderate to marked catarrhal eosinophilic enteritis. The number of hookworms was negatively correlated with intestinal villous length and number of leukocytes in the intestine. Pups with hookworm peritoneal penetration had nematodes with little or no blood in the hookworm intestine, suggesting that lack of food for the nematode could be associated with peritoneal penetration. Findings suggest that the initial burden of larval infection, the level of the host tissue response, or a combination determine the number of nematodes in the intestine, the severity of hookworm tissue damage, and pup mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- 1 Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - F Muñoz
- 2 Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - M J Navarrete
- 2 Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - E Paredes
- 2 Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - E Howerth
- 1 Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - N Gottdenker
- 1 Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
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Seguel M, Howerth EW, Ritter J, Paredes E, Colegrove K, Gottdenker N. Encephalitozoonosis in 2 South American Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis) Pups. Vet Pathol 2014; 52:720-3. [PMID: 25248519 DOI: 10.1177/0300985814551424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral and disseminated encephalitozoonosis was diagnosed by histopathology, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry in 2 free-ranging South American fur seal pups found dead at Guafo Island (43°33'S 74°49'W) in southern Chile. In the brain, lesions were characterized by random foci of necrosis with large numbers of macrophages containing numerous microsporidial organisms within parasitophorous vacuoles. In addition, occasional histiocytes loaded with numerous mature and immature microsporidia spores consistent with Encephalitozoon sp were observed in pulmonary alveolar septa, splenic red pulp, glomerular capillaries, and proximal renal tubules by Gram and immunohistochemical stains. To our knowledge, microsporidial infection in a marine mammal species has not been previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - E W Howerth
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - J Ritter
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - E Paredes
- Department of Animal Pathology, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - K Colegrove
- Zoological Pathology Program, University of Illinois, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - N Gottdenker
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Seguel M, Schumacher E, González R. [Radiofrequency catheter ablation of symptomatic isolated ventricular extrasystole in patients with a normal heart]. Rev Med Chil 2001; 129:60-6. [PMID: 11265206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Premature ventricular depolarizations (PVDs) in patients without heart disease, are a frequent clinical problem that can cause important symptoms. Most commonly, this benign arrhythmia responds to treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs. However, occasionally PVDs are refractory to pharmacological treatment but they can be eliminated with radiofrequency catheter ablation. AIM To show our experience with four patients in whom we used this method. MATERIAL AND METHOD We studied three men and a woman, twelve to forty six years old. All of them were symptomatic, their EKG and echocardiogram were normal and they had been treated with several drugs without response. In three of them the PVDs had left bundle-branch block morphology with inferior axis; the other patient had right bundle-branch block morphology with superior axis. The origin of the PVDs was determined using pace mapping. RESULTS Two of the patients had spontaneous PVDs; in the other two isoproterenol infusion was used to induce them. In three patients the origin of the PVDs was located in right ventricular outflow and in the other in the anterolateral region of the left ventricle. None had sustained atrial or ventricular arrhythmia. In all of them PVDs were eliminated. A patient presented a second morphology that could not be treated. None of the patients had complications and they were discharged within the next 24 hours. Three noted symptomatic improvement and after 18 months, only one had a probable recurrence of the arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS Radiofrequency catheter ablation can be successfully used to eliminate PVDs in severely symptomatic and drug-resistant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- Laboratorio de Electrofisiología Cardíaca, Departamento de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Marcoleta 357, Santiago, Chile
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Labarca R, Gajardo MI, Seguel M, Silva H, Jerez S, Ruiz A, Bustos G. Effects of D-amphetamine administration on the release of endogenous excitatory amino acids in the rat nucleus accumbens. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1995; 19:467-73. [PMID: 7624497 DOI: 10.1016/0278-5846(94)00027-f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
1. The effects of acute D-amphetamine administration to rats on the release of endogenous excitatory amino acids from nucleus accumbens slices were studied. 2. D-amphetamine (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg; i.p.) significantly increased the spontaneous release of aspartate and glutamate from nucleus accumbens slices. 3. In contrast, D-amphetamine either produced no change or rather decreased K+ (40 mM)-evoked and N-methyl-D-aspartate (100 microM)-evoked release of aspartate and glutamate from the slices, respectively. 4. When D-amphetamine treated rats were pretreated with haloperidol, the effects of D-amphetamine on the spontaneous release of excitatory amino acids were not produced, whereas its effects on N-methyl-D-aspartate-evoked release remained unchanged. 5. These data suggest that amphetamine produces changes in excitatory amino acid-mediated transmission in the nucleus accumbens, that may play a role in amphetamine-induced behavioral or psychotomimetic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Labarca
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, CIM, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago
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Sepúlveda C, Bustos G, Gysling K, Seguel M, Labarca R. Effects of in vitro ethanol and chronic ethanol consumption on the release of excitatory amino acids in the rat hippocampus. Brain Res 1995; 674:104-6. [PMID: 7773676 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(95)00072-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [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: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In CA1-CA3 hippocampal slices, in vitro ethanol (EtOH) (10-100 mM) evoked, as a function of EtOH concentration, a differential release of aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu). Omission of Ca2+ ions from the superfusion media completely abolished the EtOH-induced release of Asp but not that of Glu. In addition, at 20 mM, EtOH enhanced K(+)-evoked release only of Asp. Finally, delayed changes were observed on NMDA-evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline (NA) in the dentate gyrus (DG) after withdrawal from EtOH for 30 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sepúlveda
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, CIM, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago
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Seguel M, Muñoz P, Nalegach E, Santander J. [Prevalence of mental disorders at emergency service]. Rev Med Chil 1993; 121:705-10. [PMID: 8278711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Aiming to know the frequency of mental disorders among patients consulting a general hospital emergency ward, 2834 medical records of such patients were retrospectively reviewed. 8.4% of consultations were due to mental disorders. Sixty four percent of patients consulting for mental disorders were women. Anxiety disorders comprised 57.6% of consultations due to mental disorders and intoxications 7.6%. Eighty percent of the latter were consequence of suicidal attempts, being the most common method the use of benzodiazepines. A low percent of these patients were referred to psychiatry. The low frequency of psychiatric referrals and the importance of psychiatric advice in emergency rooms is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- Unidad Docente Asociada de Psiquiatría, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago de Chile
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Seguel M, Arrese M, Pérez C, Alvarez M, Labarca R, Veloso M. [Munchausen's syndrome: a study of 6 cases]. Rev Med Chil 1990; 118:1090-7. [PMID: 2152625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We report 6 patients with Munchausen syndrome, a fictitious disorder with physical symptoms. There were 4 females and 2 males, the age ranged from 21 to 29 years. Abdominal pain (2), hemoptysis, shock and hypoglycemia were the presenting symptoms. The diagnosis was made after a prolonged and costly hospital course, including invasive and non invasive diagnostic procedures. Two patients were ill enough to be at risk of death. An early diagnosis may help prevent unnecessary or risky procedures in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
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