Endoscopic removal of malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity

Mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity is a rare tumour. With the extended used of nasal endoscopes and advent of CT scan, early diagnosis of nasal melanoma and accurate assessment of its extent is possible. This allows endoscopic excision of tumour, avoiding unnecessary removal of healthy tissue. Here we present a case where endonasal endoscopic excision with postoperative radiotherapy achieved disease free survival till follow up (nearly 2 years).

Prevalence of Deg Nala disease in eastern India and its reproduction in buffaloes by feeding Fusarium oxysporum infested rice straw

OBJECTIVE

To undertake a study on prevalence of Deg Nala disease in eastern states of India and to reproduce the disease in buffaloes by the Fusarium spp., isolated from the affected region.

METHODS

During this investigation, a survey was conducted covering four states of eastern region to identify the Deg Nala cases as well as to isolate and characterize the causative agent(s). An experimental study was carried out to reproduce the disease in healthy male buffaloes (2-3 years age) by randomly dividing them into five groups (four in each group). Each individual group was fed with rice straw artificially infested with either of the two representative isolates of Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) (F01, F02) or representative reference strains of Fusarium equiseti (F. equiseti) (ITCCF-2470) and Fusarium moniliforme (F. moniliforme) (ITCCF-4821) for 30 days, whereas the control group was fed with normal rice straw only.

RESULTS

A total of 658 Deg Nala cases were recorded and 12 Fusarium isolates were identified from the mouldy rice straw collected from these affected areas. The characterization of the isolates revealed three species viz., F. oxysporum, F. equiseti and F. moniliforme, among which F. oxysporum was predominant. The disease was artificially reproduced in three buffaloes in F01 group and one in F02 group within 20-23 days by feeding F. oxysporum infested rice straw which resembled the clinical symptoms and gross lesions of natural Deg Nala cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The field investigation and laboratory studies, including experimental production of Deg Nala disease suggest the possible involvement of mycotoxins. However, further investigations needs to be done to understand nature of the toxic factors involved in production of the Deg Nala disease.

Benign laryngopharyngeal lesions: a case series

Benign neoplasms of the laryngopharynx are extremely rare. Hereby we present 3 such interesting cases managed at our institute. While one was managed by conventional endoscopic route the other two required external approach. Even in the present era of endoscopic surgery sometimes these lesions necessitates external approach owing to anatomical distortion causing difficulty in intubation and/or inadequate exposure of the lesion. All these cases highlights the need of a competent surgeon to treat benign laryngopharyngeal lesions.

Giant fibrous epulis

A variety of swellings located on or near the gums is clinically included under the heading of epulis. There are various types of epulis. In today's era of super specialization gum swellings more commonly present to the dental surgeon than to the practicing otolaryngologist. We present an interesting case of a fibrous epulis managed in our institute along with a brief review of literature.

An interesting case of arterio-veinous malformation in the neck

An arterio-veinous malformation can be acquired and is rarely congenital. It usually presents with cosmetic deformity. If large it may manifest features of haemodynamic changes. Clinical assessment is the mainstay of diagnosis. Arteriography, MR angiography and rarely histopathology may help in clinching the final diagnosis. It is treated with wide excision after ligation of feeder vessels. Herein we present one such case of arterio-veinous malformation with review of available literature.

Dairy farm investigation on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Kolkata, India with emphasis on molecular characterization

An investigation was conducted to determine the distribution, virulence gene profile and phenotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains within a dairy farm in Kolkata, India by characterizing the STEC strains isolated from healthy dairy cow and calf stool samples, raw milk and farm floor swabs from July 2001 to March 2002. Primary screening by multiplex-PCR detected stx1 and stx2, the common virulence genes of STEC, in 18.9% of cow faeces, 32.4% of calf stool samples, 21.6% of farm floor swabs and 4.5% of raw milk samples and viable STEC were recovered from 4.5, 9.9, 8.1 and 1.8% of the corresponding PCR-positive samples. Strains harbouring stx1 (63.3%) and hlyA (53.3%) were frequently detected compared to eae (13.3%). Most of the strains harboured similar sets of reported virulence genes common among isolates from diarrhoea patients. Most of the strains also exhibited multidrug resistance, sorbitol fermentation and produced enterohaemolysin. The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) profile of the STEC strains isolated from the farm milieu revealed diverse banding patterns and clonal analysis demonstrated that the strains from different sources were not identical but showed some genetic relatedness. The study demonstrates the potential of dairy farm for housing virulent STEC.

Antibiotic resistance, virulence gene, and molecular profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates from diverse sources in Calcutta, India

Antibiotic resistance, virulence gene, and molecular profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) non-O157 strains isolated from human stool samples, cow stool samples, and beef samples over a period of 2 years in Calcutta, India, were determined. Resistance to one or more antibiotics was observed in 49.2% of the STEC strains, with some of the strains exhibiting multidrug resistance. The dominant combinations of virulence genes present in the strains studied were stx(1) and stx(2) (44.5% of strains) and stx(1), stx(2), and hlyA (enterohemorrhagic E. coli hemolysin gene) (19% of strains). Only 6.4% of the STEC strains harbored eae. The diversity of STEC strains from various sources was assessed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). STEC strains that gave identical or nearly similar DNA fingerprints in RAPD-PCR and had similar virulence genotypes were further characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Identical RAPD and PFGE profiles were observed in four sets of strains, with each set comprising two strains. There was no match in the RAPD and PFGE profiles between strains of STEC isolated from cows and those isolated from humans. It appears that the clones present in bovine sources are not transmitted to humans in the Calcutta setting although these strains showed evolutionary relatedness. Maybe for this reason, STEC has still not become a major problem in India.

An outbreak of gangrenous syndrome among buffaloes and cattle in West Bengal: clinicopathological studies

Gangrenous syndrome/Degnala disease was recorded in a large number of buffaloes and cattle in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, India. Fusarium spp. had been isolated from the mouldy paddy straw which were fed to the animals. There was a reduction in the incidence of the disease following withdrawal of the mouldy paddy straw. Histopathological examination showed necrosis and loss of architectural details in the skin.

Capillaria hepatica, a parasite of zoonotic importance--a brief overview

This review briefly elucidates the biology and mode of transmission of the parasite capillaria hepatica, an cuimial parasite. Occasional transmitted to man.

Dermatophytes isolated from selected ruminants in India

A survey was carried out in different areas of Uttar Pradesh for isolating and identifying dermatophytes from ruminants. Out of 102 skin scrapings, collected from various animals, 4/22 cattle, 1/9 buffalo, 14/44 sheep and 2/28 goats were KOH positive. In respect of the cattle, the culture positive samples yielded one strain each of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. simii and two strains of Microsporum gypseum. From the buffaloes examined, only one case yielded a dermatophyte and it was identified as T. mentagrophytes. In respect of the sheep, two samples were culture positive and the dermatophyte was T. mentagraphytes (2). Of the 28 goat scrapings, only two harboured dermatophytes viz., M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes. Fungi other than dermatophytes isolated from the ruminants were Alternaria species, Aspergillus species, Beauveria bassiana, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Curvularia species, Penicillium species, Pseudoarachniotus roseus and T. terrestre. Isolation of T. rubrum from the skin lesion of one of the cattle is noteworthy, since this dermatophyte is better known as an anthrophilic species.

A modified needle to apply circumferential wires

Circumferential wiring is executed by various awls and needles. A method is presented by which a needle can be easily transformed into an awl.

Invasive pulmonary pseudallesheriosis in a cross-breed calf

Pulmonary pseudallescheriosis was diagnosed in a two-months old calf. Pneumonic lungs with yellow-white nodules on the surfaces revealed granulomatous lesions microscopically. Septate, pleomorphic hyphae were present in the central caseated core with a bright eosinophilic periphery surrounded by polymorphonuclear cells and macrophages followed by a zone of epithelioid cells admixed with lymphocytes and plasma cells. The fungal agent was demonstrated by Grocott's silver methenamine staining. On isolation, morphologically it was found to be indistinguishable from that of Pseudallescheria boydii. It appears to be first report of fatal mycotic pneumonia in a calf due to P. boydii. The emphasis is given for further detailed investigation on this aspect in veterinary mycopathology.

Chrysosporium tropicum as a probable cause of mycosis of poultry in India

Chrysosporium tropicum was isolated from comb lesions in two different breeds of chickens in India and subcultures were shown to be pathogenic when inoculated onto prepared skin of guinea pigs. This report provides additional evidence to consider Ch. tropicum as a pathogenic fungus and a probable cause of a dermatomycosis in chickens.

Rapid photometric assay of growth of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri

A new spectrophotometric technique for evaluation of early growth in liquid culture of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri has been developed. As turbidity does not appear until after incubation to 18 h the method utilizes the change in absorbance of the medium at 550 nm to monitor growth. The change in absorbance of the medium (which contains phenol red) occurs when the pH changes due to microbial growth. For measurement of growth at later stages when turbidity is proportional to number of colony forming units, two other wavelengths (450 nm and 700 nm) have been suggested.

Classification and identification of ovine and caprine Mycoplasmas

The purpose of this investigation was to give a survey of the classification of ovine/caprine mycoplasmas as a basis for the identification of strains isolated from sheep and goats. A total of 13 strains representing 13 species and/or serogroups were biochemically examined, and serological cross-titrations were performed using metabolism inhibition, growth inhibition and immunofluorescence. Serogroup 6 (Al-Aubaidi) was found to be identical with Mycoplasma capricolum.

The results of identification of 57 isolates, sent to the reference centre from different countries, are given.

On the basis of the above investigations and a comparison of some of the classification systems described in the literature, it is concluded that the following species have been isolated from goats and/or sheep: M. agalactiae, M. arginini, M. bovis, M. capricolum, M. conjunctivae, M. mycoides subsp. capri, M. mycoides subsp. mycoides, M. ovipneumoniae, M. putrefaciens, Acholeplasma granularum, A. laidlawii and A. oculi. In addition, both Ureaplasmas and strains representing 6 serogroups (groups 5, 7, 10 and 11 of Al-Aubaidi and groups 17 and 18 of Cottew) have been isolated. These serogroups ought to be finally species-classified as soon as possible. kw|Keywords|k]ovine/caprine mycoplasmas; k]classification; k]identification