Post-infection fatigue syndrome following Q fever.

In 1989, 147 individuals in the West Midlands, UK, were infected with Q fever. Five years later, following anecdotal reports of fatigue, we used a questionnaire-based case-control study to determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms in this group. Replies from 71 patients were compared with those from 142 age- and sex-matched controls. Increased sweating (52.9% vs. 31.6%, p = 0.006), breathlessness (50.7% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.006), blurred vision (34.3% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.016) and undue tiredness (68.7% vs. 51.5%, p = 0.03) were found in controls compared to cases. These findings were similar to those in Australian abbatoir workers occupationally exposed to Q fever. CDC criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome were fulfilled by 42.3% of cases and 26% of controls. Using visual analogue scores, symptoms were more severe in cases than in controls. Our findings support the existence of a chronic fatigue state following acute Q fever, in a group of patients exposed just once to the organism, and in circumstances free of such confounding factors as lawsuits over compensation.

Farmed deer: new domestic animals defined by controlled breeding.

The domestication of plants and animals is recognized as pivotal in mankind's social evolution. Yet, surprisingly few species have actually been farmed, prompting speculation as to which attributes are needed for successful domestication. Although red deer were the staple source of meat throughout Europe in the mesolithic, they have not been widely domesticated, leading many ethologists to argue that they are behaviourally unsuitable. Recently, the most widely accepted criterion of domestication, the ability of farmers to control the breeding of a species, has been fulfilled in red and other species of deer with the widespread adoption of even the most technologically advanced methods of artificial breeding. Simultaneously and conversely, the population growth of wild deer in many temperate parts of the world has stimulated a search for contraceptive techniques.

European perspectives on the public health risks posed by farmed game mammals.

As consumers have become aware of the health risks associated with the high levels of saturated fats present in conventional red meats, an interest in new domesticants has developed. Meat from these species represents the only sector of the European red meat industry which is currently experiencing growth. The production of meat from grazing animals other than cattle and sheep is not subsidised within the European Union (EU), so that despite the fact that game farming for meat exists in all the Member States, much of the farmed game meat consumed within Europe is imported from the rapidly developing deer farming industry in New Zealand. Less severely regulated industries world-wide also export a great variety of wild game into Europe, but health controls and labelling do not permit the consumer to discriminate between wild and farmed produce, or even between species or countries of origin. This paper describes the scale of game farming within Europe, and the quantities of game imported. The author reviews the diverse production systems in different regions of Europe and the various harvesting systems, including the present measures enforced for veterinary public health reasons, and considers the threats posed by the zoonoses known to affect game mammals and the public health risks posed by contamination. An explanation is given of the differences between the production and processing of farmed and wild game.

Prevalence of herpesvirus infection in British red deer and investigations of further disease outbreaks.

A serological survey of the prevalence of a new herpesvirus isolated from red deer (Cervus elaphus), tentatively designated herpesvirus of Cervidae type 1 (HVC-1), has shown that the virus is widespread in free-living and farmed red deer. Neutralising antibodies were detected in hill deer culled at three different locations in the north of Scotland, in farmed deer on five of eight Scottish farms and in four of 12 groups of English farmed or park deer. Fifty-eight of 145 (40 per cent) hill deer, 67 of 203 (33 per cent) Scottish farmed deer and 26 of 172 (14 per cent) English deer had antibody, the overall prevalence being 29 per cent. Further outbreaks of ocular disease in farmed red deer calves caused by HVC-1 were investigated. Deer sent to an auction from one farm were found after sale to have been incubating the disease and it was thus spread to seven deer farms. Despite a high incidence of clinical disease in the calves from the original farm, few in-contact deer showed clinical signs.

Induction of antler growth in a congenitally polled Scottish red deer stag.

A congenitally polled red deer stag was captured from a Scottish deer forest and kept in an enclosure for observations. The animal had rudimentary antler pedicles but no antlers, and during five years of study no significant antler development occurred. Amputation of the apex of one antler pedicle in May 1974 when the stat was 12 years of age resulted in the growth of a complete antler on the operated side, and this antler was subsequently cleaned and cast in the normal way and a new antler cycle was initiated. The result illustrates that the primary abnormality in this polled stag lay not in his inability to grow antler, but in his inability to develop fully formed antler pedicles from which normal antler tissue could differentiate. Traumatizing the rudimentary pedicle had the effect of stimulating growth of antler tissue, and once this was formed the process of cleaning, casting and regrowth occurred spontaneously. The incomplete development of the antler pedicles is considered to be responsible for the absence of antlers in the majority of "hummels" in Scotland, and the etiology of the condition is discussed.

Induction of early rutting in male red deer (Cervus elaphus) by melatonin and its dependence on LHRH.

Eight red deer stags, 2 control, 3 control-immunized (i.e. a low titre of LHRH antibodies after active immunization 2 years earlier) and 3 superior cervical ganglionectomized, were given a s.c. implant of melatonin in May at the nadir of the sexual cycle; 5 other stags remained untreated. All the melatonin-treated animals shed the velvet-like skin from the antlers in June or July at least 1 month before the untreated controls, and had an early increase in blood plasma testosterone concentrations. The treated stags were also precocious in the development of rutting behaviour, although this inductive effect was blocked dramatically in the control-immunized stags after a booster immunization against LHRH; these animals failed to show any further reproductive development and cast their antlers. It is concluded that continuous exposure to melatonin in early summer will induce premature seasonal testicular development, an effect dependent on the secretion of LHRH, and similar to that produced by exposure to short daylengths.

Antler growth in male red deer (Cervus elaphus) after active immunization against LH-RH.

Four sexually mature male red deer were actively immunized against LHRH and this caused 3 of the animals to cast their antlers prematurely in the autumn instead of the spring. Development of new antlers was initiated after casting, but the effects on the antler cycle were variable and correlated with the antibody titre, only the animal with the highest titre developed antlers that resembled those of a castrate and remained 'in velvet' for more than 6 months. In October, when all the immunized deer had peak circulating levels of LHRH antibodies, the testes were reduced in size compared to the maximum values of the controls. The blood levels of testosterone were reduced in the immunized animals, and there was a minimal increase in the circulating levels of testosterone in response to an i.v. injection of 100 micrograms ovine LH. The immunized stags showed no rutting behaviour in the autumn. The changes in the testes confirm that the immunizations were effective in blocking the secretion of the gonadotrophic hormones. The re-development of antlers in these animals indicates that gonadotrophins are not directly involved in stimulating antler growth.

Pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in a population of airport workers.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to measure spirometry in a sample of employees of Birmingham International Airport, United Kingdom, to examine whether occupational exposure to aircraft fuel or jet stream exhaust might be associated with respiratory symptoms or abnormalities of lung function. METHODS: Cross sectional survey by questionnaire and on site measurement of lung function, skin prick tests, and exhaled carbon monoxide concentrations. Occupational exposure was assigned by job title, between group comparison were made by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 222/680 full time employees were studied (mean age 38.6 y, 63% male, 28% current smokers, 6% self reported asthma, 19% self reported hay fever). Upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms were common and 51% had one or more positive skin tests. There were no significant differences in lung function tests between exposure groups. Between group comparisons of respiratory symptoms were restricted to male members of the medium and high exposure groups. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for cough with phlegm and runny nose were found to be significantly associated with high exposure (OR 3.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.23 to 9.74 and 2.9, 1.32 to 6.40 respectively) when the measured confounding effects of age and smoking, and in the case of runny nose, self reported hay fever had been taken into account. There was no obvious association between high exposure and the presence of shortness of breath or wheeze, or for the symptoms of watering eyes or stuffy nose. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support an association in male airport workers, between high occupational exposures to aviation fuel or jet stream exhaust and excess upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms, in keeping with a respiratory irritant. It is more likely that these effects reflect exposure to exhaust rather than fuel, although the effects of an unmeasured agent cannot be discounted.

Sensitivity and exposure to indoor allergens in adults with differing asthma severity.

In asthma, it is uncertain whether there is an association between degrees of exposure to domestic allergens and asthma severity. The pattern of sensitivity and exposure to common indoor allergens was examined in subjects with differing asthma severity. Sensitivity to house dust mite, dog and cat allergen and exposure to Der p 1, Can f 1 and Fel d 1 were assessed by skin prick tests and settled dust analysis in 28 subjects with severe asthma and 28 age- and sex-matched subjects with mild asthma (two declined skin prick test). All severe asthmatic subjects had at least one positive skin test and 20 of the 28 subjects were positive to all three allergens. Fourteen of the 26 subjects with mild asthma who took skin prick tests were positive to at least one, and one of these subjects was positive to the three allergens tested. Except for bedroom Fel d 1, the proportion of severe asthmatics both sensitized and exposed to each allergen at each site was significantly greater than the proportion sensitized and exposed in the mild asthma group. The geometric mean allergen concentrations, with the exception of bedroom Fel d 1, were greater in sensitized severe asthmatics than the sensitized mild asthmatics, which was significant for Der p 1 in bedroom samples and Can f 1 in bedroom and living room samples. These results support an association between the degrees of domestic allergen exposure in sensitized individuals and asthma severity.