Tuberculosis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome--Florida.

Florida reported 1858 cases of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 8455 cases of tuberculosis from January 1, 1981, through October 31, 1986. Of the patients with AIDS, 159 (8.6%) also had tuberculosis, and 154 (1.8%) of the patients with tuberculosis also had AIDS. Among patients with both diagnoses, tuberculosis was diagnosed before AIDS by more than 1 month in 50%, was diagnosed within 1 month before or 1 month after the diagnosis of AIDS in 30%, and was diagnosed more than 1 month after the AIDS diagnosis in 20%. Compared with patients with AIDS only, patients with both diagnoses were also more likely to be Haitian, black (other than Haitian), or Hispanic. Compared with patients with tuberculosis only, patients with both diagnoses were more likely to be younger, male, Haitian, black (other than Haitian), and Hispanic, have extrapulmonary tuberculosis and negative tuberculin skin tests, and have noncavitary chest roentgenograms. These data suggest that patients with AIDS may have an increased risk of tuberculosis and that patients with both diagnoses differ in important demographic and clinical characteristics from patients with AIDS only or tuberculosis only.

Chiropteran rabies in Florida: a twenty-year analysis, 1954 to 1973.

Chiropteran rabies in Florida is analyzed for the 20-year period 1954 to 1973. The examination of 6,447 bats between 1954 and 1961 yielded 55 (0.85%) positive animals. From 1962 to 1973 however, 2,293 bats examined yielded 236 (10.3%) positive. The yellow bat, Lasiurus intermedius floridanus, accounted for 183 (63.1%) of all cases of chiropteran rabies. Sporadic cases occurred throughout the state with more being reported from the central portion of the state. Cases have been reported every month of the year, peaking in July and August. There were no significant differences in the distribution of rabies in colonial or noncolonial bats by sex or age. There were also no significant differences in the number of reported human and dog contacts made by rabid and non-rabid bats. Clinically ill bats found negative for rabies had a significantly higher contact rate with cats than did rabid bats.

Endemic eastern equine encephalomyelitis in Florida: a twenty-year analysis, 1955-1974.

Research and surveillance programs relating to the circulation of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus in Florida between 1955 and 1974 are summarized. All available data suggest that EEE virus is 1) endemic in many Florida fresh water swamps and waterways, 2) active in a continuous cycle throughout the year with a peak between May and August, and 3) circulating in Culiseta melanura. It has been isolated also from eight other mosquito species.

Hematologic values for free-ranging urban gray squirrels (Sciurus c carolinensis).

Gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis) (N=180) from Jacksonville, Fl, were examined for hematologic values: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, packed cell volume, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, differential leukocyte counts, blood platelet counts, Hb electrophoresis, and erythrocyte fragility. Results were compared by age and by sex of the squirrels and by month of capture.

Electrophoretic separation of serum proteins from gray squirrels.

Serum proteins of gray squirrels were electrophoretically separated into 7 fractions as compared with the 5 fractions obtained from human serum. The mobility of the albumin fraction was approximately the same for both human and squirrel serums. The prealbumin fraction did not vary significantly in the percentage for squirrels bled at different times of the year. Immunoelectrophoresis patterns showed squirrel serum had a small number of fractions with the same antigenic characteristics as human serum.

Tularemia in Florida: Sylvilagus palustris as a source of human infection.

The marsh rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris, was epidemiologically incriminated as the source of two human cases of tularemia. This represents the first published report of involvement for this species in the human disease.

Heavy metal concentrations in kidneys of estuarine raccoons from Florida.

Concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium in the kidneys of 14 adult raccoons from an estuarine environment were determined. The mean concentrations in ppm wet weight and standard deviation for the metals were lead--0.47 +/- 0.22, zinc--75.88 +/- 16.54 and cadmium--2.48 +/- 1.66.

Seasonal variations in total serum protein concentration in an estuarine raccoon population.

Total serum protein (TSP) levels were recorded for the adult cohort in a population of southern Florida raccoons (Procyon lotor marinus) for a period of 1 year. TSP levels were found to fluctuate seasonally, with autumn levels being the highest and spring and summer levels the lowest. Values for males tended to be higher than those for females. There may be a correlation between mean TSP levels and mean body weight. In 10 male raccoons recaptured during the study period, the same pattern of fluctuation in TSP levels was observed.

Public health and the urban gray squirrel: mycology.

From 180 gray squirrels (Sciurus c. carolinesis), 942 isolates of fungi representing 19 genera were recovered upon culture of hair-skin scrapings and toenails. Of the isolates, 170 represented known human pathogens and 142, squirrel pathogens. A human infection of Trichophyton mentagrophytes was derived from handling the squirrels. Skin lesions of seven squirrels were attributable to T. mentagrophytes and Mucor sp.

Human enteroviruses and wildlife: isolation from gray squirrels.

Five isolates of human echovirus 1/8 complex were recovered from the feces of free-ranging gray squirrels. The source of infection and the significance of the isolates remain unknown.

Serologic examination of wild birds for hemorrhagic enteritis of Turkey and marble spleen disease of pheasants.

Precipitin antibody which reacted with the hemorrhagic enteritis (HE) of turkeys/marble spleen disease (MSD) of pheasants group of avian adenoviruses, was not detected in serum samples of 618 wild birds (42 species) from Florida, Texas and Virginia. HE/MSD precipitin antibody was detected in serum samples of pen-reared ring-necked pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus ) which had experienced MSD, but not in serum samples of similar MSD unaffected birds.

Blood and urinary values in the gray squirrel.

Uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, total serum protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and chloride concentrations in the blood plus pH, bilirubin, ketone, blood, protein and glucose levels in the urine were determined for gray squirrels captured in Jacksonville, Florida. Significant differences were not noted for any of these values when compared by the age or sex of the animals, by breeding or lactation status, by month of capture, or by habitat type. Depressed blood glucose and elevated blood urea nitrogen levels were observed in squirrels with shock syndrome.

Heavy metal concentrations in kidneys of urban gray squirrels.

Concentrations of lead and zinc in the kidneys of 180 urban gray squirrels were determined by spectrophotometry and found similar for all age groups; however, concentrations of cadmium increased up to two years of age. Values for 12 rural squirrels were significantly lower than those of the urban animals. There were no differences in mean concentrations of the metals when urban squirrels were grouped by the land usage pattern of the sites in which they were captured. Grouping squirrels by human socioeconomic strata for the city revealed that squirrels in low socioeconomic areas have significantly higher levels of lead than animals residing in middle or high socioeconomic areas.

Surveillance and epidemiologic mapping of monoclonal antibody-defined rabies variants in Florida.

Brain tissues from 128 rabid animals from Florida in 1987 and 1988 were analyzed with monoclonal antibodies and cases were mapped by species and antigenic variant. The single variant found in terrestrial animals was distinguished easily from the variety of antigenic variants identified for infected bats, and there was no evidence of transmission of rabies between bats and terrestrial animals. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) appeared to be the sole maintenance source for terrestrial animal rabies in Florida.

Arbovirus surveillance in Florida: wild vertebrate studies 1965-1974.

Wildlife species from 38 of Florida's 67 counties were surveyed over a 10 year period for the presence of antibody to the five major arboviruses circulating in the state. The routine screening of 7891 sera from wild birds and mammals via the hemagglutination-inhibition (H1) test with selected reactors subjected to serum neutralization testing has 1) provided information regarding geographic distribution and seasonality of circulation of these viruses 2) identified enzootic foci of infection and those species of wildlife most commonly infected and 3) documented the potential value of certain wild mammals as indicators of St. Louis Encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus activity prior to the detection of human cases. Limited studies of Tamiami and Tensaw virus on sera from mammals collected for other purposed provided additional baseline information on the activity of these viruses in Florida mammals. Isolations of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus were made from the heart of a loggerhead shrike (Lanius excubitor), Tensaw virus from the brain of a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and Keystone virus from the heart of a bluejay (Cyanocitta cristata).

The raccoon an emerging rabies host.

The geographic distribution of enzootic rabies in raccoons is currently limited to Florida and Georgia. The enzootic area has steadily expanded northward into Georgia during the 1960's. An epizootic in a population of raccoons closely associated with the human residents of a small, off-shore island was investigated. Forty-seven raccoons from the island were confirmed rabies positive by the State Laboratory from January 22 to May 20, 1969. About 10 percent of the raccoons trapped during the peak of the epizootic were positive and all of these had high titers of virus in their salivary glands but were asymptomatic in behavior. Human exposure typically resulted from close approach to a "sick" raccoon. Similar outbreaks may occur elsewhere when humans live in close contact with a semi-domesticated raccoon population. Rabies vaccination of raccoons should be considered as an alternative to population reduction in such situations.

Occurrence and distribution of western equine encephalomyelitis in Florida.

Research and surveillance programs relating to the occurrence and distribution of western equine encephalomyelitis virus in Florida, conducted between 1955 and 1976, suggest that the virus is (1) an endemic arbordae, (2) transmitted in a continuous cycle throughout the year by Culiseta melanura mosquitoes, and (3) restricted to fresh water swamps and waterways in central, north, and northwest Florida.

A microbiologic study of the urban gray squirrel.

Bacteriologic, virologic, and serologic examinations were conducted on 180 urban gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) during a 1-year period in a metropolitan area. Evidence was not found of infections with leptospires, enteric or other bacteria, rickettsial agents, Francisella tularensis, or arthropod-borne viruses. The squirrels were remarkably free of evidence of bacterial or viral infections of importance to man and lower animals.

Wildlife and environmental health: raccoons as indicators of zoonoses and pollutants in southeastern United States.

Inasmuch as terrestrial fauna are an integral part of our natural environment and are directly exposed to disease and pollutants, it follows that certain wild populations could serve to detect subtle alterations within ecosystems. A collection of studies on raccoons is presented to stimulate other researchers to develop the potential of our wildlife resources as monitors of environmental health. Raccoons have been used as serologic sentinels for St Louis encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis. Studies suggest that the raccoon may be used as an indicator of leptospirosis, tularemia, and some enteric bacteria and viruses. Base line surveys have defined (1) residue levels of organochlorine and organophosphate compounds and (2) body burdens of mercury, cesium-137, and strontium-90. Physiologic responses, parasite burdens, and reproductive processes are also considered as measures that may reflect pertinent information about environmental health.

Serologic survey for Toxoplasma gondii in wild animals in Florida.

Blood samples were collected for serum separation from 114 species of wild animals (25 species of mammals, 82 species of birds, and 7 species of reptiles) in Florida. Each of the 3,471 samples was tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, using the indirect hemagglutination test. The highest prevalences of T gondii antibodies were 19% in armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), 18% in raccoons (Procyon lotor), 13% in black rats (Rattus rattus), and 11% in opossums (Didelphis marsupialis). Antibody prevalences were significantly higher in male than in female raccoons (P less than 0.05) and in adult than in nonadult raccoons and opossums (P less than 0.005). A high proportion of seropositive animals was found in three other mammalian species: 4 of 4 black bears (Ursus americanus), 2 of 3 bobcats (Lynx rufus), and 2 of 8 Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) tested. Antibodies were found in 8 of the 1,279 avian serums; they were not found in any of the 13 reptilian serums tested. There were no significant geographic variations in antibody prevalence in any species.