ABSTRACT
The pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is considered an emerging pine pest in Mediterranean countries, with high medical relevance. In recent years, adverse reactions reports in humans following contact with T. pityocampa have been increasingly reported. Dogs living in pinewood areas are also frequently exposed to the caterpillar. This work consisted on a retrospective study of 41 cases of lepidopterism. All dogs presented drooling, dysphagia, submandibular lymphadenomegaly and clinical signs of pain. The animals were distributed in three groups, according to the time span from exposure to the caterpillar until presentation: up to 2 h (group 1), 2-5 h (group 2) and more than 5 h (group 3). All animals from groups 2 (n = 5) and 3 (n = 9), and eight dogs from group 1 (n = 27) developed lingual necrosis. Lepidopterism coursed through a predictable clinical pattern. The evolution was mainly dependent on the time span between exposure to the caterpillar and medical intervention, which should take place earlier than 2 h from exposure.
Subject(s)
Allergens/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/veterinary , Dog Diseases/immunology , Moths/immunology , Urticaria/veterinary , Animals , Deglutition Disorders , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/diagnosis , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/immunology , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/therapy , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Dog Diseases/therapy , Dogs , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Humans , Larva/immunology , Necrosis/veterinary , Pain , Pinus , Retrospective Studies , Sialorrhea , Time Factors , Tongue/pathology , Urticaria/diagnosis , Urticaria/immunology , Urticaria/therapy , ZoonosesABSTRACT
The polydispersity in the degree of functionalization for two calix[4]resorcinarenes was determined by measuring quantitatively their molecular mass distribution with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A mathematical method for polydisperse materials is described that creates a calibration curve to correct the ion signal intensities in the mass spectrum to give a more reliable molecular mass distribution. Correction is required due to various sample preparation and instrumental effects that may produce a systematic mass bias in the number of oligomers measured. This method employs gravimetric mixtures of analytes with different degrees of functionalization. One calix[4]resorcinarene was found to give accurate molecular mass distributions with little correction, while another, having a very similar molecular structure, was found to exhibit strong over-counting of the oligomers having a high degree of functionalization.