Evaluation of haematological parameters in haemolytic anaemia caused by tick-borne pathogens in grazing cattle.

BACKGROUND: No tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) causing haemolytic anaemia in cattle have been reported, except Theileria orientalis and complete blood count (CBC) profile is the only haematological parameter to determine the severity of regenerative haemolytic anaemia. OBJECTIVES: To identify the causative agents of TBP-induced haemolytic anaemia and determine haematological parameters that indicate haemolytic anaemia in grazing cattle. METHODS: Eighty-two Korean indigenous cattle (Hanwoo) were divided into two groups: grazing (n = 67) and indoor (n = 15) groups. CBC and serum biochemistry were performed. PCR was conducted using whole blood-extracted DNA to investigate the prevalence of TBPs. RESULTS: TBP-induced haemolytic anaemia was observed in the grazing group. In grazing cattle, co-infection (43.3%, 29/67) was most frequently detected, followed by T. orientalis (37.6%, 25/67) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections (1.5%, 1/67). In indoor cattle, only co-infection (20%, 3/15) was identified. Grazing cattle exhibited regenerative haemolytic anaemia with marked monocytosis, mild neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. According to grazing frequency, the 1st-time grazing group had more severe anaemia than the 2nd-time grazing group. Elevations in indirect bilirubin and L-lactate due to haemolytic anaemia were identified, and correlations with the respective markers were determined in co-infected grazing cattle. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative evaluation of haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and reticulocytes (markers of regenerative haemolytic anaemia in cattle) was performed for the first time. Our results show that, in addition to T. orientalis, A. phagocytophilum is strongly associated with anaemia. The correlation between haemolytic anaemia severity and haematological parameters (indirect bilirubin, reticulocytes, and L-lactate) was confirmed.

Treatment and Rehabilitation of a Patient with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder-Induced Complete Spinal Cord Injury Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system characterized by optic neuritis, myelitis, or brain lesions. Its symptoms overlap with those of multiple sclerosis (MS), making a diagnosis of NMOSD challenging. Here, we report a rare case of NMOSD-induced complete spinal cord injury following COVID-19 vaccination. A 52-year-old female patient developed NMOSD-induced complete spinal cord injury after receiving their third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2). Despite the initial diagnosis of complete spinal cord injury, the patient underwent intensive treatment, including rituximab therapy and rehabilitation. As a result, she made a full recovery and transitioned from the ASIA Impairment Scale(AIS)-A to AIS-E. The remarkable neurological recovery from complete spinal cord injury to functional independence highlights the efficacy of a comprehensive treatment approach. In addition, this case emphasizes the need to recognize NMOSD as a potential adverse outcome of COVID-19 vaccination and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, timely intervention, and thorough rehabilitation for optimizing patient results. Further case reports and studies are needed to investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and the occurrence of NMOSD.

Pulmonary calciphylaxis associated with acute respiratory and renal failure due to cryptogenic hypercalcemia: an autopsy case report.

Metastatic calcification is rare; it is found during autopsy in patients who underwent hemodialysis. Diffuse calcium precipitation of small and medium-sized cutaneous vessels, known as calciphylaxis, can result in progressive tissue necrosis secondary to vascular calcification. This condition most commonly involves the skin; however, a rare occurrence of visceral calciphylaxis has been reported. Here we report on an autopsy case. Despite a thorough evaluation, and even performing an autopsy, the underlying cause of acute-onset hypercalcemia, resulting in the production of pulmonary calciphylaxis and metastatic renal calcification associated with acute respiratory and renal failure, could not be determined. Metastatic calcification often lacks specific symptoms, and the degree of calcification is a marker of the severity and chronicity of the disease. This unusual autopsy case emphasizes the importance of rapidly progressing visceral calciphylaxis, as well as its early detection.