Development of chronic airway hyperresponsiveness in ragweed-sensitized dogs.

We studied dogs neonatally sensitized to ragweed and their littermate controls at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 mo of age. Acute allergic airway response to inhalation of ragweed in the sensitized dogs was marked (greater than 12-fold increase from base line) and reproducible at all times. Nonallergic airway responsiveness, measured as the concentration of acetylcholine required to increase airway resistance by 5 cmH2O.l-1.s (PC5), increased in sensitized and decreased in nonsensitized dogs from 4 to 15 mo of age (P less than 0.01). Before antigen, at 12 and 15 mo, sensitized dogs were significantly (P less than 0.05) more responsive to acetylcholine than controls. Six hours after antigen, sensitized dogs were 11-fold more responsive (P less than 0.005) than controls at those times. More eosinophils and mast cells and fewer macrophages (P less than 0.05) were present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from 12- and 15-mo-old sensitized dogs than their controls. BAL fluid histamine was higher (P less than 0.05) in sensitized than control dogs. Regression analysis revealed r = -0.75 (P = 0.003) between BAL mast cells and PC5 in sensitized dogs and R2 = 0.89 for PC5 and BAL mast cells, macrophages, and eosinophils. Neonatally sensitized dogs represent an excellent animal model in which to study the pathophysiology of asthma.

North American blastomycosis in Central Canada. A review of 36 cases.

Experience with 36 cases of North American blastomycosis in Central Canada is reported. Symptoms referable to the respiratory tract predominated, but no uniform clinical pattern for the disease process was evident. Cutaneous and genitourinary tract involvement was present in only a small proportion of patients. The majority of the patients resided in rural areas or were associated with some form of outdoor occupation or activity. No characteristic radiologic appearance could be identified in this series. Amphotericin B administered intravenously is the treatment of choice for this condition. North American blastomycosis is more widespread on this continent than has been previously demonstrated.