An estimated 80% of people with West Nile Virus are asymptomatic (Sejavar, 2014). This is explained by the disease’s nature of attack on the host’s immune system and how much the host can handle as a result. Another reason is due to the different strains of West Nile Virus and how virulent they are (Jeha & Sila, 2009). A large percentage of the patients that develop symptoms due to WNV suddenly develop a congenital, fiery fever in other words known as West Nile Fever (WNF) (Jeha & Sila, 2009). Another significant complication caused by WNV as seen in about 1% of the population that gets infected is illness affecting nerve organs which is caused by the invasive nature of the disease which ruptures areas of the Central Nervous System causing infection in these structures (Sejvar, 2014). Neurologic invasion is usually seen several days after the onset of the systemic illness. The most common symptoms include; headache, altered level of consciousness, and focal weakness seen in different variations (Sejvar, 2014). Some of the neuroinvasive diseases caused by WNV are; encephalitis, meninigitis and acute flaccid paralysis (Sejvar, 2014). The inflammation of the connective tissue layers of the brain otherwise known as West Nile Meningitis is the largest contributor of neuroinvasive disease in the younger age groups of those infected with WNV. West Nile Encephalitis is more common in the older and immunosuppressed population. West Nile Encephalitis is a viral infection of the brain parenchyma itself. West Nile Poliomyelitis also develops as a result of WNV and it is characterized by the presence of fever, meningitis and flaccid paralysis and it affects part of the spinal cord causing major complications (Sejvar, 2014). It is impo... ... middle of paper ... ...doi: 10.3390/v5112856 7. Chong, M., Chua, A., Tan, T., Tan, S., & Ng, M. (2014). Microscopy techniques in flavivirus research. Micron, 59, 33-43. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.undmedlibrary.org/science/article/pii/S0968432813002011 8. Watson, J., Pertel, P., Jones, R., Siston, A., Paul, W., Austin, C., & Gerber, S. (2004). Clinical characteristics and functional outcomes of west nile fever. Annals of Internal Medicine, (141), 360-365. Retrieved from www.annals.org 9. Mohammad, S., & Mahmoud, F. (2009). Successful treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin of acute flaccid paralysis caused by west nile virus. The Permanent Journal, 13(3), 43-46. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911811/ 10. Mahon, C., & Manuselin, G. (2011). Textbook of diagnostic microbiology. (4th ed., p. 418). St. Louis: Elsevier.
After 5 days of growth each slant was tested using the gram staining technique to confirm the complete isolation of the bacteria. Both isolations were completely successful. Then each sample of bacteria was subjected to a series of tests for identification.
The purpose of this study is to identify an unknown bacterium from a mixed culture, by conducting different biochemical tests. Bacteria are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can be found anywhere and identifying them becomes crucial to understanding their characteristics and their effects on other living things, especially humans. Biochemical testing helps us identify the microorganism present with great accuracy. The tests used in this experiment are rudimentary but are fundamental starting points for tests used in medical labs and helps students attain a better understanding of how tests are conducted in a real lab setting. The first step in this process is to use gram-staining technique to narrow down the unknown bacteria into one of the two big domains; gram-negative and gram-positive. Once the gram type is identified, biochemical tests are conducted to narrow down the specific bacterial species. These biochemical tests are process of elimination that relies on the bacteria’s ability to breakdown certain kinds of food sources, their respiratory abilities and other biochemical conditions found in nature.
The results of the gram stain test were cocci and purple. This indicated that the unknown bacteria were gram positive. The gram stain test eliminated Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella enterica, and Yersinia enterocolitica as choices because these bacteria are gram negative. Next a Blood Agar plate was used because in order to do a MSA or a Catalase test there needs to be a colony of the bacteria. The result of the Blood Agar plate was nonhemolytic.
The purpose of this laboratory is to learn about cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics that are used in identifying bacterial isolates. Besides identifying the unknown culture, students also gain an understanding of the process of identification and the techniques and theory behind the process. Experiments such as gram stain, negative stain, endospore and other important tests in identifying unknown bacteria are performed. Various chemical tests were done and the results were carefully determined to identify the unknown bacteria. First session of lab started of by the selection of an unknown bacterium then inoculations of 2 tryptic soy gar (TSA) slants, 1 nutrient broth (TSB), 1 nutrient gelatin deep, 1 motility
Chester M. Southam, MD, was an American virologist who worked on curing cancer. “Studies had shown that a pathogen called the Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus could eradicate tumors in mice. Because that virus was considered too dangerous for people, Southam searched for something milder, settling on the newly discovered West Nile virus.” He had already spent some time in Africa injecting an assortment of viruses including mumps, dengue, West Nile, and Semliki Forest virus in severely ill cancer patients. The West Nile Virus usually
The purpose of this project was to identify unknown bacteria species from a mixed culture. The two unknown species were initially plated onto Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB), Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), and blood agar plates to distinguish between the two different bacteria using colony size, color, shape, and growth characteristics. By identifying and inoculating the differing types of colonies, the two unknown bacteria were purified and able to be tested
Poliomyelitis was the term used by doctors to describe the condition in which the gray (polios) anterior matter of the spinal chord (myelos) was inflamed (-itis). Until a cure was discovered, no one had the slightest idea where "polio" had come from or why it paralyzed so many children. People learned later that, oddly enough, it was the improved sanitary conditions which caused children to be attacked by the virus. Since people were no longer in contact with open sewers and other unsanitary conditions which had exposed them to small amounts of the polio virus as infants, when paralysis is rare, the dis...
An animal infected with CWD will have neural loss, astrogliosis, which is an abnormal increase in the number of astrocytes in the brain, and spongiform lesions (Abrams et al., 2011). The infected particles are spread all throughout the body including the brain, spinal cord, eyes, peripheral nerves, and lymphoreticular tissues (Belay et al., 2004). Most of the infection, however, is located in the Central Nervous System.
Just like the Native American’s in the new world, disease killed more people than did bullets. 4“Europeans and the Afro-Arab slave traders brought to the interior of the Congo many disease previously not known there.” The diseases that they brought to the Congo were diseases like, small pox, malaria was already known, sleeping sickness and different kinds of infections that killed millions of slaves or locals. 4“The most notorious killers were smallpox and sleeping sickness….” Most deaths were result of those two diseases, when they arrived, “the local people had no time to build up immunities.” The invaders would spread the disease throughout the interior of the village and by the time they left, the village was filled with dead bodies. The Africans called small pox, either 6“the sickness from above” or 6“the sickness from heaven”, because they didn’t know where it came from. The sleeping sickness killed hundreds of thousands of people and it spread like wildfire. “Sleeping sickness also spread lethally up the rivers. Half a million Congolese were estimated to have died of it in 1901 alone. The disease is caused by a parasite spread by the bite of the pink-striped tsetse fly, about the size of a horsefly… Once contracted by humans, sleeping sickness becomes highly
If they are infected, an incubation period of 3-6 days follows in which no symptoms are present (“Yellow Fever” Gale Encyclopedia). This period of time can sometimes be most dangerous since the infected individual may continue to work and interact normally with others. Therefore, if they continue to work outdoors, mosquitos may transmit their blood—and the Yellow Fever disease—to others. This shows how in campsites or close working quarters, groups of working men can quickly circulate the disease. In a matter of days, Yellow Fever can spread through a population. This period of incubation is followed by an abrupt onset of symptoms including, fever (for which the disease is named), chills, intense headaches, white coating of the red and swollen tongue, and Faget’s sign (slowed heart-rate coupled with high fever) (“Yellow Fever” Center for Disease Control). After the invasion period, the patient may appear to recover as symptoms dissipate and fever decreases for hours or even days. For some the disease is over, but for others a more severe stage will soon
Thesis Statement: The deadly virus Ebola is killing thousands of innocent people world wide, but there are some simple steps that are being taken to prevent this coming tide of death.
The patient has experienced fever, chills on body, headaches and anorexia as well as sweating especially during the night. The patient has also been feeling fatigued, muscle aches and nausea as well as vomiting especially after eating (WHO, 2010, p. 117). These symptoms started forty eight hours ago, and the patient has not taken any medication except for some aspirin.
The reason mosquitos and ticks retract the virus is because they feed on monkeys carrying the virus. Since it is carried by insects that feed on human blood, the disease is then transmitted to humans. Because these insects accumulate the virus and are usually around the common people, they spread the Yellow Fever disease to the people residing in the areas as well as travelers who end up taking the viral infection with them back to their home country where the disease does not normally reside and where a possible epidemic may occur besides the one already happening in the area it comes from (Monath 162). Certain beginning symptoms involve fever, muscle pain, back pain, headaches, bleeding, vomiting, etc. (WHO 1) In the “toxic phase” however, people develop the yellowing of skin and eyes known as “jaundice”, dark urine, and more vomiting. (WHO 1). After that stage, about half of patients die in the duration of 7-10 days as their livers and kidneys stop
6 Adler, R. P. (2011). Rheumatic fever. In D. Dawson (Ed.), Magill's Medical Guide (6 ed., Vol. 5, pp. 2594-2596). Pasedena, CA: Salem Press.
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. In order to control the fever or pain, it is best to not use aspirin because of the increased risk of bleeding associated with aspirin. Patients must rest and drink fluids, and in case of those with more severe cases of the disease, intravenous fluid would be administered. Also, they will be placed under close monitoring to ensure that the patients don’t lose too much fluid from their bloodstream 2,18.