I Am - a reformed microbiology major tells you nasty stuff

[MrGoutHimself]

Wow it's been a long time since I posted in here... oh well, it's Thanksgiving week so today (and tomorrow if work cooperates) I'll be bringing you diseases that are common in turkeys and other poultry to get you ready. First post upcoming... blackhead disease, as it's commonly called.

[MrGoutHimself]

Yay, turkey, everyone loves it (unless it's dry and crumbly and tastes like shit). Here we go:

First the facts:
Histomoniasis (or histomonosis) is a disease of birds, particularly of chickens and turkeys, due to parasitic infection of a protozoan, Histomonas meleagridis. It is a form of blackhead disease in poultry. The parasite specifically infects the cecum and liver. Symptoms of the infection include depression, reduced appetite, poor growth, increased thirst, sulphur-yellow diarrhoea, listlessness and dry, ruffled feathers. The head may become cyanotic (bluish in colour) and hence the common name of the disease, blackhead; thus the name 'blackhead' is in all possibility a misnomer for discoloration. It is particularly highly fatal in poultry birds, and less in other birds. Currently there is no prescription drug to treat this disease.

A protozoan H. meleagridis is responsible for histomoniasis of gallinaceous birds ranging from chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, grouse, guineafowl, partridges, pheasants, and quails. The protozoan parasite is transmitted through the eggs of a nematode, Heterakis gallinarum. The eggs are highly resistant to environmental conditions, and H. meleagridis is in turn highly viable inside the eggs, even for years. Birds are infected once they ingest the eggs of the nematode in soil, or sometimes through earthworm which had ingested the egg-contaminated soil. Outbreak can occur rapidly from the heavily infected bird in a flock readily through normal contact between uninfected and infected birds and their droppings in the total absence of cecal worms. For this reason, infection can spread very quickly. Once inside the digestive system of the host, the protozoan is moved to the cecum along with the eggs of H. gallinarum.

Now some pictures:









Oh yeah, people can get it too!



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See you tomorrow, same turkey time, same turkey thread!

[MrGoutHimself]

Today's affliction doesn't only impact turkeys or birds, but also humans. It's an infection caused by a fungus that takes root inside the body (lungs, sinus cavities, et cetera).

First the facts:
Aspergillosis is the name given to a wide variety of diseases caused by infection by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. The most common forms are allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, pulmonary aspergilloma, and invasive aspergillosis. Most humans inhale Aspergillus spores every day.

Aspergillosis develops mainly in individuals who are immunocompromised, either from disease or from immunosuppressive drugs, and is a leading cause of death in acute leukemia and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The most common cause is Aspergillus fumigatus.

A fungus ball in the lungs may cause no symptoms and may be discovered only with a chest X-ray, or it may cause repeated coughing up of blood and occasionally severe, even fatal, bleeding. A rapidly invasive Aspergillus infection in the lungs often causes cough, fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

Aspergillosis affecting the deeper tissues makes a person very ill. Symptoms include fever, chills, shock, delirium, and blood clots. The person may develop kidney failure, liver failure (causing jaundice), and breathing difficulties. Death can occur quickly.

Aspergillosis of the ear canal causes itching and occasionally pain. Fluid draining overnight from the ear may leave a stain on the pillow. Aspergillosis of the sinuses causes a feeling of congestion and sometimes pain or discharge. It can extend beyond the sinuses.

In addition to the symptoms, an X-ray or computerised tomography (CT) scan of the infected area provides clues for making the diagnosis. Whenever possible, a doctor sends a sample of infected material to a laboratory to confirm identification of the fungus.

Now some pictures, human and turkey:











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Bonus content!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmHkC2JM53c

And pictures of him without his face and with his prosthetic face that they made for him.

That's some sick shit. I will be thinking about it as dinner is served tomorrow. In fact, if the opportunity for me to actually speak presents itself, I will share these findings.

Thanks MGH!