Cytochemical staining characteristics of chicken heterophils and eosinophils

Cytochemistry was used to differentiate chicken heterophils and eosinophils in blood smears and cytospin preparations of isolated leukocytes. Cytochemical staining also was performed to evaluate any alteration of cell staining characteristics after heterophils had been isolated using discontinuous Ficoll-Hypaque gradients. Cytochemical staining reactions of heterophils and eosinophils were the same before and after discontinuous gradient cell separation. Characteristic positive reactions did not occur when chicken heterophils were stained with alkaline phosphatase, peroxidase, Sudan black B, acid phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, periodic acid-Schiff, or Luna's eosinophil granule techniques. Chicken eosinophils stained positively when peroxidase, Sudan black B, acid phosphatase, and Luna methods were performed. In highly cellular cytospin preparations, peroxidase reactions readily distinguished the few contaminating eosinophils (< 1%) from the heterophils.     

Eosinophilic cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis associated with neural Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a dog

A 1‐year‐old, female intact Pug dog was presented to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital of the University of Liverpool with a 4‐week history of progressive multifocal intracranial signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected multiple hemorrhagic lesions in the brain. The Baermann and zinc sulfate flotation tests with centrifugation, performed on fecal samples, were positive for lungworm larvae and an antigenic test confirmed Angiostrongylus vasorum infection. Anthelmintic treatment was started with a consequent marked clinical improvement. Seventy days later, the dog was clinically normal, and no larvae were detected on the Baermann test. Repeat MRI of the brain revealed marked improvement of the hemorrhagic lesions. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis (CSF) showed marked eosinophilic pleocytosis, and anthelmintic treatment was restarted. A follow‐up CSF analysis 4 months after the first presentation revealed resolution of the eosinophilic pleocytosis. This is the first case report of marked eosinophilic pleocytosis associated with neural A vasorum infection in a dog. The CSF eosinophilic pleocytosis persisted for several weeks after treatment, even in the absence of concurrent clinical signs and with a negative A vasorum Baermann test.     

Eosinophils: A review

The eosinophil was discovered by Jones in 1846 (Dessein and David, 1982) but its proclivity to stain with aniline dyes was first described by Paul Ehrlich in 1879 (Hirsch and Hirsch, 1980). Recognized and named for this quality, eosinophils possess an abundance of highly basic proteins within their granules which confer their affinity for acidic dyes (Gleich and Loegering, 1984).Eosinophils are traditionally viewed as killer-effector cells in parasitic infestations and as modulators of Type I hypersensitivity reactions (Butterworth and David, 1981; Kay, 1985). The eosinophils' reserve of cationic proteins and enzymes which imparts their profound parasiticidal effects (Butterworth and David, 1981) contrasts with this leukocyte's purported regulatory function in inflammation (Kay, 1985; Fechteret al., 1986). The opposing functions possessed by this leukocyte exemplify the enigma of the eosinophil. Recent evidence suggests that although the eosinophil does possess some regulatory capabilities, its presence is, in fact, a harbinger of tissue destruction (Gleich and Adolphoson, 1986, Wardlaw and Kay, 1987; Spry, 1988). Nor does the presence of the eosinophil automatically infer IgE mediated hypersensitivity, as evidenced by studies examining the interaction of the eosinophil with the cellular arm of the immune system (Basten and Beeson, 1970; Ruscettiet al., 1976; Beeson and Bass, 1977; Raghavacharet al., 1987; Ohnishiet al., 1988).The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the structure and biology of the mammalian eosinophil and to emphasize the fact that eosinophils fulfil a paradoxical role as effectors of tissue damage and as benign modulators of inflammation.     

雌二醇对大鼠子宫内嗜酸性粒细胞数量分布的影响

采用放射免疫法检测了15只处于发情周期不同时期（发情前期、发情期、间情期）的Wistar雌性大鼠和25只不同处理组（假手术组、卵巢摘除组、卵巢摘除＋20μg／kg雌二醇组、卵巢摘除＋100μg／kg雌二醇组、卵巢摘除＋500μg／kg雌二醇组）的大鼠血清中雌二醇浓度，并采用瑞氏一姬姆萨染色方法计数子宫内嗜酸性粒细胞（EOS）的数量。结果显示，大鼠血清雌二醇浓度在发情期最高，间情期最低。子宫内EOS数量在发情期最高，间情期最低。卵巢摘除后，血清中雌二醇浓度降低；补充雌二醇后，血清雌二醇浓度明显升高（P〈0．05）。卵巢摘除后子宫内EOS数量也明显降低；补充雌二醇后，EOS数量显著增加（P〈0.05）。提示，随着血清雌二醇浓度的升高，子宫内EOS数量呈递增趋势，也就是说，外源性雌二醇对子宫内EOS数量有直接的影响。     

Peridinin from the Marine Symbiotic Dinoflagellate,Symbiodinium sp., Regulates Eosinophilia in Mice

Peridinin and fucoxanthin, which are natural carotenoids isolated from a symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp., and a brown alga, Petalonia fascia, respectively, were compared for inhibitory effects on delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice. The number of eosinophils at the site of inflammation and in peripheral blood was compared for the administration of peridinin and fucoxanthin applied by painting and intraperitoneally. Peridinin, but not the structurally-related fucoxanthin, significantly suppressed the number of eosinophils in both the ear lobe and peripheral blood. Furthermore, peridinin applied topically, but not administered intraperitoneally, suppressed the level of eotaxin in the ears of sensitized mice. Fucoxanthin weakly suppressed the concentration of eotaxin in ears only by intraperitoneal administration. Although both carotenoids inhibited the migration of eosinophils toward eotaxin, the inhibitory effect of peridinin was higher than that of fucoxanthin. Peridinin may be a potential agent for suppressing allergic inflammatory responses, such as atopic dermatitis, in which eosinophils play a major role in the increase of inflammation.     

Haematology and blood biochemistry during the course of psoroptic scabies in sheep

Haematology and blood biochemistry were monitored during the development and regression of psoroptic scabies in sheep. There were rises in numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils and in the fibrinogen concentrations, with lowered haemoglobin concentrations any lymphocyte numbers. The only biochemical parameters that were affected were the estimated serum globulin concentration, which rose during the disease process, and the serum albumin concentration, which fell. All of these changes reverted to normal soon after treatment.Abbreviations CK creatine kinase - Diff WBC differential white blood cell - E eosinophils - GOT asparate aminotransferase - GT glutamyl transferase - Hb haemoglobin - Ly lymphocytes - M monocytes - N neutrophils - WBC white blood cell count     

Histopathological study of feline eosinophilic dermatoses

A retrospective study was conducted on skin specimens from 24 cats with eosinophilic granuloma complex. The specimens were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Gallego's trichrome stain. In all specimens, flame figures and/or large foci of so-called "collagen degeneration" were detected and histopathological features were not predictive of the clinical picture. Use of the term eosinophilic dermatosis was advocated in diagnostic dermatopathology. On trichrome-stained sections, normally stained collagen fibres were identified in the middle of both flame figures and large foci of "collagen degeneration" and the debris surrounding collagen bundles showed the same tinctorial properties as eosinophil granules. Eosinophil degranulation around collagen bundles seemed to represent the major pathogenetic event in these lesions, analogous with human flame figures. The term flame figures might therefore be more accurately used to designate those foci of eosinophilic to partly basophilic debris commonly referred to as "collagen degeneration".     

对并殖吸虫病患者外周血中嗜酸性粒细胞相关性的初步观察

目的了解并殖吸虫感染者痰液检测、血清抗体与外周血中嗜酸性粒细胞之间的关系。方法对并殖吸虫病或疑似并殖吸虫病的患者89人,分别进行病原学痰液检测、免疫血清学(DIGFA和ELISA)、嗜酸性粒细胞直接计数和分类百分比检测。结果89例患者中有47人痰卵检测阳性,阳性率达到52.8%,免疫胶体金渗滤法和ELISA法阳性率达到74%,89人中有93.2%的人都有不同程度的嗜酸性粒细胞增高。结论肺吸虫感染者的嗜酸性粒细胞增高与感染相关。