Hal Thompson

Bio: Hal Thompson is an academic researcher from University of Glasgow. The author has contributed to research in topics: Parvovirus & Canine parvovirus. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 49 publications receiving 866 citations.

Canine parvovirus enteritis 1: Clinical, haematological and pathological features of experimental infection.

Abstract: The effect of oral infection of puppies, eight and 10 weeks old, with canine parvovirus of faecal origin was studied. Clinical signs of enteric disease were first apparent at five days after inoculation and persisted during days 6 and 7 after inoculation. The severity of clinical signs varied from transient dullness and anorexia to emesis, dysentery and death. Changes in haematological parameters were first found at day 3 after inoculation when a relative lymphopenia was observed. A profound neutropenia developed in severely affected dogs after the appearance of clinical enteric disease. Post mortem examination revealed thymic atrophy in all dogs killed on day 4 after inoculation. Macroscopic changes in the small intestine were apparent only in animals examined during the phase of severe enteric disease and consisted of thickening, rigidity and congestion of the small intestines. Microscopically there was lymphocytolysis in the thymic cortex and the germinal centres of the lymph nodes from days 2 and 3 after inoculation respectively and this rapidly resulted in depletion of these tissues. There was repopulation of lymph nodes from day 7 after inoculation but significant thymic regeneration was not apparent during the course of this study. In the small intestine, necrosis of crypt epithelium, atrophy of villi and, in some areas, complete collapse of mucosal architecture were found but the extent of these changes varied along the length of the small intestine and between individuals. Regenerative intestinal changes were observed in those animals surviving the acute phase of enteric dysfunction. The variable severity of clinical and enteric lesions, together with the factors which may affect the expression of clinical disease, are discussed.

Encephalitis in dogs associated with a batch of canine distemper (Rockborn) vaccine.

Abstract: During a period of seven months in 1982-83 cases of postvaccinal encephalitis were recorded in dogs in various parts of Britain after the administration of a particular batch of combined distemper/hepatitis vaccine. Detailed investigations of one of these cases revealed that the distemper component was responsible and the vaccine virus was recovered from the brain of an affected dog.

Canine parvovirus enteritis 2: Pathogenesis.

Abstract: Two groups of puppies, eight and 10 weeks of age, were inoculated orally with canine parvovirus of faecal origin. The patterns of faecal excretion of virus, antibody production and systemic viral localisation following inoculation were studied. Faecal excretion of virus was first apparent at day 3 after inoculation, was present most frequently and in greatest quantity at days 4 to 7 after inoculation and fell sharply thereafter. Serum antibody was first detected at day 5 after inoculation with high titres in all samples from day 7 onwards. Virus isolation from serum samples revealed a non-cell associated viraemia at days 3 and 4 after inoculation. Immunocytochemical examination, using both immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques, first revealed antigen in the thymic cortex at day 1 after inoculation and in the germinal centres of the lymph nodes and the splenic white pulp from days 2 and 3. Viral antigen was first detected in the intestines at day 4 in individual cells in the proliferative zone of the crypt epithelium. From day 5 onwards, the amount of antigen present in the lymphoid tissue decreased so that by days 7 and 8, only a trace was present. There was widespread specific staining in the small intestinal mucosa at day 6, but little antigen was present by day 7. Virus was present in the bone marrow of some dogs killed at days 5 and 6.

Molecular Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, and Clinical Manifestations of Respiratory Infections Due to Bordetella pertussis and Other Bordetella Subspecies

Abstract: Bordetella respiratory infections are common in people (B. pertussis) and in animals (B. bronchiseptica). During the last two decades, much has been learned about the virulence determinants, pathogenesis, and immunity of Bordetella. Clinically, the full spectrum of disease due to B. pertussis infection is now understood, and infections in adolescents and adults are recognized as the reservoir for cyclic outbreaks of disease. DTaP vaccines, which are less reactogenic than DTP vaccines, are now in general use in many developed countries, and it is expected that the expansion of their use to adolescents and adults will have a significant impact on reducing pertussis and perhaps decrease the circulation of B. pertussis. Future studies should seek to determine the cause of the unique cough which is associated with Bordetella respiratory infections. It is also hoped that data gathered from molecular Bordetella research will lead to a new generation of DTaP vaccines which provide greater efficacy than is provided by today's vaccines.

Evidence for evolution of canine parvovirus type 2 in Italy

Abstract: Two isolates of canine parvovirus (CPV) were obtained from dogs affected with severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea. Type 2b antigenic specificity was predicted by both antigenic analysis with monoclonal antibodies and PCR characterization with type-specific primers. Nevertheless, sequence analysis of the capsid protein-encoding gene revealed two amino acid changes. One of the changes affected position 426 (Asp to Glu), in a major antigenic site of the viral capsid, determining the replacement of a residue unique to CPV type 2b. The failure of established typing methods to distinguish this antigenic variant was overcome by the development of an RFLP assay.

Collagen and picrosirius red staining: A polarized light assessment of fibrillar hue and spatial distribution

Abstract: Collagen plays a vital role in maintaining structural integrity and in determining tissue function. Therefore, methods to detect, quantify, and analyze collagen are valuable. Nevertheless, stains historically employed to detect collagen have disadvantages, principally a poor specificity for thin fibers. Conversely, picrosirius red, which has the capability to detect thin fibers, although frequently used, is seldom exploited to the fullest extent. Our goal was, using picrosirius red staining, circularly polarized light, and image-analysis software, not only to identify fibers and quantify collagen content, but also to assess fiber hue and the spatial distribution of the different colors. To assess collagen content, we used a subtraction technique to remove interstitial space and non-collagen elements from images of skin wounds, myocardial scars, and arterial tissue. The hue component of the resulting image was obtained, and the number of red, orange, yellow, and green (the colors of collagen fibers in order of decreasing thickness) pixels calculated. Finally, we assessed the spatial distribution of individual colors by the application of color threshold filters. Skin wound analysis demonstrated good inter-observer agreement for collagen content and fiber color. In myocardial scars, collagen content increased from 1 (61 por cento) to 5 weeks (95 por cento) after injury. The proportion of green (thin) fibers decreased (43 to 4 por cento), while the proportion of orange (thick) fibers increased (13 to 65 por cento). Color threshold application revealed regional variation in fiber color within subintimal arterial lesions. These methods increase the amount of structural information obtained from picrosirius red-stained sections.