No abstract

Whole-kernel corn was treated with 10 mg ivermectin per 0.45 kg corn and fed at rate of approximately .45 kg/deer per day to white-tailed deer confined in the treatment pasture, whereas deer in an adjacent control pasture received a similar ration of untreated corn. Treatments were dispensed from February through September of 1992 and 1993, and free-living populations of lone star ticks. Amblyomma americanum (L.), were monitored in both pastures using dry-ice traps to quantify nymphs and adults and flip-cloths to assay the relative abundance of larval masses. Control values that were calculated for all ticks collected in both pastures during 1993 showed 83.4% fewer adults, 92.4% fewer nymphs and 100.0% fewer larval masses in the treatment versus control pasture. Serum ivermectin concentrations in treated deer averaged 21.7 and 28.3 ppb during 1992 and 1993, respectively. These values compared favorably with the goal concentration of 30.0 ppb which was anticipated under ideal conditions. This study demonstrates that a freely consumed, systemically active acaricidal bait ingested by white-tailed deer under nearly wild conditions can significantly reduce the abundance of all stages of free-living long star ticks.

A '4-poster' device that attracts white-tailed deer to a bait source, and as they feed, allows a self-application of a pesticide to the head, ears, and neck to control ticks was designed, constructed, and tested. The device consists of a central bin containing bait to attract deer and two feeding and application stations. These stations each have one bait port and two vertical pesticide-impregnated applicator rollers. This design allows unrestricted vertical retraction of the head to minimize injury to the deer or damage to the posts supporting the pesticide application rollers. Observations using deer demonstrated ready acceptance and repeated use by both antlered and antlerless deer. Results of an initial trial indicate that control values for lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.), exceeded 92-97% on deer that used the device regularly.

No abstract

From 1997 to 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Northeast Area-wide Tick Control Project used acaricide-treated 4-Poster Deer Treatment Bait Stations in five eastern states to control ticks feeding on white-tailed deer. The objectives of this host-targeted technology were to reduce free-living blacklegged (Ixodes scapularis Say) and lone star (Amblyomma americanum [L.]) tick populations and thereby to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease. During 2002 to 2004, treatments were suspended, and tick population recovery rates were assayed. Subsequently, the major factors that influenced variations in efficacy were extrapolated to better understand and improve this technology. Treatments resulted in significant reductions in free-living populations of nymphal blacklegged ticks at six of the seven sites, and lone star ticks were significantly reduced at all three sites where they were present. During the study, maximal significant (p < or = 0.05) efficacies against nymphal blacklegged and lone star ticks at individual sites ranged from 60.0 to 81.7 and 90.9 to 99.5%, respectively. The major environmental factor that reduced efficacy was the occurrence of heavy acorn masts, which provided an alternative food resource for deer. Although the 4-Poster technology requires 1 or more years to show efficacy, this host-targeted intervention was demonstrated to be an efficacious, economical, safe, and environment-friendly alternative to area-wide spraying of acaricide to control free-living populations of these tick species.

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study in 181 afebrile cancer patients with ANC levels < 500/microL receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy was undertaken to compare sargramostim (yeast-derived recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, RhuGM-CSF) and filgrastim (bacteria-derived recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, RhuG-CSF) in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Patients received daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of either agent until ANC levels reached at least 1500/microL. There was no statistical difference between treatment groups in the mean number of days to reach an ANC of 500/microL, but the mean number of days to reach ANC levels of 1000/microL and 1500/microL was approximately one day less in patients receiving filgrastim. Fewer patients in the sargramostim arm were hospitalized, and they had a shorter mean length of hospitalization, mean duration of fever, and mean duration of i.v. antibiotic therapy compared with patients who received filgrastim. Both growth factors were well tolerated. No patient was readmitted to the hospital after growth factor was discontinued. Sargramostim and filgrastim have comparable efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of standard-dose chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in community practice.

As part of the Northeast Area-wide Tick Control Project (NEATCP), meta-analyses were performed using pooled data on the extent of tick-vector control achieved through seven concurrent studies, conducted within five states, using U.S. Department of Agriculture ''4-Poster'' devices to deliver targeted-acaricide to white-tailed deer. Although reductions in the abundance of all life-stages of Ixodes scapularis were the measured outcomes, this study focused on metrics associated with I. scapularis nymphal tick densities as this measure has consistently proven to directly correlate with human risk of acquiring Lyme disease. Since independent tick sampling schemes were undertaken at each of the five environmentally distinct study locations, a meta-analytic approach permitted estimation of a single true control-effect size for each treatment year of the NEATCP. The control-effect is expressed as the annual percent I. scapularis nymphal control most consistent with meta-analysis data for each treatment year. Our meta-analyses indicate that by the sixth treatment year, the NEATCP effectively reduced the relative density of I. scapularis nymphs by 71% on the 5.14 km 2 treatment sites, corresponding to a 71% lower relative entomologic risk index for acquiring Lyme disease.

Certain coronary anomalies are associated with high risk features. We sought to determine the diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in determining high-risk features, particularly intramural segments. Anomalous coronary arteries can be associated with adverse clinical events. Anomalous coronaries that course between the great vessels (interarterial) have been associated with sudden death. High-risk features of interarterial vessels described in the literature include; a slit-like orifice, acute angle of origin, and intramural segments (within the wall of the aorta). Although computed tomography (CT) findings of acute angle and slit like orifice have been described previously no prior evaluations regarding CT identification of an intramural segment have been reported. An intramural segment has distinct surgical management implications. All interarterial anomalous coronary arteries do not have an intramural segment. Since October 2004, 15 patients were diagnosed by CTA as having an anomalous coronary artery with an interarterial course, which were then confirmed by intraoperative examination of their coronary origins and course during aortic root/coronary artery surgery. The CTA images were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of high-risk features by a radiologist blinded to the surgical findings. Comparison of these findings was made to the findings at surgery. The anomalous coronary was the right coronary artery in 10 patients and the left coronary artery in 5. Eleven patients had an intramural segment identified at surgery. Pre-operative coronary CTA showed that all patients with an intramural course of the anomalous artery, had slit-like orifice, an acute angle of origin (mean 18.4 ± 3.4°), and an elliptical shaped cross-section throughout the intramural segment of the anomalous vessel. The average vessel height/width ratio for anomalous coronary vessels without an intramural segment was 1.03; compared to a ratio of 2.19 for anomalous vessels with an intramural segment (P = 0.003). Coronary CTA can identify an intramural segment of an anomalous interarterial coronary artery by its elliptical shape. Identifying an intramural segment has important clinical and surgical implications.