Otitis interna is a frequent sequela to Streptococcus suis meningitis in pigs. (1/25)

Twenty-eight histologically confirmed cases of porcine leptomeningitis were examined retrospectively, with focus on the pathology of the inner and middle ear, brain, and vestibulocochlear nerve. Tissues were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry for Streptococcus suis serotype 2 antigen, and the bacteriologic results were recorded. Exudative otitis interna was diagnosed in 20/28 pigs (71%). The lesions primarily affected the perilymphatic ducts, with consistent involvement of the scala tympani. Perineuritis of the vestibulocochlear nerve was seen in all but four of the ears affected with otitis interna. Immunohistochemically, S. suis serotype 2 antigen was demonstrated in the leptomeningeal, perineural, and labyrinthine exudates in 11 cases. Otitis media was diagnosed in 10/28 pigs (34%), but evidence of extension to the inner ear was not observed. The findings were highly similar to descriptions of meningogenic labyrinthitis in humans and in laboratory animal models. Otitis interna in pigs can also develop via the meningogenic route and is not always, as generally stated, tympanogenic.  (+info)

Proinflammatory cytokine expression in the endolymphatic sac during inner ear inflammation. (2/25)

The inner ear is capable of rapidly mounting an immune response that can ultimately lead to cochlear degeneration and permanent hearing loss. The role of the endolymphatic sac in this immune process is not clear. In order to investigate the cytokine expression of cells within the endolymphatic sac, a secondary inner ear immune response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was created in mice. The animals were sacrificed 3-48 h and 7 days following initiation of the immune response. The cochleas and endolymphatic sacs were assayed by immunocytochemistry for IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and IL-6. Three hours after KLH challenge of the scala tympani, the perisaccular tissue of the endolymphatic sac contained more inflammatory cells than the scala tympani or endolymphatic sac lumen. Only a few of these cells, however, expressed the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNFalpha between 3 and 12 h after KLH injection. On the other hand, TNFalpha, which plays an important role in the cochlear secondary immune response, was expressed in cells in the endolymphatic sac lumen. The maximum percentage of cells expressing TNFalpha was seen later than in the scala tympani. Animals treated with systemic injection of the TNF blocker, etanercept, showed a reduction in the number of cells in the endolymphatic sac lumen. It is concluded that the cells in the endolymphatic sac lumen contribute to the amplification of the adaptive immune response by expressing TNFalpha, while the infiltration of cells into the perisaccular connective tissue is part of the nonspecific, innate, cochlear immune response.  (+info)

A pathologic and bacteriologic study on otitis media in swine. (3/25)

A pathologic and bacteriologic study on otitis media in swine was performed on 237 swine, ranging in age from 1 day to 1 year. These 237 swine from eight selected farms were slaughtered due to unfavorable prognosis associated with clinical signs of illness. One hundred sixty-three (68.8%) of the 237 swine were found to be affected with otitis, though only a few swine showed clinical signs characteristic of the disease. One hundred fifty-one (63.7%), 53 (22.4%), and 39 (16.5%) had lesions in the middle, external, and internal ear, respectively. Of the 151 cases with otitis media, bilateral and unilateral infection accounted for 114 (75.5%) and 37 (24.5%), respectively. Only 5/53 swine with otitis externa and 6/39 swine with otitis interna failed to show otitis media. All swine with infection in the tympanic cavity had inflammatory lesions in the auditory tube. Examination of the swine grouped by age revealed that, regardless of age, incidence of otitis media was 50-70%. In swine younger than 1 month old, otitis media tended to center on the auditory tube, where a mild infiltration of neutrophils into the mucous membrane was frequent. Thereafter, otitis media increased in degree and extent with age. Forty (26.5%) of the 151 swine affected with otitis media were accompanied by a substantial amount of inflammatory exudate in the tympanic cavity and bulla. Purulent exudate was found in 20/40 (50%) swine. Severe otitis media prevailed in swine between 1 and 4 months of age, showing inspissation of a suppurative exudate in the tympanic cavity and lysis of the underlying osseous wall of the tympanic bulla with subsequent fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  (+info)

A case of tympanogenic labyrinthitis complicated by acute otitis media. (4/25)

Widespread use of antimicrobial drugs in the management of otitis media has significantly reduced the incidence of labyrinthitis nowadays. Cases of tympanogenic labyrinthitis following acute otitis media have rarely been reported in recent literature on otolaryngology. We report an unusual case of tympanogenic labyrinthitis that presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) following acute otitis media in an adult who had no previous otological complaints. An audiogram revealed SNHL with pure tone threshold of 43.7 dB in the left ear. MRI was helpful to identify the inflammatory change of the membranous labyrinth. The patient's hearing returned to normal after treatment. The definite diagnosis of serous labyrinthitis was established retrospectively.  (+info)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa otitis media and interna in a chinchilla ranch. (5/25)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been associated with conjunctivitis, enteritis, pneumonia, septicemia, sudden death, and abortion in chinchillas. This case report describes an unusual clinical presentation and diagnosis of P. aeruginosa otitis media and interna with neurologic manifestations. To our knowledge, this clinical presentation has not been reported previously in chinchillas.  (+info)

MyD88-dependent immune response contributes to hearing loss in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. (6/25)

Hearing loss is one of the most common sequelae in survivors of pneumococcal meningitis, affecting up to 26% of them. Here, we established the first mouse model of meningitis-associated hearing loss and investigated the role played by the Toll-like receptor-associated adapter molecule MyD88. C57BL/6 mice were infected intracisternally by Streptococcus pneumoniae. By use of audiometry and histological analysis, cochleae were assessed in uninfected control mice during the acute stage and after recovery. MyD88-deficient mice were analyzed 24 h after infection. Wild-type mice lost hearing capacity to a significant degree, which was accompanied by a granulocytic cochlear inflammation. After recovery, hearing loss was still evident, and spiral ganglion neuronal loss, hair cell damage, and fibrocytic occlusion of the cochlea were observed. In contrast, mice lacking MyD88 developed significantly less hearing loss and had diminished cochlear inflammation. Our results strongly suggest a proinflammatory role for MyD88 in the initiation of the inflammatory response during pneumococcal meningitis-associated labyrinthitis.  (+info)

Chronic osteomyelitis as a consequence of systemic Candida albicans infection. (7/25)

The yeast Candida albicans is a recognized, though uncommon, cause of osteomyelitis in humans. In a mouse model of systemic candidiasis, osteomyelitis has been found to occur in the vicinity of the inner ear, and to persist for at least 6 months after the initial infection.  (+info)

Induction of cytomegalovirus-infected labyrinthitis in newborn mice by lipopolysaccharide: a model for hearing loss in congenital CMV infection. (8/25)

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