title: Environmental silica in badger lungs: a possible association with susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis infection.
abstract: Badger lungs contain dark granular foci (0.2 to 2.0 mm) comprising aggregates of enlarged macrophages containing birefringent crystalline particles. Particles were examined from the lungs of three badgers; many were silicates and a significant number were pure silica (SiO2). The particles and the accompanying pathology resembled mixed dust fibrosis and silicosis in humans, diseases associated with increased susceptibility to tuberculosis.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Or
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008168:Lung / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012822:Silicon Dioxide