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. 1985 Apr;48(1):252–256. doi: 10.1128/iai.48.1.252-256.1985

Environmental silica in badger lungs: a possible association with susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis infection.

D A Higgins, I T Kung, R S Or
PMCID: PMC261944  PMID: 2984123

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.

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Selected References

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