Brambilla C, Abraham J, Brambilla E, Benirschke K, Bloor C
Am J Pathol. 1979 Jul;96(1):149-70.
A simple pneumoconiosis with lamellar birefringent crystals was observed in animals dying in the San Diego Zoo. We studied 100 autopsies from 11 mammalian and eight avian species. In mammals, mild pulmonary lesions comprised crystal-laden macrophages in alveoli and lymphatics. Interstitial fibrosis was present in 20% of cases. There were no nodules. In birds, dust retention produced large granulomas around tertiary bronchi without fibrosis. Mineralogic analysis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed most of the crystals to be silicates. Ninety percent were complex silicates, with aluminum-potassium silicates comprising 70% of the analyzed particles. Electron and x-ray diffraction showed the silicates to be muscovite mica and its hydrothermal degradation product, ie, illite clay. This mica was also present on filtration membranes of atmospheric air samples obtained from the San Diego Zoo. The amount of dust retention was related to the animal's age, anatomic or ecologic variances, and length of stay in the San Diego Zoo. Its semidesert atmosphere is rich in silicates, which are inhaled and deposited in the lungs. Similar mica-induced lesions are found in humans living in this region or the Southwest of the USA. This simple pneumoconiosis is likely to be widespread in human populations living in desert or semidesert climates.
在圣地亚哥动物园死亡的动物身上观察到一种伴有板层状双折射晶体的单纯性尘肺病。我们研究了来自11种哺乳动物和8种鸟类的100份尸检样本。在哺乳动物中，轻度肺部病变表现为肺泡和淋巴管内有含晶体的巨噬细胞。20%的病例存在间质纤维化。未发现结节。在鸟类中，粉尘潴留导致三级支气管周围出现大的肉芽肿，但无纤维化。使用扫描和透射电子显微镜进行的矿物学分析表明，大多数晶体为硅酸盐。90%为复杂硅酸盐，其中铝钾硅酸盐占分析颗粒的70%。电子衍射和X射线衍射显示这些硅酸盐为白云母及其热液降解产物，即伊利石粘土。这种云母也存在于从圣地亚哥动物园采集的大气空气样本的过滤膜上。粉尘潴留量与动物的年龄、解剖学或生态学差异以及在圣地亚哥动物园的停留时间有关。其半沙漠气候富含硅酸盐，这些硅酸盐被吸入并沉积在肺部。在美国这个地区或西南部生活的人类中也发现了类似的云母诱导病变。这种单纯性尘肺病可能在生活在沙漠或半沙漠气候地区的人群中广泛存在。
