Inhaled feather fragment - Broncholveolar lavage specimen
This fragment of a barbule of a bird feather, with evenly spaced hooklets along its length, was observed in a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen that was obtained from a young man who lives in the countryside and raises birds, geese, and ducks mainly. He also has pillows that contain bird feathers. He was said to have a typical presentation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. With all of his exposure to birds and feathers he appears to have inhaled a fragment of a feather barbule. Some anatomical features of bird feathers are seen in the accompanying illustrations.
Photomicrograph contributed by Dr. Emilian Olteanu - @EmiliamPath
Illustration of feather barbule with hooklets from DOI:10.1164/26660644=05602001.
Illustration of feather anatomy from tinyurl.com/26he54rl.
Inhaled feather fragment - Broncholveolar lavage specimen
This fragment of a barbule of a bird feather, with evenly spaced hooklets along its length, was observed in a bronchoalveolar lavage specimen that was obtained from a young man who lives in the countryside and raises birds, geese, and ducks mainly. He also has pillows that contain bird feathers. He was said to have a typical presentation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. With all of his exposure to birds and feathers he appears to have inhaled a fragment of a feather barbule. Some anatomical features of bird feathers are seen in the accompanying illustrations.
Photomicrograph contributed by Dr. Emilian Olteanu - @EmiliamPath
Illustration of feather barbule with hooklets from DOI:10.1164/26660644=05602001.
Illustration of feather anatomy from tinyurl.com/26he54rl.