Low prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in Johor Bahru, Malaysia as a reflection of vector availability?

Abstract. This study was conducted to investigate the low prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in Johor Bahru as reported by veterinary practitioners, using wet blood mount, Knott’s Concentration Test and two heartworm antigen test kits (IDEXX Canine SNAP® 4Dx and RapiGEN®). This study also compared the two test kits used and determined the microfilaria species. Blood were collected from 100 owned dogs and 50 stray dogs in Johor Bahru via cephalic venipuncture. A thick blood smear was done and examined for samples that were positive for microfilaria species identification. The overall prevalence of D. immitis in dogs in Johor Bahru was 1.33% (2/150) and the microfilaria identified was D. immitis. The prevalence of heartworm in owned and stray dogs in this study was 1% and 2% respectively. With only one false negative result from RapiGEN® test kit, comparing the sensitivity between the two test kits could not be achieved. The low prevalence of D. immitis found in this study confirmed anecdotal evidence that prevalence of dirofilariasis is indeed low in Johor Bahru. Additionally, we speculate that dirofilariasis in dogs might be considered as an indicator of vector availability.

Les modifications des hormones thyroidiennes après thyroidectomie partielle à propos d'une serie de 49 patients opérés à l'hôpital national de Niamey

C'est une etude prospective realisee dans le service de chirurgie de l'Hopital National de Niamey sur 49 patients porteurs de goitre cliniquement euthyroidien ayant beneficie d'une thyroidectomie partielle. Elle a eu comme but d'analyser les modifications biologiques a J5 et J30 apres une thyroidectomie partielle. Les modifications recherchees concernaient la T3; la TSH; la calcemie; la phosphoremie et la cholesterolemie. Dans la serie; il y a une predominance feminine avec 47 femmes pour 2 hommes. Le goitre multinodulaire predomine dans 43des cas. Les techniques operatoires utilisees ont ete la thyroidectomie dans 84des cas. Les suites operatoires ont ete simples chez 88de nos patients. Les complications sont survenues dans 12des cas et la plus frequente a ete l'hematome compressif dans 6;12des cas et l'atteinte recurrentielle dans 4;08des cas. Une variation significative du taux de T3 a type de diminution a ete retrouvee en postoperatoire. La frequence des sujets en hypocalcemie passe de 7 a 37a J30 avec un pic a 47a J5. L'analyse des variations du phosphore et du cholesterol sanguin montre des variations d'interpretation difficile a cause du nombre peu eleve dans le dosage de reference. Les resultats de l'etude amenent a recommander le dosage systematique des hormones thyroidiennes avant l'intervention; un dosage de la TSH a J5 et un dosage de la calcemie a J30

Surrenalectomie par abord coelioscopique : experience du Centre Hospitalier de Chambery (France) a propos de 12 cas

Objective: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has reduced the morbidity rate associated with the classical approaches. The authors herein evaluate their experience with this technique at the hospital of Chambery; France. Patients and Methods: The files of all patients subjected to laparoscopic adrenalectomy at the department of General and Thoracic Surgery between 1996 and 2000 were reviewed. A partial lateral decubitus flank approach at 45o was used. Results: The study included 12 patients; 8 of them were females and 4 males. The mean patient age was 45 years ranging from 26 to 69 years. The adrenal gland diseases encountered were Conn adenoma in 4; Cushing's syndrome in 3 (with one case of Cushing's disease); pheochromocytoma in 3 and incidentaloma in 2 cases. The mean tumor size was 5.5 cm (range 1.8 to 9 cm). The operative time ranged from 70 to 135 minutes for unilateral adrenalectomy and it was 322 minutes for bilateral adrenalectomy including the time needed for changing sides and repositioning. Only one patient (8.3) required laparotomy because of uncontrollable bleeding and hemodynamic instability. The mean hospital stay was 5.4 days (range 4 to 9 days) for unilateral adrenalectomy. Due to hormonal treatment; the mean hospital stay for patients subjected to bilateral adrenalectomy was 13 days. One patient (8.3) developed hematoma at the side of adrenalectomy and was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. No mortality was encountered. Conclusion: This small series has shown that laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a very promising technique which can be recommended for tumors up to the size of 9 cm

Residual activity of cyhalothrin 20% EC on cattle as determined by mosquito bioassays.

The residual effectiveness of 0.005mg/ml of cyhalothrin applied to cattle was determined against three species of mosquitos: Anopheles maculatus Theobald. Anopheles dirus Peyton and Harrison Mansonia uniformis Theobald. Twenty-four hour post exposure mortality and the degree of successful blood engorgement were determined by exposing mosquitos for 10 minutes to cattle. Three replicated assays were conducted and mortality determined at 1, 2, 7, 14 and 21 days after each treatment. An initial mortality of 92-94% for An. dirus and Ma. uniformis and 79% for An. maculatus was obtained. Percentage mortality declined to 10%, 18% and 31% for An. maculatus, An. dirus and Ma. uniformis respectively on day 7 post application. On day 21 post application, percentage mortality was 2-3% for the three species of mosquitos.