[Results of an inquiry among veterinary assistants]. / Ergebnisse einer Umfrage bei Assistenztierärztinnen und- Tierärzten.

Veterinary assistants being members of the Swiss Veterinary Association received a questionnaire in 1989. Informations concerning the search for employment, employment conditions, introduction into the job, working climate, field of activities, postgraduate education, professional aims and prospects for the future as well as the particular situation of women were collected. 2/3 of the assistants in practice and 4/5 of Faculty assistants found their jobs privately without any public advertisement. 3/5 of the assistants in a practice have been employed without a written contract. The mean working time without emergency calls and night work amounts to 45 hours a week in small animal practice and 50 hours in large animal practice. Salaries have been shown to be clearly higher in practice compared to universities. Postgraduate education, however, has obviously been missing in over 50% of assistants in practice but not at the Faculty. Most assistants in practice as well as at the universities strive for partnership practice, especially for both, small and large animals.

[The occurrence of the parasite Collyriclum faba (Bremser in Schmalz, 1831) in wild birds in Switzerland]. / Zum Vorkommen des Parasiten Collyriclum faba (Bremser in Schmalz, 1831) bei Wildvögeln in der Schweiz.

The infection of our indigenous wild birds by the parasite Collyriclum faba represents a rare event. The adult trematodes reside in the subcutaneous tissue of the host, where prominent cysts can be found. In summer 1988, two cases were diagnosed, in a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and in a goldcrest (Regulus regulus), which led us to a description of this unusual parasitic disease, whose cycle still remains unknown, and to a review of the prior known appearances in Switzerland. In the time between 1960 and 1989, a total of 2070 wild birds were examined in our Institute. In only four cases could an infection with C. faba be demonstrated. All of the affected birds belonged to the order of the Passeriformes. The occurrence rate of infestation among all wild birds was of 0.2%, and of 0.6% within the order of the Passeriformes. On the basis of this infection rate in our samples, we conclude that the rate of C. faba infections in wild birds of Switzerland is extremely low.

[Capillaria hepatica in a dog and a hedgehog]. / Capillaria hepatica bei einem Hund und einem Igel.

A liver infection with Capillaria hepatica is described, having been found for the first time in Switzerland in a dog and a hedgehog. After a literature review of cases known among man and animals, we present our own pathological findings. Furthermore, the parasite's life cycle is discussed.

Cancer arising in the gastric stump. Occurrence following resection for benign peptic ulcer disease.

Two patients developed adenocarcinoma of the gastric stump 20 to 30 years following gastric resection for benign peptic ulcer disease. The bulk of the medical literature supports a small but definite increased incidence with a latency period of 20 years or more. The risk is greatest following operations that lead to greater reflux of bile and pancreatic juices into the gastric remnant. The diagnosis may be inapparent by upper gastrointestinal tract roentgenograms, and changes may not even be obvious at endoscopy. Five-year survival rates are low (2% to 4%). Because the prognosis is poor once the disease is diagnosed, the high-risk patient should be considered for intermittent endoscopic surveillance.

Gastric polyps in familial polyposis coli.

Familial polyposis coli has been considered a disease in which polyps are confined to the colon and rectum. The authors recently saw 3 cases in which either adenomatous or hyperplastic polyps were also present in the stomach and duodenum. The polyps were detected only by endoscopy or air-contrast radiographic examination. These cases and other recent studies indicate that gastric and duodenal polyps are more common in familial polyposis coli than previously recognized and should be considered an integral part of the syndrome.

Ascaris lumbricoides--a reminder.

A Vietnamese refugee was admitted to the hospital with signs and symptoms of an acute condition within the abdomen. Examination ultimately led to the roentgenographic diagnosis of an Ascaris lumbricoides infestation. The patient recovered after medical treatment with intravenous fluids and nasogastric suction, followed by piperazine citrate administration. This ubiquitous parasite has the potential for causing many serious abdominal complications. An awareness of this disease is particularly timely, in view of the recent influx of nearly 150,000 Indo-Chinese into North America.