Land snails and periods at high risk for protostrongylid infection on a sheep-grazed pasture of northeast Tunisia.

The population density and level of infection of terrestrial molluscs, and the output by sheep of first stage protostrongylid larvae, were assessed monthly during a 1-year study. Muellerius capillaris was the predominant protostrongylid (approximately 80% of the larval output); Neostrongylus was also found. Eobania vermiculata, Cernuella virgata and Trochoidea elegans were the most common molluscs. Juveniles were less infected than adults. Banded E. vermiculata had a lower intensity of infection than unbanded ones. Nearly 75% of protostrongylid larvae harboured by molluscs on the studied pasture were found in E. vermiculata. The infectivity of pasture was at its lowest in the dry and hot period (June-September). Infection of snails was primarily related to temperature and the importance and frequency of rains, and secondarily to larval excretion in sheep faeces.

[Biosystematic study of mice of the genus Mus: karyotype and electrophoretic analysis of total proteins]. / Contribution à l'étude biosystématique de la souris du genre Mus: caryotype et analyse électrophorètique des protéines totales.

Two forms of sympatric mice are captured in North - Tunisia: long - tailed mouse and short - tailed mouse. They are often considered as two semi - species of genus Mus, respectively Mus musculus musculus et Mus musculus spretus. They have the same Karyotype (2n = acrocentrics). The electrophoretic study of total proteins, shows up genetics differences. These two forms of mice may be considered as two different species, as like as mices of Europe: Mus musculus at long-tailed and Mus spretus at short tailed.

["In utero" diagnosis of congenital fragilitas ossium (osteogenesis imperfecta) (author's transl)]. / Diagnostic "in utéro" d'une fragilité osseuse congénitale.

The authors report a case of congenital fragilitas ossium diagnosed "in utero". The radiography of the fetus in the uterus showed bony abnormalities suggestive of Porak and Durante's disease. This early diagnosis is often useful because it will help to prevent trauma before and during delivery which is a principal cause of fetal death.