Parasites of Columba livia (Aves: Columbiformes) in Tenerife (Canary Islands) and their role in the conservation biology of the laurel pigeons.

The prevalence and intensity of the parasites from 50 wild doves (Columba livia) from the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the island of Tenerife (Canary Archipelago), were studied. The following ectoparasites were found in apparently healthy pigeons (prevalences are shown in percentage (%) and mean intensities with their standard deviations): the acari Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) (6, 241.0 +/- 138.9) and Tinaminyssus melloi Fain, 1962 (10%, 218.3 +/- 117.3); the louses, Columbicola columbae Linnaeus, 1758 (100%, 111.4 +/- 76.8) and Campanulotes bidentatus Scopoli, 1763 (94%, 48.4 +/- 26.6); and the pigeon fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis Macquart, 1839 (36%, 6.2 +/- 1.6). The endoparasites we found were: a haemoprotozoan species, Haemoproteus columbae Kruze, 1890 (82%, 14.8 +/- 10.3 per 1000); coccidian oocysts, Eimeria sp. (50%, 0.2 x 10(3) +/- 1.7 x 10(3) per gr); a cestode species Raillietina micracantha (Fuhrmann, 1909) López Neyra, 1947 (44%, 12.3 +/- 9.4); and four nematode species, Tetrameres (Tetrameres) fissispina (Diesing, 1861) Travassos, 1915 (4%, 99.5 +/- 34.1), Synhimantus (Dispharynx) spiralis (Molin, 1858) (8%, 46.8 +/- 11.6), Ascaridia columbae (Gmelin, 1790) Travassos, 1913 (40%, 8.4 +/- 8.8) and Aonchotheca sp. (18%, 6.0 +/- 3.1). Several species detected in our study can be pathogens for C. bollii and C. junoniae, which are endemic pigeons of the Canary Islands, considered endangered species. Parasites (ectoparasites, protozoa and helminths) of C. livia found in Tenerife and others from wild and farm birds in the island were considered as healthy controls.

[Hepatic fascioliasis in children: uncommon clinical manifestations]. / Fasciolasis Hepática En Niños: manifestaciones clínicas pcop frecuentes.

The present review has the objective to identify clinical epidemiologic characteristics and evolution for four children with Fasciola hepatica evaluated at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit at the Children's Health Institute, Lima, Peru, between 1988 and 1992. The first patient was a 9-year old girl who had fever, leg edema, collateral circulation and hepatomegaly, predominantly at the right lobe. The second was a 6-year old by who had upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and fever; endoscopic diagnosis demonstrated hemobilia. The third case was a 12-year old boy who presented generalized edema. The fourth patient was a 9-year old boy with jaundice, fever and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Esophageal varices and cirrhosis were present. In the four patients the diagnosis was made by the identification of parasite eggs in the feces. The first three cases responded satisfactorily to treatment with bithionol; the fourth patient died because of systemic failure.

[Clinical characteristics of Meckel's diverticulum in a population of children]. / Características clínicas del divertículo de Meckel en una población infantil.

A descriptive and retrospective study was realized during a period of eleven years from January 1983 to December 1993. There were found 101 cases, of which 75.25% were Meckel's diverticulum complicated. The incidence found was of 1.2%. The 89.5% of the complicated cases were less than 10 years old, and the 47.4% were less than 2 years old. The most frequent symptoms were: abdominal pain (68.4%), vomiting (68.4%), fever (47.3%), and abdominal distention (39.4%). The congenital anomalies presented in 17.8%, were: intestinal malrotation, congenital bands, hernia inguinal and omphalocele. The most common complications were: intestinal obstruction (47.4%), diverticulitis (19.7%), lower digestive hemorrhage (15.8%), and intestinal perforation (14.5%) of the cases. The heterotopic tissue was present in 20.7% cases. In our Institute, the age's group less than 2 years old, presented more complicated cases (p < 0.01). The intestinal obstruction was the most common picture (p < 0.001). The lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage was the second complication in patients less than 2 years old (p < 0.05). We found a strong association with other congenital anomalies.

[Neonatal cholestasis in the Children's Health Institute: evaluation of obstructive cholangiopathy syndrome in children]. / Colestasis neonatal en el Instituto de Salud del Niño: evaluación del síndrome de colangiopatía obstructiva infantil.

In order to establish a clinical or laboratory difference 52 Clinical charts of patients that were attended at the Gastroenterologic Unit at the Children's Hospital in Lima-Perú since January 1988 to December 1992, with the diagnosis of Neonatal Cholestasis were reviewed. 14 of them were discharged; at the end we have reviewed 23 cases of biliary atresia, 8 of neonatal hepatitis and 7 with congenital choledochal cyst. All patients went through sonography, scintigraphy and liver biopsy. No statistical differences were found in symptomatology, as well as jaundice, feces color or coluria. We concluded that the most accurate way to predict a diagnosis is through the sonography, scintigraphy and liver biopsy.

[Enteral nutrition in pediatrics]. / Nutrición enteral en pediatría.

This review summarized the current concepts on enteral nutrition of the ill child, appropriate diet considered a therapeutic approach. Nutritional management is based upon the knowledge of natural history of disease, special emphasis is on practical considerations, efficacy and potential advantages, disadvantages and risk of complications, as well as the special metabolic requirements of ill children created by different disease states.

[Abdominal tuberculosis in childhood: the clinical manifestations]. / Tuberculosis abdominal en la infancia: manifestaciones clíncas.

The authors reviewed the histories of 133 patients with abdominal tuberculosis in Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño (Children's Hospital), Lima, Perú, between 1989 and 1991. We found morbidity higher in scholars (67.4%). Weight lost were present in all cases and malaise in 95.3%, abdominal distension in 83.72% and abdominal pain in 79.06%. Anaemia in 76.06%, ratio albumin/globulin were altered in 74.41% leukocytosis in 67.44%. Evidence of tuberculosis on chest X-ray were detected only in 62.5%.