Prevalence of antibodies to classical swine fever, Aujeszky's disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, and bovine viral diarrhoea viruses in wild boars in Croatia.

During the hunting season in February 1999, a total of 44 blood samples were collected from wild boars shot in the area of Moslavacka gora. These blood samples were examined by enzyme immunoassay for the presence of antibodies to classical swine fever (CSFV), Aujeszky's disease (ADV), bovine viral diarrhoea (BVDV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) viruses. Out of 44 serum samples examined, 17 (38.63%) were positive for CSFV, 24 (54.54%) were positive for ADV and two (4.54%) were positive for BVDV. All sera were negative for PRRSV. The results, recorded for the first time in Croatia, supported the hypothesis that wild boar act as a potential reservoir of CSFV, ADV and BVDV, and thus have a role in the epidemiology of these diseases.

A follow-up study of vesico-ureteric reflux and renal scars in asymptomatic siblings of children with reflux.

The objectives of this study were to follow up children with vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) and renal scars, to evaluate kidney growth and to determine the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) and elevated blood pressure in 40 asymptomatic siblings of children with VUR, in whom VUR had been detected at an early age, and to gather additional data which could help to evaluate the need for screening for VUR in asymptomatic siblings. During the follow-up period of 3-7 years, two children (5%) had UTI; 66% of VUR grade 1 and 2 disappeared. The progression of scars was only detected in two of nine children with renal scars on the initial study, both of whom had high-grade VUR. Renal ultrasound was normal in all siblings and none developed hypertension. The results indicate that low-grade sterile VUR may not play a major role in renal scarring, but this may not be the case with high-grade sterile VUR. Considering the correlations among VUR, UTI and reflux nephropathy, routine screening for VUR at an early age in asymptomatic siblings of children with VUR seems to be justified to identify those at the greatest risk of subsequent renal damage.

Tracheobronchomegaly in preterm infants on mechanical ventilation.

Tracheobronchomegaly (TBM) was diagnosed on chest radiographs as an apparent dilatation of the trachea and main bronchi in four premature infants on prolonged mechanical ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome. In a retrospective study, the parameters of assisted ventilation, the Apgar score, the presence of conatal or later infection, and hypotension were reviewed and analyzed as factors possibly contributing to the pathogenesis of TBM in these infants. The results lead to the conclusion that TBM in premature infants on prolonged ventilatory support is an acquired condition though a congenital defect cannot be excluded as a probable predisposing factor. In the etiopathogenesis of TBM, a repeated barotrauma of prolonged ventilation is a crucial factor while the severity of lung disease and the degree of prematurity, hypotension, infection, and generally poor clinical condition, all appear to be relevant in the development of TBM in a premature infant with respiratory distress syndrome.

Ultrasound screening of older asymptomatic siblings of children with vesicoureteral reflux: is it beneficial?

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of renal abnormalities in 88 older asymptomatic siblings of the children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), using ultrasound (US) as a diagnostic method. The age of the siblings ranged from 5 to 15 years, the median age being 8.33 years. A midstream urine sample was taken for standard urinalysis and urine culture, and blood pressure was measured in all children. US examination did not reveal chronic inflammatory changes of the kidneys such as a small shrunken kidney, noticeable parenchymal thinning or parenchymal echogenicity changes; nor did it reveal a small kidney due to growth retardation or any dilatation of the renal tract to indicate reflux. No hypertension was found. The study failed to prove the benefit of US screening of older asymptomatic siblings. The results of the present study are discussed in relation to other techniques and investigations/screening for VUR.

Renal ultrasound and excretory urography in infants and young children with urinary tract infection.

The main purpose of the study was to see whether excretory urography (EU) can be safely replaced by ultrasound (US) in children with urinary tract infection (UTI) younger than 6 years. 101 hospitalised children were admitted to the prospective study. They were all diagnosed as having UTI and were treated accordingly. All children had voiding cystography (VCU), EU and US done. US and EU correlated well in 94% of the cases. In all 6 cases with discrepancy between EU and US, the VCU was abnormal. Our results confirm the data from other authors, that VCU and US should be sufficient as an initial work-up on children with UTI, while EU should be done only in the cases with abnormal findings on either one or both of the former investigations. However, it should be kept in mind that some cases of parenchymal involvement or mild subpelvic stenosis can be missed using this protocol. If EU is obtained only in the cases with abnormal US and/or VCU, only 55 children (54%) in our group would have had an EU done.