Survey of Baylisascaris spp. in captive striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in some European areas.

Skunks are popular carnivore species kept both in zoological institutions and in households where they are hand raised as exotic pets. These small carnivores are considered the main definitive hosts of the roundworm Baylisascaris columnaris. The purpose of this survey was to investigate the occurrence of Baylisascaris spp. in striped skunks kept as pets or in private zoo collections in some European areas. Copromicroscopic data from two laboratories, one in Italy and one in Germany, were used. A total of 60 animals were selected. Samples came from Germany (n = 30), Italy (n = 23), United Kingdom (n = 5), Austria (n = 1), and the Netherlands (n = 1). Twenty-eight animals were certainly kept as pets in private households in Italy and the UK. Fifteen out of 60 animals (25%) were positive for Baylisascaris spp. Molecular identification of adult parasites was performed in ten of those animals, revealing B. columnaris in all cases. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first survey of Baylisascaris spp. in captive skunks in Europe.

Survey of Hymenolepis spp. in pet rodents in Italy.

We carried out the first survey of Hymenolepis spp. infection in pet rodents in Italy. Fresh fecal samples were collected from 172 pet rodents as follows: guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus; n = 60), squirrels (Callosciurus finlaysonii, Callosciurus prevosti, Tamias striatus, Tamias sibiricus, Sciurus calorinensis; n = 52), hamsters (Phodopus campbelli, Mesocricetus auratus; n = 30), chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera; n = 13), rats (Rattus norvegicus; n = 10), and mice (Mus minutoides; n = 7). These animals were housed either in pet shops or in private houses. All fecal samples were processed using the FLOTAC pellet technique to assess the number of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces. Eggs of Hymenolepis nana were found in 24 out of 172 (13.9 %; 95 % confidence interval = 9.3-20.2 %) pet rodents. Of those rodents, 41.6 % (10/24) were rats (mean EPG = 55.7; range = 2-200), 29.2 % (7/24) mice (mean EPG = 64.5; range = 32-120), 25.0 % (6/24) were chinchillas (mean EPG = 25.5; range = 10-50), and 4.2 % (1/24) hamsters (P. campbelli) (EPG = 86.0). In addition, Hymenolepis diminuta eggs were found in 2 out of 172 (1.2 %; 95 % confidence interval = 0.2-4.6 %) rodents examined, both of which (100 %; 2/2) were pet squirrels (C. prevosti) (mean EPG = 10; range = 4-16). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a natural infection of H. diminuta in pet squirrels.

Three-year follow-up of Pawtucket Heart Health's community-based weight loss programs.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based weight loss program. DESIGN: A questionnaire was administered by telephone to subjects one to three years following participation in a weight loss program. SETTING: The study took place in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Pawtucket Heart Health Program is part of this setting. SUBJECTS: A stratified sample of 400 subjects was randomly selected from 2,186 people who participated in weight loss programs between 1985 and 1987. A total of 285 subjects completed the questionnaire; 229 subjects provided sufficient information to be included in the study. INTERVENTION: The subjects participated in community-based and worksite-based weight loss programs. MEASURES: Self-reported heights and weights before and after intervention and demographic data were collected. Desirable body weight and Garrow's health risk classifications were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, there was a 3.2% reduction in body weight between time of entrance into weight loss programs and time of interview. Eighty percent of the participants lost weight in the program; mean weight loss was 11 pounds. At time of follow-up interview one to three years later, 65% of subjects weighed less than at entrance into the community programs; on average, subjects weighed six pounds less. Sixty-nine percent of the sample was above 20% desirable body weight at entrance and 26% of this group lost enough weight to lower their health risk category. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss in this community-based program compares favorably with those reported by more intense and expensive clinic-bound programs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)