Emergence of canine ocular Thelaziosis caused by Thelazia callipaeda in southern Switzerland.

In Europe, Thelazia callipaeda has been reported in Italy and France in the eyes of dogs, cats and foxes and, recently, also in humans. In southern Switzerland (Ticino), the first case of T. callipaeda in a dog was detected in 2000 and because of an increasing number of dog thelaziosis, a survey in veterinary practices was carried out. A total of 106 Thelazia-positive dogs from a retrospective analysis and from ongoing cases between 2005 and 2007 as well as five positive cats were reported. For a cross-sectional study, 529 randomly selected dogs (from six veterinary practices), to which anaesthesia was given for other medical reasons, were additionally checked for the presence of adult specimens of Thelazia in 2006: 28 dogs were found positive indicating an overall prevalence of 5.3%. Thelazia-infection was furthermore diagnosed in 7 of 126 foxes (5.6%) shot in Ticino in winter 2005-2006. Affected foxes, dogs and cats originated from the same regions up to 863m of altitude. The cats and 57.9% (55/95) of the infected dogs had never crossed the Swiss border. Collected nematodes were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda, and this diagnosis was confirmed by the analysis of a part of the sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), revealing haplotype 1, the only one so far found in Europe. Animals harboured 1-23 eye worms. The most common symptoms were conjunctivitis and epiphora, while keratitis was present only in a low number of animals. Young and small sized dogs were significantly less involved than large animals and over 3 years of age. The results indicate that thelaziosis is endemic in that area.

[Cardiac tamponade due to pericardial mesothelioma in an 11-year-old dog: diagnosis, medical and interventional treatments]. / Herztamponade durch ein Perikardmesotheliom bei einem 11-jährigen Hund: Diagnose, medikamentelle und interventionelle Behandlungen.

In a dog presenting with the clinical signs of exercise intolerance and ascites, cardiac tamponade due to suspected idiopathic pericarditis was diagnosed based on thoracic radiographs, electrocardiogram (EKG) and cardiac ultrasound. Pericardial effusion recurred soon after pericardiocenteses, prescription of colchizine and again after balloon pericardiotomy. After partial pericardectomy by thoracoscopy and after obtaining a histological diagnosis of mesothelioma adjuvant intracavitary chemotherapy using cisplatin was performed. Already one week later the dog developed marked dyspnea due to severe pleural effusion. The dog was maintained at acceptable life quality judged based on playfulness and appetite using repeated pleuro-centeses for an additional two months, when the dog was euthanized due to uncontrollable pleural effusion. Despite extensive treatments life span from initial presentation to euthanasia was only 5 months. Necropsy revealed extensive mesothelioma metastases covering the whole pleura, epicardium and remaining pericardium. Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of (recurrent) pericardial effusion are discussed based on this case.

Some new aspects of the functional anatomy of the shoulder.

The authors investigated the functional role of the shoulder muscles in various active movements using simultaneous polymyographic recordings. Ten muscles were investigated in both normal subjects and in patients with pathological conditions. Ten patients were also studied during the course of operations for nonrelated conditions by "tetanizing" stimulation of nerves to individual muscles to determine their action as single muscles.

Transfer of sensory nerves in hand surgery.

The transfer of sensitive dorsal rami of the ulnar nerve (two cases) and of two sensitive dorsal rami of the radial nerve (five cases) was accomplished in order to restore the sensitivity of the first three finger tips in patients suffering from serious and longstanding inveterate lesions of the median nerve. The Authors describe the two surgical techniques in detail and, according to the satisfactory results obtained, specify the indications and advantages of this operation.

Complications and technical errors in endo- and arthroprostheses of the wrist and hand. A critical reappraisal of 89 operations.

The authors analyse eighty-nine operations performed between 1969 and 1975 for the insertion of endo- and arthroprostheses is the wrist and hand, with special reference to the complications and errors of technique of this type of surgery. They have paid particular attention to possible errors of diagnosis, faulty indications, and technical operative errors. They confirm that this type of surgery, which is still in the developmental stages, should be restricted to carefully selected cases and performed only in specialist centres.

Neurovascular island flaps in the emergency reconstruction of the terminal phalanx of the thumb.

The technique of neurovascular island flaps is described applied as an emergency operation in six patients who presented with considerable loss of substance of the fleshy pulp of the thumb or total loss of the terminal phalanx. The writers consider that the reconstructive method described by them is an advance on the traditional method, since not only can the matter be resolved in a single operative session, but epicritic sensitivity is maintained, the length of the thumb remains unaltered, better aesthetic results are obtained, and there are no vasomotor or sympathetic disorders.