Diets and trophic niches of the main commercial fish species from the Celtic Sea.

The characterization and quantification of diets of nine commercially important Celtic Sea fish species (black-bellied angler Lophius budegassa, blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou, Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, European hake Merluccius merluccius, megrim Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis, European plaice Pleuronectes platessa, common sole Solea solea and whiting Merlangius merlangus) was undertaken November 2014 and November 2015 to gain a better understanding of fish feeding strategies, prey preferences, competition for resources and, more generally, increases knowledge of marine ecosystem functioning. Prey were classified into 39 taxonomic groups. A feeding overlap index and multivariate analyses were used to classify the fishes into four main trophic groups where interspecific competition for resources may be important: piscivorous species, omnivorous species, planktivorous species and invertebrate benthic feeders. Ontogenetic changes in diet were also considered for L. budegassa, G. morhua, M. aeglefinus, M. merluccius and M. merlangus through partitioning into size classes. This revealed an important shift in the diet of M. merluccius from omnivory to piscivory, whereas M. aeglefinus exhibited no significant ontogenetic change in diet, remaining an invertebrate benthic feeder. Feeding strategies of these species were also investigated using the Shannon niche-breadth index and other descriptors, such as the total number of taxonomic groups of prey and the mean number of prey in gut contents.

[Bacterial endocarditis in children]. / L'endocardite infectieuse chez l'enfant.

The authors undertook a retrospective study of 69 cases of infective endocarditis (IE) in 68 children treated from 1971 to 1992. The comparison between two groups (Group I comprising 34 patients treated between 1971 and 1981; Group II comprising 34 patients treated between 1982 and 1992) based on a review of the literature showed that the natural history of paediatric IE has changed during these two decades: a slight increase in the incidence in young children. The sequellae of rheumatic heart disease play no role in determining IE in France. Congenital heart disease plays a major role (72% of cases) with increasing numbers having undergone surgical treatment for more complex lesions. Mitral valve prolapse has become a more common cause with multiple portals of entry, predominantly buccal and oto-rhino-laryngeal. Blood cultures are positive in 75% of cases, the commonest organisms being Streptococci and Staphylococci, but the frequency of uncommon pathogens is increasing. Echocardiography plays a major role in the diagnosis and inventory of IE (vegetations demonstrated in 64% of cases in Group II). Although mortality is progressively decreasing (3% in Group II) because of more frequent surgical indications (32% in Group II) and more severe sequellae: only 27% of children in Group II were cured without sequellae or aggravation of their previous cardiac lesion.

[Cardiac manifestations in leptospirosis. Apropos of 15 cases observed in New Caledonia]. / Manifestations cardiaques au cours des leptospiroses. A propos de 15 cas observés en Nouvelle-Calédonie.

The authors report the cardiovascular manifestations observed in 15 cases of severe leptospirosis in New Caledonia. Cardiovascular collapse is frequent. Electrocardiographic alterations consist mainly of arrhythmia secondary to atrial fibrillation and repolarisation disorders. A picture of pseudo-pericarditis has also been observed. These cardiac manifestations represent a factor of gravity when associated with multi-visceral manifestations which control the prognosis.

Antimicrobial resistance survey in a river receiving effluents from freshwater fish farms.

AIMS: The aims of this study were: (i) to determine the proportions of Aeromonas spp. resistant to florfenicol (FC), oxolinic acid (OA) and oxytetracycline (OTC) along a river receiving effluents from fish farms, and (ii) to assess the relevance of using this bacterial group as an indicator for studying the consequences of the use and release of these aquacultural antimicrobials in the freshwater environment, as compared with performing antimicrobial measurements in sediments. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sediment interstitial waters sampled along a river during two distinct climatic seasons were plated on an Aeromonas-selective medium supplemented or not with OA, OTC or FC. The October 2004 campaign showed an enrichment of OA- and OTC-resistant Aeromonas immediately downstream of the fish farms and a wastewater treatment plant. Two fish farms showed similar results in March 2005. In contrast, only 10 FC-resistant Aeromonas strains could be isolated, which revealed that minimum inhibitory concentrations of FC were greater than 64 microg ml(-1) and multiple antimicrobial resistances. Contamination of sediments by antimicrobials was detected but was not always co-localized with resistance peaks or known point sources of contamination. CONCLUSIONS: Aeromonas could be valuable indicators of OA, OTC and FC resistance in the freshwater environment. Fish farms contribute to the contamination of the river by antimicrobials and resistant bacteria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Considering the still very low proportion of FC-resistant Aeromonas, this study can be considered as a reference for further studies about this recently introduced veterinary antimicrobial agent.

Acute toxicity of fluorescein to turbot (Scophthalmus maximus).

Some land-based marine fish-farms situated on the Atlantic coastline of France use high volumes of underground sea water. Studies of the available quantities and movements of this underground resource became necessary, using fluorescent dyes such as fluorescein. As fluorescein may reach reared fish, it became important to assess its toxicity to fish. Acute fluorescein toxicity to turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) was investigated by exposing fish to different fluorescein concentrations (0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.1 and 1.3 milligrams) at 14.0 C for 24, 48 or 96 h. The lethal concentration inducing 50% fish mortality (LC50) was 997.1 +/- 11.4 mg/l (mean +/- standard deviation) after a 24, 48 or 96 h exposure. Toxicity affected the central nervous system. Early postmortem findings were a brown-green coloring of some tissues and encephalon congestion. The fluorescein LC50 was much higher than the recommended concentration in field applications (1 mg/l), indicating that fluorescein toxicity to turbot will not be expected when used at the recommended concentration.

Changing patterns and prognosis of infective endocarditis in childhood.

A retrospective study of 69 cases of infective endocarditis in 68 children (group I: 1971-1981; 34 children; group II: 1982-1992; 34 children) disclosed the following features: a moderate increase in the global incidence of infective endocarditis (0.5% of children hospitalized in paediatric cardiology units) and of its incidence in the very young (proportion of children less than 1 year of age: 9% in group 1 and 17% in group II); no rheumatic heart disease amongst predisposing heart diseases in children living in France; a major causal role of congenital heart diseases (72%), with an increasing incidence of previous operation (group I: 42%; group II: 56%); an increase in associated complex congenital heart diseases (group I: 11%; group II: 20%); no change in related mitral valve prolapse (5% in both groups); positive blood cultures in 76% of cases, with similar rates of Staphylococci (group I: 27%; group II: 30%) and of unusual microorganisms (15% in both groups); a major diagnostic role for echocardiography (vegetations in group II: 64%). Complications occurred in 75% of cases in both groups (pulmonary or systemic emboli, mycotic aneurysms, valvar regurgitation), leading to heart failure in 29% of group I patients and in 32% of group II patients. Mortality has decreased, from 12% in group I to 3% in group II, as a result of more frequent cardiovascular surgery (group I: 11 cases; group II: 15 cases), problems due to restrictive prostheses, and severe consequences: only 27% of group II children were cured without deterioration of their cardiac condition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Human leptospirosis in New Caledonia and dependencies. Apropos of 57 cases observed between 1 June 1983 and 31 May 1985]. / La leptospirose humaine en Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances. A propos de 57 cas observés en 2 ans, du 1er juin 1983 au 31 mai 1985.

57 cases of leptospirosis were diagnosed in New Caledonia (South Pacific French Territory) between June 1983 and May 1985. 25% cases are severe infections; thrombopenia and renal failure are frequently observed. Leptospires are found in blood or spinal or urine culture confirmed by haemagglutination tests on microplates (Martin et Petit). Epidemiological studies are being performed during 1985-1986 to devise preventive measures adapted to the territory.

[Shock during necrotic amoebic colitis (author's transl)]. / L'état de choc au cours de l'amibiase colique nécrosante.

Two varieties of conditions of shock may be isolated during necrotic amoebic colitis (13 cases). Eight patients present a simple hypovolemic shock secondary to wastage by diarrhea and perilesional oedema with globular, protein, alcaline and potassic deficiency. Its prognosis is relatively good, after vascular infilling and corrections of metabolic disorders. Five other patients present real toxi-infectious shock resulting from widespread tissue necrosis with auto-intoxication associated with septicemic complications. Its prognosis is frankly bad. The treatment is far more difficult. The use of cardiovascular analeptics, such as dopamine, after an infilling failure, is not always sufficient to re-establish the situation. The exeresis of necrotic tissues is an indispensable condition to remove the cause of the shock before septicaemic generalisation.

[Shock in abruptio placentae (author's transl)]. / L'état de choc au cours de l'hématome rétro-placentaire.

In sixty abruptions of the placenta observed during eighteen months, a severe condition of shock was observed in thirty per cent of patients. This shock state is seen during the abruption or after delivery. It's essentially a question of hemorrhagic shock, the importance of hemorrhagy being often underestimated, if the drop of blood pressure and blood losses are only estimated. The measurement of central venous pressure and the research of metabolic acidosis are better indexes of shock. This shock is associated with hypofibrinogenaemia and with other symptoms of disseminated intra-vascular coagulation. Fibrinolysis is rarely observed (3 times). Presence of fibrin degradation products is frequent. Renal complications are observed only in 1/6 of cases, but are frequently severe (one case of renal cortical necrosis). Heparinotherapy does not confirm the hope be suscited and seems to be a frequent source of ehmorrhagic complications in African women. Perfusion of fibrinogen, if useful, can be another source of complications. Rapid transfusion is the more effective treatment of abruption placenta and probably the less dangerous with strict control of the central venous pressure.