[Alveolar echinococcosis of the liver. Mass ultrasound screening in the Haut Cantal area]. / Echinococcose alvéolaire hépatique. Dépistage échographique de masse dans le haut cantal.

OBJECTIVE: Mass systematic screening for alveolar echinococcosis (AE) of the liver in the Haut Cantal endemic area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Targeted population was composed of the members of the Mutualité Sociale Agricole of the area, from 16 to 65 years old. 2077 notifications were sent, corresponding to 20% of the population of this area, defined by a triangle between Egliseneuve d'Entraigues, Riom ès Montagne and Saint Flour. Two screening tests were performed: Elisa serology test and liver ultrasound examination. RESULTS: Participation levels were relatively low-ultrasound: 18.92%, serology: 17%. Among 350 liver examinations, 2 suspicions of AE were found: CT and serology confirmed the diagnosis in the first symptomatic patient; CT and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in the other asymptomatic patient in whom serology was normal. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound screening showed at least a 0.57% prevalence of AE, i.e., 2 cases out of 350. This low rate however confirms that Haut Cantal is an endemic area, but with a lower incidence rate than in other endemic areas.

Biochemical parameters following capture myopathy in one Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).

Twenty-three biochemistry parameters and hematocrit were followed during 10 days in a 13 months old Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) during capture myopathy. An increase was found in bilirubin, creatine-kinase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels, but not in potassium level. Most of the parameters analyzed were the first given for this species.

[Therapy of hayfever and pollen asthma in children with a new, modified allergen extract]. / Therapie von Heuschnupfen und Pollenasthma bei Kindern mit einem neuen, modifizierten Allergenextrakt.

During a period of 3 years a controlled and prospective study was performed, in which 20 children with pollinosis and pollen asthma (grass pollen) were treated either with a new modified allergenic extract (preparation I: Purethal) or with a standard semi-depot extract (preparation II: Depot-HAL) from the same producer. During the pollen season symptoms, side effects, additional medication, and pollen counts were registered. 20 patients were treated perennially: 5 with preparation II and with reduction of the doses during the pollen season (group A: treatment during 3 successive years), 15 without reduction of the doses during te season with preparation I (group B, 8 patients: treatment during 3 successive years; group C, 7 patients: treatment during 2 successive years). Patients in all groups showed more symptoms in May and June. In the groups B and C less symptoms were recorded. Especially, the score of asthma symptoms decreased. However, the need for additional medication was somewhat higher in these groups as compared to group A. The differences were not statistically significant. In 50% of the children no local side reactions were observed after the subcutaneous injections. In the groups B and C the number of late local reactions after 6 to 8 hours was somewhat higher. The patients treated with preparation I did not show an increase of allergen-specific IgG during the pollen season. The relative contribution of allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG4 to total specific IgG was lower in the blood samples of these patients as compared to those of group A. The efficacy and the therapeutic safety of the two preparations are comparable. Preparation I has a number of practical advantages, especially in the treatment of children.