Associations and interactions among intestinal helminths of the brown trout, Salmo trutta, in northern Italy.

Species co-occurrences and interspecific associations between intensity of infection were studied in helminth communities of three populations of brown trout, Salmo trutta, from northern Italy. Of the eight helminth species, only four were common enough to be included in the analyses: Pomphorhynchus laevis, Acanthocephalus anguillae, Echinorhynchus truttae and Cyathocephalus truncatus. The observed frequencies of co-occurrences of the different species, based on presence/absence data, did not differ from those predicted by a null model derived from prevalence data. However, the intensity of infection (number of individuals per fish) of different helminth species were generally, but not always significantly, negatively correlated in tests of pairwise associations. Variation in fish sizes and its effect on infection levels, and whether or not two helminth species used the same or different intermediate hosts, had no influence on these findings. Of the few significant negative associations found between pairs of helminth species, none was found in more than one fish population. This suggests that interspecific associations may be condition-dependent: even in apparently similar localities, the same combinations of helminth species show different associations. Without evidence of replicability, it is almost impossible to conclude to the consistent role of competition between any pair of helminth species in the field.

Copulation of Acanthocephalus anguillae (Acanthocephala).

A total of 114 specimens of brown trout, Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758, was sampled by electrofishing between October 1998 and July 1999 from the Ceresone stream (North of Padua, Italy). Over 63% of fish were infected with three species of helminth: a tapeworm, Cyathocephalus truncatus (Pallas, 1781), and two acanthocephalan species, Echinorhynchus truttae (Schrank, 1788) and Acanthocephalus anguillae (Muller 1780). On three occasions, in the fore-gut of three brown trout, three pairs of A. anguillae were found in copula. In all three cases, the male's bursa was fully extruded and firmly attached to the posterior region of the female. Cement was found inside the bursa suggesting that insemination had probably occurred. Eight female A. anguillae recovered in five other infected trout had attached copulatory caps.

[Unusual zones of osteitis detected during salvage tympanoplasty]. / Zones d'ostéite insolites découvertes lors de retouches de tympanoplastie.

Three patients were noted to have unusual zones of osteitis during salvage myringoplasty. The first case involved the whole upper wall of the bony canal and was camouflaged by a weeping mucopolypoid carpet. In the second case there was a wide zone of osteitis of the posterosuperior angle of the canal and another smaller zone in the anteroinferior tympanic region. The osteitis in the third case had invaded the total mastoid cortex producing a vast plaque of superficial osteitis which could be removed without difficulty. Diffuse osteomatous reaction of the wall of the canal had resulted. In all three cases a salvage myringoplasty was possible after elimination of the osteitic lesions, although a glue ear persisted with a punctiform perforation in one patient, suggesting tubal dysfunction.

[Role of tubal insufflation in the postoperative follow-up of évidement cavities]. / La place des insufflations tubaires dans les suites opératoires des cavités d'évidement.

The authors report their experience of tubal insufflation in the post-operative care of cavity évidement. Their indications consist of évidement cavities with persistent residual muco-purulent otorrhoea or "glue ear" from the atrial area which remains thickened, while the rest of the cavity is healed (about 15% in their statistics). The technique is simple, consisting essentially of insufflations of air by means of an Itard catheter, which are repeated at regular intervals for a variable period of time. In some cases, drugs, in particular corticosteroids, are injected into the cavity via the catheter. In a series of 17 operated patients, the authors report: 9 excellent results in which drying of the cavity was obtained in record time; 4 good results in which drying of the cavity required numerous insufflations associated with systemic treatment (vaccine therapy, crenotherapy); 1 moderate result with transient persistent otorrhoea; 3 failures.

[Sudden deafness. Critical study of a series of 118 cases]. / Surdités brusques. Etude critique d'une série de 118 cas.

The different types of sudden deafness have been the subject of considerable research, particularly in respect of their definition and etiopathogenic mechanisms. The concept of a vascular disorder has acquired a predominant place that is open to discussion; very little attention has been paid to the very different ages of the patients, their sex distribution, and the varying course of sudden deafness with age. It is in this respect that the original nature of this study lies.