Proliferative peritonitis with larval and cystic parasitic stages in a dog.

A six year old Labrador mix dog, born in Spain, was imported to Germany in young age. After a period of vague abdominal pain and negative laboratory results, the dog was referred to a local veterinary clinic for laparotomy, where the tentative diagnosis of echinococcus alveolaris was made and the dog was euthanized. At necropsy, many cystic structures and a massive proliferative peritonitis were visible. Furthermore a few solid larval cestodal stages were found in the peritoneal and chest cavity. Histological the cysts contained a small eosinophillic tegument, a cell poor stroma, basophilic somatic nuclei and a variable amount of amorphous bodies. The solid cestodes exhibited a quite similar composition with neither scolices nor any head structures. Histological features of the parasitic stages resembled cysts and asexual stages of Sparganum proliferum. Distinctions to other larval cestode infestations in body cavities were discussed.

Síndrome miasténico congénito por deficiencia de rapsina: reporte de caso con nueva mutación y heterocigosidad compuesta / Congenital myasthenic syndrome due to rapsyn deficiency: A case report with a new mutation and compound heterozygosity

INTRODUCCIÓN Los síndromes miasténicos congénitos son un grupo heterogéneo de desórdenes genéticos, caracterizados por una transmisión sináptica anormal en la placa neuromuscular. REPORTE Presentamos el caso de un paciente de dos años, varón, con hipotonía, ptosis palpebral y debilidad simétrica y de predominio proximal, características que aparecieron desde el nacimiento y que motivaron varias hospitalizaciones por neumonía e insuficiencia ventilatoria. Desde el inicio de la deambulación a los dos años, los padres notaron que la debilidad empeoraba por las tardes y con la actividad física repetida o prolongada. El examen físico a los dos años mostró ptosis palpebral, debilidad de predominio proximal y fatigabilidad con el esfuerzo sostenido. La electro-miografía evidenció decremento del 27% en el potencial de acción muscular compuesto. El análisis de tríos mostró heterocigosis compuesta por transmisión de dos mutaciones diferentes en el gen de rapsina, una ya conocida procedente del padre y la otra no reportada previa-mente, procedente de la madre. El paciente recibió piridostigmina obteniendo mejoría inmediata y logrando un desempeño óptimo en actividades escolares, deportivas y de la vida cotidiana. A la fecha, no ha presentado nuevos episodios de insuficiencia ventilatoria. CONCLUSIONES La debilidad de inicio neonatal y la fatigabilidad o agotamiento con el esfuerzo sostenido, con afección principalmente de los músculos con inervación troncal y con un decremento mayor al 10% en el potencial de acción muscular compuesto en la electromiografía, deben hacer sospechar en un síndrome miasténico congénito. Se revisan los puntos clínicos clave que permiten establecer el diagnóstico oportuno y las opciones de tratamiento efectivo para algunos de estos síndromes.

INTRODUCTION The congenital myasthenic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders characterized by an abnormal synaptic transmission in the neuromuscular plate. REPORT We present a two-year-old patient, male, with hypotonia, palpebral ptosis, and proximal symmetric weakness with a neonatal onset that motivated several and prolonged hospitalizations for pneumonia and respiratory failure. From two years of age, the parents noticed that the facial and general weakness worsened in the afternoons and with repeated or prolonged physical activity. The physical examination showed palpebral ptosis, predominantly proximal weakness, and fatigability with sustained muscular effort. The electromyography showed a 27% decrement in the Compound Muscular Action Potential and the case-parents genetic study showed compound heterozygosity with the transmission of two different mutations in the rapsyn gene from both parents. The patient received pyridostigmine with great improvement, achieving optimal performance in school, sports, and daily life activities. CONCLUSIONS Weakness and fatigability with neonatal onset, mainly affecting the muscles with brain stem innervation and the decrement greater than 10 percent in the Compound Muscular Action Potential in the electromyographic studies, should make us suspect in a congenital myasthenic syndrome. We review the literature and key clinical points to establish a timely diagnosis and effective treatment in some of these syndromes.

[Mistletoe in the treatment of cancer]. / Misteltein i behandling av kreft.

Mistletoe (Viscum album) was introduced in the treatment of cancer in 1917. Today, extracts from the plant are used in adjuvant cancer therapy mainly as injections. The most important active agents are lectins, which have cytotoxic and immunostimulating effects. Mistletoe extracts have low toxicity. No fatal side effects have been reported. More than 40 clinical studies have been carried out, mainly at the Lukas Klinik in Switzerland and the Ludvig Boltzmann-Institute in Austria. Most of these studies claim that mistletoe has a positive effect, but were of poor methodological design. Therefore, in the light of our own positive experiences, we recommend a randomized multicentre study to evaluate the effect of mistletoe in cancer treatment.

[Occurrence of housedust mites (Astigmata; Pyroglyphidae) in stables]. / Vorkommen von Hausstaubmilben (Astigmata; Pyroglyphidae) in Stallungen.

Occurrence of house-dust mites (Astigmata; Pyroglyphidae) in stables. The house-dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae was found in 5 samples derived from a conventional henhouse with fowls and pigeons and from a test animal hutch with rats, mice and rabbits. 63 samples derived from conventional sheds, pigsties and hutches as well as from conventional henhouses and large-scale poultry farms showed negative results. Besides mites of the family Pyroglyphidae mites of the Tyroglyphidae family and/or mucedine were found, which affect the development of mite populations. House-dust mites should be considered in the etiology of allergic diseases of dog, cat and livestock.