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Aims: To compare anatomical and functional outcomes for 546 phakic and pseudophakic primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (ADs) treated by pars plana vitrectomy or scleral buckling. Methods: Prospective, non-randomised, interventional study in 15 centres in Spain and Portugal, with data from ADs consecutively treated from January 2005 to May 2007. Cases with preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade C-i or higher and perforating trauma were excluded. Minimum follow-up was 3 months. Twenty- seven pre-, intra- and post-surgical variables for each patient were analysed. Multivariate analysis was carried out by logistic regression analysis with stepwise selection of variables. Results: Data from 546 patients were analysed. Global anatomical success was 94.7%. Logistic regression analysis showed that only the development of post- operative proliferative vitreoretinopathy was associated with a poor anatomical outcome. The poorest functional results were associated with macular involvement, extension of AD, previous RD surgery, time of evolution of AD, and age of patient. Hierarchical log-linear analysis showed no effect of the lens status (phakic versus pseudophakic) on the functional results. However, pars plana vitrectomy was most often performed in pseudophakic eyes and resulted in a worse final visual acuity (p<0.OOl). Conclusions: No differences in anatomical success between phakic and pseudophakic eyes were found in this series. Pars plana vitrectomy was most often performed in pseudophakic eyes and had a greater probability of a worse final visual acuity than scleral buckling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum samples collected from 237 dogs in Catalonia (northeastern Spain) were screened by Western blot analysis to detect the presence of antibodies specific to different Leishmania infantum polypeptide fractions. Leishmaniasis was confirmed in 72 of these dogs by direct examination and/or culture. Another 165 animals from the Priorat region were studied periodically for 2-8 years between 1987 and 1995, giving a total of 565 determinations. A control group of 93 dogs from nonendemic areas was also studied. Sera from dogs with leishmaniasis recognized antigens with molecular weights ranging from 12 to 85 kD. The most sensitive antigens were those of 70, 65, 46, 30, 28, 14, and 12 kD, which were recognized by 75%, 75%, 78%, 75%, 81%, 79%, and 75%, respectively, of the sera from dogs with positive parasitologic examination results. Antigens of 70 and 65 kD were also recognized by two dogs from nonendemic areas. Antigens of 14 and 12 kD were the first to be recognized by sera of asymptomatic dogs with titers less than the cut-off value of the dot-ELISA that increased during the longitudinal study, and the presence of antibodies specific for these fractions was observed for up to six years before seroconversion observed by dot-ELISA. These antibodies were also the first to disappear in dogs in which the disease was self-limited. The study corroborates the high sensitivity and specificity of Western blots in the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis when the bands of low molecular weight (less than 46 kD) are considered, and indicates that fractions of 14 and 12 kD are useful in detecting early forms of the disease.

A dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using protein A-peroxidase was evaluated as a diagnostic test for canine leishmaniasis. The test results were in agreement with parasitologic diagnosis and indirect immunofluorescence assay results. The sensitivity of the test calculated on 31 dogs with positive parasitologic examination was 90% when a titer of 1/800 was established as a cutoff and 100% when a titer of 1/400 was established. The specificity calculated on the canine population from nonendemic areas was 100% when both titers were established. Nevertheless, in endemic areas titers near the cutoff need careful interpretation. The results of this study demonstrate that dot-ELISA protein A using a bio-dot apparatus is highly suitable for seroepidemiologic field work.

Blood meals from Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead, collected in four different places in Spain, were identified to determine host-selection patterns. Blood meals were tested using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) biotin-avidin method. Results indicate that this species is an opportunist that feeds on those animals to which it has easiest access. However, some preferences were indicated, because the insect never fed on chickens and frequently fed on sheep at sites where both sheep and goats were present. At some sites, the number of sand flies feeding on dogs was higher than expected, based on the proportion of dogs to man. Nevertheless, differences in host behavior, dispersal of engorged sand flies, and their exo- or endophilic habits make it difficult to assign specific host preferences.