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The prevalence of gastric nematodes in 151 goats on Grand Canary Island is around 56%, with a mean burden of 691 worms/animal. No significant differences of prevalence and intensity were found between the four isoclimatic areas of the island [dry-desert (DD); dry-steppe (DS); temperate-mild (TM); temperate-cold (TC)]. Five nematode species were identified, the most commonly-occurring being Teladorsagia circumcincta (observed in 65.8% of parasitized animals) and Trichostrongylus axei (51.9%). The distribution of the two species showed opposing trends: T circumcincta was more prevalent in the coastal areas (DD), diminishing in frequency closer to the centre of the island (TC), while the reverse was true of T axei. The other species identified were Haemonchus contortus, T trifurcata and Camelostrongylus mentulatus; their ranges were restricted to certain areas (H contortus in DS and TM; T trifurcata in DD, DS and TM; and C mentulatus in DD). To analyse the parasite association under natural conditions of an unusual nematode in goats, C mentulatus, with the usual parasites a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess the overall behaviour of the nematode community and to examine the Euclidean distances of the parasite associations. The mean Euclidean distances obtained for C mentulatus showed a tendency to a positive association which has also been observed for the other abomasal nematodes.

A retrospective analysis to assess the feasibility and clinical tolerance of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in the treatment of recurrent gynecologic cancer is reported. From February 1985 to September 1992, 26 patients with recurrent gynecologic tumors entered this trial. The clinical experience comprises two different categories of disease situations: tumors relapsing after full dose radiation therapy (group I) and recurrent disease to previous surgery (group II). Cervical carcinoma was the initial tumor site of involvement in 18 patients (69%). Treatment consisted in maximal surgical resection + IORT boost (10-25 Gy) to the high-risk areas for recurrence. Non previously irradiated patients also received external beam irradiation (EBRT) (+/- chemotherapy) pre- or postoperatively. IORT-related toxicity was one episode of motor neuropathy. Local control rates have been 33% and 77%, respectively in groups I and II. The 4-year actuarial overall survival in Group I is 7% and 6-year actuarial overall survival in Group II is 33%. The addition of IORT to surgical debulking achieves modest local control and long-term survival rates if tumor-free margins cannot be obtained in previously irradiated patients. Combined EBRT (+/- chemotherapy) maximal surgical resection plus IORT could render some long-term survivors among those surgical recurrent patients not candidates for radical surgery with curative intent.