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Hide and seek with falsified medicines: current challenges and physico-chemical and biological approaches for tracing the origin of trafficked products
Get PDFThe criminal trafficking of falsified medical products is a worldwide, yet still largely overlooked, public health problem. A falsified medicine fraudulently misrepresents its identity, composition and/or source, often being ineffective or toxic for patients. Although techniques have been developed to detect falsified medicines, it remains a challenge to trace where- and by whom- the products are manufactured. We aim to discuss plausible biological and physico-chemical analytical techniques that could reveal information about the origin of medical falsifications. We first provide a brief overview on the prevalence, criminal activities, health impacts and (bio)chemical features of falsified medical products. We then explore diverse laboratory approaches, that are used in food fraud, illicit drug and wildlife trafficking investigations, and discuss how they could be combined and redirected towards tracing falsified medicine origin and hence empowering enforcement to counter this pernicious but neglected global health problem
Ecological determinants driving orthohantavirus prevalence in small mammals of Europe: a systematic review
Get PDFOrthohantaviruses are emerging zoonotic pathogens that cause severe human disease and are considered an emerging public health threat globally. Mammalian orthohantaviruses are naturally maintained in rodent species and occasionally in other mammals. The abundance and density of natural orthohantavirus reservoir species are affected by multi annual and seasonal population cycles, community composition, ecosystem variables and climate. Horizontal transmission between host species is mostly density-driven and occurs via contact with infected host excreta, thus, fluctuations in populations and environmental variables often determine the prevalence of hantavirus in natural hosts. Given the zoonotic potential of hantaviruses, ecological factors influencing their spread and persistence in their natural reservoir and population dynamics influencing horizontal transmission require critical evaluation for human infection risk assessment. The present review paper discusses the impacts of natural host population cycles and ecosystem diversity, environmental conditions, and abiotic factors on the epidemiology of rodent-borne hantavirus infections in Europe. While significant efforts have been made to understand the drivers of hantavirus prevalence in natural hosts, we highlight key challenges in evaluating viral prevalence and assessing the role of environmental and population variables in determining hantavirus prevalence in host specie
Qualità delle acque, indice di funzionalità di risorgiva e segnalazioni faunistiche (batracofauna, ittiofauna, astacofauna) nel comune di Isola Vicentina (provincia di Vicenza)
No full textSi presenta uno studio preliminare, eseguito nel 2021, sulla qualità dell’acqua della rete idrografica delle sorgenti del comune di Isola Vicentina (VI), secondo il metodo “Indice di Biodiversità Acquatico (IBA)” di WBA Onlus e sull’indice di Funzionalità di Risorgiva (IFR). Sono state svolte 15 uscite diurne da metà marzo a inizio luglio, per un totale di 42 punti di campionamento lungo i corsi d’acqua, all’interno dei limiti comunali, e 53 punti di campionamento, uno per ciascuna sorgente. Si segnalano anche alcuni aspetti faunistici relativi alla batracofauna di cui sono state contattate sette specie autoctone: Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton vulgaris, Salamandra salamandra, Bufotes viridis balearicus, Pelophylax synkl. esculentus, Rana dalmatina, Rana latastei. Sono inoltre stati individuati due siti riproduttivi di Rana latastei, uno di Rana dalmatina, uno di Bufotes viridis balearicus tramite la tecnica della ricerca a vista delle ovature e sei di Salamandra salamandra tramite la presenza di larve. Gli individui adulti di Ichthyosaura alpestris e di Lissotriton vulgaris, come anche buona parte delle specie ittiche, sono stati contattati durante le retinate volte a catturare i macroinvertebrati acquatici per i due indici (IBA e IFR) e immediatamente liberati. Per quanto riguarda l’ittiofauna, si conferma la presenza di sei specie autoctone, Barbus plebejus, Squalius cephalus, Phoxinus phoxinus, Telestes souffia muticellus, Cobitis bilineata, Padogobius bonelli, e di una specie alloctona, Rhodeus amarus. Di Padogobius bonelli sono stati individuati alcuni siti riproduttivi. Si segnalano anche nuovi dati di presenza di Austropotamobius pallipes, e nelle località in cui è stato rinvenuto ne è stata determinata la densità di popolazione secondo la metodologia ISPRADuring 2021 we carried out a preliminary study on the water quality of the hydrographic network, according to the WBA Onlus “Aquatic Biodiversity Index (IBA)” method and on the Resurgence Functionality Index (IFR) of the springs of the municipality of Isola Vicentina (Vicenza, NE Italy). Fifteen daytime outings were carried out from mid-March to early July, for a total of 42 sampling points along the waterways, within the municipal limits, and 53 sampling points, one for each spring. We highlight some wildlife observations related to the batracofauna. Seven native species have been contacted (Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton vulgaris, Salamandra salamandra, Bufotes viridis balearicus, Pelophylax synkl. esculentus, Rana dalmatina, Rana latastei). Furthermore, we have located two reproductive sites of Rana latastei, one of Rana dalmatina and one of Bufotes viridis balearicus by the visual search technique of egg masses and six of Salamandra salamandra by the presence of larvae. The adult individuals of Ichthyosaura alpestris and Lissotriton vulgaris, as well as a good part of the fish species, were contacted during the net fishing aimed at capturing aquatic macroinvertebrates for the two indices (IBA and IFR) and immediately released. As regards the ichthyofauna, the presence of six native species (Barbus plebejus, Squalius cephalus, Phoxinus phoxinus, Telestes souffia muticellus, Cobitis bilineata, Padogobius bonelli), and an allochthonous species (Rhodeus amarus) is confirmed. We also located some reproductive sites of Padogobius bonelli. Finally, new data on the presence of Austropotamobius pallipes was collected. In the localities where the species was found, its population density was determined according to the ISPRA methodolog
Photodegradation of Retsina wine: does pine resin protect against light-induced changes?
Get PDFRetsina is a wine deeply rooted in Greek tradition, often misunderstood, and exclusively produced in Greece by adding pine resin to the must. Typically, it is bottled in flint glass bottles, although it is known that light can damage wine aroma compounds. However, the effect of light exposure in Retsina wines has never been studied. It remains unknown whether the enrichment with resin-derived compounds can protect Retsina from photodegradation. The main aim of this work was to study the behavior of Retsina’s volatile components when stored in flint glass bottles, and so 12 Retsina wines, prepared with three levels of resin addition, were stored for four weeks under light exposure in flint (clear) glass bottles or protected by light in a box, and then they were analyzed by a GC-MS/MS method. Some compounds were influenced by resin addition, others by light exposure and a few by both conditions. Several terpenes increased with resin addition but decreased due to light exposure, while norisoprenoids decreased under light exposure. Some esters were reduced due to resin addition, and 2-aminoacetophenone was increased by light exposure. The study demonstrated that flint glass bottles should be avoided, as resin does not provide sufficient protection against photodegradation
Diatom diversity in a mountain lake assessed by microscopy and metabarcoding, case study upper lake Balma
No full textAre we doing our best to contain the spread of West Nile virus? Evaluating intervention efficacy through mathematical modelling
Get PDFBackground: West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging vector-borne pathogen that is becoming increasingly prevalent in temperate regions. The development of effective intervention strategies is crucial for limiting its spread; however, the adaptability and ubiquity of mosquitoes, combined with the complexity of the WNV transmission cycle, continue to hinder its eradication. Methods: This study employs a deterministic compartmental model to evaluate the effectiveness of ten intervention strategies targeting either the mosquito (vector) or avian (host) population in the Lombardy region of Italy. Results: Vector-targeted interventions were more effective than host-targeted measures, with breeding site reduction and larvicide treatments demonstrating the greatest efficacy. In contrast, interventions targeting adult mosquitoes, including adulticide treatments and elimination of overwintering mosquitoes, showed moderate efficacy. Furthermore, the impact of eliminating overwintering mosquitoes gradually diminished over time. Host-targeted strategies, such as bird population reduction, were ineffective and, in some cases, led to increased WNV transmission. The efficacy of all interventions varied temporally, peaking in mid-summer. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of prioritising mosquito control, particularly targeting immature stages, to mitigate WNV outbreaks. Our study highlights the critical role of mathematical modelling in designing effective intervention strategies. By providing a structured framework to evaluate and predict the outcomes of various approaches, modelling can aid disease control while optimising resource allocation and minimising environmental impact. Mathematical models, therefore, prove to be powerful tools for balancing public health goals with sustainable practices
