101,319 research outputs found
Prefazione alla prima edizione italiana
No full textPrefazione alla prima edizione italiana di Sviluppo del Sistema Nervos
Demodicosis in Chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra subsp. rupicapra) in the Italian Alps, 2013-14
No full textWe report demodicosis in five alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra subsp. rupicapra) from the Italian Alps that showed moderate crusts on the head and dorsal aspect of the trunk. We detected intramural folliculitis, moderate dermatitis, and T-lymphocytes and macrophages associated with Demodex spp. in follicles and sebaceous glands
Letter, [Author unclear] to Paulina T. Merritt
No full textHandwritten letter to Paulina Merritt from an unknown author, October 1, 1876.
Spread and genotype of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra)
No full textThe complex life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii involves many animal species, raising zoonotic, economic, and conservation issues. This complexity is reflected in the molecular structure of T. gondii, whose different genotypes differ in pathogenicity. Among the intermediate hosts of T. gondii, wild ungulates may be a source of human infection. Despite intense hunting activity and the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, little information is available on the spread of T. gondii and the distribution of its genotypes in these species, including the alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra). Ninety-three sera and 50 brain tissues from chamois were sampled (1) to investigate the spread of T. gondii with serological and molecular analyses, and (2) to genotype the strains with a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the SAG2 locus. The prevalence of T. gondii was low on both serological (3.2 %) and molecular (2 %) analyses, and infections were concentrated in individuals > 1 year old. These findings demonstrate the sporadic presence of the protozoan in this species on consistent diagnostic tests. Horizontal transmission seems to be the main route of infection, and cats are the only definitive host in the study area. This prevalence suggests that the environment of the chamois is less contaminated with oocysts than environments close to human settlements. The SAG2 type II genotype was detected in this species for the first time. Although this genotype is predominant in human toxoplasmosis, these results suggest that the chamois is a minor source of human infection
Epidemiological investigation of Toxoplasma gondii in Alpine red deer(Cervus elaphus) : spread and effects on pregnancy
No full textSeveral animal species can be infected by the widespread protozoan Toxoplasma gondii contributing to maintain both domestic and sylvatic parasite lifecycle and favouring the raise of public health issues related to its zoonotic value. As wild ungulates can be source of T. gondii for humans through consumption, manipulation and evisceration of carcasses, risk of infection should be evaluated in relation to the amount of game meat available from harvest plans every year. Therefore in Italy the attention should be focused on red deer (Cervus elaphus) because of the intense hunting activity in many Alpine areas and since this species is the most frequently consumed raw or undercooked. In particular, despite the well documented zoo-economic losses in livestock, little is known about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in red deer particularly regarding any impact on populations’ dynamics. Besides no assessments are reported about T. gondii associated-reproductive pathologies in this species although vertical transmission recorded in white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and natural transplacental toxoplasmosis documented in a stillborn reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) foetus point out the hypothesis that also red deer could be affected. In addition just few studies have investigated the effect of parasitism on fecundity of ungulates in natural conditions.
Here we performed a sero-epidemiological investigation of T. gondii in red deer from two areas in Stelvio National park (Italian Central Alps), and three Generalized Linear Models were set up to evaluate: (1) the epidemiological factors influencing the probability to get infected; (2) if the infection is acquired before the breeding season or in early pregnancy and (i) could cause early abortion and drive hinds to lose reproduction, (ii) may influence hinds’ fertility through a delay in the physiological development of foetus.
During two consecutive weeks between the end of November and the beginning of December 2012, 81 red deer sera were collected during the culling management plan scheduled by the park, for each subject age, sex, location and morpho-biometric measures were recorded. In females, lactation and pregnancy were also registered together with foetus body weight and length. Sera were tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG using a commercial ELISA kit (IDVET, Montpellier, France).
An overall seroprevalence of 39.5% emerged, giving evidence to the circulation of the pathogen in the study area. In particular, a significant effect of age class (calves, 1-year-old and > 2-year-old deer) was recorded: the probability to contract infection is significant lesser in calves than in the two others. No significant difference emerged between 1-year-old and >2- year-old deer pointing out an equal infection in these age classes supporting the hypothesis of a high level of environmental contamination. Considering the sporadic presence of lynx (Lynx lynx) in Italian Alps, feral and semi-domestic cats are the only definitive hosts responsible for T. gondii spreading. Calves did not contract the infection, apart just one female, and this fact suggests an almost total lack of vertical transmission in the studied population. T gondii infection seems not to prevent hinds to become pregnant or to cause early abortion, leaving females apparently barren although a negative effect of the pathogen on foetuses development of 2-3 year-old hinds and of hinds from area 1 was recorded. These results highlight that the pathogen could anyway affect pregnancy supporting the hypothesis that these hinds had acquired the infection before the breeding season or in early pregnancy. In particular T. gondii seems to have influenced their fertility through a delay in the physiological development of foetus or to have affected hinds’ breeding season provoking a delay in mating or in pregnancy.
Data arisen give evidence to a high level of T. gondii environmental contamination with horizontal transmission as the only route of infection in the study area. In this sense a widespread exposure to infection is supposed and should be taken into account in relation to the parasite zoonotic potential. The recorded negative impact of T. gondii on foetus development of both 2-3 year-old hinds and females from area 1 points out that under specific conditions the pathogen could give an impact on population dynamics of this intermediate host. Further analysis are needed to evaluate the distribution, densities and T. gondii-sero prevalence of semi-domestic and feral cats in order to define their role in environmental contamination and thus their effect in red deer infection
Detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia by ELISA assay in alpine Chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra)
No full textContrasting pattern of Eimeria spp. oocyst emission in chamois (Rupicaprar.rupicapra) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Italian Alps
No full textParasites have often been considered as partial limiting factor of
wildlife populations, underlining their impact on animal welfare.
Despite previous surveys showed a possible relation between
coccidian infection and juvenile mortality in livestock, little
information is available on the detrimental effects of protozoa
infections on wild ungulate population dynamics.
Therefore we investigated oocyst emission in chamois (Rupicapra
r. rupicapra) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) as dominant
species in Alps whose census data are available, and we modelled
through Generalized Linear Models in order to evaluate
which epidemiological factors may influence oocyst emissions.
Overall 96 chamois and 68 red deer faecal samples have been
monthly collected through transects within the Alpe Veglia-Alpe
Devero Natural Park, in 2011 and 2013 from June to November.
Samples have been analyzed by FLOTAC techniques to estimate
oocyst per gram of faeces (OPG). The overall oocyst prevalence
was 66% and 75% respectively in chamois and red deer. In
chamois, kids emissions are significantly higher than those of
adults, suggesting that classes 0 are more susceptible than older
age classes due to their immature immune system. Moreover
higher summer faecal OPG emissions were recorded in both
chamois and red deer suggesting the positive effects of advantageous
conditions of temperature and humidity even though the
presence of newborn could also play a role influencing this major
emission. In red deer there are no significant differences between
classes 0 and adults, nevertheless in 2013 calves oocyst emissions
were significantly higher than those registered in 2011.
This could be caused by the snow coat persistance until July
that causes energy expenditures in calves and could reduce the
strength of their immune system. Future in-depth analyses about
Eimeria spp. and other protozoa, such as Giardia spp. and
Cryptosporidium spp., because of their impact on populations,
have been planned, also in relation to data emerged from census,
to investigate any influence between them
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