1,721,134 research outputs found
Le micosi superficiali degli animali: aspetti epidemiologici e di sanità pubblica
No full textTra le micosi superficiali degli animali, un ruolo di primaria importanza è rivestito indubbiamente dalle dermatofitosi. Nel recente report ECMM riguardante una indagine retrospettiva (1995-1999) sulle dermatofitosi di cani e gatti in Europa (Cabanes e coll., 2003) a cui hanno collaborato gruppi di studio italiani, la presenza di dermatofiti è stata segnalata nel 27,4%dei gatti e nel 12,4%dei cani esaminati. Per quanto riguarda più in specifico la situazione italiana, valutando le più recenti indagini epidemiologiche, si possono osservare prevalenze che vanno da 23,80% a 33,26% nel gatto e da 11,40% a 21,50% nel cane (Gallo e coll., 2000; Cafarchia e coll., 2002; Galuppi e coll.; 2002 Mancianti e coll., 2002). I lavori concordano sul fatto che M. canis è il dermatofita di maggior riscontro nel cane e ancor più nel gatto; Yorkshire e Persiani rispettivamente risultano essere le razze più colpite. In entrambe le specie la prevalenza risulta maggiore nei soggetti di età inferiore a un anno. La stagionalità dell’infezione presenta differenze a seconda delle zone esaminate e delle diverse annate. Per quanto riguarda altri animali domestici (Galuppi e coll., 2002), indagini effettuate su bovini sintomatici in provincia di Bologna hanno evidenziato la presenza unicamente di T. verrucosum (48,72% degli animali esaminati). Proprio nei confronti di questo dermatofita da pochi anni è stato commercializzato in Italia un vaccino che, usato da anni nei paesi della ex unione sovietica e del nord europa ha modificato notevolmente la diffusione di questo micete in tali zone. Negli equini prevale ancora T.equinum, anche se sono stati evidenziati casi di lesioni dovute a M.canis e M.gypseum. I conigli si rivelano più frequentemente colpiti da T. mentagrophytes seguito da M. canis. Gatti e conigli frequentemente possono risultare portatori asintomatici svolgendo così un importante ruolo di serbatoio. Anche la resistenza delle artrospore gioca un importante ruolo epidemiologico legato alla prolungata contaminazione degli ambienti (Mancianti e coll 2003). I riflessi sulla sanità pubblica sono evidenziati dal fatto che, come ormai noto, nel sud e nell'est dell'Europa nell’uomo i miceti antropofili sono stati rimpiazzati da specie zoofile quali M. canis e T. mentagrophytes. In particolare in Italia M. canis risulta il dermatofita più frequentemente riscontrato nell’uomo. Un’indagine compiuta in collaborazione con l'ospedale S. Chiara di Trento (Gaino e coll., 2000), ha evidenziato come in casi di infezione da M.canis nell'uomo, lo stesso dermatofita fosse presente anche negli animali di proprietà: nel 72% dei casi si trattava di gatti e nel 27% cani; fra i gatti, 53,5% erano randagi adottati e 15% erano persiani provenienti da un allevamento. Indagini svolte su gatti randagi in alcune città italiane hanno evidenziato una elevata prevalenza di M. canis (fino al 47,4%): in particolare a Bologna e Venezia questa è risultata significativamente maggiore rispetto a quella riscontrata in animali di proprietà (Galuppi e coll., 1992;2000 e Romano e coll., 1997). I gatti, in particolare quelli provenienti da collettività feline, sembrano quindi svolgere un ruolo importante nella trasmissione dell’infezione all’uomo; non bisogna però trascurare a livello diagnostico la possibilità di trasmissione di dermatofiti anche da altre specie animali.
Un breve cenno fra le micosi superficiali meritano anche le infezioni da Malassezia spp. Negli ultimi anni si è visto un aumentato interesse attorno ai lieviti appartenenti a questo genere, e gli studi epidemiololgici sono in continua evoluzione. Gli studi svolti da vari autori stanno mettendo in evidenza come anche negli animali domestici possano riscontrarsi specie lipidodipendenti, solitamente considerate tipiche dell'uomo, e viceversa, come nell'uomo siano stati segnalati casi di infezione sistemica da M. pachydermatis, specie non lipido-dipendente considerata tipica in particolare del cane. A tutt'oggi non sono però stati condotti studi sufficienti a definire un chiaro ruolo del cane quale i serbatoio in questo tipo di infezione
Development of an in vitro test to compare natural and chemical products effectiveness against Ls gastrointestinal strongylids of sheep
No full textGastrointestinal nematodes are still one of the main constraints to sheep production. The rising resistance to anthelmintic drugs and the increasing interest for organic livestock products have drawn
attention for the use of natural drugs. In this study we perform an in vitro method to evaluate the effectiveness of several natural products, compared to some chemicals, against the third larval stage (L3) of gastrointestinal strongylids of ruminants. L3 obtained from sheep faecal cultures were distributed in 24- wells plates with serial dilutions of the testing products. To evaluate the larvicidal activity of the candidate drugs, the number of surviving larvae was counted after 24, 48 hours and 7, 14, 21, 28 days. The mean
number of surviving larvae was compared according to the different products tested at various concentrations and at different contact time, and statistical analyses were performed. In this study, a dry extract of leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica), essential oils of Oregano (Origanum vulgare), Lemon (Citrus
limon) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Levamisole and Calcium cyanamide nitrate were tested. After 24 hours, Levamisole > 2,5 ppm, Calcium cyanamide > 5000 ppm and Oregano essential oil > 5000 ppm concentrations killed all the larvae. Neem caused total death of larvae at > 10000 ppm after 7 days, but after 24 hours the number of surviving larvae was significantly lower than the control. Rosemary and Lemon essential oils were not effective. This method, easy to perform and replicable, can be used as screening to assess the effectiveness of different products against the L3 of gastrointestinal strongylids. Further experiments are necessary in order to better understand the real effectiveness on the field
In vitro activity of chemicals and commercial products against Saprolegnia parasitica and Saprolegnia delica strains
Full text linkOomycetes of the genus Saprolegnia are responsible for severe economic losses in freshwater aquaculture. Following the ban of malachite green in food fish production, the demand for new treatments pushes towards the selection of more safe and environment-friendly products. In the present work, in vitro activity of ten chemicals and three commercial products was tested on different strains of Saprolegnia, using malachite green as reference compound. The compounds were screened in agar and in water to assess the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum lethal concentration (MLC), respectively. Two strains of Saprolegnia parasitica and one isolate of Saprolegnia delica were tested in triplicate per each concentration. Among tested chemicals, benzoic acid showed the lowest MIC (100 ppm) followed by acetic acid, iodoacetic acid and copper sulphate (250 ppm). Sodium percarbonate was not effective at any tested concentration. Among commercial products, VirkonTMS was effective in inhibiting the growth of the mycelium (MIC = MLC = 1,000 ppm). Actidrox® and Detarox® AP showed MIC = 5,000 and 1,000 ppm, respectively, while MLCs were 10-fold lower than MICs, possibly due to a higher activity of these products in water. Similarly, a higher effectiveness in water was observed also for iodoacetic acid
Dataset on ectoparasites in synanthropic rodents
No full textThe dataset includes the data of a study concerning the presence of ectoparasites in rodents captured from October 2020 to April 2023 during pest control campaigns in various Italian provinces (Bologna, Forlì-Cesena, Rimini, Ravenna, Arezzo). A total of 140 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus - 81 samples), black rats (Rattus rattus - 49 samples), and house mice (Mus musculus - 10 samples) are included
In vitro screening of 35 compounds against Saprolegnia spp.
No full textIntroduction: Oomycetes belonging to the genus Saprolegnia cause high mortality rates in freshwater fish culture. The lack of alternative treatment with effectiveness comparable to the banned malachite green (MG), urge the identification of new molecules active against this
pathogen. This work focused on an in vitro screening aimed at assessing the effectiveness of 35 compounds against Saprolegnia spp. in order to select molecules that could be of major interest for further in vivo investigations and applications in aquaculture.
Methodology: In vitro trials were carried out on two Saprolegnia parasitica strains and one S. delica strain. Tests were performed according to existing protocols to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) in agar and the Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLC) after one hour of contact in water. Compounds were provided diluted in DMSO at a concentration of 10 mM (with the exception of Dequalinium Chloride, diluted at 2 mM) that were further diluted to working concentrations of 0.00001; 0.0001; 0.001; 0.01; 0.1 and 0.25 mM. Pure DMSO was also screened at the same amount present in different concentrations, until 1mM, in order to check its own inhibitory or lethal effects. Each strain was tested in triplicate.
Results: Triplicates were consistent among each other. DMSO showed no inhibitory effects against Saprolegnia at concentrations from 0.00001 to 0.25 mM, but was able to inhibit the oomycete at higher concentrations also when used alone. MICs were determined for 15 out of 35 compounds examined. The lowest MIC was defined for zinc pyrithione (0.01 mM). Seven compounds had a MIC of 0.1 mM, seven of 0.25 mM, while the other 20 were ineffective at the tested concentrations.
Conclusion: Although it was not possible to define MICs for several compounds at the tested concentrations, most of the molecules showed the ability to slow down the radial growth and/or to inhibit the aerial mycelium. These compounds, although not showing a high efficacy against Saprolegnia in in vitro trials, could be effective in decreasing the invasive capacity of the oomycete in the host, therefore representing good candidates for further in vivo studies
Observational Study on Cryptosporidiosis in an Equine Perinatology Unit
Full text linkThe present study aimed to describe clinical signs of cryptosporidiosis in neonatal foals hospitalized in an Equine Perinatology Unit and to compare the clinical signs between Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium horse genotype infection. The study was divided into two parts. In the retrospective study, nine foals infected by C. parvum were considered. In the prospective study, 70 foals, less than 15 days old, were prospectively included. Historical and clinical data were recorded, and in the prospective study, multiple fecal samples were collected. C. parvum (n = 13) and Cryptosporidium horse genotype (n = 7) were isolated. In four foals, there was a mixed infection with both the Cryptosporidium. Diarrhea, when present, showed similar duration and characteristics. Sixteen foals showed decreased abdominal sounds and colic pain before evidence of diarrhea. Nineteen foals had hyperthermia at least once. Although survival rates were similar between C. parvum (77%), C. horse genotype (100%), and cryptosporidial mixed infection (100%), foals affected by C. parvum presented anorexia (P <.0031) and received specific therapy (P <.014) more frequently than the others. Recorded data strengthen the thought that C. parvum infection is more severe in foals, suggesting that they would have developed host adaptations in response to the C. horse genotype or that C. parvum is a more pathogenic strain. Because healthy and asymptomatic foals can shed oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp., students and staff should always wear the personal protective equipment to avoid zoonotic infection
Lung parasites of the genus Metastrongylus Molin, 1861 (Nematoda: Metastrongilidae) in wild boar (Sus scrofa L., 1758) in Central-Italy: An eco-epidemiological study
No full textThe respiratory tracts of 57 wild boars (Sus scrofa L. 1758) hunted in central Italy during the 2011/2012 hunting season were examined to detect the presence of lung worms. Fifty-five out of 57 animals (96,5%) were positive. Five species of Metastrongylus were detected and their prevalence was as follows: Metastrongylus asymmetricus Noda, 1973 (91.2%), Metastrongylus confusus Jansen, 1964 and Metastrongylus salmi Gedoelst, 1923 (87.7%), Metastrongylus apri Gmelin, 1790 (80.7%), Metastrongylus pudendotectus Vostokov, 1905 (70.2%). In most cases multi-species infection was observed. The highest parasite load was found in young animals (<1 year old). The Metastrongylus genus sex ratio (M/F) had a range from 1:4.8 to 1:1.5 in favor of females. The Simpson and Shannon-Wiener indices showed a moderate uniformity in parasite community composition. The Fager index highlighted a high degree of affinity among all pairs of selected parasites. The whole parasite population showed an aggregate distribution. Our findings confirm that these parasites are widespread in the wild boar population. The establishment of outdoor domestic pig farming in the same area of the game preserve could pose the risk of infection to domestic animals. Further studies will be needed to understand the factors involved in the presence and prevalence of the intermediate host as well as the population dynamics of Metastrongylus spp
Epidemiological studies to identify risk factors for Saprolegnia infections in Italian trout farms
Full text linkCrenosoma vulpis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Northern Italy
Full text linkCrenosoma vulpis, the fox lungworm, is a nematode parasite of wild and domestic canids belonging to the super-family Metastrongyloidea. A survey of infection was carried out examining 88 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) obtained during the regular hunting season (2014-2015) from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Carcasses were stored frozen (- 21 °C) prior to necropsy. Lungs were examined for the presence of adult worms by dissection of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, and then the lung tissue was examined for first-stage larvae (L1) by the Baermann method. No adult stages were detected, but L1, identified based on morphology as Crenosoma vulpis, were recovered from 28.4% (25/88) of the fox lungs. No significant differences in infection were found based on sex or geographical distribution. A brief review on C. vulpis report in red foxes in Italy and other European countries was also carried out
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