222 research outputs found
Parassiti intestinali in popolazioni canine, fecalizzazione ambientale nella città di Padova e rischi per l’uomo
No full textI parassiti intestinali sono comuni nei cani in tutto il mondo e la loro importanza è recentemente aumentata per una rinata consapevolezza dell’impatto che alcuni di essi hanno sulla salute pubblica. Per questa ragione, come prima cosa sono state valutate presenza e prevalenza di elminti e protozoi intestinali in due diverse popolazioni canine (di canile e di proprietà) e in campioni fecali raccolti in aree verdi e urbane della città di Padova. Poi, la problematica della contaminazione ambientale da feci canine è stata affrontata anche dal punto di vista del cittadino attraverso la somministrazione di questionari che valutassero la percezione delle persone del rischio per la salute correlato alla fecalizzazione. Quindi, 318 campioni di feci canine raccolti in 8 canili del nord-est Italia, 237 campioni di feci di cani di proprietà e 705 campioni fecali raccolti nell’ambiente sono stati analizzati con tecnica copromicroscopica. Poi, 285 campioni di canile, 234 di proprietà e tutti i campioni ambientali sono stati sottoposti ad indagini biomolecolari per individuare e tipizzare gli isolati di Giardia duodenalis e Cryptosporidium spp.. Inoltre, sono state rivolte ai cittadini, distinti in proprietari di cani e non proprietari, 521 interviste. Sono risultati positivi ad almeno un parassita il 52,5% (n=167/318) dei cani di canile (C), il 13,9% (n=33/237) dei cani di proprietà (P) e l’1,7% (n=13/705) dei campioni ambientali (A); Trichuris vulpis è risultato il parassita con la prevalenza maggiore (29,2% in C, 5,5% in P, 1,4% in A), seguito da G. duodenalis (15,1% e 1,1%, rispettivamente in C e in A); mentre Toxocara canis (5,1%) è risultato il secondo parassita maggiormente frequente in P. Altri parassiti hanno mostrato in P ed in A valori di prevalenza molto bassi, mentre in C sono stati evidenziati valori maggiori per T. canis (9,7%), gli ancylostomatidi (8,2%) e Cystoisospora spp. (5,7%). La Real Time PCR ha individuato G. duodenalis nel 57,9% (n=165/285) dei campioni in C, nel 17,5% (n=41/234) in P e nel 28,9% (n=204/705) in A. Tra i positivi, sono stati identificati con la Nested PCR (geni β-giardina e/o SSU-rRNA) 79, 19 e 22 campioni rispettivamente di C, P e A. La maggior parte degli assemblaggi identificati erano genotipi ospite-specifici C e D del cane, tre sono stati identificati come assemblaggio B specifico dell’uomo. I valori di prevalenza per Cryptosporidium spp. sono risultati molto bassi (1,1% in C, 3% in P e 1,7% in A). Gli isolati del canile sono stati sequenziati come C. parvum (gene SSU-rRNA), uno nelle aree urbane è stato identificato come C. canis, gli altri sono stati confermati a livello di genere (Cryptosporidium spp.). L’analisi statistica è stata eseguita per valutare possibili fattori di rischio per la presenza di parassiti intestinali in C e di Giardia (risultati Real Time PCR) in P in relazione ai dati individuali. I cittadini, senza differenze significative tra proprietari e non proprietari, ignoravano che le feci possano rappresentare un fonte di infezione per cani e uomini. Sebbene i risultati descrivano un rischio relativamente limitato di zoonosi che derivano dal cane, esiste la necessità di incrementare la qualità di gestione dei canili per la salute degli operatori che vi lavorano e delle eventuali famiglie adottanti e di migliorare l’informazione e l’educazione delle persone verso una consapevolezza diffusa dei rischi per la salute che sono correlati agli animali da compagnia e nell’ottica di ridurre la contaminazione ambientale da parassiti intestinali
Le imprese alla sfida dell’innovazione
No full textIntervengono: Stefano Casaleggi, direttore generale Area Science Park, Bruno Marin, amministratore delegato AMB, Carlo Poloni, fondatore e presidente Esteco, Renzo Simonato, direttore regionale Veneto Friuli Venezia Giulia e Trentino Alto Adige Intesa Sanpaolo. Conduce Enrico Grazioli, direttore Il Piccol
Evidence of Dirofilaria immitis in Felids in North-Eastern Italy
No full textDirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne nematode, causing heartworm (HW) disease in wild and domestic canids. HW can also affect felids with different clinical patterns from asymptomatic pictures to sudden death, making the monitoring and diagnosis complicated. Canine HW is endemic in North-eastern Italy; however, very little information has been recorded for felids. This study aims to provide new information on HW in felids in North-eastern Italy. Two hundred and six domestic cats from Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto-Adige regions (North-eastern Italy), nine captive felids from zoological parks from Veneto, and nineteen European wildcats from Friuli Venezia Giulia were recruited. Sera/plasma was analysed for the detection of anti-HW antibodies (Ab) and HW antigens (Ag); positive blood samples were molecularly analysed, targeting the HW DNA (5S-rRNA gene). Twelve out of two hundred and six (5.8%) cats presented with Ab, and three out of two hundred and six (1.5%) presented with Ag, mainly those from the Veneto region, already known as a canine HW-endemic area. Among Ab-positive cats, two were from Belluno, a mountain province previously considered free, suggesting the expansion of HW into the northern areas. No cats were positive for both Ab and Ag. Three out of nineteen (15.8%) wildcats were Ag-positive, constituting the first HW report in Italy. No captive felids were positive. Dirofilaria immitis DNA was not amplified in positive samples, suggesting the low sensitivity of PCR on blood. This study provides new data on the occurrence of HW in domestic cats and wildcats in North-eastern Italy
A case study on Toxascaris leonine in big felids: inessicacy of a single-dose treatment with pyrantel pamoate
No full textElimination of helminthiasis from zoological collections is a challenging issue and often the eradication of the infection is not completely and definitely achieved. Maintenance of ascaridiosis in a facility is helped by the great resistance of the parasite's eggs, the wide host spectrum and a non-strictly monoxenous life cycle. In this case study, copromicroscopic examinations carried out in a facility hosting large felids in Northeastern Italy showed that 14/29 animals were positive for Toxascaris leonina. Following AZA manual recommendations, all positive animals were treated with pyrantel pamoate at 5 mg/kg PO for one or three consecutive days depending on the species and the efficacy of the treatment was proved by the complete absence of eggs in stool samples after 10 days. Nevertheless, faecal egg shedding reoccurred after 60 days, an insufficient period for the development of reinfection from environmental contamination. We hypothesize that two consequential treatments with Pyrantel pamoate are thus to be considered essential to eliminate larval stages of the parasite lodging in the gut walls. These larvae could indeed give origin to new patent infection after 60 days, making the single treatment ineffective in reducing the parasitic environmental burden
Reviewer_2_v.1 – Supplemental material for Tailored combined cytomegalovirus management in lung transplantation: a retrospective analysis
No full textSupplemental material, Reviewer_2_v.1 for Tailored combined cytomegalovirus management in lung transplantation: a retrospective analysis by Paolo Solidoro, Filippo Patrucco, Daniela Libertucci, Giulia Verri, Francesca Sidoti, Antonio Curtoni, Massimo Boffini, Erika Simonato, Mauro Rinaldi, Rossana Cavallo and Cristina Costa in Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease</p
Molecular survey of Cytauxzoon spp. and Hepatozoon spp. in felids using a novel real-time PCR approach
No full textTick-transmitted apicomplexans of the genera Cytauxzoon and Hepatozoon affect
a wide range of felids worldwide, but little is known about them. Recently, several
studies addressed the species circulating in Europe, their distribution, and their
hosts. Molecular assays are the method of choice for their detection. Unfortunately,
conventional PCRs already described are time- and cost-consuming and specific
for either Hepatozoon or Cytauxzoon detection. This study was developed to
evaluate (i) the occurrence of Cytauxzoon and Hepatozoon in felids using a fast
and cost-saving real-time PCR capable of detecting both protozoa simultaneously,
(ii) the distribution of Cytauxzoon and Hepatozoon species in north-eastern Italy,
and (iii) the involvement of other susceptible felid hosts in the same area. An
SYBR® Green-based real-time PCR with primers targeting the 18S-rRNA was
validated and applied to 237 felid samples, i.e., whole blood from 206 domestic
cats and 12 captive exotic felids, and tissues from 19 wildcats. Positive results were
obtained by melting temperature curve analysis due to the specific melting peak
(i.e., 81°C Cytauxzoon spp.; 78–78.5°C Hepatozoon spp.). Positive samples were
subjected to conventional PCR, followed by sequencing for species identification.
Phylogenetic analyses were performed to assess relatedness among European
isolates. Data on domestic cats (age class, sex, origin, management, and lifestyle)
were recorded, and statistical analyses were performed to identify potential risk
factors. A total of 31 (15%) domestic cats were positive for Hepatozoon spp. (i.e.,
12 for H. felis, 19 for H. silvestris), while six (2.9%) for C. europaeus. The prevalence
of Hepatozoon felis was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in domestic cats, while H.
silvestris was higher in strays and animals from the Eastern region (i.e., Friuli-
Venezia Giulia). Cytauxzoon europaeus was detected only in stray cats from
Friuli-Venezia Giulia (province of Trieste). Among captive felids, one tiger was
infected with H. felis and another with H. silvestris; eight out of 19 (42%) wildcats
were positive for Hepatozoon spp. (i.e., six with H. felis, two with H. silvestris) and
four out of 19 (21%) for Cytauxzoon europaeus. Outdoor lifestyle and origin (i.e.,
Friuli-Venezia Giulia region) were the most relevant risk factors for H. silvestris
and C. europeus infections. Conversely, H. felis was most frequently isolated from
domestic cats, suggesting different modes of transmission
Author_response_to_reviewer_comments – Supplemental material for Tailored combined cytomegalovirus management in lung transplantation: a retrospective analysis
No full textSupplemental material, Author_response_to_reviewer_comments for Tailored combined cytomegalovirus management in lung transplantation: a retrospective analysis by Paolo Solidoro, Filippo Patrucco, Daniela Libertucci, Giulia Verri, Francesca Sidoti, Antonio Curtoni, Massimo Boffini, Erika Simonato, Mauro Rinaldi, Rossana Cavallo and Cristina Costa in Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease</p
Toxoplasma gondii infection and food consumption: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-controlled studies
No full textToxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease causing severe symptoms in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. On average, worldwide, around 30% of people are seropositive. The oral transmission route is of great significance and food, particularly meat, is an important transmission vehicle for T. gondii. However, the role of different food matrices is debated
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