1,721,055 research outputs found
Incidence of Dirofilaria immitis and Leishmania infantum infections in sheltered dogs from Southern Italy
Full text linkLeishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis are among the most important vector-borne pathogens in Europe, affecting animal and human health. In endemic areas, the epidemiology of both infections is conditioned by abundance of vectors and chemoprophylaxis measures. However, knowledge on the incidence of heartworm (HW) and Leishmania infections occurring in sympatry is still scant. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of both infections in two dog shelters from southern Italy, which represent hotspots for these two diseases. In June and in October 2020, all dogs that previously scored negative for L. infantum (n = 111, site 1; n = 70, site 2) and D. immitis (n = 58, site 1; n = 61, site 2) in 2019 were tested for the estimation of the incidence of both infections. Anti-L. infantum IgG was detected by immunofluorescence antibody test, whereas D. immitis infection was diagnosed by modified Knott's test, SNAP 4Dx Plus test and real-time PCR. The overall D. immitis and L. infantum infection incidence values were both higher in site 2 (i.e. 63.9% and 10%, respectively) than site 1 (i.e. 39.7% and 1.8%, respectively). The dog shelter in site 2 was shown to be more suitable for the development of the mosquito/sand fly populations and, consequently, for the spreading of both parasites representing a potential threat for animal and human health. The high incidence of both infections recorded in this study suggests the need for chemoprophylaxis measures and vector monitoring and control to minimize the risk for animals and humans living in shelters or in their neighbourhoods
An Innovative, easily fabricated, silver nanoparticles-based titanium implant coating: development and characterization
No full textMicrobial colonization and biofilm formation on
implanted devices represent an important complication in
orthopaedic and dental surgery and may result in implant failure. Controlled release of antibacterial agents directly at
the implant site may represent an effective approach to treat
these chronic complications. Resistance to conventional antibiotics by pathogenic bacteria has emerged in recent years as a
major problem of public health. In order to overcome this problem, non-conventional antimicrobial agents have been
under investigation. In this study, polyacrylate-based hydrogel thin coatings have been electrosynthesised on titanium substrates starting from poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate)–co–
acrylic acid. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a narrow size distribution have been synthesized using a “green” procedure and immobilized on Ti implant surfaces exploiting hydrogel
coatings’ swelling capabilities. The coatings have been characterized
by XPS and SEM/EDX, while their silver release
performances have been monitored by ICP–MS. The antibacterial activity of these AgNP-modified hydrogel coatings was tested evaluating in vitro inhibition growth of Staphylococcus
aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, among the most common pathogens in orthopaedic infections.
Moreover, a preliminary investigation of the biocompatibility of silver-loaded coatings versus MG63 human osteoblast-like
cells has been performed. An important point of strength of
this paper, in fact, is the concern about the effect of silver species on the surrounding cell system in implanted medical devices. Silver ion release has been properly tuned in order to
assure antibacterial activity while preserving osteoblasts’ respons
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
ACARICIDAL EFFECTS OF BEAUVERIA BASSIANA IN COMBINATION WITH EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST DERMANYSSUS GALLINAE
No full textThe poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is the most economically damaging ectoparasite of laying hens worldwide.
Eucalyptus globulus essential oil (EgEO) and Beauveria bassiana (Bb) have the potential to be used as alternative approaches for D. gallinae control in order to limit the disadvantages of using chemicals against this mite (i.e., environmental and food contamination and drug resistance). This study reports the effect of a native strain of Bb in combination with EgEO, against D. gallinae nymphs and adults. Batches of nymphs and adult mites (i.e., 360 individuals for each stage) for the treatment groups (TGs) were placed on paper soaked with a 0.1% tween 80 suspension of 109 conidia/ml of Bb (CIS) in combination with two different EgEO concentrations (i.e., 0.2% and 0.1%), whilst 720 control mites for each stage (CGs) were exposed to 0.1% tween 80 (CG1), to Bb 109 CIS (CG2), to 0.2% EgEO (CG3) and to 0.1% EgEO (CG4).
A 100% mortality was recorded in adults at 9 days post infection (DPI) and at 10 DPI in nymphs, when using CIS in combination with 0.2% EgEO, but in CG2 at 12 DPI for adults and 14 DPI for nymphs. Used in combination with 0.2% EgEO, Bb displayed an earlier acaricidal effect towards both D. gallinae stages.
The combination of B.bassiana 109 CIS and E. globulus essential oil at 0.2% might be a promising natural control method for use in a pest management strategy against mite infestations in poultry houses
Spotted fever group rickettsiae in Dermacentor marginatus from wild boars in Italy
No full textFollowing the increase in wild boar population recorded in urban and peri-urban areas throughout Europe, the present survey aimed to assess the occurrence of
zoonotic tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in wild boars living in southern Italy and in their ticks for evaluating the potential risk of infection for animals and humans. From
October to December 2019, a total of 176 ticks collected from 93 wild boars and their spleen samples were molecularly screened for selected TBPs. Overall, all the wild
boars were infested by ticks (mean intensity, 1.9) with Dermacentor marginatus and Ixodes ricinus being identified in 99.4% and 0.6%, respectively. Out of 93 wild boars,
17 (18.3%) were infested by ticks which scored positive to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia species. Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii were identified in 16 (9%)
and 1 (0.6%) D. marginatus, respectively, whereas a single I. ricinus (0.6%) was infected by R. slovaca. A single wild boar (1.1%) tested positive to R. slovaca. All ticks and
wild boars scored negative to Babesia/Theileria spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia spp., Coxiella burnetii and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex.
Data herein obtained suggest that wild boars are involved in the maintenance of D. marginatus in the environment as in peri-urban areas herein investigated. An
integrated management approach is advocated for wild boar population control and in preventing the potential risk of TBPs infection in animals and humans
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