1,720,996 research outputs found
The zoofilic fruitfly of Phortica variegata (Drosophilidae, Steganinae): morphology, ecology and biological niche
No full textFlies belonging to the subfamily Steganinae (Drosophilidae) display unusual zoophilic feeding habits at the adult and/or larval stage. Phortica variegata (Fallén) feeds on tears or eye liquid around the eyes of humans and carnivores. When feeding it is a potential vector of Thelazia callipaeda (Railliet and Henry) eyeworms. Adult and larval stages of this fly may be easily confused with other species belonging to the same genus, and little is known on the biology and ecology of P. variegata. In April-November 2005, a total of 969 P. variegata were collected in an area with a high prevalence of canine thelaziosis. The number of flies collected weekly was then related to climatic and environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, relative humidity and total rainfall) recorded daily at the collection site. The highest number of Phortica were collected during July-August. The sex ratio (number of males : females) rose from approximately 0.5 during May-July, to approximately 3.0 in August and 181 during September-October. Distributional data, representing 242 sites at which P. variegata has been collected in Europe, were analysed using a desktop implementation of the genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction (GARP) to model ecological requirements across Europe, as well as in Italy. P. variegata is shown to be mainly active at 20-25 degrees C and 50-75% RH. The ecological niche model suggests with a high degree of confidence that large areas of Europe are likely to represent suitable habitat for this species, mostly concentrated in central Europe. The results reported here contribute basic knowledge on the ecology and geographical distribution of P. variegata flies, which will be fundamental to gaining a better understanding of their role as vectors of human and animal pathogen
Occurrence of anthelmintic resistant equine cyathostome populations in central and southern Italy.
Full text linkIn the present survey, 276 horses bred on 16 farms located in central and southern Italy were investigated
for the presence of drug resistant cyathostomes by a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT). Sixteen to
20 animals were selected on each farm and randomly assigned to one of four equally sized treatment groups.
Groups were treated with fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoate, ivermectin or moxidectin. Resistance to
fenbendazole was declared on six farms (37.5%) and suspected in two farms (12.5%), with FECR values
ranging from 41% to 88.3%. Resistance to pyrantel was found in two farms (12.5%) and was suspected in
one case (6.2%), with FECR values ranging from 43% to 85.4%. Macrocyclic lactones remained effective
on all farms. Only cyathostome third stage larvae (L3) were found in fecal cultures after treatment. This
paper reports the first wide survey conducted in Italy for anthelmintic resistance in equine cyathostomes.
The results indicate that multiple drug resistant equine cyathostomes are present in the central and southern
regions of Italy. These data call for a geographically and numerically broader investigation of horse farms in
all regions and for the development and implementation -among veterinarians, owners and managers of a plan to reduce the expansion of these anthelmintic resistant populations and control these important
parasites
Diagnosis and risk factors of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Strongylida) infection in cats from Italy
No full textAelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Strongylida) in cats and associated risk factors have been investigated by classical coprology in central (site A) and southern (site B) Italy, i.e. by floatations with sugar and zinc sulphate solutions and a Baermann technique. Overall, 227 individual stool samples (i.e. 162 from site A and 65 from site B) were processed and risk factors were related to infection by binary logistic multiple-regression models. The presence of A. abstrusus was used as the dependent variable and the epidemiological data as independent variables. Twenty-eight (17.3%) and 12 (18.5%) cats were positive for A. abstrusus in sites A and 13, respectively, both using the Baermann and flotation with zinc sulphate solution methods. Six and three (from site A and B, respectively) of the infected cats were negative for A. abstrusus when faeces were processed with sugar solution. Stray and free-ranging (P = 0.357), young cats (P = 0.008) and the presence of respiratory symptoms (P = 0.000) were risk factors for A. abstrusus infection. The results suggest that A. abstrusus is spread in Italy. Furthermore, these results possibly include infection in the differential diagnosis of feline respiratory diseases and offer a correct diagnostic approach by using either a Baermann method or flotation with zinc sulphate solution in suspected cases. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.[...
Feline aelurostrongylosis: Epidemiological survey in central and southern Italy
No full textAelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Strongylida) in cats and associated risk factors have been investigated in central (site A) and southern (site B) Italy by coprological flotations with sugar and zinc sulphate solutions and a Baermann technique. One hundred and sixty-two (Site A) and sixty-five (Site B) faecal samples were processed and risk factors were related to infection by binary logistic multiple-regression models. The presence of A. abstrusus was used as the dependent variable and the epidemiological data as independent variables. Twenty-eight (17.3%) and 12 (18.5%) cats were positive for A. obstrusus in site A and B, respectively, both using the Baermann and flotation with zinc sulfate solution methods. Six (site A) and three (site B) of the infected cats were negative for A. abstrusus when faeces were subjected to the sugar solution flotation. Stray and free-ranging, young cats and the presence of respiratory symptoms were statistically correlated to the infection. This study suggest that A. abstrusus is spread in Italy and that the infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of feline respiratory diseases.[...
Haemothorax associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a dog
No full textAngiostrongylosis was diagnosed in a dog presenting with haemothorax on the basis of detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum first-stage larvae both in the pleural effusion and in faeces. A one-year-old, male, mixed-breed dog was presented with fever, depression and persistent cough of one month's duration. Clinical examination revealed temperature of 39·5°C, loud bronchovesicular sounds on thoracic auscultation and attenuated cardiac sounds. Thoracic radiographs showed a moderate bilateral pleural effusion and a diffuse interstitial pulmonary pattern, with an alveolar pattern in one lobe. Routine haematology revealed anaemia and leucocytosis with eosinophilia, basophilia and thrombocytopenia. Coagulation assays showed a consumptive coagulopathy resembling disseminated intravascular coagulation. The relationship between haemothorax and the presence of A vasorum larvae in the pleural effusion is discussed. The dog was successfully treated with fenbendazole until negative for larvae on faecal examination. This case report indicates that A vasorum infection should be considered as a possible aetiological cause of haemothorax in dogs. © 2008 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
ASPETTI CLINICO-PATOLOGICI IN OTTO CANI CON INFEZIONE DA ANGIOSTRONGYLUS VASORUM IN SUD ITALIA
No full textAngiostrongylus vasorum has been recently reported in central and southern Italy. Although a wide range of clinical signs have been described in association with A. vasorum, respiratory disease and haemorrhagic diatheses predominate. The aim of the present study is to report the different clinical presentations, laboratory and imaging findings of 8 cases of angiostrongilosis. Diagnosis was made by means of larval morphological identification; faecal samples were analysed by the Baermann test and direct microscopic observation. Different treatment protocols were used, and animals were weekly monitored by larval detection in faecal samples. The reported cases showed different clinical presentations associated with the presence of A. vasorum in dogs, and suggest that angiostrongylosis should be considered as a possible etiological cause of several clinical conditions. Although A. vasorum can be fatal, an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may lead to a complete clinical resolution, as it was in the cases described herein
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
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
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