1,720,972 research outputs found
An open-field study comparing an essential oil-based shampoo with miconazole/chlorhexidine for hair coat disinfection in cats with spontaneous microsporiasis
No full textObjectives The goal of the present study was to compare the antifungal efficacy of an essential oil (EO) shampoo proven to be effective against Microsporum canis with miconazole/chlorhexidine for topical hair coat disinfection in cats treated concurrently with oral itraconazole.
Methods Cats received treatment with oral itraconazole (Itrafungol) at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day pulse administration for 1 week, every 2 weeks for at least 6 weeks and were washed twice a week with a neutral shampoo with added EOs of Thymus serpyllum (2%), Origanum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis (5% each) for the period of systemic treatment. This protocol was compared with a conventional treatment (oral itraconazole + 2% miconazole/2% chlorhexidine shampoo).
Results The treatment was well tolerated and adverse effects were not recorded. All cats were clinically negative at week 11. With respect to animals with extensive lesions, the speed of resolution was higher in cats with focal lesions. The animals showing diffuse lesions required more than a course of treatment to achieve a mycological cure. There was no significant difference between the number of weeks to obtain mycological cure for cats treated with EOs and animals treated conventionally.
Conclusions and relevance The treatment appeared to be effective and well appreciated by the owners. The use of shampoo with the added EOs of T serpyllum, O vulgare and R officinalis would seem an interesting, natural alternative to conventional topical treatment
Serological, molecular and pathological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Central Italy
No full textOne-hundred ninety one sera of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) of both genders (78 females and 113 males) were examined for antibodies to Toxoplasmag ondii using indirect immunofluorescent test (IFAT). Tissue samples of myocardium, lymph nodes and brains from seropositive animals were tested for the presence of T. gondii DNA by means of a specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and then processed for histopathology and submitted to immunohistochemistry to detect T. gondii antigen. One-hundred and two sera (53.4%) scored
positive. Of the antibody positive group, eight animals tested positive for PCR all eight from the myocardium of which one also included a positive brain. All the DNA extracts were genotyped. Histopathology showed lesions characteristic of protozoan encephalitis while immunohistochemistry did not show T. gondii 24 antigen in examined tissues. The high antibody prevalence found in our study, which is the first in Italy, and the occurrence of polymorphic strains (combination of different types I and III alleles) divergent from typical T. gondii strains, indicate red foxes as a sentinel of T. gondii in the environment
In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of some essential oils against feline isolates of Microsporum canis
No full textThe treatment of dermatophytoses due to Microsporum canis is cumbersome and relapses can occur. Volatile essential oils (EOs) obtained from plants would seem to represent suitable tools to contrast mycoses both in human and animals. The anti-M. canis activity of some EOs chemically characterized was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Eleven feline isolates of M. canis were tested by microdilution against EOs extracted from Thymus serpillum, Origanum vulgare, Rosmarinus officinalis, Illicium verum and Citrus limon. A mixture composed by 5% O. vulgare, 5% R. officinalis and 2% T serpillum, in sweet almond oil was administered to seven infected, symptomatic cats. T. serpillum and O. vulgare showed the lowest MICs, followed by I. verum, R. officinalis and C. limon. The assay performed on mixture showed that antimycotic activity of each component was enhanced. Four out of seven treated cats recovered both clinically and culturally. T serpillum and O. vulgare EOs showed a strong antifungal activity. Preliminary data suggest a possible application in managing feline microsporiasis. Considering the potential zoonotic impact of this infection, the use of alternative antimycotic compounds would be of aid to limit the risk of environmental spreading of arthrospores. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved
Clinical and mycological evaluation of an herbal antifungal formulation in canine Malassezia dermatitis.
No full textIn Vitro Activity of Twenty Commercially Available, Plant-Derived Essential Oils against Selected Dermatophyte Species
No full textThe in vitro activity of twenty chemically defined essential oils (EOs) obtained from Boswellia sacra, Citrus bergamia, C. limon, C. medica, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Eucalyptus globulus, Foeniculum vulgare, Helichrysum italicum, Illicium verum, Litsea cubeba, Mentha spicata, Myrtus communis, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum majorana, O. vulgare, Pelargonium graveolens, Rosmarinus officinalis, Santalum album, Satureja montana, and Thymus serpyllum was assayed against clinical animal isolates of Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. erinacei, T. terrestre and Microsporum gypseum, main causative agents of zoonotic and/or environmental dermatophytoses in humans. Single main components present in high amounts in such EOs were also tested. Different dermatophyte species showed remarkable differences in sensitivity. In general, more effective EOs were T. serpyllum (MIC range 0.025%-0.25%), O. vulgare (MIC range 0.025%-0.5%) and L. cubeba (MIC range 0.025%-1.5%). F. vulgare showed a moderate efficacy against geophilic species such as M. gypseum and T. terrestre. Among single main components tested, neral was the most active (MIC and MFC values ≤ 0.25%). The results of the present study seem to be promising for an in vivo use of some assayed EOs
A preliminary study on the quality and safety of milk in donkeys positive for Toxoplasma gondii
Get PDFToxoplasmosis is one of the five parasitic diseases considered as a priority for public health action. The consumption of raw milk
products represents a possible risk, in particular for certain categories of people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible
effects of Toxoplasma gondii on milk yield and quality in sero-positive animals with parasitemia. Eighteen healthy lactating
Amiata jennies, between 90 and 180 days were included in the study. Four donkeys scored positive for immunofluorescent
antibody test (IFAT), and each IFAT positive donkey presented parasitic DNA both in the blood and milk. No significant differences
were found between milk yield in PCR-positive donkeys compared with the negative cases, however the former tended to have
a greater production. Milk quality in the positive donkeys showed a significantly lower percentage of casein (0.72% v. 0.81%)
and ash (0.32% v. 0.37%). Positive cases had a highly significant larger average diameter of globules (2.35 μm) and fewer
globules/ml (2.39 × 108
). Somatic cell and bacterial counts were normal and in agreement with the literature. Toxoplasma
gondii did not seem to present clinical forms in lactating jennies. Further in vivo studies are needed to further assess the risk
of T. gondii transmission through donkey milk, together with the impact of different stages of infection on milk quality
Seroprevalence, Detection of DNA in Blood and Milk, and Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in a Goat Population in Italy
Get PDFToxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of a major zoonosis with cosmopolitan distribution and is known to be transmitted mainly by the ingestion of undercooked or raw animal products. Drinking unpasteurized goat’s milk is a risk factor associated with human toxoplasmosis. However, very little is known about the excretion of DNA in goat milk. Aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection using a modified agglutination test (MAT), to detect T. gondii DNA by nested-PCR (n-PCR) in samples of blood and milk from seropositive goats, and to genotype DNA isolates using 11 molecular markers in 127 adult lactating goats from 6 farms in Italy. Positive MAT results were found in 60.6% of goats while 13% of blood and milk samples from seropositive goats were positive to n-PCR. A kappa coefficient of 1 indicated a perfect agreement between blood and milk n-PCR.
Genetic characterization of isolates revealed the occurrence of genotype III ( = 7), genotype I ( = 1), and atypical genotypes with hints for genotype I ( = 2). Our results suggest that the risk of excretion of Toxoplasma tachyzoites might frequently occur inmilk of seropositive goats testing positive to n-PCR on blood
EVALUATION OF TRICHINELLA PSEUDOSPIRALIS AND TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION IN FREE RANGING CORVIDS FROM THE PROVINCE OF PISA
No full textMagpies (Pica pica) and hooded crows (Corvus corone cornix) are scavenger birds feeding on
carcasses, arthropods, vegetables, small preys and food waste. In Italy, they tend to remain in the
same territory and establish large populations both in urban and rural environments. For these
reasons, these birds have a potential role as sentinels for the spread of Toxoplasma gondii in a given
area. Trichinella pseudospiralis has been previously reported in corvids. In the present study, 798
free ranging corvids, including 678 magpies and 120 hooded crows deceased following a program
of population size reduction of the province of Pisa, were examined for T. pseudospiralis and T.
gondii infections. More specifically, sera from 651 magpies and 120 hooded crows were examined
by IFAT for antibodies specific to T. gondii. In seropositive birds, the heart was homogenized and
DNA was extracted to perform a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) detection method for B1
gene of T. gondii and genotyping for SAG. In the case of Trichinella, breast muscle samples (50 g
each) from 678 magpies and 91 hooded crows were tested by an artificial digestion method. After
digestion, eventually recovered larvae were processed for molecular typing. Data were statistically
analysed (p <0.05). Forty-five, 41 magpies and 4 hooded crows, out of the 771 examined animals
(5.8%) scored positive for T. gondii with antibody titers ranging from 1: 25 to 1:100. Seropositivity
to T. gondii was not statistically different between magpies and hooded crows. T. gondii DNA was
detected in 15 out of 45 heart samples and the occurrence of genotypes II and III of T. gondii was
evidenced. No Trichinella larvae were detected in muscle samples. This is the first report of T.
gondii infection in corvids in Italy
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