1,721,010 research outputs found
WILD GAME MEAT: HEALTH MONITORING TO PROTECT CONSUMERS
Full text linkWildlife has gained an increasingly importance worldwide during last decades for its central role in transmission of different-value infections (zoonotic, zoo-economic, threatening biodiversity). Moreover considering the use of wild animals as food resource, the attention should be posed to the rise in consumption and commercialization of game meat. In this regard the new European food hygiene regulations (Reg. EC. 852, 853, 854/2004) authorized the auto consumption and the commercialization of these products, according to specific requirements, promoting their spread on a large scale. Nonetheless a scheduled health monitoring of free-ranging animals is still not defined.
Considering the significant increase of wild ungulate populations recorded in Italy during last decades and the consequent substantial amount of game meat available every year from hunting plans, health guaranteed for consumers’ protection should be provided in relation to food-borne zoonoses and microbiological contaminations of carcasses. The starting point of this program should be the definition of a reliable diagnostic testing methods although is not always easy because usually diagnostic tests applied to wildlife were sharpened from domestics compromising their performances in most of the times.
Considering the highest human incidence of Toxoplasma gondii among parasitic zoonoses, the documented role of wild animals as its intermediate hosts and the few information about T. gondii impact on free-ranging ungulate population dynamics, we performed: (1) a sero-epidemiological and molecular investigations of Toxoplasma gondii in red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) to investigate (i) the spreading of the protozoan within host populations (ii) the reliability of cardiac tissue fluids as an alternative to sera in ELISA test (iii) the applicability of three PCR protocols; (2) the microbiological conditions of wild boar carcasses through superficial and deep tissue analysis.
T. gondii-type II DNA was detected in an alpine chamois (p = 2%, 1 subjects over 50 analyzed) for the first time, to our knowledge, by all the three performed PCRs pointing out a good sensitivity of protocols, genotyping test included. This result should be taken into consideration in case of consumption of raw or undercooked meat rather than in case of manipulation of carcasses.
A few diagnostic problems emerged in both serological and molecular investigation, mainly for cervids (n = 208): doubtful PCR products were recorded (n = 30) and in two red deer Sarcocystis spp. DNA was then detected. In addition, cardiac tissue fluids cannot be considered as an alternative of serum using this ELISA test in red deer (n = 78).
Considering T. gondii effect on red deer population dynamics, statistical analysis points out that the infection seems not to prevent red deer hinds (n = 34) to become pregnant although a negative effect of the pathogen on foetus development of 2-3 year-old hinds was recorded highlighting that under determinate conditions T. gondii could give an impact on the population dynamics with a delay in mating or in pregnancy.
Microbiological analysis (n = 27 for superficial and n = 17 for deep tissue analysis) showed still a few considerable hunters’ deficiencies in the application of hygienic practices for the management of culled animals. Even if it is difficult that hunted carcasses maintained a similar bacterial levels of those of slaughtered ones, because of several logistic field problems, some increase of Total Aerobic Counts and Enterobacteriaceae recorded in this research could have been easily avoided through a better manipulation from culling to cooling.
Considering the few difficulties in diagnostic testing of T. gondii and the inadequate healthy practices of hunters, the need is to define preventive programmes to sensitize consumers and risk category (hunters, slaughters, etc.) to inform about toxoplasmosis and other health risks related to wildlife. In addition, a strict involvement of hunting associations in regular continuing education courses should be planned to create well-formed hunters who could be able to make the best use of the intrinsic valuable potentialities of wild game meat and at the same time commercializing healthy
and qualitative products
Can sarcocystis SPP. interfere in molecular diagnosis of toxoplasma Gondii in wild ungulates?
No full textHelminths communities of rock partridge (Alectoris Graeca) in Western Alps : effect of age and sex
No full textAlpine rock partridge (Alectoris græca) populations are drastically decreasing since 50ies. That is mainly ascribed to land-use change and progressive habitat degradation. Here we investigate their helminths communities, as population health index in relation to age classes and gender.
This study considers 208 rock partridge from Lepontine Alps (VB) gathered during seven hunting seasons (2003-09), with details collected on culling site, age classes, sex and weight. The intestinal contents of the total sample (90 adults, 39 males and 51 females, and 118 young), have been examined for helminths.
In females and young were identified respectively: Ascaridia compar (prevalence (p)=12%, mean intensity (i)=2,5 and p=15%, i=2), Heterakis gallinarum (p=76%, i=6,5 and p=63%, i=7) and Aoncotheca caudinflata (p=24%, i =1,7 and p=18%, i=2,3). In males two species were recorded with lower intensities and prevalence H. gallinarum (p=58%, i=11,7) and A. caudinflata (p=7%, i=1).
These data suggest a possible health impact on young, even if any effect has been observed on weight. The adult females higher infestation could be related to an immune-mediated effect consequent of hatching and post hatching energy expenditure. Moreover females raise chicks taking care of their feeding involving earthworms which are responsible for the transmission of the three helminths species, and the parasitological difference observed could be ascribed to a different feeding behavior. This is supported by the total absence of A. compar in males, despite the habitat shared by the three host groups
Helminth community of an alpine rock partridge (Alectoris græca) population in demographic crash
Full text linkAlpine rock partridge (Alectoris græca) populations are drastically decreasing mainly due to habitat degradation and climate change. From 2003 to 2011, we investigate the helminth community of a rock partridge population from Lepontine Alps (Western Alps), showing a demographic crash in the last few years (2009-2010-2011), to analyse the helminth distribution within population in relation to different factors (sampling year, age, gender) and to disclose the parasites’ role in this population trend.
From 213 intestinal contents of hunted rock partridges we recorded Ascaridia compar, Heterakis gallinarum and Aoncotheca caudinflata: the most abundant species is H. gallinarum with a significant greater abundance in adults. A significant increase of abundance of all the three helminths was recorded in 2010. Juveniles and females were infected by the three helminths while in males we recorded H. gallinarum and A. caudinflata with lower abundances and prevalence.
Data show a temporal association between the demographical population crash and the abundance peak of all the three helminths suggesting a possible health impact of parasites. Even if data did not show any effect of parasites on body weights, the known effects of these parasites on fecundity indicate the likely effect of parasites as a predisposing factor for the observed demographic crash and points out the importance of the health monitoring in wildlife
Detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia by ELISA assay in alpine Chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra)
No full textContrasting pattern of Eimeria spp. oocyst emission in chamois (Rupicaprar.rupicapra) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Italian Alps
No full textParasites have often been considered as partial limiting factor of
wildlife populations, underlining their impact on animal welfare.
Despite previous surveys showed a possible relation between
coccidian infection and juvenile mortality in livestock, little
information is available on the detrimental effects of protozoa
infections on wild ungulate population dynamics.
Therefore we investigated oocyst emission in chamois (Rupicapra
r. rupicapra) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) as dominant
species in Alps whose census data are available, and we modelled
through Generalized Linear Models in order to evaluate
which epidemiological factors may influence oocyst emissions.
Overall 96 chamois and 68 red deer faecal samples have been
monthly collected through transects within the Alpe Veglia-Alpe
Devero Natural Park, in 2011 and 2013 from June to November.
Samples have been analyzed by FLOTAC techniques to estimate
oocyst per gram of faeces (OPG). The overall oocyst prevalence
was 66% and 75% respectively in chamois and red deer. In
chamois, kids emissions are significantly higher than those of
adults, suggesting that classes 0 are more susceptible than older
age classes due to their immature immune system. Moreover
higher summer faecal OPG emissions were recorded in both
chamois and red deer suggesting the positive effects of advantageous
conditions of temperature and humidity even though the
presence of newborn could also play a role influencing this major
emission. In red deer there are no significant differences between
classes 0 and adults, nevertheless in 2013 calves oocyst emissions
were significantly higher than those registered in 2011.
This could be caused by the snow coat persistance until July
that causes energy expenditures in calves and could reduce the
strength of their immune system. Future in-depth analyses about
Eimeria spp. and other protozoa, such as Giardia spp. and
Cryptosporidium spp., because of their impact on populations,
have been planned, also in relation to data emerged from census,
to investigate any influence between them
Analysis of helminth communities of black grouse and ptarmigan in the Western Alps : conservation and management implications
No full textIn the Alps grouse populations have been declining in a more or less pronounced way, for several decades, and are endangered or extinct in many areas. Nevertheless, sanitary data are still poor and those concerning macroparasites usually derive from limited data collection and do not deepen ecological aspects.
The present research has been carried out in Lepontine Alps (VB) in order to evaluate level of spatial interaction between black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) and ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) populations which are in sympatric conditions in some periods of the year considering parasites as indicators for the environmental suitability and host’s health in order to compare their parasitological communities.Altogether the analyzed sample consists of 158 intestinal contents of black grouse and 42 of ptarmigan harvested between 2003 and 2007. Moreover 19 ptarmigan sampled in Canton Grigioni (CH) during the 2007 hunting season have been examined.Black grouse was infested by Ascaridia compar (p = 18,5% / 50%) and Aoncotheca caudinflata (p = 0,0% / 45%). As regards the 42 ptarmigan, only two adult females were infested by a single parasite identified as A. caudinflata. The Swiss sample shows A. compar (p = 11,7%, i = 4,0, a = 0,4) and C. caudinflata (p = 32,0%, i = 3,3 a = 1,1) as invasive species.
Data collected on black grouse show a steady situation. Yet must be underlined the necessity of an in-depth study of the parasites’ role in the population’s dynamics and the fact that only two species of helminths have been found. The extremely depauperate parasite community of ptarmigan is an unusual picture which could be expression of an alteration in the host - parasite - environment relationship. This hypothesis is supported by the results of Swiss sample, collected in an area with a good ptarmigan population dynamics, which show a richer parasite community.
It has to be considered that ptarmigan may suffer more than black grouse anthropic impact, destruction of the habitat and climatic changes. In this way it is desirable to increase the monitoring (demography, morpho-biometric measures, parasitological situation) in order to understand its possible predictive evaluation. It is necessary to struggle in defence of tetraonids populations not only through a strict regulation/prohibition of hunting but also through the protection/restoration of the habitats, preservation of the territory, regulation of the anthropic impact especially in critical periods for the biology of these populations
Analysis of helminth communities of sympatric species of black grouse and ptarmigan in the Western Alps (Prov. Vb). Conservation and management implications
No full text
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
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