1,721,041 research outputs found
Cysticercosis by Taenia pisiformis in Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) in Northern Italy: Epidemiologic and pathologic features
Full text linkIn Northern Italy, a hastening of hare population decline was noticeable from 2008. In the same year hunters reported a sudden increase of hares infected by Taenia sp. larvae, whose morphology was consistent with T. pisiformis cysticerci. The aim of the survey was: i)to identify the parasites through morphological features and molecular techniques; ii)to quantify the prevalence and abundance of cysticerci in hunted hares; iii)to describe pathological aspects of parasite-induced lesions; iv)to evaluate the short-term trend of the infection comparing two different hunting seasons; v)to highlight possible relationship between T. pisiformis infection and hare-related variables. In 2013, 2015 the viscera of 54 and 61 hares legally hunted in agro-ecosystems of the Po Plain were collected. Peritoneum, liver and lungs were examined for cysticercosis; abundance was estimated counting superficial parasites in liver; parasites were microscopically identified by shape and measure of both large and small hooks. One cysticercus from each hare was analized by a PCR targeting Taeniid species and then sequenced. Frozen liver, lungs and gastrointestinal peritoneum were macroscopically observed and, after thawing, representative samples from the available organs were collected for histologic examination to verify parasitic cysts and the subsequent damage of the involved organs. Sex, weight and age class of the animals were recorded. Generalized linear models were used for statistical analysis. T. pisiformis was isolated in 8 hares in 2013 (prevalence 14.8%; abundance range: 0-400; mean abundance 17.8) and in 2 hares in 2015 (prevalence 3.28%; abundance range: 0-180; mean abundance 3.22). Identification was confirmed morphologically and by PCR. The DNA sequencing confirmed T. pisiformis in all samples. The sequences were all identical each-other. Infection was significantly related with adult age class, sampling year and low full-weight. Epidemiological and pathological pattern suggest both a possible role on host population health and a tendency toward host-parasite equilibrium
Valutazione della sensibilità di Doctor fish (Garra rufa) al trattamento con disinfettanti
No full textSUMMARY - In fish therapy it is essential to ensure optimum hygiene conditions while preserving animal
welfare. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of Doctor fish (Garra rufa) towards two disinfectant
molecules, chloramine T and peracetic acid. The animals have been subjected to increasing treatments/day for
the duration of one week with two different concentrations for each disinfectant. The assessment of sensitivity was
done by behavioral observation and by histomorphological and morphometrical analysis on skin and gills. The
subjects showed signs of stress at the end of the treatment for both molecules and concentrations tested.
Histological sections have not shown any changes; it has been noted a statistically significant increase of mucous
cells in animals treated with peracetic acid and a decrease of club cells in animals treated with low dose
chloramine T and high dose peracetic acid. Animals showed overall good tolerability to the two disinfectant
molecules tested
Occurrence of Incisional Complications After Closure of Equine Ventral Midline Celiotomies With 2 Polyglycolic Acid in Simple Interrupted Suture Pattern
No full textThe aim of this retrospective study was to describe the use of simple interrupted suture pattern for the closure of the abdomen after ventral midline celiotomy in horses and to evaluate the prevalence of resulting incisional complications. Seventy horses undergoing abdominal surgery (2006–2015) and surviving at least 30 days were included in the study. Closure technique of the abdominal wall was performed on three layers. Linea alba was closed with a simple interrupted pattern using number two coated braided absorbable polyglycolic acid suture. Follow-up information was recovered at the 90th day postoperatively. Incisional complications considered included drainage, infection, dehiscence, and herniation. The complications observed in the present study using simple interrupted suture pattern were 4.29% (3 of 70), lower than reported in literature with different suture pattern. Simple interrupted suture pattern could be a valid option for the closure of linea alba after ventral midline celiotomy in horses
Are small strongyles (Cyathostominae) involved in horse colic occurrence?
Full text linkStrongyle infections have been traditionally regarded as a possible cause of colic in horses. Aim of the study was
the comparison of parasitological status between subjects with or without colic syndrome, with particular attention
to small strongyle infections.
Coprological analyses were performed on 86 horses: 43 with colic and 43 controls. Strongyle eggs were found
in 34/86 horses (prevalence 39.5%), the mean number of strongyles eggs per gram of faeces (EPG)2 was 145.34
(standard deviation 398.28). All those 34 positive animals had small strongyles infections.
Negative binomial multiple regression highlighted no influence of horse sex on strongyle EPG, while there
was a negative relationship between age and EPG (p< 0.05); the same analysis revealed a significant difference
of EPG (p< 0.05) between control horses (mean EPG =178.1; standard deviation: 411.4) and horses with
surgical colic (mean EPG= 68.6 standard deviation: 259.8) when controlling for S. vulgaris presence including it
in the model. On the contrary, the intensity of infection in horses with non-surgical colic (mean EPG =154.5;
standard deviation: 480.4) did not significantly differed from controls. Similar results were obtained having
estimated cyathostomine EPGs as dependent variable. Multinomial logistic regression confirmed the negative
relationship between cyathostonine presence and surgical colic occurrence.
It is possible that (1) the presence of adult luminal parasites, would have a protective effect against the
pathogenic action exerted by the development and emergence of small strongyles larvae from intestinal mucosa;
(2) the management practices able to reduce the risk of colics are the same that cause higher exposure to
strongyle infective larvae
CYSTICERCOSIS IN LEPUS EUROPAEUS HUNTED IN PLAIN AREAS OF BOLOGNA PROVINCE (EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION, ITALY)
No full textIn the Bologna province, Emilia-Romagna region, a rapid hare population decline was noticeable
from 2008: the captured hare for restocking in protected areas dropped from about 7,000 in 2007-
‘08 to 1,891 in 2014-’15. In the same period hunters (and mass-media) reported a sudden increase
of hares infected by Taenia sp. larvae, whose appearance was consistent with T.pisiformis
cysticerci. The aim of the survey was: i)to quantify the prevalence and abundance of cysticerci in
hunted hares; ii)to identify the parasites through morphological features and molecular techniques;
iii)to describe pathological aspects of parasite-induced lesions; iv)to evaluate possible genetic
characters useful to assess the origin of the isolated hare parasites.
In 2013, from September 15th to October 5th, the viscera of 54 hares haunted in agro-ecosystems of
the Po Plain (province of Bologna, ATC BO2) were collected.
Peritoneum, liver and lungs were examined for cysticercosis; abundance was estimated counting
superficial parasites in liver; parasites were microscopically identified by shape and measure of
both large and small hooks. One cysticercus from each hare was analized by a PCR targeting
Taeniid species (Trachsel et al, 2007, Parasitology, 134:911-920) and then sequenced. Classical
histologycal techniques were used. The sex and the weight of animals were recorded by hunters;
age class was assigned observing foreleg Stroh’s tubercle.
Generalized linear models were used for statistical analysis.
T. pisiformis was isolated in 8 hares (prevalence 14.8%; abundance range: 0-400; mean abundance
17.8). Identification was confirmed by both morphology and PCR. Infection was significantly
related with female sex, adult age and low full-weight. Severe hepatitis was present in 1 infected
hares only. The sequencing confirmed T.pisiformis in all samples. The sequences were all identical
each-other and showed a 99% of similarity with a sequence from Japan, 97% with one from
California and 94% with two from Germany and China, respectivey
Helminth biocoenosis of Lepus europaeus meridiei (Hilzheimer, 1906) from Pianosa island, Italy
Full text linkPianosa is a 10 km(2) Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea which is part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. In this island lives a brown hare population which, according to the literature, belongs to the ancestral taxon Lepus europaeus meridei that offers a unique opportunity to observe how the parasite biocoenosis shapes in condition of isolation, limited space availability and high population density. The aim of this work is to describe the helminth component community of a non-managed, isolated, and dense hare population, evaluating host-parasite relationship and parasite community structure. All 26 analyzed hares (13 males and 13 females) were in good physical conditions, and all of them harboured exclusively the nematode Protostrongylus oryctolagi only. This is the first report of this lungworm species in Italy. The estimated overall abundance was 48.15 worms per examined hare (range 3–258, median 50) and the parasites were unevenly distributed across host population, with few hosts having most parasites (aggregated or overdispersed distribution). No significant relationship was detected between the number of isolated parasites and hare sex and weigh. The effect of the isolation of Pianosa's hare population seems to have acted reducing parasite richness, while the high host density is probably the cause of the high prevalence and abundance of the single helminth species collected. In conclusion, despite the low impact of parasites confirmed also by the overdispersed parasite distribution, the low diversity of the studied parasite community sounds a warning for the management of the hare population and the whole Pianosa's ecosystem
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
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