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GIARDIA, CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND EIMERIA INFECTIONS IN ALPINE WILD UNGULATES: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
No full textMonitoring and management of wildlife health are of increasing importance in the last decades, first of all considering that more of 70% of emergent zoonoses are host in wild animals. Moreover the public health issue must be seen also in accordance with the European food hygiene regulations (Reg. EC 852, 853, 854/2004), that make hunters primary producers intended to auto-consumption and/or commercialization. We have to consider wildlife health value also in relation to possible interactions with livestock and to population dynamics and biodiversity preservation. We focused our attention on protozoa, parasites with the highest success spreading, in particular on Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Eimeria in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra and Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Faecal samples were collected, in the biennium 2013-2014, from Lepontine Alps and from central Apennine. Through immunofluorescence emerged Giardia prevalence of 5,82% in R. r. rupicapra, and of 1,85% in R. p. ornata. Positive samples were confirmed by q PCR and end-point PCR, with identification of zoonotic assemblage A and livestock assemblage E. A parallel survey was conducted through immunoenzimatic methodology. Giardia showed prevalences of 4,5%, 2,5% and 8,4% while Cryptosporidium of 1,2%, 0,5% and 3,4% respectively in chamois, red deer and roe deer. Positive samples were subjected to molecular investigations. Assemblage A of Giardia was detected in chamois and red deer, suggesting a potential zoonotic risk, although rather low. Assemblage E was detected in chamois, highlighting a trasmission of this parasite between livestock and wildlife. Concerning Cryptosporidium, immunoenzimatic positivities haven’t been confirmed by PCR. Roe deer shows higher prevalences for both protozoa, statistical analyses about Giardia infection highlight a higher probability of calves being infected than adult, and higher significant probability to contract the infection in animals culled at lower altitudes, probably due to impact originated by human activities. Finally faeces were analysed by FLOTAC methodology in order to quantify emissions of coccidian oocysts and nematode eggs. Eimeria shows prevalence of 81,1% in chamois, 46,1% in red deer and of 43,4% in roe deer. Overall prevalences for gastro-intestinal nematodes are 76,4% in chamois, 57,4% in red deer and 67,1% in roe deer. Statistical analyses were carried out to define the epidemiological role of coccidian infections in wild ungulates in alpine context. Data collected about coccidia and gastro-intestinal nematodes don’t allow a correct definition of simultaneous parasitosis, considering nematodes possibility to infect several hosts. About that Eimeria represents a useful model to better understand interaction among pathogen, host and environment at intraspecific level, because of its strict host-specifity At the moment comparison between data about all protozoa investigated and alpine data census don’t suggest any impact on population dynamics. However it can not be completely excluded because of limits related to period of sampling that not always correspond to critical period for these infections in wild ungulates. We need to increase sampling season, compatibly with weather conditions, and to produce a data series about emissions of oocysts to better understand the eco-epidemiological role of protozoa in wildlife
Contrasting 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
Detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia by ELISA assay in alpine Chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra)
No full textApplicability of blood sampling through intracavernous venipuncture: the example of toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected red deer (Cervus Elaphus)
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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
Spread and genotype of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra)
Full text linkThe complex life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii involves many animal species, raising zoonotic, economic, and conservation issues. This complexity is reflected in the molecular structure of T. gondii, whose different genotypes differ in pathogenicity. Among the intermediate hosts of T. gondii, wild ungulates may be a source of human infection. Despite intense hunting activity and the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, little information is available on the spread of T. gondii and the distribution of its genotypes in these species, including the alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra). Ninety-three sera and 50 brain tissues from chamois were sampled (1) to investigate the spread of T. gondii with serological and molecular analyses, and (2) to genotype the strains with a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the SAG2 locus. The prevalence of T. gondii was low on both serological (3.2 %) and molecular (2 %) analyses, and infections were concentrated in individuals > 1 year old. These findings demonstrate the sporadic presence of the protozoan in this species on consistent diagnostic tests. Horizontal transmission seems to be the main route of infection, and cats are the only definitive host in the study area. This prevalence suggests that the environment of the chamois is less contaminated with oocysts than environments close to human settlements. The SAG2 type II genotype was detected in this species for the first time. Although this genotype is predominant in human toxoplasmosis, these results suggest that the chamois is a minor source of human infection
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
Prevalence of zoonotic pathogens and epidemiological role of hunted alpine wild ruminants
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