Salmonella typhimurium DT104 in farmed rabbits

A total of 1,000 rectal samples were collected from rabbits coming from 25 rabbit farms in southern Italy. All samples were processed for isolation of Salmonella spp. by standard culture method based on the ISO 6579:2002 method. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 1/25 rabbit farms analyzed. In particular, four out of 1,000 rectal swab samples, taken from young rabbits, were serotyped as S. Typhimurium and phage typed as S. Typhimurium DT104. All the isolates were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline (ACSSuT pentaresistance type). The findings of the present study suggest the rabbit as potential carrier of S. Typhimurium DT104.     

Potential effects of global climate change on fisheries in the Trasimeno Lake (Italy), with special reference to the goldfish Carassius auratus invasion and the endemic southern pike Esox cisalpinus decline

Global climate changes have led to a gradual warming of the planet, resulting in decreased precipitation and rising temperatures in Mediterranean inland waters. In Trasimeno Lake, the largest shallow lake in Italy, some non‐native fish species have probably benefited from these changes as they are thermophilic and characterised by wider habitat preferences. Fish data collected by gillnets and fyke nets between 1956 and 2016, and by electrofishing in 1993 and 2014, were used to analyse changes over time in the fish community in relation to environmental conditions. An explosion in goldfish Carassius auratus (L.), following its introduction in 1988, coupled with water level fluctuations and reduced transparency, contributed to the reduction in commercial fish catch in the lake, and to the decline of the endemic southern pike Esox cisalpinus Bianco & Delmastro, already threatened by reduced spawning habitat and interspecific competition with other non‐native predatory fishes.     

Embryonic development and influence of egg density on early veliger larvae and effects of dietary microalgae on growth of brown mussel Perna perna (L. 1758) larvae under laboratory conditions

The effect of egg density on embryonic development and larval quality as well as the lipid and fatty acid contents (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA; docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) of cultured microalgae fed to Perna perna larvae was studied under controlled conditions to provide information needed for development of an experimental hatchery. Embryonic development followed the common sequence exhibited by other bivalves. d-larva stage was attained 40–44 h post-fertilisation at 21 ± 1 °C. The umbo-stage was reached in 11 days, and pediveliger larvae were observed 26 days post-fertilisation. Low egg density (range 20–100 eggs cm^?2) produced high proportions of normal d-larvae. Larval development showed two growth phases: 1st—the mixotrophic stage and 2nd—the exotrophic stage where the composition of diets had significant effects on larval growth with higher rates in larvae fed with the mixed microalgae (Isochrysis galbana + Chaetoceros calcitrans, I. galbana + Phaeodactylum tricornutum and I. galbana + Skeletonema costatum) in comparison with the monospecific diet (I. galbana). Fatty acid analysis showed that larval growth and survival were strongly influenced by proportions of dietary DHA and EPA. These results indicate that DHA and EPA are the key factors in determining larval performance, considerably more than the total amount of other fatty acids.