Current status and epidemiological observation of Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in dogs, cats and foxes in Italy: a "coincidence" or a parasitic disease of the Old Continent?

Thelazia callipaeda is a spirurid nematode which causes ocular infections in dogs and man and, occasionally, in cats, foxes and rabbits. The intermediate host and vector of T. callipaeda is unknown. For a long time T. callipaeda incidence was reported only from the Russian Federation and the Far East, but recently it has also been found in Italy. In order to investigate the spread of T. callipaeda in Italy, a survey was carried out in two sites, site A in the Piedmont region (North West Italy), and site B in the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). Dogs, cats and foxes in site A and dogs in site B were examined for eyeworms, using different procedures and timing. From January 1995 to August 2002, 91 dogs, 4 cats and 903 fox carcasses were examined in site A, and from October 1999 to January 2003, 443 dogs were examined in site B, and the eyeworms collected were identified using morphological keys. Twenty-one (23.07%) and 185 (41.76%) of the dogs from sites A and B, respectively, were found to be infected by eyeworms; furthermore, all the cats examined and 46 fox carcasses (5.1%) were positive for eyeworms. All the nematodes collected were identified as T. callipaeda. These results indicate that T. callipaeda is not confined to Eastern Europe and Asia, but that it has spread to the Old Continent, and to both Northern and Southern Italy. Considering the high prevalence of infected dogs reported in some municipalities (e.g. 60.14% of 138 dogs examined in a municipality from site B), it is assumed that one or more vectors are significantly present in the areas under investigation. Furthermore, there is good reason to believe that T. callipaeda is also present in other European countries. Speculation as to the origins of this parasitic infestation in Europe and the biology of T. callipaeda and its vector/s is also discussed.     

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of neosporosis in beef and dairy cattle in Italy

A cross-sectional serological survey for Neospora caninum was carried out on beef and dairy cattle in southern and northern Italy. A total of 111 herds and 1140 animals were tested using an ELISA assay (CHEKIT-Neospora) to detect anti-N. caninum antibodies. Management and individual data were collected and analysed both by linear and logistic multiple-regression models in order to find good predictors of the cattle seroprevalence and anti-N. caninum antibody level. At least one seropositive animal was found in 49 herds (44.1%), of which 31 (39.7%) from southern Italy and 18 (54.5%) from northern Italy. A total of 126 head of cattle (11%) were found to be seropositive and the seroprevalence was lower in southern (8.7%) than in northern Italy (16%). One of the best predictors of neosporosis seroprevalence in this study was the practice of self-rearing replacement heifers. Further risk factors were linked to higher stocking density, i.e. animals farmed in large herds and with no summer or permanent grazing practices were more likely to be seropositive than others. Farms with two or more dogs had higher herd seropositivity than farms with one or no dogs and this factor interacted significantly with the farm size and presence of poultry. Among individual characteristics, seropositivity was higher in animals sampled in mid- or late-pregnancy compared to animals either in early pregnancy or not pregnant. There was a significant interaction between the factors for pregnancy status and grazing practices. None of the epidemiological data recorded was a good predictor of the anti-N. caninum antibody level.     

Wood coated with plasma-polymer for water repellence

The effects of cold HMDSO and HMDSO + SF₆ plasma treatments on spruce, chestnut and poplar wood were investigated in order to obtain a hydrophobic surface evaluated by microscopic, spectroscopic (FT-IR and LIBS) and contact angle analyses. Cold plasma treatments can increase the surface hydro-repellence without modifying the external aspect and bulk properties of different woods.     

Pattern of secondary thickening in a Quercus cerris root system

We investigated changes in the pattern of secondary thickening along first-order lateral roots of Quercus cerris L. (turkey oak), a dominant species in the mixed forests of the Mediterranean basin. The eccentricity of radial growth was analyzed relative to the gravimetric center of the root, a measure that is unaffected by year-to-year variation in growth ring width. In cross sections collected at the taproot-lateral root junction, radial growth was greatest on the upper side of the root. However, at a distance of 10 cm from the taproot-lateral root junction, radial growth was greatest on the lower side of the root. With increasing distance from the taproot-lateral root junction, the direction of the vector of radial growth eccentricity changed in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed from the distal face of the root cross section. These findings applied to all lateral roots of the studied root system, irrespective of root size, depth of origin and axial growth direction. Ring analysis indicated that most first-order lateral roots grew to a length of 1 m in the first year.     

Contrasting land use legacy effects on forest landscape dynamics in the Italian Alps and the Apennines

Landscape Ecology - Land use legacies of human activities and recent post-abandonment forest expansion have extensively modified numerous forest landscapes throughout the European mountain ranges....     

Evaluation of microalgae diets for Litopenaeus vannamei larvae using a simple protocol

We evaluated native marine microalgae isolated from NortheasternVenezuela, as food for Litopenaeus vannamei larvae,compared to six microalgae commonly used in aquaculture. We evaluated themicroalgal ingestability calculating the biomass consumed by larvae, later weevaluated three monoalgal diets on protozoea stages of L.vannamei over 72 hr based on the larval biomass,RNA/DNAindex and the proportion of stage retarded larvae. The presence of everymicroalgae species in the protozoea's digestive tract indicated theirconsumption. Chaetoceros spp. showed high ingestabilityandTetraselmis spp. and Skeletonema sp.Ch1 showed low ingestability. The native microalgaeChaetoceros sp. A1 and Chaetocerossp.G1 were evaluated as monoalgal diets compared to Chaetocerosgracilis. Ch. gracilis demonstrated the bestresults when the evaluation was performed with the RNA/DNA index. However, thesurvival rate, larval biomass and percentage of stage retarded larvae fed withChaetoceros sp. G1 were not statistically different fromthose fed with Ch. gracilis. Taking into account thatnative microalgae produced higher biomass in shorter times when they werecultured in field conditions, the results suggest that native microalgae areadequate for large-scale culture conditions, thus reducing costs. Thedetermination of microalgal size and the larval consumption, dry and organiclarvae biomass and specially the RNA/DNA index, were valuable features of thisevaluation. The protocol developed in this study could be used to evaluatemicroalgae quality under different environmental conditions and productionregimes.     

Molecular cross-sectional survey of gastric habronemosis in horses

Gastric habronemosis of horses caused by Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae (Nematoda, Spirurida) is characterized by catarrhal gastritis, diarrhoea, progressive weight loss and ulcers. Despite its importance in the equine industry and in clinical practice, knowledge of the epidemiology of this infection is still incomplete as diagnosis in live animals is challenging. A two-step semi-nested PCR assay using ribosomal DNA (rDNA) markers has recently been used for the molecular diagnosis in vivo of gastric habronemosis based on the detection of H. microstoma and/or H. muscae DNA in equine faeces. To evaluate the field efficacy of this assay, a molecular epidemiological survey was carried out on equid gastric habronemosis in central Italy. One hundred and fifty-three individual faecal samples were collected from live native horses and subjected to both coprological examination and the two-step semi-nested PCR. When flotation procedures were performed no horse tested positive for Habronema spp. larvated eggs while 96 animals (61.2%) were positive for other endoparasites (i.e. strongyles, oxyurids, ascarids). Two-step semi-nested PCR detected 86 samples (53.6%) that were positive for H. microstoma and/or H. muscae DNA. H. microstoma prevalences showed statistically significant differences; the highest prevalence was observed in horses infected by other gastrointestinal parasites and concomitantly by H. muscae. No statistical differences were found between the prevalence of Habronema spp. infection and sex, age, breeding management, and antiparasitic treatments. This field survey provided further information on habronemosis and its epidemiology.     

Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856

Gamma-ray binaries are stellar systems containing a neutron star or black hole, with gamma-ray emission produced by an interaction between the components. These systems are rare, even though binary evolution models predict dozens in our Galaxy. A search for gamma-ray binaries with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) shows that 1FGL J1018.6-5856 exhibits intensity and spectral modulation with a 16.6-day period. We identified a variable x-ray counterpart, which shows a sharp maximum coinciding with maximum gamma-ray emission, as well as an O6V((f)) star optical counterpart and a radio counterpart that is also apparently modulated on the orbital period. 1FGL J1018.6-5856 is thus a gamma-ray binary, and its detection suggests the presence of other fainter binaries in the Galaxy.     

Yield and Performance and Soil Properties of Organically Fertilized Fodder Crops

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of experimental amendments on yields of Trifolium subterraneum L., Pisum arvense L., and Lolium multiflorum Lam., and on soil characteristics. A two-year research was carried out comparing anaerobic digestate (AD) and olive-pomace compost (OPC) with mineral fertilizer (Min), commercial organic-mineral fertilizer (Org-min), and unfertilized control (Cont). Anaerobic digestate and OPC were firstly analyzed for their chemical characteristics. The most important parameters were recorded and soil properties were investigated. Anaerobic digestate showed the highest dry weight for ryegrass, the best yield in pea, and good level of dry matter in clover. Good responses were achieved by OPC. Anaerobic digestate increased total soil organic carbon by 14.4, 8.1 and 7.6% than Min, Org-min and Cont, respectively. Olive-pomace compost increased the same parameter by 16.3, 10.0, and 9.5%. The findings indicated the possibility to substitute mineral fertilizers with organic ones without decreasing yields and support soil fertility.