La gestione dei volatili in un centro di recupero per animali selvatici

Il lavoro di tesi si è incentrato sulle attività di un centro di recupero per animali selvatici ed esotici ed in particolare sulla gestione dei volatili. Abbiamo predisposto un protocollo di lavoro inerente alla gestione alimentare, sanitaria e igienico-sanitaria delle strutture degli uccelli selvatici autoctoni, e sono state fatte delle indagini statistiche relative alla sopravvivenza degli esemplari ricoverati nel centro e sono stati confrontati i giovani e gli adulti

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Biomarkers di esposizione a xenobiotici in specie ittiche di acque temperate ed antartiche

Gli organismi, in tutti i comparti ambientali e in particolar modo negli ecosistemi acquatici, sono esposti ad una serie di contaminanti (xenobiotici) o miscele di essi che possono manifestare il loro effetto tossico a differenti livelli dell’organizzazione biologica: a livello biochimico-cellulare questi effetti possono essere misurati attraverso l’impiego di biormarkers, misurazioni in cellule o in tessuti che indicano le modificazioni biochimiche o cellulari dovute alla presenza di agenti tossici. Gli effetti ai livelli gerarchici alti (organismo, popolazione), sono spesso preceduti da cambiamenti antecedenti a questi ultimi che tuttavia possono essere rilevati precocemente prima che gli effetti tossici abbiano raggiunto target critici attraverso i biomarkers, che possono essere così considerati precoci segnali di allarme. Lo scopo della presente ricerca ha riguardato la valutazione dell’effetto di composti xenobiotici, appartenenti alla classe dei cosiddetti “endocrine disruptors” e degli idrocarburi poliaromatici, in specie ittiche (allevate ed allo stato selvatico) attraverso l’analisi di biomarkers di esposizione. Le specie oggetto dello studio sono state la spigola (Dicentrarchus labrax), una specie eurialina largamente utilizzata a scopo zootecnico ed una specie antartica tipica degli ambienti estremi, il Trematomus bernacchii. Il sistema endocrino degli organismi è esposto ad una grande varietà di sostanze naturali di provenienza industriale che possono interferire con il sistema riproduttivo e creare effetti avversi, come l’alterazione dei sistemi enzimatici metabolizzanti gli xenobiotici. La prima parte dello studio ha riguardato gli effetti in vivo dell’esposizione a un estrogeno naturale (17β-estradiolo: E2), ad uno xenoestrogeno (4-nonilfenolo: NP, tensioattivo non ionico) e ad un anti-estrogeno (3,3’,4,4’,5-pentaclorobifenile: PCB 126) sugli enzimi epatici di fase I dipendenti dal citocromo P450 (CYP) e di fase II in spigole adulte di sesso maschile. Il trattamento con E2 ha causato una inibizione selettiva dose- e tempo-dipendente delle attività EROD (legata all’isoforma CYP1A) e glutatione S-transferasi (GST). Un andamento simile è stato riscontrato nei pesci trattati con lo xenoestrogeno 4-nonilfenolo, risultati confermati anche dai livelli di proteina immunoreattiva analizzati con metodica Western blot. Le spigole trattate con 10 o 100 µg/kg di PCB 126, un ligando AhR non ancora testato in vivo nei pesci per la valutazione della anti-estrogenicità, hanno mostrato un limitato incremento delle attività enzimatiche EROD e DT-diaforasi. Nei pesci co-trattati con 0.5 mg/kg E2 e 10 o 100 µg/kg PCB 126 i livelli di EROD e DT-diaforasi sono rientrati ai valori di controllo, probabilmente attraverso un meccanismo di cross-talking che coinvolge i recettori per gli estrogeni ed il recettore AhR o altri fattori di trascrizione che regolano l’espressione di questi enzimi. I risultati di questa prima parte dello studio suggeriscono che l’esposizione delle spigole a xenoestrogeni o antiestrogeni può alterare, addizionalmente ad altri processi fisiologici, la capacità detossificante verso gli xenobiotici, quali ad esempio farmaci che potrebbero essere comunemente impiegati nella pratica zootecnica. La seconda parte dello studio ha riguardato alcuni aspetti del metabolismo degli xenobiotici in una specie ittica sentinella per il monitoraggio degli ecosistemi Antartici, il T. bernacchii. A seguito dell’esposizione dei pesci ad un idrocarburo poliaromatico, il β-naftoflavone ( βNF), sono stati misurati a livello catalitico, trascrizionale e traduzionale i livelli basali e l’induzione tempo-dipendente delle isoforme CYP1A, CYP1B e CYP3A. Inoltre sono state misurate attività enzimatiche quali testosterone idrossilasi, (ω) e (ω-1)-acido laurico idrossilasi ed alcune attività di fase II correlate alla batteria genica del recettore AhR: DT-Diaforasi, glutatione S-transferasi e UDP -glucuronil transferasi. Le misurazioni sono state effettuate sul tessuto epatico ed extraepatico (branchie, intestino e cuore).L’esposizione ha causato un sensibile aumento delle attività CYP1A1-dipendenti (MEROD>EROD) ed un mantenimento di livelli elevati di mRNA nel tempo (indotto anche dopo 20 giorni). L’induzione del CYP1A1, anche se in misura minore rispetto al fegato, è stata evidente anche nelle branchie, ma totalmente assente sia nell’intestino che nel cuore.E’ stata inoltre ottenuta la prima sequenza nucleotidica dell’isoforma CYP1B1 in una specie Antartica, che ha rivelato una omologia dell’89% e 72% al CYP1B1 di platessa e al CYP 1B2 di carpa, rispettivamente. L’espressione costitutiva del CYP1B1 è limitata alle branchie ed è inducibile da βNF. I risultati ottenuti rappresentano un contributo addizionale alla caratterizzazione ecotossicologica di T. bernacchii ed un supporto per l’uso dei biomarkers per la valutazione di precoci effetti dell’inquinamento chimico in zone remote quali l’Antartid

The evaluation of the force acting on bluff body in unsteady flow

The in-line and transverse forces acting on a sphere immersed in a unsteady free surface flow in a horizontal short flume have been measured through a set of strain gauges. The flow field around the obstacle has been obtained using different flowmeter, current meter and laser doppler anemometer, in order to select different measurement control volumes and, thus, different velocity scale. Measurements have been performed in the range of sphere Reynolds numbers Re =DUm/v lying between 10^4 and 6x10^4 ( D sphere radius, Um mean velocity of flow, fluid kinematic viscosity), and for Froude numbers Fr= Um/(ghm^)0.5 (g acceleration of gravity) ranging from 0.5 to 3.0. Drag and lift coefficients have been derived through the steady longitudinal and transverse measured force while the inertial coefficient have determined through the use of Fourier analysis

Staphylococcus epidermidis strain X70 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence.

Staphylococcus epidermidis strain X70 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. GenBank: EF424588.

Staphylococcus aureus strain I65 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence.

Staphylococcus aureus strain I65 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. GenBank: EF424586.

Staphylococcus equorum strain X56 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence

Staphylococcus equorum strain X56 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence GenBank: EF424589.

Staphylococcus succinus strain X68 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence.

Staphylococcus succinus strain X68 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. GenBank: EF424599.

Staphylococcus simulans strain I96 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence

ACCESSION N. EF42458