Morphometric study on tadpoles of Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Anura; Bombinatoridae)

The tadpoles of Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) can be easily recognized from other Italian anuran species, except those of B. pachypus (though the two congeneric species are allopatric). In this paper we report morphometric data on B. variegata tadpoles from a Lombard population living near a torrent at 450 m a.s.l. On a sample of 264 tadpoles (stages 19-44, according to Gosner, 1960) we measured the following five variables: snout-vent length, tail length, maximum tail height, total length and weight. We found a slight allometric relationship between snout-vent length and tail length, while, as expectes,.the weight is nearly proportional to the cube of linear measures. According to literature data, our results point to highly constant proportions during the development phases up to prometamorphic stages. The ratio between snout-vent length and tail length was about 0.75 during the whole growing phase, while from stage 42 the proportion increases as the resorption of the tail starts

<i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> in the Lombardy region

Cystic echinococcosis (Echinococcus granulosus) is a significant public health problem in the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, there are few epidemiological studies on echinococcosis in animals and humans mainly on southern regions, even if echinoccocosis is included in the list of zoonoses that need an epidemiological surveillance (2003/99/EEC of 17 November 2003). The results confirm that echinococcosis is hypoendemic in Lombardy, but data collected at the slaughterhouse could underestimate the prevalence of the infection, because old sheep are not always slaughtered under veterinary control

Antibacterial Effect of Aluminum Surfaces Untreated and Treated with a Special Anodizing Based on Titanium Oxide Approved for Food Contact

One of the main concerns of the food industry is microbial adhesion to food contact surfaces and consequent contamination. We evaluated the potential bacteriostatic/bactericidal efficacy of aluminum surfaces with different large-scale roughness (0.25, 0.5 and 1 um) before and after the surface treatment with a special anodizing based on titanium oxide nanotechnology (DURALTI®) and after 3 different sanitizing treatments, e.g., UV, alcohol and a natural product named Gold lotion. Four Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 1402, Yersinia enterocolitica ATCC 9610 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27588) and four Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 and Listeria monocytogenes NCTT 10888) bacteria were screened. As far as concerns aluminum surfaces without nanotechnology surface treatment, an overall bacteriostatic effect was observed for all strains with respect to the initial inoculum that was 106 CFU/mL. Conversely, an overall bactericidal effect was observed both for Gram-negative and -positive bacteria on DURALTI®-treated aluminum disks, regardless of roughness and sanitizing treatment. These results are innovative in terms of the great potential of the antibacterial activity of nanotechnologically treated food contact surfaces and their combination with some sanitizing agents that might be exploited in the food industry

Antibacterial Effect of Stainless Steel Surfaces Treated with a Nanotechnological Coating Approved for Food Contact

Stainless steel, widely present in the food industry, is frequently exposed to bacterial colonization with possible consequences on consumers’ health. 288 stainless steel disks with different roughness (0.25, 0.5 and 1 μm) were challenged with four Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 1402, Yersinia enterocolitica ATCC 9610 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27588) and four Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 and Listeria monocytogenes NCTT 10888) and underwent three different sanitizing treatments (UVC, alcohol 70% v/v and Gold lotion). Moreover, the same procedure was carried out onto the same surfaces after a nanotechnological surface coating (nanoXHAM® D). A significant bactericidal effect was exerted by all of the sanitizing treatments against all bacterial strains regardless of roughness and surface coating. The nanoXHAM® D coating itself induced an overall bactericidal effect as well as in synergy with all sanitizing treatments regardless of roughness. Stainless steel surface roughness is poorly correlated with bacterial adhesion and only sanitizing treatments can exert significant bactericidal effects. Most of sanitizing treatments are toxic and corrosive causing the onset of crevices that are able to facilitate bacterial nesting and growth. This nanotechnological coating can reduce surface adhesion with consequent reduction of bacterial adhesion, nesting, and growth

Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants in Northern Italy – prevalence and risk factors

[b]Objective[/b]. The aim of the survey was to evaluate [i]Toxoplasma gondii[/i] seroprevalence in small ruminants and possible risk factors associated with the infection. [b]Materials and methods[/b]. Sera from 474 goats and 502 sheep reared on 42 farms in northern Italy were collected and tested for IgG antibodies to [i]T. gondii[/i] by IFAT (indirect immunofluorescence antibody test). To identify risk factors, a binary logistic regression analysis of the variables was performed. An audit form about farm management was used. [b]Results[/b]. Antibodies to [i]T. gondii [/i]were found in 96.6% of goat farms and in 87.5% of sheep farms; 41.7% goats and 59.3% sheep resulted positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in sheep than in goats. Seroprevalence values were similar in goats from eastern and western areas, whereas goats from the southern area were at lower risk of infection. Saanen goats presented the lowest seroprevalence (30.7 %), whereas cross-breed exhibited the highest rate (48.7%). Goats from farms housing both sheep and goats had an infection risk 1.39 times higher than goats from farms that did not house sheep. Animals bred on intensive farms showed lower prevalence (22.1%) in comparison with those from extensive (45.6%) or semi-intensive farms (60%). Sampling area was one of the strongest predictors of [i]T. gondii [/i]infection in sheep flocks. Transhumant flocks showed a higher risk of infection by [i]T. gondii[/i] compared with semi-intensive farms (66.8% vs. 38.4%). [b]Conclusions[/b]. The highest [i]T. gondii[/i] seroprevalence values were registered in transhumant flocks of sheep and in family businesses rearing goats. As these traditional activities represent an important resource for the conservation of the territory and its economy, management practices for a better control of the disease should be improved

Monitoraggio della biodiversità in relazione all'applicazione degli standard di condizionalità: 4.2c, 4.6, 4.3 (olivo)

Nel presente lavoro vengono riportati i risultati relativi ai monitoraggi della diversità faunistica per i seguenti standard: 4.2c, 4.3 (olivo), 4.6. I risultati ottenuti sono nel complesso interessanti sia dal punto di vista metodologico sia per quanto concerne gli aspetti conservazionistici e gestionali. Emerge l'importanza di utilizzare più indicatori o gruppi tassonomici che comprendano taxa ecologicamente e funzionalmente diversi per valutare la "biodiversità". Relativamente allo sfalcio è stato osservato che una "blanda gestione" dei ritirati dalla produzione può favorire un certo incremento di biodiversità sia per quanto riguarda gli Artropodi, sia per quanto riguarda i Rettili. Risultati concordi sono stati osservati anche negli oliveti dove la gestione della vegetazione al suolo (sfalcio) sembrerebbe incrementare la diversità. Tuttavia è opportuno ricordare che l'effetto monitorato, almeno nei ritirati dalla produzione, non è quello immediatamente successivo all'azione meccanica che invece provoca danni diretti e immediati alla fauna (ferimento e uccisione). Emerge con evidenza dai dati raccolti anche l'importanza della presenza, all'interno degli agro-ecosistemi, di aree a minor disturbo antropico, naturali e semi-naturali: fasce ecotonali e ripariali, ma anche bordure dei campi. Viceversa l'uniformità del paesaggio e la presenza di grandi estensioni coltivate a monocoltura rappresentano elementi sfavorevoli alla biodiversità animale. Nel monitoraggio attraverso l'utilizzo della tecnica di fototrappolaggio è emersa l'importante funzione svolta dai muretti a secco, "presenze" tipiche e diffuse nel paesaggio agricolo tradizionale del nostro territorio italiano. Per molti taxa animali detti manufatti assolvono a funzioni ecologiche diverse, quali: rifugio, aree di foraggiamento, passaggio o sosta nonché punti ottimali per la termoregolazione.</p

What is the role of the placebo effect for pain relief in neurorehabilitation? Clinical implications from the Italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

Background: It is increasingly acknowledged that the outcomes of medical treatments are influenced by the context of the clinical encounter through the mechanisms of the placebo effect. The phenomenon of placebo analgesia might be exploited to maximize the efficacy of neurorehabilitation treatments. Since its intensity varies across neurological disorders, the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation (ICCP) summarized the studies on this field to provide guidance on its use. Methods: A review of the existing reviews and meta-analyses was performed to assess the magnitude of the placebo effect in disorders that may undergo neurorehabilitation treatment. The search was performed on Pubmed using placebo, pain, and the names of neurological disorders as keywords. Methodological quality was assessed using a pre-existing checklist. Data about the magnitude of the placebo effect were extracted from the included reviews and were commented in a narrative form. Results: 11 articles were included in this review. Placebo treatments showed weak effects in central neuropathic pain (pain reduction from 0.44 to 0.66 on a 0-10 scale) and moderate effects in postherpetic neuralgia (1.16), in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (1.45), and in pain associated to HIV (1.82). Moderate effects were also found on pain due to fibromyalgia and migraine; only weak short-term effects were found in complex regional pain syndrome. Confounding variables might have influenced these results. Clinical implications: These estimates should be interpreted with caution, but underscore that the placebo effect can be exploited in neurorehabilitation programs. It is not necessary to conceal its use from the patient. Knowledge of placebo mechanisms can be used to shape the doctor-patient relationship, to reduce the use of analgesic drugs and to train the patient to become an active agent of the therapy

Morphometric study on tadpoles of <em>Bombina variegata</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) (Anura; Bombinatoridae)

The tadpoles of Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) can be easily recognized from other Italian anuran species, except those of B. pachypus (though the two congeneric species are allopatric). In this paper we report morphometric data on B. variegata tadpoles from a Lombard population living near a torrent at 450 m a.s.l. On a sample of 264 tadpoles (stages 19-44, according to Gosner, 1960) we measured the following five variables: snout-vent length, tail length, maximum tail height, total length and weight. We found a slight allometric relationship between snout-vent length and tail length, while, as expectes,.the weight is nearly proportional to the cube of linear measures. According to literature data, our results point to highly constant proportions during the development phases up to prometamorphic stages. The ratio between snout-vent length and tail length was about 0.75 during the whole growing phase, while from stage 42 the proportion increases as the resorption of the tail starts

Repeated administration of a flavonoid-based formulated extract from citrus peels significantly reduces peripheral inflammation-induced pain in the rat

Depression-related disorders are the first cause of disability worldwide according to the World Health Organization, and there is limited availability of effective antidepressant medications without side effects. Similarly, pain management is a public health concern particularly due to the increase in use of opioid medications, which have a significant side effect profile. Flavonoids can modulate numerous physiological functions including emotional and anti-nociceptive processes. Gold lotion (GL) is a natural product based on the extract of six citrus peels rich in flavonoids (0.45 mg/ ml) with numerous reported biological activities. In the present study, we investigated the effect of repeated administration of GL in a battery of behavioral tests, including the open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and von Frey test (vFT), in rats. While the OFT measured anxiolytic-related effects, the FST evaluated depression-related behavior. The vFT evaluated mechanical allodynia in two rat models of peripheral inflammation induced by carrageenan or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) administration. Treatment with GL reduced mechanical allodynia after either carrageenan or CFA administration. On the other hand, repeated GL administration did not modulate any behavior evaluated by OFT or FST. Consumption of GL inhibits behavioral signs of inflammatory pain. Therefore, GL may be a valuable analgesic product to be used for inflammatory pain