Induced Reproduction of Aphanius fasciatus by Ecophysiological Conditioning and Hormonal Treatment in Fresh and Marine Water

The Mediterranean toothcarp (Aphanius fasciatus) can be used to biologically control mosquito larvae. The reproductive performance of 234 Mediterranean toothcarp (180 females and 54 males) was investigated. Reproductive factors were determined in fish kept in fresh or saline water (males and females together), and in fish kept separately by sex in saline water and hormonally-treated with carp pituitary extract (CPE). In the hormonally-treated group, the combined effect of temperature, photoperiod, and hormonal treatment induced the best ovary maturation and larvae production rates. The rate of reproduction was very high (average eggs/female: 5.9-10.5) compared to natural reproduction in the wild (average eggs/female: 2-4). Additionally, the hatching rate was 97-100%. The results of this study show that reproduction of Mediterranean toothcarp can be controlled in an artificial environment: the lack of mortality in adults during acclimation and conditioning in fresh and marine waters indicates good domestication and plasticity in reproductive parameters

The first new species of European Ascocotyle Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Heterophyidae) described in more than half a century

Ascocotyle (Phagicola) trentinii n. sp. is described based on adults from experimentally infected ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) fed with metacercariae from the visceral serosa of the Mediterranean banded killifish, Aphanius fasciatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Aphaniidae), from coastal lagoons in northeastern Italy (Emilia-Romagna Region). The new species is placed into the subgenus Phagicola because of the presence of a single row of circumoral spines, vitelline follicles being confined between the ventral sucker and testes, and uterine loops not reaching anterior to the ventral sucker. Ascocotyle (P.) trentinii n. sp. differs from other members of the subgenus Phagicola, as well as other species of Ascocotyle, by the number (27–33) of circumoral spines which are 13.5–17 μm long and 3.5–5 μm wide, and by the morphology of a gonotyl which is composed of about 8 large refractile pockets. The occurrence of metacercariae in A. fasciatus indicates that the life cycle of the new species is completed in brackish water lagoons. It is the fourth species of Ascocotyle described in Europe and may be endemic to the Mediterranean region because its second (fish) intermediate host is endemic to this region

Toksikološko istraživanje divlje populacije srne (Capreolus capreolus) i jelena (Cervus elaphus) ispitivanjem zuba

Heavy metal content was evaluated in the teeth of roe deer and red deer. No differences in heavy metal concentrations between sampling areas or species were observed. A similar deposition process can be considered for the two species, as well as a similar chronic exposure levels.U zubima srne i jelena mjeren je sadržaj teških metala. Nije primijećena razlika u koncentracijama metala ni između različitih područja prikupljanja uzoraka, niti između vrsta. Za obje vrste može se pretpostaviti sličan proces taloženja metala, kao i slična razina kronične ekspozicije

Rana temporaria on Monti della Laga (Central Italy): isolated population or wide distribution? First record in Abruzzo and Marche

In Central Italy Rana temporaria is only known to occur as a glacial relict on the eastern side of Monti della Laga (Lazio). In this study we report the presence of the species in other areas of the mountain chain, with documented sightings in five distinct localities in Marche and Abruzzo. We use these new records, together with other occurrence data from the Apennine chain, to generate a species distribution model and perform an analysis of the geological preference of the species in Central Italy. Although the model indicates a wide area of Marche and Abruzzo as suitable for R. temporaria, the actual distribution of the species in northern and central Apennine appears strongly associated with sandstones. Therefore, we argue that the presence of this geological substrate on Monti della Laga, but not in surrounding karst uplands, could be among the factors explaining its isolation. Our study aims at paving the way for future surveys and measures to protect these isolated populations from the threat posed by climate change

Sarcoptic mange in Felidae: does Sarcoptes scabiei var. felis exist? A first molecular study.

Domestic and wild felids are considered suitable hosts for the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, and sarcoptic mange is reported in several felid species in the scientific literature. However, the historic classification of Sarcoptes mites into host-specific varieties does not include S. scabiei var. felis. It is unclear whether sarcoptic mange transmission in felids involves canids, other sympatric species, or exclusively felids. This study aimed to characterize the genetic structure of S. scabiei mites from domestic cats (Felis catus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus), comparing them with Sarcoptes mites from sympatric domestic and wild carnivores. Ten Sarcoptes microsatellite markers were used to genotype 81 mites obtained from skin scrapings of 36 carnivores: 4 domestic cats, one dog (Canis lupus familiaris), 4 Eurasian lynx, 23 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and 4 grey wolves (Canis lupus lupus) from either Italy, Switzerland or France. Two genetic clusters of S. scabiei with a geographical distribution pattern were detected: mites from cats originating from Central Italy clustered with those from sympatric wolves. In contrast, all the other mites from Switzerland, France and Northern Italy clustered together. These results strengthen the previously advanced hypothesis that genetic variants of S. scabiei have a predominant geographic-related distribution with cryptic transmission patterns. These patterns may rely on the interactions between different hosts living in the same ecological niche rather than a simple infection among hosts belonging to the same taxon, reinforcing the idea that the S. scabiei historic classification into "var" might have little ongoing relevance

Sarcoptic mange in Felidae: does Sarcoptes scabiei var. felis exist? A first molecular study

Domestic and wild felids are considered suitable hosts for the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, and sarcoptic mange is reported in several felid species in the scientific literature. However, the historic classification of Sarcoptes mites into host-specific varieties does not include S. scabiei var. felis. It is unclear whether sarcoptic mange transmission in felids involves canids, other sympatric species, or exclusively felids. This study aimed to characterize the genetic structure of S. scabiei mites from domestic cats (Felis catus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus), comparing them with Sarcoptes mites from sympatric domestic and wild carnivores. Ten Sarcoptes microsatellite markers were used to genotype 81 mites obtained from skin scrapings of 36 carnivores: 4 domestic cats, one dog (Canis lupus familiaris), 4 Eurasian lynx, 23 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and 4 grey wolves (Canis lupus lupus) from either Italy, Switzerland or France. Two genetic clusters of S. scabiei with a geographical distribution pattern were detected: mites from cats originating from Central Italy clustered with those from sympatric wolves. In contrast, all the other mites from Switzerland, France and Northern Italy clustered together. These results strengthen the previously advanced hypothesis that genetic variants of S. scabiei have a predominant geographic-related distribution with cryptic transmission patterns. These patterns may rely on the interactions between different hosts living in the same ecological niche rather than a simple infection among hosts belonging to the same taxon, reinforcing the idea that the S. scabiei historic classification into “var” might have little ongoing relevance

Isolation and genome characterization of Lloviu virus from Italian Schreibers’ bent-winged bats

13 Pág.Lloviu cuevavirus (LLOV) was the first identified member of Filoviridae family outside the Ebola and Marburgvirus genera. A massive die-off of Schreibers’ bent-winged bats (Miniopterus schreibersii) in the Iberian Peninsula in 2002 led to its discovery. Studies with recombinant and wild-type LLOV isolates confirmed the susceptibility of human-derived cell lines and primary human macrophages to LLOV infection in vitro. Based on these data, LLOV is now considered as a potential zoonotic virus with unknown pathogenicity to humans and bats. We examined bat samples from Italy for the presence of LLOV in an area outside of the currently known distribution range of the virus. We detected one positive sample from 2020, sequenced the complete coding sequence of the viral genome and established an infectious isolate of the virus. In addition, we performed the first comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the virus, using the Spanish, Hungarian and the Italian sequences. The most important achievement of this article is the establishment of an additional infectious LLOV isolate from a bat sample using the SuBK12-08 cells, demonstrating that this cell line is highly susceptible to LLOV infection. These results further confirms the role of these bats as the host of this virus, possibly throughout their entire geographic range. This is an important result to further understand the role of bats as the natural hosts for zoonotic filoviruses.This work was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Hungary under grants NKFIH FK131465 (G.K.) and FK137778 (T.G.), and RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00010; and the National Institutes of Health under grant R21AI169646 (E.M.). T.G. was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.N

What story does geographic separation of insular bats tell? A case study on Sardinian Rhinolophids [Correction]

There is an error in the legend of Figure 3. Please see the correct Figure 3 legend here

Fenologia dei Chirotteri nella grotta di Onferno

Con le sue 11 specie e le oltre 6000 presenze di Chirotteri la Riserva naturale orientata di Onferno è certamente un punto di notevole interesse nel patrimonio naturale italiano. A seguito dei piani di indagine e di sorveglianza posti in essere fin dalla sua creazione nel 1992 da parte della gestione della Riserva e soprattutto grazie al progetto LIFE in corso, si riassumono qui i principali tratti fenologci delle diverse specie nella cavità. Il sistema ipogeo è altamente differenziato topografica e in termini di microclima, come rilevato dal sistema di monitoraggio presente. Da Dicembre inizia il periodo più tipicamente invernale con rapido abbandono della cavità principale da parte dei miniotteri. Vi rimangono poche decine di esemplari e altrettanti rinolofidi delle diverse specie. Tale situazione si prolunga con alcune piccole variazioni fino a Marzo. Al cambio di stagione i miniotteri si muovono dai rifugi posti soprattutto in un tunnel a S. Marino (circa 11 km in linea d?aria) a temperatura tra i 3 e 5 °C per tornare nel tratto principale a circa 7°C. I rinolofidi mantengono le posizioni e i numeri precedenti. Con Aprile il gruppo dei miniotteri, oramai completo o quasi, si sposta nella Sala Guano o rimane in vari ambiti del percorso principale. I rinolofidi appaiono in movimento ma il loro numero diminuisce almeno dalle zone di controllo. A Maggio compaiono anche i grandi vespertili già aggregati al grande gruppo dei miniotteri che spesso si presenta in contingenti suddivisi in vari ambiti della grotta. Non si ritrovano più rinolofi maggiori, mentre euryale e minore raggiungono le sale più calde e secche. Con Giugno i contingenti si concentrano nella grande sala ?Quarina? per formare nella seconda metà la colonia riproduttiva. Dal 15 circa iniziano i parti in tutte le specie. Nel Miniottero si registrano scarti di almeno una settimana tra l?avvio della riproduzione e le ultime nascite. Tutto Luglio è speso nella crescita dei piccoli nei diversi assembramenti. Dopo il 20 iniziano approssimativamente gli involi. Dopo la metà di Agosto la colonia si disgrega, frequentando in gruppi di varia numerosità diverse parti dell?ipogeo. L?autunno vede un intervallare di momenti di attività a più giorni, in concomitanza con i mutamenti meteorici, di torpore. Si hanno gli accoppiamenti e più numerose divengo le specie, come per i piccoli <em>Myotis</em> e i <em>Pipistrellus</em>, che frequentano la cavità. Il lavoro sintetizza questa occupazione e uso differenziato ponendolo in confronto con i dati del microclima interno ed esterno

Predation on dormice in Italy

<strong>Abstract</strong> The authors analyse available data on the impact of predators on Dormouse populations in Italy. Dormice are found in the diet of 2 snakes (<em>Vipera berus</em> and <em>V. aspis</em>), 2 diurnal birds of prey (<em>Buteo bute</em>o and <em>Aquila chrysaetos</em>), 6 owls (<em>Tyto alba</em>, <em>Strix aluco</em>, <em>Asio otus</em>, <em>Athene noctua</em>, <em>Bubo bubo</em> and <em>Glaucidium passerinum</em>) and 9 mammals (<em>Rattus rattus</em>, <em>Ursus arctos</em>, <em>Canis lupus</em>, <em>Vulpes vulpes</em>, <em>Martes martes</em>, <em>M. foina</em>, <em>Meles meles</em>, <em>Felis silvestris</em> and <em>Sus scrofa</em>) in a variable percentage of the prey taken. Only <em>Dryomys nitedula</em> was never encountered as a prey item. The most common prey is <em>Muscardinus avellanarius</em>. There are significative regional differences in predation between bioclimatic areas of the Italian peninsula. The contribution of studies on predation to knowledge of Myoxid distribution is discussed. <strong>Riassunto</strong> <strong>Predazione di Mioxidi in Italia</strong> - Sono analizzati i dati pubblicati sull'impatto dei predatori sulle popolazioni di Myoxidae in Italia. Myoxidae sono stati riscontrati nelle diete di 2 serpenti (<em>Vipera berus</em> e <em>V. aspis</em>), 2 rapaci diurni (<em>Buteo buteo</em> e <em>Aquila chrysaetos</em>), 6 notturni (<em>Tyto alba</em>, <em>Strix aluco</em>, <em>Asio otus</em>, <em>Athene noctua</em>, <em>Bubo bubo</em> e <em>Glaucidium passerinum</em>) e 9 mammiferi (<em>Rattus rattus</em>, <em>Ursus arctos</em>,<em> Canis lupus</em>, <em>Vulpes vulpes</em>, <em>Martes martes</em>, <em>M foina</em>, <em>Meles meles</em>, <em>Felis silvestris</em> e <em>Sus scrofa</em>) in percentuale variabile nella comunità di prede. Solo <em>Dryomys nitedula</em> non è mai stato incontrato come preda. La specie piu comunemente predata risulta <em>Muscardinus avellanarius</em>. Sono discusse le significative differenze di predazione per aree bioclimaticamente diverse e l'apporto dello studio delle predazioni alle conoscenze sulla distribuzione dei Myoxidae in Italia