228 research outputs found
Entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria in a veterinary perspective
The present study aimed to review the papers dealing with the biological activity of fungi and bacteria against some mites and ticks of veterinary interest. In particular, the attention was turned to the research regarding acarid species, Dermanyssus gallinae and Psoroptes sp., which are the cause of severe threat in farm animals and, regarding ticks, also pets. Their impact on animal and human health has been stressed, examining the weaknesses and strengths of conventional treatments. Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are the most widely employed agents. Their activities have been reviewed, considering the feasibility of an in-field application and the effectiveness of the administration alone or combined with conventional and alternative drugs is reported
Biological activity of essential oils
Editorial, abstract not availabl
Potential role of avian populations in the epidemiology of Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp.
Birds often are carriers of hard and/or soft ticks harboring pathogens of humans and veterinary concern. Migratory avian species, which cover long distance by their flight, may deeply influence the ticksâ distribution worldwide; in particular, they can introduce in a given geographic area new tick species and related tickâborne pathogens. Studies about the detection of tickâborne agents in birds are not numerous, whereas more attention has been turned to the presence of these microorganisms in ticks carried by birds. The present review focused on the role of avian populations in the epidemiology of rickettsioses and babesioses, which represent two severe problems for the health of humans and other mammals. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Cancerogenic parasites in veterinary medicine: a narrative literature review
Parasite infection is one of the many environmental factors that can significantly contribute to carcinogenesis and is already known to be associated with a variety of malignancies in both human and veterinary medicine. However, the actual number of cancerogenic parasites and their relationship to tumor development is far from being fully understood, especially in veterinary medicine. Thus, the aim of this review is to investigate parasite-related cancers in domestic and wild animals and their burden in veterinary oncology. Spontaneous neoplasia with ascertained or putative parasite etiology in domestic and wild animals will be reviewed, and the multifarious mechanisms of protozoan and metazoan cancer induction will be discussed
Small ruminant Gongylonema pulchrum infection in the South West Algerian desert: prevalence of a sporadic zoonosis
Individual faecal samples were randomly collected from the rectum of goats (n = 120) and sheep (n = 182)
bred in four distinct areas of the South West Algerian desert. All the samples were examined by faecal
flotation technique. A range of gastro-intestinal parasites was recorded by microscopic examination. Special
reference was given to potentially zoonotic nematodes. Typical G. pulchrum eggs were detected as mixed or
single infections in 9.3% of the animals (15% of goats and 5.5% of sheep). Goats were statistically (OR=3.04
[1.35-6.83]) more likely to harbor G. pulchrum infections than sheep. Animals older than 1 year of age were
more likely to be infected with G. pulchrum than younger ones, but these differences di not reach statistically
significant values. Monitoring human infections represents an imperative need of modern society. Anyone
working with sheep and goats or sharing the same environment with them and physicians should be aware of
gongylonemiasis and other potentially zoonotic nematode infections due to ovicaprines, though considered not
life-threatening, sporadic or neglected
Endoparasite Infections in Pet and Zoo Birds in Italy
Faecal samples were individually collected from pet (n = 63) and zoo (n = 83) birds representing 14 orders and 63 species. All the samples were examined by faecal flotation technique. In a subgroup of samples (n = 75), molecular assays were also used to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia duodenalis cysts. Overall, 35.6% of the birds harboured parasites (42.2% of zoo birds and 27% of pet birds), including Strongyles-Capillarids (8.9%), Ascaridia (6.8%), Strongyles (5.5%), G. duodenalis Assemblage A (5.3%), Coccidia (4.1%), Cryptosporidium (4%), Porrocaecum (2.7%), Porrocaecum-Capillarids (2%), and Syngamus-Capillarids (0.7%). The zoonotic G. duodenalis Assemblage A and Cryptosporidium were exclusively found in Psittaciformes, with prevalences of 10.3% and 7.7% within this bird group. Zoo birds were more likely to harbor mixed infections (ORâ=â14.81) and symptomatic birds to be parasitized (ORâ=â4.72). Clinicians should be aware of the public health implications posed by zoonotic G. duodenalis Assemblages and Cryptosporidium species in captive birds
Editorial: Plant Derived Products to Combat Bacterial, Fungal and Parasitic Pathogens
Editorial, abstract not availabl
Survey on the role of brown hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas 1778) as carriers of zoonotic dermatophytes
The occurrence of dermatophytes and keratinophilic fungi was investigated by hair-brush technique on the coat of 986 apparently healthy brown hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas 1778) caught in 9 restocking and capture zones in Central Italy. Overall, 7.5% hair samples gave positive results. Trichophyton terrestre (2.1%), Chrysosporium sp, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton gloriae and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (0.6% each), Trichophyton erinacei and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (0.4% each), Chrysosporium asperatum (0.3%), Arthroderma sp and Microsporum canis (0.1% each) were identified in cultures with single isolates, whereas Chrysosporium sp/T. mentagrophytes (0.3%), Chrysosporium sp/T. terrestre and M. gypseum/T. terrestre (0.2% each), Chrysosporium tropicum/T. terrestre, M. canis/T. terrestre and T. ajelloi/T. terrestre (0.1% each) were identified in cultures with mixed isolates. T. erinacei and M. canis have not previously been isolated from hares. M. canis, T. erinacei and T. mentagrophytes were the most clinically important dermatophytes found. Altogether, they were isolated only from 1.5% hair samples. Thus, it is concluded that brown hares may play a limited epidemiological role as carriers of zoonotic dermatophytes. Nevertheless, this should be taken into consideration as many people may be exposed to zoonotic agents from brown hares during hunting and trapping activities
Neospora caninum in Wild Waterfowl: Occurrence of Parasite DNA and Low antibody titers
Thirty-five adult waterfowl (14 males and 21 females) representing various orders and species were sampled during the hunting season from 2015 to 2016. Antibodies to Neospora caninum were detected by IFAT on blood samples, while heart and brain were subjected to molecular analysis for the detection of Neospora caninum DNA. Twelve birds (34.3%) (6 Anas crecca, 3 Anas platyrhynchos, 2 Anas penelope, 1 Anas acuta) showed antibodies versus N. caninum, while 10 animals out of 35 (4 Anas crecca, 2 Anas platyrhynchos, 2 Anas penelope, 1 Anas acuta, and 1 Vanellus vanellus) scored positive for at least 1 sample, with an overall prevalence of 28.6%. The present report shows for the first time the occurrence of antibodies and N. caninum DNA in waterfowl. The avian species investigated in the present report, which feed directly from the soil and/or water, would be able to ingest oocysts excreted by final canid hosts and could contribute to parasite transmission in the sylvatic cycle. To achieve a definitive result about the role of these avian species in the epidemiology of this protozoan, the presence of viable parasites should be demonstrated by bioassay and/or culture, as well as histological evidence of N. caninum cysts in avian tissues
Prevalence of the microsporidian Nosema ceranae in honeybee (Apis mellifera) apiaries in Central Italy
Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis are microsporidia which play an important role in the
epidemiology of honeybee microsporidiosis worldwide. Nosemiasis reduces honeybee population
size and causes significant losses in honey production. To the best of our knowledge, limited information
is available about the prevalence of nosemiasis in Italy. In this research, we determined the
occurrence of Nosema infection in Central Italy. Thirty-eight seemingly healthy apiaries (2 to 4 hives
each) were randomly selected and screened from April to September 2014 (n= 11) or from May to
September 2015 (n= 27). The apiaries were located in six areas of Central Italy, including Lucca
(n= 11), Massa Carrara (n= 9), Pisa (n= 9), Leghorn (n= 7), Florence (n= 1), and Prato
(n= 1) provinces. Light microscopy was carried out according to current OIE recommendations
to screen the presence of microsporidiosis in adult worker honeybees. Since the morphological characteristics
of N. ceranae and N. apis spores are similar and can hardly be distinguished by optical
microscopy, all samples were also screened by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) assay
based on 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers to differentiate N. ceranae from N. apis.
Furthermore, PCR-positive samples were also sequenced to confirm the species of amplified
Nosema DNA. Notably, Nosema spores were detected in samples from 24 out of 38 (63.2%,
95% CI: 47.8â78.5%) apiaries. Positivity rates in single provinces were 10/11, 8/9, 3/9, 1/7, or
1/1 (n= 2). A full agreement (Cohenâs Kappa = 1) was assessed between microscopy and
M-PCR. Based on M-PCR and DNA sequencing results, only N. ceranae was found. Overall,
our results highlighted that N. ceranae infection occurs frequently in the cohort of honeybee
populations that was examined despite the lack of clinical signs. These findings suggest that colony disease outbreaks might result from environmental factors that lead to higher susceptibility of
honeybees to this microsporidian
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