The ground beetle Pseudoophonus rufipes gut microbiome is influenced by the farm management system

: Intensive conventional farm management, characterized by high agrochemicals input, could alter the composition of microbial communities with potential negative effects on both functional traits and the ecosystem services provided. In this study, we investigated the gut microbial composition of a high ecological relevance carabid Pseudoophonus rufipes, sampled in two fields subjected to conventional and organic management practices. Carabids' gut microbiota was analyzed via qPCR and NGS. Profound differences between the microbial composition of organic and conventional samples were detected: the abundance of Tenericutes and Proteobacteria was significant higher in organic and conventional samples, respectively. Spiroplasmataceae and Bifidobacteriaceae families were significantly more abundant in samples from organic management, while Enterococcaceae, Morganellaceae and Yersiniaceae were more abundant in samples from conventional management. The diverse gut microbial composition of insects between the two management systems is related to the pressure of environmental stressors and it may representing an important bioindication of ecological functions and services provided by a carabid species

Effectiveness of synthetic calcite doped with Fe-EDDHSA as a slow-release Fe source: In-vitro experiment on kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa) plants

Doped calcite (Fe-EDDHSA/CaCO3) was experimentally produced. The hypothesis of the present experiment is that, when roots get in contact with Fe-EDDHSA/CaCO3, the extrusion of H+ decreases the pH and dissolves calcite with subsequent release of Fe that becomes available for roots. The aim of the experiment was to determine whether doped calcite might represent a slow-release Fe source for in-vitro grown kiwifruit plantlets. The root elongation media used in the experiment had pH 8.0 and differed from each other for Fe supply as follow: Control medium that contained complete Murashige and Skoog salt mixture, including FeSO4 and Na(2)EDTA; calcite medium enriched with Fe-EDDHSA/CaCO3 as the only Fe source; -Fe medium without Fe. The absence of FeSO4 in the medium caused a reduction of plantlet growth. The final pH was higher with calcite medium than in control and -Fe. The addition of Fe-EDDHSA/CaCO3 increased Fe shoot concentration when compared with the -Fe medium. The data of the present experiment show the potential Fe slow release ability of Fe-EDDHSA/CaCO3; however, further investigation on Fe containing fertilizers should be conducted on potted plants to validate our result

Serologic evidence of occupational exposure to avian influenza viruses at the wildfowl/poultry/human interface

Ecological interactions between wild aquatic birds and outdoor-housed poultry can enhance spillover events of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) from wild reservoirs to domestic birds, thus increasing the related zoonotic risk to occupationally exposed workers. To assess serological evidence of AIV infection in workers operating in Northern Italy at the wildfowl/poultry interface or directly exposed to wildfowl, serum samples were collected between April 2005 and November 2006 from 57 bird-exposed workers (BEWs) and from 7 unexposed controls (Cs), planning three sample collec-tions from each individual. Concurrently, AIV surveillance of 3587 reared birds identified 4 AIVs belonging to H10N7, H4N6 and H2N2 subtypes while serological analysis by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay showed recent infections caused by H1, H2, H4, H6, H10, H11, H12, and H13 subtypes. Human sera were analyzed for specific antibodies against AIVs belonging to antigenic subtypes from H1 to H14 by using HI and virus microneutralization (MN) assays as a screening and a confirmatory test, respectively. Overall, antibodies specific to AIV-H3, AIV-H6, AIV-H8, and AIV-H9 were found in three poultry workers (PWs) and seropositivity to AIV-11, AIV-H13—still detectable in October 2017—in one wildlife professional (WP). Furthermore, seropositivity to AIV-H2, accounting for previous exposure to the “extinct” H2N2 human influenza viruses, was found in both BEWs and Cs groups. These data further emphasize the occupational risk posed by zoonotic AIV strains and show the possible occurrence of long-lived antibody-based immunity following AIV infections in humans

Transmucosal Implant Placement with Submarginal Connective Tissue Graft in Area of Shallow Buccal Bone Dehiscence: A Three-Year Follow-Up Case Series

The aim of the present case series study was to evaluate the short- and longterm (3 years) soft tissue stability of a surgical technique combining transmucosal implant placement with submarginal connective tissue graft (CTG) in an area of shallow buccal bone dehiscence. A sample of 20 patients were treated by positioning a transmucosal implant in an intercalated edentulous area. A CTG sutured to the inner aspect of the buccal flap was used to cover the shallow buccal bone dehiscence. Clinical evaluations were made at 6 months (T1) and 1 (T2) and 3 (T3) years after the surgery. Statistically significant increases in buccal soft tissue thickness and improvement of vertical soft tissue level were achieved at the T1, T2, and T3 follow-ups. A significant increase in keratinized tissue height was also found at T3. No significant marginal bone loss was recorded. The submarginal CTG technique was able to provide simultaneous vertical and horizontal soft tissue increases around single implants with shallow buccal bone dehiscence and no buccal mucosal recession or clinical signs of mucositis or peri-implantitis at 1 and 3 years

Infezione da PCV2 nel cinghiale: dinamica anticorpale in una popolazione monitorata in un'area protetta (2002-2006)

Il Circovirus suino tipo 2 (Porcine Circovirus type 2, PCV2) riveste un ruolo primario nel determinismo della Sindrome multisistemica del deperimento post-svezzamento del suino (Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome, PMWS), patologia a diffusione mondiale e responsabile di gravi ripercussioni zoo-economiche. L'infezione da PCV2 \ue8 stata descritta in Europa anche nel cinghiale (Sus scrofa), talvolta associata alla PMWS. Dal 2002 al 2006, al fine di verificare la presenza dell'infezione da PCV2 e di studiarne la dinamica all'interno di una popolazione selvatica di cinghiale sottoposta a gestione demografica densit\ue0 dipendente, \ue8 stata effettuata un'indagine siero-epidemiologica. Gli anticorpi anti PCV2 sono stati ricercati, mediante l'impiego di un test ELISA competitivo, in 1499 sieri di cinghiale raccolti nell'ambito di catture o abbattimenti selettivi effettuati nel Parco Regionale dei Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi della Abbadessa, provincia di Bologna (4.844 ettari). In tale area la popolazione del suide selvatico viene mantenuta annualmente su valori noti di densit\ue0 e struttura. Il numero medio di cinghiali stimati/anno dal 2002 al 2006 e le corrispondenti intensit\ue0 percentuali di campionamento sono state: 700 e 21,9%, 600 e 66,2%, 450 e 82,7%, 500 e 64%, 550 e 47,5%. In funzione dell'et\ue0, i soggetti campionati sono stati suddivisi in classe 1 (0-6 mesi: n. 742), classe 2 (7-12 mesi: n. 376), classe 3 (13-24 mesi: n. 263), classe 4 (>24 mesi: n. 118). Nei 5 anni di studio \ue8 stata riscontrata una prevalenza complessiva pari al 39,8% (596/1.499). La prevalenza totale nelle femmine (42,8%) \ue8 risultata significativamente superiore (p=0,02) a quella dei maschi (36,9%). Le prevalenza pi\uf9 elevate sono state registrate nella classe 1 e nella classe 4 (48,2% e 49,2% rispettivamente). Nelle rimanenti classi di et\ue0 la prevalenza era pari al 22,6% e 36,1%. Analizzando i valori di prevalenza per sesso e classe di et\ue0, solo nella classe 3 i maschi presentavano valori significativamente inferiori (p=0,005) rispetto alle femmine. Tale osservazione \ue8 probabilmente spiegabile con la parziale segregazione che i maschi presentano in questa classe di et\ue0. Per quanto riguarda i titoli anticorpali, \ue8 stata osservata una differenza statisticamente significativa in funzione dell'anno di campionamento, con titoli progressivamente crescenti fino al 2004. Gli animali adulti (classi 3 e 4) presentano titoli anticorpali superiori a quelli degli animali giovani (p=0,028). Le femmine evidenziano valori anticorpali superiori a quelli dei maschi (p=0,003): questo probabilmente \ue8 dovuto ad un effetto booster indotto dall'infezione dei giovani al calo dell'immunit\ue0 materna mentre sono ancora in branco con femmine adulte

The fertilising potential of manure-based biogas fermentation residues: pelleted vs. liquid digestate

Spreading of manure on agricultural soils is a main source of ammonia emissions and/or nitrate leaching. It has been addressed by the European Union with the Directives 2001/81/EC and 91/676/EEC to protect the environment and the human health. The disposal of manure has therefore become an economic and environmental challenge for farmers. Thus, the conversion of manure via anaerobic digestion in a biogas plant could be a sustainable solution, having the byproducts (solid and liquid digestates) the potential to be used as fertilizers for crops. This work aimed at characterizing and assessing the effect of digestates obtained from a local biogas plant (Biogas Wipptal, Gmbh), either in the form of liquid fraction or as a solid pellet on: (i) the fertility of the soils during an incubation experiment; (ii) the plant growth and nutritional status of different species (maize and cucumber). Moreover, an extensive characterization of the pellet was performed via X-ray microanalytical techniques. The data obtained showed that both digestates exhibit a fertilizing potential for crops, depending on the plant species and the fertilizer dose: the liquid fraction increases the shoot fresh weight at low dose in cucumber, conversely, the solid pellet increases the shoot fresh weight at high dose in maize. The liquid digestate may have the advantage to release nutrients (i.e. nitrogen) more rapidly to plants, but its storage represents the main constraint (i.e. ammonia volatilization). Indeed, pelleting the digestates could improve the storability of the fertilizer besides enhancing plant nutrient availability (i.e. phosphate and potassium), plant biomass and soil biochemical quality (i.e. microbial biomass and activity). The physical structure and chemical composition of pellet digestates allow nutrients to be easily mobilized over time, representing a possible source of mineral nutrients also in long-term applications