Abundances of demersal sharks and chimaera from 1994-2009 scientific surveys in the central Mediterranean sea

Bibliographic and data gathered in scientific bottom trawl surveys carried out off the Southern Coasts of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea), from 1994 to 2009 and between a depth of 10 and 800 m, were analysed in order to prepare a checklist of demersal sharks and chimaera, which are species sensitive to fisheries exploitation. Out of the 27 previously reported demersal shark and chimaera taxa in the Mediterranean, only 23 were found in literature and 20 sampled during the surveys in the investigated area. Among the species sampled in the surveys, only 2 ubiquitous (Squalus blainville and Scyliorhinus canicula) and 3 deep-water (Chimaera monstrosa, Centrophorus granulosus and Galeus melastomus) species showed a wide geographical distribution with a consistent abundance. Excluding the rare (such as Oxynotus centrina) or uncommon shark (e.g. Squalus acanthias), the estimated frequencies of occurrence and abundance indexes show a possible risk of local extinction for the almost exclusively (e.g. angelshark, Squatina spp.) or preferential (e.g. Scyliorhinus stellaris) neritic species.peer-reviewe

Kolebanja nekih indeksa rasta gospodarskih iskorištavanog sredozemnog oslića

In this paper, some life‑history estimates concerning the females of the Mediterranean hake Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758), i.e. the parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function (L∞, K, and t0), the maximum-ever lengths (Lmax-e), and the lengths at full maturity (Lmst) were gathered from the pertinent literature and used to derive 5 growth performance indexes (K, φ’, RL=Lmst/ L∞, t50% and ω). The original datasets (n= 70) and the corresponding growth performance indexes were organized and analyzed by various geographical units (GFCM’s geographical sub‑area, GSA; GFCM’s statistical division, GD; and biological province, BP). The parameter distribution resulted to be normal only for the growth performance indexes K and RL; a significant relationship correlation was detected between K and t50%, between φ’ and ω, and between K and ω. The examination of the available historical data showed a scattered and unbalanced geographical distribution by GSA (e.g. 13 of 20 GSAs had less than 5 datasets each), a variability which was higher intra‑GSA than inter‑GSAs (as evidenced by the box‑plots) and no clear geographical trend. GD and BP presented similar patterns, with significant geographical effects only in the RL. Present results suggest that, even if geographical effects are expected, they are obscured by the uncertainty of the original parameters, especially those related to the von Bertalanffy growth function (vBGF). Consequently, growth performance indexes should be used (and interpreted) with caution.U ovom radu, iznesene su neke procjene rasta koji se odnosi na ženke sredozemnog oslića (Merluccius merluccius L., 1758) tj. parametara rasta von Bertalanffy-eve jednadžbe rasta (L∞, K, i t0), maksimalna dužina ikad postignuta (Lmx-e), te dužina u punoj zrelosti (Lmst), a koji su prikupljeni iz literature i korišteni za dobivanje 5 različitih indeksa rasta (K, φ’, RL=Lmst/L∞, t50% i ω). Originalni setovi (n = 70) i odgovarajući indeksi rasta su organizirani / sistematizirani i analizirani prema različitim geografskim jedinicama (GFCM-a zemljopisno podpodručje, GSA, GFCM-a statistička podjela, GD, te biološka pokrajina, BP). Parametar raspodjele rezultirao je normalno samo za izvedbe rasta indeksa K i RL; značajna korelacija povezanosti je utvrđena između K i t50%,, između φ ‘i ω, te između K i ω. Pregled dostupnih povijesnih podataka pokazao je raspršenu i neujednačenu geografsku raspodjelu po GSA (npr. 13 preko 20 GSAs imali su manje od 5 skupova podataka svaki), više varijabilnosti unutar GSA od međudjelovanja GSAs (o čemu svjedoči okvir box-plotova) i nejasan geografski trend. GD i BP prikazuju slične obrasce, sa značajnim geografskim učincima samo u RL. Trenutni rezultati pokazuju da, čak i ako su geografski učinci očekivani, oni su prikriveni nesigurnošću izvornih parametara, posebno onih koje se odnose na rast prikazan von Bertalanffy-evom funkcijom (vBGF), pa stoga performanse rasta indeksa treba koristiti (i interpretirati) s oprezom

Investigating on Besnoitia besnoiti (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in naturally infected dairy cattle by an integrated approach.

Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by Besnoitia besnoiti, is a (re)emerging disease in Europe (Cortes et al., 2014), including Italy (Gazzonis et al., 2014; 2017). However, its economic impact is scarcely considered and generally underestimated and there are still little studied aspects concerning both the parasite and the disease. Following a natural outbreak of besnoitiosis in a dairy herd, a study was planned to characterize B. besnoiti infection in cattle through a multidisciplinary approach.Suspicious abortions and clinical cases of besnoitiosis were reported in a dairy farm (September 2017, Northern Italy) housing 216 Holstein cattle. Blood samples were collected; haematological and serological analyses (ELISA and confirmatory WB) were performed (Fernandez-Garcia et al., 2009). Histology and molecular (endpoint ITS-1 PCR (Cortes et al., 2007) and sequencing) analyses of tissues from a slaughtered cow with chronic besnoitiosis were carried out. Out of 59 ELISA-positive animals, 50 (23%) were confirmed by WB. B. besnoiti prevalence was higher in cows (41%) than in calves (12%); any heifer did not result positive. Considering haematological parameters, a significant shift in the differential leucocyte formula from lymphocyte to granulocyte was recorded in infected cows (Mean±S.D.:L=46.1±18.4,G=53.9±18.4) if compared to negative animals (Student’s T-test,p=0.012). This finding could be helpful in diagnosis, treatment and control of besnoitiosis. Histology revealed a high load of B. besnoiti tissue cysts in skin, vulva, muzzle, sclera, eyelid, respiratory tract, emphasizing the possibility of parasite transmission through direct contact among animals. B. besnoiti was confirmed by PCR in other organs (heart, liver, aorta wall, tonsil) and especially in ovary, uterus and vulva, suggesting that the infection could affect cows’ fertility. Parasite DNA was also found in masseters posing an important question for food security, even if B. besnoiti is not considered zoonotic. The study suggests that to investigate the dynamics of bovine besnoitiosis is mandatory associate clinical and laboratory tests, including the genetic characterization of the parasite and its eventual correlation with the disease outcome

Lo stato dell’ambiente marino nell’area del Canale di Sicilia in prossimità del SIN di Gela.

Viene illustrata in questa nota l’attuale condizione in cui si trova lo stato dell’ambiente marino nell’area del Canale di Sicilia immediatamente a ridosso della costa merdionale delle Sicilia dal Golfo di Gela alla costa iblea. Lo stato dell’ambiente in oggetto viene valutato in base alla distribuzione di alcuni metalli in tracce normalmente ritenuti fra i più significativi per gli scopi prefissati, esaminati lungo la colonna d’acqua e nei sedimenti superficiali di fondale. I risultati ottenuti, illustrati anche attraverso un’indagine statistica multivariata, indicano un arricchimento superficiale della colonna d’acqua in lantanio che può essere ascritto tanto ad un’origine litogenica, quanto ad input antropico. Nei sedimenti al naturale raggruppamento fra elementi in tracce in tracce basato su analogie comportamentali di carattere geochimica sfugge il Ni che mostra di provenire da una fonte differente per la quale non si può escludere la natura antropica. Tale ipotesi di esiti di antropizzazione trova conforto nei raffronti condotti con il chimismo del particolato atmosferico desunto da dati di letteratura

The prevalence of post-thyroidectomy chronic asthenia: a prospective cohort study

Purpose: Chronic asthenia (CA) is complained by some patients that have undergone thyroid surgery. We evaluate its impact in patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral thyroidectomy, the trend during a 1-year follow-up, and the possible risk factors. Methods: A prospective, cohort study was carried out on 263 patients scheduled for thyroidectomy from 2012 and 2014. Exclusion criteria were as follows: Gravesâ disease, malignancies requiring radioiodine therapy, post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, laryngeal nerve palsy, abnormal pre- and post-operative thyroid hormone levels, and BMI outside the normal range. Demographics; smoking and alcoholism addiction; cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic failure; diabetes; anxiety; and depression were recorded. The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) was used to evaluate CA and its possible association with these comorbidities 6 and 12 months after thyroidectomy. Results: One hundred seventy-seven patients underwent total thyroidectomy (TT), 54 hemithyroidectomy (HT). Thirty-two patients were not recorded because of the onset of exclusion criteria. In the 6 months after thyroidectomy, in the TT group, 64 patients (36.16%) reported an impairment in the BFI score and only 1 in the TL group. The mean BFI score changed from 1.663(±1.191) to 2.16 (±11.148) in the TT group, from 1.584 (±1.371) to 1.171 (±1.093) in the TL group (pÂ&nbsp