Indagine, tramite fototrappolaggio su siti di attrazione, sulla distribuzione dei carnivori di medio-piccola taglia nelle Prealpi orientali del veneto: sviluppo di una metodica ripetibile (CARNIVORA)

Survey of small and medium-size Carnivores in the Eastern Venetian Prealps, based on camera-trapping in attraction sites: development of a replicable methodology.Ecological data, especially distribution, on medium and small-size Carnivores in the Veneto region appear to be scarce, poorly updated and of low quality. The present field survey was developed with the contribution of the Associazione Faunisti Veneti, within the framework of the Atlas of the Mammals of Veneto. The survey focused on four areas in the Eastern Prealps of the Veneto region (Alpago, Integral Nature Reserve Piaie Longhe-Millifret, Grappa Massif and Cesen-Col Visentin ridge). The survey employed two different methods: the collection of traces of presence of target mammals along predetermined transects (“naturalistic” method) and infrared camera trapping at baited sites. A total of four species of medium and small-sized carnivores were identified through this survey: Martes martes, Martes foina, Meles meles, Vulpes vulpes. Animals identified through camera trapping allowed a higher level of confidence in species determination with respect to the naturalistic method. Taking together both methods, Vulpes vulpes was the most frequently detected species (85), followed by Martes foina (42), M. martes (33) and Meles meles (3). Even though data are preliminary, the two mustelids (M. martes and M. foina) seem to be mutually exclusive (Grappa massif vs. Alpago), suggesting different ecological requirements for these two species that are considered sympatric

Morphological and Chemical Investigation of Ovarian Structures in a Bovine Model by Contrast-Enhanced X-ray Imaging and Microscopy

An improved understanding of an ovary’s structures is highly desirable to support advances in folliculogenesis knowledge and reproductive medicine, with particular attention to fertility preservation options for prepubertal girls with malignant tumors. Although currently the golden standard for structural analysis is provided by combining histological sections, staining, and visible 2D microscopic inspection, synchrotron radiation phase-contrast microtomography is becoming a new challenge for three-dimensional studies at micrometric resolution. To this aim, the proper use of contrast agents can improve the visualization of internal structures in ovary tissues, which normally present a low radiopacity. In this study, we report a comparison of four staining protocols, based on iodine or tungsten containing agents, applied to bovine ovarian tissues fixed in Bouin’s solution. The microtomography (microCT) analyses at two synchrotron facilities under different set-ups were performed at different energies in order to maximize the image contrast. While tungsten-based agents allow large structures to be well identified, Iodine ones better highlight smaller features, especially when acquired above the K-edge energy of the specific metal. Further scans performed at lower energy where the setup was optimized for overall quality and sensitivity from phase-contrast still provided highly resolved visualization of follicular and intrafollicular structures at different maturation stages, independent of the staining protocol. The analyses were complemented by X-ray Fluorescence mapping on 2D sections, showing that the tungsten-based agent has a higher penetration in this type of tissues

Encephalomyocarditis virus infection in an Italian zoo

A fatal Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection epidemic involving fifteen primates occurred between October 2006 and February 2007 at the Natura Viva Zoo. This large open-field zoo park located near Lake Garda in Northern Italy hosts one thousand animals belonging to one hundred and fifty different species, including various lemur species. This lemur collection is the most relevant and rich in Italy. A second outbreak between September and November 2008 involved three lemurs. In all cases, the clinical signs were sudden deaths generally without any evident symptoms or only with mild unspecific clinical signs. Gross pathologic changes were characterized by myocarditis (diffuse or focal pallor of the myocardium), pulmonary congestion, emphysema, oedema and thoracic fluid. The EMCV was isolated and recognized as the causative agent of both outbreaks. The first outbreak in particular was associated with a rodent plague, confirming that rats are an important risk factor for the occurrence of the EMCV infection

Quadri anatomopatologici in abomasi di capriolo (Capreolus capreolus capreolus) parassitati

Il capriolo (Capreolus capreolus) \ue8 una specie di grande interesse faunistico-venatorio e di indubbia difficolt\ue0 gestionale. Indagini ecoparassitologiche dimostrano importanti relazioni tra carica parassitaria abomasale nel capriolo e condizioni corporee dei soggetti, ma non esistono informazioni sul danno tissutale determinato da tali infestazioni. Nel presente studio vengono descritti i quadri anatomopatologici abomasali congiuntamente ai risultati di un'indagine parassitologica. Durante il periodo maggio-ottobre 2004, sono stati campionati gli abomasi di 18 soggetti, abbattuti in caccia di selezione nelle Prealpi Giulie. Ogni organo \ue8 stato aperto lungo la grande curvatura e, con una serie di delicati lavaggi, \ue8 stato svuotato dal contenuto, utilizzato poi per analisi parassitologiche quali-quantitative. Dopo fotografia e valutazione macroscopica, sono stati prelevati e fissati per l'istologia (formaldeide tamponata al 4%) i campioni standard di mucosa fundica e pilorica ed eventuali lesioni rilevate. Ogni campione \ue8 stato processato secondo le tecniche attualmente in uso e successivamente valutato tramite protocollo standardizzato. Tutti gli abomasi presentavano lesioni istologiche difensive, anche se di intensit\ue0 molto variabile. Tra le lesioni fundiche, pi\uf9 varie ed importanti di quelle piloriche, i quadri pi\uf9 rappresentati erano, nelle forme \u201cpure\u201d o \u201ccomplesse\u201d: abomasite iperplastico-catarrale, abomasite aspecifica semplice ed abomasite eosinofilica. Il basso numero di abomasi valutati ed il costante poliparassitismo non consentono al momento associazioni significative tra le specie parassitarie e/o l'intensit\ue0 di infestazione e la gravit\ue0 e la tipologia dei quadri infiammatori. La notevole frequenza di abomasiti iperplastico-catarrali, ritenute da molti autori responsabili di danni fisiopatologici sistemici importanti in altri ruminanti, permette per\uf2 di sottolineare l'azione patogena svolta nel capriolo da alcuni parassiti abomasali

Topographic distribution of gastritis in heavy pigs investigated by a geographic information system approach

The aim of this paper was to determine the topographic distribution of gastritis lesions in pigs through an open source geographic information system (GIS) software analysis. The stomachs of 146 Italian heavy pigs were collected at slaughter and subjected to macroscopic pathological examination of the internal mucosa. A total of 623 lesions were either classified as hyperplastic or follicular (97%) with the remaining minority of lesions categorised as atrophic and simple. The hyperplastic gastritis lesions had an average surface of 77.8 cm2 and were mainly located in an oval shaped area of the fundus region of the stomach near the Curvatura ventriculi major. The follicular gastritis lesions had generally a smaller surface (40.3 cm2) and were concentrated in two distinct small areas of the pyloric region. The GIS analysis provided the opportunity to produce useful maps showing the distribution and characteristics of gastritis in pigs

Effect of dietary inclusion of whole ear corn silage on stomach development and gastric mucosa integrity of heavy pigs at slaughter

The effect of dietary inclusion of whole ear corn silage (WECS) on the stomach (S) development and on the incidence of gastric lesions was studied in heavy pigs. Three experimental diets were fed to groups of 14 barrows from 80 to 170 kg of BW : a control diet (C), based on cereal meals, soya bean meal and wheat bran and two diets containing WECS (15 or 30% DM, 15WECS and 30WECS, respectively) in partly or complete substitution of corn meal and wheat bran. Diets had similar fiber contents (NDF: 15.2-15.8 % DM), while differed in terms of average size of feed particles, because the forage was chopped at harvesting and not milled before administration to the pigs. The S of each pig was removed at slaughter, opened along the greater curvature and the content collected. The DM of S contents was higher in pigs fed 30WECS diets than the C diets (331 vs 233 g, P<0.05), with the 15WECS at an intermediate level (276 g). In addition pigs fed WECS diets showed a selective retention of more fibrous particles, as the NDF of S content (35-36% DM) resulted higher than that of C diets (23% DM). The dietary inclusion of silage caused (P<0.05) an increase in weight of the organ (0.38, 0.40 and 0.42 % BW, for diets C, 15WECS and 30WECS, respectively, P<0.05), while there were no difference among diets in the S internal surface. Moreover, the surface of the pyloric region, which represents the gastric area responsible for bolus retention, was higher (P<0.05) for pigs fed the 30WECS diet (20.4 % of total S surface) than 15WECS and C diets (21.8 an 20.4 %, respectively). The incidence of follicular gastritis was significantly lower (P<0.01) and the gastritis were less severe (P<0.05) for diets containing WECS than C diets. WECS diets influence the development of stomach and maintain the gastric mucosa integrity for a lower incidence of gastritis in heavy pigs

Effect of dietary inclusion of whole ear corn silage on stomach development and gastric mucosa integrity of heavy pigs at slaughter

The effect of dietary inclusion of whole ear corn silage on stomach development and on the incidence of gastric lesions was studied in heavy pigs. Three groups of 14 castrated male pigs were fed a control cereal-based diet and two diets containing whole ear corn silage (15% or 30% DM) from 90. kg bodyweight to slaughter at 170. kg. The diets with whole ear corn silage increased the amount of neutral detergent fibre in the stomach contents, the weight of the organs and the area of the pyloric region. Follicular gastritis was significantly lower and gastritis less severe in pigs fed the whole ear corn silage diets than pigs fed the control diet. The inclusion of whole ear corn silage in the diet influenced the development of the stomach and reduced the incidence of gastritis in heavy pigs