Prevalence, Risk Factors and Genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in Sheltered Dogs in Tuscany (Central Italy)

: In sheltered dogs, the prevalence of Giardia duodenalis is frequently high and may include potential zoonotic genotypes. The prevalence, genotypes and potential risk factors of G. duodenalis were assessed in 168 dogs from four kennels (Pistoia, Prato, Florence, Valdarno) in Tuscany, central Italy and compared with data from previous Italian studies. The prevalence of other intestinal parasites was also investigated. Individual dog faecal samples collected from each kennel were examined by parasitological techniques and a rapid immunoassay for the detection of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium faecal antigens. On Giardia-positive samples, molecular analysis was performed for genotype identification. Overall, 69 dogs scored positive for G. duodenalis (41%), but significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found among the four kennels and sampling seasons. The potentially zoonotic assemblages A and B and the canine-specific assemblage C (Pistoia: A-AII, B, C; Prato: A-AII, B; Florence: A-AII; Valdarno: A and C) were identified. Toxocara canis (8.9%), Trichuris vulpis (3.6%), hookworms (1.19%) and Cryptosporidium sp. (0.6%) were also identified. The high prevalence of G. duodenalis and the identification of potentially zoonotic genotypes in all examined kennels underline the need to improve routine parasite monitoring and control measures and to provide insights into the zoonotic potential of G. duodenalis

Intrinsic Shapes of Empathy: Functional Brain Network Topology Encodes Intersubjective Experience and Awareness Traits

Trait empathy is an essential personality feature in the intricacy of typical social inclinations of individuals. Empathy is likely supported by multilevel neuronal network functioning, whereas local topological properties determine network integrity. In the present functional MRI study (N = 116), we aimed to trace empathic traits to the intrinsic brain network architecture. Empathy was conceived as composed of two dimensions within the concept of pre-reflective, intersubjective understanding. Vicarious experience consists of the tendency to resonate with the feelings of other individuals, whereas intuitive understanding refers to a natural awareness of others’ emotional states. Analyses of graph theoretical measures of centrality showed a relationship between the fronto-parietal network and psychometric measures of vicarious experience, whereas intuitive understanding was associated with sensorimotor and subcortical networks. Salience network regions could constitute hubs for information processing underlying both dimensions. The network properties related to empathy dimensions mainly concern inter-network information flow. Moreover, interaction effects implied several sex differences in the relationship between functional network organization and trait empathy. These results reveal that distinct intrinsic topological network features explain individual differences in separate dimensions of intersubjective understanding. The findings could help understand the impact of brain damage or stimulation through alterations of empathy-related network integrity

Isolamento di Eimeria bakuensis e di Eimeria parva in un allevamento di pecora Zerasca

RIASSUNTO Nel presente studio sono stati esaminati campioni fecali di pecora di razza Zerasca provenienti da un allevamento della provincia di Massa (Zeri), al fine di isolare ed identificare, mediante valutazione morfometrica delle oocisti sporulate, le specie appartenenti al genere Eimeria presenti nell’allevamento. Campioni fecali individuali, raccolti sia da agnelli che da animali adulti, sono stati analizzati quali-quantitativamente mediante flottazione e con una tecnica di McMaster modificata utilizzando la soluzione satura di cloruro di sodio. Per ottenere la sporulazione delle oocisti, i campioni positivi sono stati stemperati in bicromato di potassio (K2Cr2O7) al 2%, posti in piastre Petri ed incubati per 3-5 giorni, al buio ed alla temperatura di 22±1° C. Le oocisti sporulate sono state quindi osservate al microscopio ottico per l’identificazione a livello di specie. Dal punto di vista quantitativo, gli agnelli hanno presentato valori di OPG più elevati rispetto agli adulti ed indicativi di rischio sanitario e zootecnico. Sono state identificate due specie, già riportate in precedenza sul territorio italiano: Eimeria bakuensis (E. ovina) ed E. parva. E. bakuensis è ritenuta una delle specie coccidiche più patogene per gli ovini; pertanto è plausibile che nell’allevamento considerato questa specie possa essere responsabile di forme cliniche e diminuzione dei tassi di accrescimento negli agnelli. L’identificazione delle specie coccidiche presenti in un allevamento, o in un’area geografica, oltre a fornire informazioni circa la patogenicità delle specie isolate, rappresenta anche un importante dato epidemiologico utile per il monitoraggio e la mappatura delle diverse specie presenti sul territorio toscano e italiano. SUMMARY The identification of the coccidian species isolated from a sheep flock of Zerasca breed located in the province of Massa (Zeri-Tuscany-Italy) represented the aim of the present study. Individual faecal samples were collected from both young and adult animals and analysed qualiquantitatively by flotation test and with a modified McMaster method, by using a low specific gravity solution (s.g.: 1200), and microscopically examined for the search of coccidian oocysts. Faecal samples resulted positive were dissolved in a 2% K2Cr2O7 solution and maintained in the dark and at the temperature of 22±1° C to allow sporulation of the oocysts. Oocysts were daily checked for sporulation for 3-5 days. Quantitatively, young animals showed a larger number of OPG than adults. Two different species were found in the flock: Eimeria bakuensis (E.ovina) and E. parva. Both species were previously reported on the Italian territory. Among sheep coccidian species, E. bakuensis is considered one of the more pathogenic; for this reason it is possible that, in the flock examined in this study, it is responsible for symptomatic infections and reduction of growth-rate in lambs. In addition to supply useful information on the pathogenicity of isolated species, the identification of coccidian species present in a flock or in a specific geographic area could represent an important epidemiological tool for monitoring and mapping the species present in Tuscany and in the Italian territory

ASCARIDIA PLATYCERI AND ASCARIDIA HERMAPHRODITA IN AMAZON PARROTS

Introduction - Nematodes of the genus Ascaridia (Dujardin, 1845) may cause fatal diseases in farm and exotic birds kept in captivity, including parrots. The aim of this work is to identify the species of Ascaridia that cause fatal lesions in Amazon Parrots and describe the hepatic and intestinal lesions. Description of the case - Materials and methods - Five Amazon parrots from the same aviary, including 1 Blue-fronted Ama- zon (Amazona aestiva aestiva), 1 Yellow-winged Amazon (Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx), 1 Red-spectacled Amazon (Amazonapretrei), 1 Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala) and 1 Blue-cheeked Amazon (Amazona dufresniana), were presented fornecropsy at our laboratory. Results - At necroscopy, intestinal and bile ducts obstruction caused by a large number of adult nematodes was found in all examined parrots. Histologically, multifocal hepatitis with an intense infiltration of mixed mononuclear and heterophilic cells in liver perivenous areas, secondary to the massive presence of parasites, was observed. In some areas of liver parenchyma, a swollen aspect of hepatocytes with different amounts of biliary pigment inside the cells, was evidenced. Angiocolithis involving a large percentage of biliary ducts, was also observed. In particular, a large inflammatory infiltrate surrounding affected bile ducts was associated to duct obstruction, characterised by intratubular accumulation of cellular debris, fragment of parasites and bile. Based on morphological features of adult males and females,3,4 two Ascaridia species, namely Ascaridia platyceri and Ascaridia hermaphrodita, were identified. More specifically, A. platyceri was isolated from Cuban, Red-spectacled and Blue-fronted Amazons, while A. hermaphrodita was isolated from the Blue-cheeked Amazon. Finally, in the Yellow-winged Amazon a mixed infection by A. platyceri and A. hermaphodita was diagnosed. Birds that lived in the same cages with the deceased birds were immediately treated with Fenbendazole (Panacur®, 100 mg/kg PO, repeated after 14 days). In the same aviary, ascarid eggs were detected at microscopical analysis of fresh faecal samples from 14 Yellow-winged Amazons (Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx) and 1 Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona auropalliata caribae) examined by flotation test with a low density saline solution (sg 1.2). Birds were treated with the same protocol reported above and adult nematodes discharged by the 14 treated Blue-fronted Amazon parrots were identified with A. platyceri, while those discharged by the Yellownaped Amazon were identified with A. hermaphrodita. Conclusions - A. platyceri (Hartwich and Tscherner, 1979) is an ascarid species frequently identified in Australian parrots,3 but also in parrots from African and neotropical regions. In a recent study,4 this was the only ascarid species identified in 15 dif- ferent species of Psittaciformes in the Czech Republic. In Italy, A. platyceri has been reported as the cause of death of a Crmi- son Rosella (Platycercus elegans). A. hermaprodita (Froelich, 1789) is an ascarid species frequently identified in neotropical parrots.3 However, this is the first report of this species in Italy. The present study confirms the ability of roundworms to determine bowel obstruction in Amazon parrots, and is the first report of A. platyceri and A. hermaphrodita infection associated to biliary obstruction

Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Central Italy

The European hedgehog is a synanthropic mammal, widely distributed in Europe. This species usually inhabits the edges of deciduous or mixed woods, but it is also very common in private gardens and public parks. Despite its popularity and frequency of contacts both with humans and with wild and domestic animals, few studies have examined the endoparasitic fauna of the hedgehog in Italy. In the present study, endoparasites of naturally deceased hedgehogs (n = 40) from central Italy (Latium and Tuscany regions) were investigated, along with concurrent gross and histopathological lesions. The most prevalent identified endoparasites were Crenosoma striatum (45%), Capillaria erinacei (42.5%) and Brachylaemus erinacei (22.5%), in accordance with previous reports from hedgehogs in southern Italy. In few subjects, Physaloptera clausa, Acanthocephalans and Cystoisospora rastegaeivae coccidia were also identified. The infection by the lungworm C. striatum was found to be significantly associated (p < 0.01) with bronchial hyperplasia and peribronchiolitis upon histopathological examination. Awareness of the most common parasitic infections in the hedgehog and of their effects on the health of these animals is extremely important, especially in wildlife rescue centers, where European hedgehog represents the most frequently hospitalized mammal species