Determinazione della concentrazione di metalli pesanti e associazione con il profilo lipidico e il controllo metabolico in pazienti con Diabete Tipo 1 del nord Sardegna

Sardinia is an Italian region with a high incidence of type 1 diabetes Mellitus(T1DM). This study determined the blood levels of chromium (Cr),copper (Cu), iron (Fe),manganese(Mn), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium(Cd), Nichel (Ni), Lead (Pb), in Sardinian T1DM. It was examined the association of these metals with lipid profiles and glycaemic control (HbA1c %). There were enrolled a total of 192 patients with T1DM, treated by the Unit of Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases in Sassari,Italy. Trace elements were measured in whole blood by Sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). Data were organized in an Access database and there were determined the correlations between metabolic variables and the levels of metals. Among total samples, 56.25% were male and 43.75% were female. Zinc was positively correlated with total cholesterol (TC)(P= 0.023), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)(P= 0.0015), and triglycerides(TG)(P=0.027). Iron as significantly correlated with TC(P=0.0189), LDL(P= 0.0121), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)(P=0.0466). In males, Cr was positively correlated with HDL(P = 0.0079) and Se, in females was correlated with TG(P=0.0113). Copper was significantly correlated with HbA1c %(P= 0.0155) and Cd was positively correlated with (LDL)(P=0.0222) and with HbA1c (P=0.0292). Results indicated that trace element such as Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Se were associated with lipid profile and HbA1c %. Cadmium is a Toxic metal associated with LDL and HbA1c%

Prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in Owned Dogs in Lagos State, Nigeria

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) infection in dogs poses risk of transmission to their owners and family members. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with E. granulosus s.l. infection among owned dogs presented at veterinary clinics or hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria. Fecal samples from 217 dogs were screened for the presence of taeniid eggs using a sedimentation test in a cross sectional study. The taeniid eggs were identified at molecular level using a multiplex PCR. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on intrinsic and extrinsic factors from 133 dog owners. Out of the 217 dog fecal samples, 13 (6.0%) had taeniid eggs, of which 12 (92.3%) were identified as Echinococcus granulosus s.l. We found that Echinococcus granulosus infection is present among owned dogs in Lagos State with an overall prevalence of 5.5%. Location of the veterinary clinics or hospital and purpose for keeping dogs were significant factors associated with E. granulosus infection among owned dogs. Dogs living in suburban areas and kept for security purposes or guarding have higher probability of infection. Appropriate and regular treatment of dogs with praziquantel is highly recommended to reduce risk of E. granulosus transmission to humans

Comparison and evaluation of analytic and diagnostic performances of four commercial kits for the detection of antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus and multilocularis in human sera.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), an ubiquitous worldwide zoonotic agent affecting humans and animals. Diagnosis of CE in humans is usually performed by imagine techniques along with immunoassays. The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare four commercial diagnostic kits, based on the detection of IgG antibodies against E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. The study was performed on a total of 259 sera: the positive (n = 74) and the negative (n = 185) group. The following analytic and diagnostic performances of the four kits were evaluated: operator skills, specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, reproducibility, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values. Based on the parameters evaluated, all four tests demonstrated excellent quality and proved to be reliable diagnostic tools to support the clinical evaluation of human patients suspected of having CE. The four commercial assays, in our hands, presented altogether, a range of performances from good to excellent, being immunoblotting (IB) the most reliable, used as gold standard, followed by the immunochromatographic test (ICT) and finally the two enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs)

Identification of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Genotypes G1 and G3 by SNPs Genotyping Assays

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis in animals and humans. Different E. granulosuss.l. genotypes exhibit great diversity in their life cycle, host selectivity and pathogenicity. For this reason, the study of genetic variation within Echinococcus species is of importance for their epidemiological implication. We employed two SNP genotyping technologies to distinguish G1 and G3 E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.). genotypes. The genotypes of DNA samples (n = 28) extracted from hydatid cysts of different animal species were identified by amplification and sequencing of a fragment of the mitochondrial nad5 gene. Two SYBR green and three TaqMan real time PCR assays were developed for targeting of three nad5 informative positions (SNP758, 1123, and 1380) known to be able to discriminate G1 from G3. Genotyping by SYBR Green PCR based on cycle threshold (Ct) with melting temperature (Tm) analysis and performed on SNP1123 and SNP1380 failed to identify one DNA sample. TaqMan assays for SNP758, 1123 and 1380 effectively confirmed genotype identification obtained by Sanger sequencing. Our results demonstrated that the combination of the three Taqman assays developed in this study represents a valuable and cost effective tool alternative to DNA sequencing for E. granulosus s.s. genotyping

Cystic echinococcosis in a domestic cat (Felis catus) in Italy

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is a zoonotic agent with a life cycle consisting of definitive hosts (dogs and wild carnivores), and intermediate hosts (usually ungulates). Other animals and humans may accidentally ingest eggs and contract cystic echinococcosis, acting as aberrant hosts. A 3-year-old neutered female cat was brought to a veterinary practice in Sassari (Italy) with abdominal distension. Ultrasound showed multiple intraperitoneal vesicles, which on laparotomy were found to be metacestodes of E. granulosus. Videos of the extraction of cysts are provided. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial gene identified the isolate as E. granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1, the most common genotype circulating in Europe and the Mediterranean basin. This is the first case report of cystic echinococcosis in domestic cats from Italy

Association of trace elements with lipid profiles and glycaemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in northern Sardinia, Italy: an observational study

Sardinia is an Italian region with a high incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to determine the associations of trace elements with lipid profiles and glycaemic control in patients with T1DM. A total of 192 patients with T1DM who attended the Unit of Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases in Sassari, Italy, were enrolled. Trace elements zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, and iron were measured in whole blood by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The correlations between metabolic variables and the levels of trace elements were determined. Zinc was positively correlated with total cholesterol (P = 0.023), low-density lipoprotein (P = 0.0015), and triglycerides (P = 0.027). Iron as significantly correlated with TC (P = 0.0189), LDL (P = 0.0121), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P = 0.0466). In males, Cr was positively correlated with HDL (P = 0.0079) and Se, in females was correlated with TG (P = 0.0113). The mean fasting plasma glucose was166.2 mg dL−1. Chromium was correlated with fasting plasma glucose (P = 0.0149), particularly in males (P = 0.0038). Overall, 63.5% of the patients had moderate HbA1c (7–9%). Copper was significantly correlated with HbA1c% in males (P = 0.0155). In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that trace elements show different associations with lipid levels and glycaemic control in T1DM. Zinc, Fe, and Se were associated with lipid levels whereas Cu and Cr were associated with HbA1c%

Cystic echinococcosis in a domestic cat (

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is a zoonotic agent with a life cycle consisting of definitive hosts (dogs and wild carnivores), and intermediate hosts (usually ungulates). Other animals and humans may accidentally ingest eggs and contract cystic echinococcosis, acting as aberrant hosts. A 3-year-old neutered female cat was brought to a veterinary practice in Sassari (Italy) with abdominal distension. Ultrasound showed multiple intraperitoneal vesicles, which on laparotomy were found to be metacestodes of E. granulosus. Videos of the extraction of cysts are provided. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial gene identified the isolate as E. granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1, the most common genotype circulating in Europe and the Mediterranean basin. This is the first case report of cystic echinococcosis in domestic cats from Italy

Genetic Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto</i> Isolated from Human Cysts from Sardinia, Italy

This study involved 20 patients affected by cystic echinococcosis (CE) who were referred to different hospitals of Sardinia (Italy) from 2017 to 2022. By means of a multidisciplinary approach, diagnosis was confirmed for CE in 18 patients and for different aetiologies in two subjects. Moreover, serology was positive for 15 subjects. Since multiple CE cysts were found in five patients, a total of 27 lesions were collected; however, only one for each patient was investigated for genetic characterization of E. granulosus s.s. DNA isolates. Our results included 15 fertile cysts that underwent DNA extraction and amplification by three different PCRs targeting nuclear (calreticulin) and mitochondrial genes (cox1 and nad5). DNA was sequenced, and by neighbour-joining phylogenetic trees we determined 10 G1 and five G3 genotypes previously reported in Sardinia. These sequences were used to construct a network, along with those circulating in Mediterranean areas. The haplotype network calculated on cox1 evidenced seven different haplotypes of the 15 isolates, with SAR2 the most represented, carried by seven cysts, and SAR17 never described in the Mediterranean area. Meanwhile, the nad5 sequences showed the most common haplotype as nd5SAR7, as well as two new haplotypes not previously described, nd5SAR13, isolated from a Sardinian patient, and nd5SAR14, isolated from a Romanian patient