Airborne pollen: a potential warning alert for tickborne encephalitis risk

The circulation of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv) depends on population dynamics of host tick and rodents, which in turn depend on nutrient resources. Tree seeds are the main food for rodents, and their fluctuating production is strongly correlated to pollen abundance. Our study aims to fill the gap and investigate whether airborne pollen is directly associated to recorded TBEv human cases in the Alpine biogeographical region. Materials and Methods We focused our study within the province of Trento (northern Italy, 6,000km2, 500,000 inhabitants). The territory is included in the Alpine biogeographical region (EEA Report No 1/2002) and the main forest tree species growing within a 5-km radius from the pollen sampler are represented by hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), spruce (Picea abies L.), pine (Pinus sylvestris L. and P. nigra J. F. Arnold), downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.), manna ash (Fraxinus ornus L.), and hazel (Corylus avellana L.). Airborne pollen concentration has been monitored since 1989 at Fondazione Edmund Mach, in San Michele all’Adige (Latitude 46.19 N, Longitude 11.13 E, 220 m a.s.l.), while TBEv human cases have been recorded since 1992 by the local Public Health Agency. Airborne pollen was sampled by a Hirst-type trap, processed, and analyzed following conventional techniques and standardized protocols (UNI EN 16868:2019). First, we statistically investigated the association between the annual total pollen concentration of the dominant arboreal plant taxa and the annual number of TBEv human cases (1989-2020) with different time lags by univariate linear models. Consequently, we built a full model by considering all significant covariates, we computed all possible sub-models and finally we selected the best (the one with the lowest Akaike’s Information Criterion score). Results and Discussion We found a significant positive association between pollen abundances for beech (p=0.04), oak p=0.012), hop hornbeam (p=0.013) and TBEv human cases with a two-year lag (Figure 1). All other lags and taxa resulted in non-significant relationships. Subsequently, we identified the best model, which considered only hop-hornbeam and oak pollen quantities, both with positive coefficients, consistently with the univariate analysis. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt at quantifying the potential relationship between airborne pollen abundances of tree species and TBEv infections, based on a three-decade time series of data. If validated at a larger spatial scale, pollen data might therefore be used to realize an early warning system for the risk of TBEv transmission, two years in advance. Moreover, as pollen monitoring is routinely performed worldwide at multiple sites and provides quantitative measures, the association between pollen abundances and TBEv infections could be replicated in different biogeographical regions

Green Protocols in Heterocycle Syntheses via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of green protocols for the organic synthesis of heterocycles via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Particular attention has been devoted to the use of green solvents; reactions performed in ionic liquids, fluorinated solvents and water have been included. Also explored are several protocols that make use of catalyst-free reaction conditions, the use of microwave irradiation and activation by light exposure. Improvements over commonly used organic solvents will be underlined in order to highlight environmental protection aspects and enhancements in regio- and stereo-selectivity

Clinical and pathology characterization of small nerve fiber neuro(no)pathy in cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome

Background and purpose: Biallelic mutation/expansion of the gene RFC1 has been described in association with a spectrum of manifestations ranging from isolated sensory neuro(no)pathy to a complex presentation as cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS). Our aim was to define the frequency and characteristics of small fiber neuropathy (SFN) in RFC1 disease at different stages. Methods: RFC1 cases were screened for SFN using the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory and Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 questionnaires. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. If available, lower limb skin biopsy samples were evaluated for somatic epidermal and autonomic subepidermal structure innervation and compared to healthy controls (HCs). Results: Forty patients, median age at onset 54 years (interquartile range [IQR] 49–61) and disease duration 10 years (IQR 6–16), were enrolled. Mild-to-moderate positive symptoms (median Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory score 12.1/50, IQR 5.5–22.3) and relevant autonomic disturbances (median Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 37.0/100, IQR 17.7–44.3) were frequently reported and showed scarce correlation with disease duration. A non-length-dependent impairment in nociception was evident in both clinical and paraclinical investigations. An extreme somatic denervation was observed in all patients at both proximal (fibers/mm, RFC1 cases 0.0 vs. HCs 20.5, p < 0.0001) and distal sites (fibers/mm, RFC1 cases 0.0 vs. HCs 13.1, p < 0.0001); instead only a slight decrease was observed in cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of autonomic structures. Conclusions: RFC1 disease is characterized by a severe and widespread somatic SFN. Skin denervation may potentially represent the earliest feature and drive towards the suspicion of this disorder

EFFECTS OF RAW SOYBEAN SEEDS LOW IN ANTINUTRITIONAL FACTORS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY AND NITROGEN EXCRETION OF HEAVY PIGS IN AN ORGANIC FARM

Forty eight pigs were reared in outdoor pens (1.2 ha of land surface) from 80 to 180 kg of live weight. Two isoenergetic (ME = 14.6 MJ/kg DM) and isonitrogenous (CP=17.0% DM) feeds were compared; the first feed contained 10% of toasted full-fat soybean of conventional cultivars (TS), in the second one the toasted soybean was replaced by raw full-fat soybean low in antinutritional factors (RS). The pigs were blocked in 4 groups of 12 animals each and fed ad libitum. At 0, 43, 106 days on trial pigs were weighted, back-fat thickness was measured and blood samples were collected. At slaughter, samples of ham cover fat were collected to evaluate their acidic profile. The effects of feeds on growth performance, slaughter parameters, metabolic profile and nitrogen excretion (Nex) were studied. Nex was computed as difference between consumption and retention. No significant effects were observed on growth performance, carcass quality and metabolic profile, but with RS plasma urea concentration significantly decreased with respect to TS (5.33 vs. 6.67 mmol/l; P<0.01), reflecting a lower N digestibility of RS. Results indicated that 10% of low antinutritional factors raw soybean can be used on heavy pigs without relevant effects on performance and carcass quality. N in manure averaged 22.8 kg/pig place/year (assuming 3 cycles/year). Caution should be taken in outdoor pig systems since the land is uncropped and the risks of pollution are high

Ecological and environmental factors affecting the risk of tick-borne encephalitis in Europe, 2017 to 2021

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a disease which can lead to severe neurological symptoms, caused by the TBE virus (TBEV). The natural transmission cycle occurs in foci and involves ticks as vectors and several key hosts that act as reservoirs and amplifiers of the infection spread. Recently, the incidence of TBE in Europe has been rising in both endemic and new regions. Aim: In this study we want to provide comprehensive understanding of the main ecological and environmental factors that affect TBE spread across Europe. Methods: We searched available literature on covariates linked with the circulation of TBEV in Europe. We then assessed the best predictors for TBE incidence in 11 European countries by means of statistical regression, using data on human infections provided by the European Surveillance System (TESSy), averaged between 2017 and 2021. Results: We retrieved data from 62 full-text articles and identified 31 different covariates associated with TBE occurrence. Finally, we selected eight variables from the best model, including factors linked to vegetation cover, climate, and the presence of tick hosts. Discussion: The existing literature is heterogeneous, both in study design and covariate types. Here, we summarised and statistically validated the covariates affecting the variability of TBEV across Europe. The analysis of the factors enhancing disease emergence is a fundamental step towards the identification of potential hotspots of viral circulation. Hence, our results can support modelling efforts to estimate the risk of TBEV infections and help decision-makers implement surveillance and prevention campaigns