Gastrointestinal parasites, liver flukes and lungworms in domestic ruminants from central Italy

Introduction - In ruminants, gastrointestinal, liver and lung parasites may represent a limiting factor for farm production. Aim - The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of gastrointestinal, liver and lung parasites in adult ruminants living in two different areas of Tuscany, central Italy. Materials and methods - Between April 2012 and December 2014, 178 adult ruminants (76 cattle, 61 sheep and 41 goats) from 16 extensive farms located in two different areas (A1 and A2) of Tuscany, were examined to assess the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites, liver flukes and lungworms. A1 included 111 animals from farms located in flat areas subject to water stagnation in rainy seasons, while A2 included 67 animals from farms located in hilly and drier areas. Individual faecal samples collected from all animals were analysed using qualitative and quantitative parasitological techniques. A total of 94 animals were examined for Fasciola hepatica also by using two commercial Elisa kits for the detection of faecal antigens and antibodies in serum, respectively. Data were statistically analysed. Results and discussion - An overall prevalence of 83.7% was found in the examined animals. Higher prevalence values (p<0.001) were found in small ruminants than in cattle and in Area 2 compared to Area 1. With regard to isolated parasites, gastrointestinal strongyles and coccidia were prevalent in all ruminant species and in both areas, while the prevalence of F. hepatica was higher in small ruminants and in Area 1 than in cattle and Area 2, respectively. Conclusion - Results indicated that in both areas and in all ruminant species, gastrointestinal parasites and liver flukes require more effective control measures

Incidental Detection of Onchocerca Microfilariae in Donkeys (Equus asinus) in Italy: Report of Four Cases

This paper reports the occurrence for the first time in Italy of autochthonous Onchocerca infection in donkeys. Four jennies, bred on the same farm, were referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Pisa for a check-up on ovarian activity (n = 3) or for veterinary support during the delivery (n = 1). Microfilariae were incidentally detected during the blood smear examination of one jenny. Peripheral blood samples were then collected from the other three jennies and the presence of microfilariae was investigated by Knott's test. Circulating unsheathed microfilariae were identified in all the animals. The level of microfilaraemia was between 1 and 31 microfilariae in 2 mL of blood. Hematological changes showed moderate eosinophilia in one case or both remarkable eosinophilia and basophilia in another case. Based on molecular findings by PCR and sequencing, the microfilariae showed 98% sequence similarity with Onchocerca sp. in the NCBI GenBank database (Accession No.: MK541848.1). The present report provides evidence that Onchocerca is an etiological agent of parasitic infection in donkeys in Italy. Our findings highlight the importance of screening in donkeys for Onchocerca even in the absence of clinical indications

Clinical application of exercise stress echocardiography: Supine bicycle or treadmill?

Although exercise stress echocardiography is currently used to evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, the best exercise methodology is still undefined. The objectives of the study were: (1) to compare supine bicycle stress echocardiography (SBSE) and treadmill in the evaluation of CAD; and (2) to define, in normal subjects, the different behavior of factors determining MVO2 wish treadmill and SBSE. We selected 10 male patients with CAD (group A), and 10 male control subjects (group B). Each patient underwent SBSE and tread-mill testing in random order. We studied heart sate, systolic blood pressure, heart rate x systolic blood pressure, and end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes. in group A, we also studied wall motion score index (according to the American Society of Echocardiography) and in group B, systolic blood pressure/end-systolic volume index. The results were as follows: Group A: SBSE resulted in significantly lower work load, heart rate, and significantly higher systolic blood pressure, heart hate x systolic blood pressure, end-diastolic volume index, end-systolic volume index, and wall motion score index. SBSE showed wall motion abnormalities in each patient, whereas treadmill did not detect wail motion abnormalities in 4 patients (3 single-vessel; 1 multivessel); of the other 6 patients, 2 showed a lower wall motion score index and 4 did not show any difference in left ventricle kinetics with the 2 methodologies of exercise. Mean acquisition time for postexercise images was 72 +/- 6 seconds. Group B: SBSE resulted in lower work load, heart rate, heart rate x systolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure/end-systolic volume index, and higher end-diastolic volume index and end-systolic volume index. Systolic blood pressure was similar with SBSE and treadmill testing. In conclusion, our experience suggests SBSE is a highly accurate diagnostic fool for evaluating CAD compared with treadmill testing; the maximum cardiovascular performance can be achieved With lower values of heart rate, suggesting the echo test is more feasible. Treadmill testing could lose important information about the existence, extension, and location of CAD; ire contrast, SBSE detects even small, quickly reversible wall motion abnormalities. (C) 1998 by Excerpta Medica, Inc

Preliminary validation study of Paraoxonase-1 in horses

Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is an anti-oxidant enzyme associated with high-density lipoproteins in blood. PON-1 is a negative acute-phase protein being its plasmatic activity reduced during inflammation due to consumption by oxidants. Considering the possible clinical usefulness of PON-1 as an early inflammatory marker this is a preliminary validation study in horses. Serum PON-1 activity was measured in 69 clinically healthy animals (31 adult female, 18 geldings, 11 stallions, 9 foals) using an enzymatic method adapted from other species. In order to preliminarily assess the possible utility of PON-1 as a marker of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), blood from 6 sick foals, classified according to a validated SIRS scale, was analyzed. Intra- and inter-assay imprecision were assessed by repeated analysis of pooled samples and evaluation of coefficient of variations (CV). Accuracy was indirectly evaluated through linearity under dilution (LUD) and spiking recovery test (SRT). Results of the different groups of healthy horses were compared to each other with a Friedmann test with Bonferroni correction. The method is precise (inter- and inter-assay CVs <5%) and accurate (LUD and SRT fit the linear model). PON-1 activity was higher in foals and in adult females (mean ± SD: 63.7±15.5 and 60.8±10.1, respectively) than in geldings and adult males (52.5±10.2 and 47.2±7.7, respectively). In 3/6 SIRS foals PON-1 activity was lower than the lowest percentile of distribution of healthy foals. This study demonstrated that the method of measurement of PON-1 activity in horses is precise and accurate and PON-1 may be a marker of SIRS

Using roquefortine C as a biomarker for penitrem A intoxication in a beef herd

Fifteen grazing beef cattle and calves presented a history of neurological signs like ataxia, intentional head tremors, muscle twitching. Nervous ketosis, nervous BVD, BHV-1,5, tremorgenic intoxication from hay, and Listeriosis were considered as differential diagnosis. Blood samples were collected. Inspection of hay bales showed large white dusty and moldy areas. Samples were taken and analyzed. Altered hay was immediately removed in all animals’ stock. No alterations were found in blood tests. Food analysis showed high concentrations of Roquefortine C (RC) (345 μg/kg DM). Tremorgenic syndrome has been reported in Penitrem A (PA) intoxication, but PA is difficult to isolate in laboratory conditions. Both RC and PA are produced by Penicillum spp. RC has been associated with PA in tremorgenic toxicosis in dogs and it might be considered a valuable diagnostic marker for PA intoxication. The neurological signs were due to tremorgenic intoxication after feeding of spoiled forage contaminated with mycotoxines

evaluation of three commercial rapid kits to detect cryptosporidium parvum in diarrhoeic calf stool

The aim of this study was to evaluate three commercially available rapid immunochromatographic tests for detection of Cryptosporidium parvum antigens in faeces of naturally infected neonatal diarrhoeic calves. FASTest® CRYPTO strip, FASTest® CRYPTO-GIARDIA Strip and TETRASTRIPS® were compared for their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value using a cumulative positivity as gold standard. In addition, the agreement between each test and the gold standard was evaluated by Cohen's Kappa (k) value. The highest infection rate was observed by FASTest® CRYPTO-GIARDIA Strip (65.15%), followed by FASTest® CRYPTO strip (63.64%) and TETRASTRIPS® (56.06%,). A very good diagnostic performance of all the three tests was observed. FASTest® CRYPTO strip (k = 0.935) and FASTest® CRYPTO-GIARDIA Strip (k = 0.968) had the highest sensitivity (100%) while TETRASTRIPS® (k = 0.875) had the highest specificity (100%). Eimeria spp oocysts were present in six samples but cross-reaction with this protozoan was not observed. These assays were not time-consuming and very easy to perform and to read. Based on our results, we recommend the use of FASTest® CRYPTO strip, FASTest® CRYPTO-GIARDIA Strip or/and TETRASTRIPS® for detection of C. parvum antigens in faeces of neonatal diarrhoeic calves