Cases of albinism and leucism in amphibians in Italy : new reports

Findings of abnormally pigmented amphibian individuals provide interesting insights on intraspecific phenotypic variability as well as on variation among populations inhabiting different habitats. Amphibian coloration is determined by chromatophores (specific epidermal cells), and a variety of abnormalities related to them have been reported. In this study we reported cases of albinism and leucism in six species of Italian amphibians, including some endemic species. For some taxa, like Hydromantes sarrabusensis, H. flavus, H. supramontis and Bufo viridis, we describe the first observations of albinism and leucism

Helminths in Leuciscus cephalus from the River Adda, Lombardy, Northern Italy

Chubs (Leuciscus cephalus) were caught at various locations along the river Adda and from Lake of Como (Lombardy, Northern Italy) and endoparasitic helminths were studied in order to integrate the knowledge on distribution of helminth fauna of chubs in Lombardy and to investigate on the structure of its parasite infracommunities with respect to different habitat typologies. The following species of parasites were isolated: Pomphorynchus laevis, Allocreadium markewitschi, Parasymphylodora markewitschi, Raphidascaris acus, Hysterothylacium aduncum and Molnaria intestinalis. P. laevis resulted the most common species (P=56.52%). The mean abundances and the prevalence of helminths were different in chubs according to the sampling site. The mean abundances were lower in chubs sampled in the lake than those sampled in the river. Particularly, P. laevis showed the highest prevalences in fish captured in the river sites. The trematodes (P. markewitschi and A. markewitschi) seem to be more related with "lake" typology. These results are discussed and related to differences in life cycle of these parasites and to other factors like sampling period and the conditions of the aquatic sites that could influence the richness of parasite species

Gastrointestinal infection in goat farms in Lombardy (Northern Italy) : analysis on community and spatial distribution of parasites

We conducted a study with the at ill of setting Out the composition of gastrointestinal parasite communities within the goat farm system in Lombardy, a region in northern Italy A GIS was set and all the goat farms in the study area were geo-referenced Our investigation for gastrointestinal parasite infections involved 110 farms where 2554 individual per rectum faecal samples were collected and tested Almost all the examined goats resulted to be positive to parasites (P = 96%, 95% CI 95 1-96 7%) The taxa identified are Moniezia benedeni, Strongyloides spp, Strongylida, Nematodirus spp, Skrjabinema spp, Trichuris spp, Capillaria spp. Marshallagia spp and Eimerta spp Co-infection supported by more than a single parasite was observed in almost all the farms. goats Could even harbour 6 taxa simultaneously A highly positive correlation emerged between the number of parasite taxa per fat ill and pasture as well as extensive breeding (both showing p < 0 001) When considering our data spatially, we found a Clustered pattern distribution of M benedeni, Strongylida, Skrjabinema while Strongyloides spp., Nematodirus spp., Trichuris spp and Eimeria spp resulted to be randomly distributed among the farms We also assessed spatially the positive relationship of M benedeni, Trichuris spp and Strongylida to the pasture. As to Nematodirus, this taxon showed to be particularly linked to altitude Assessing the widespread distribution of gastrointestinal parasites in the goat farms of Lombardy. was of particular interest to our study In fact. even if the parasitic risk mainly derives from pasture. in some areas the role of goats as biological control agents for the renovation of pastures is getting more and more important Nevertheless, several autochthonous goat breeds can Survive in different areas of both western and eastern Lombardy where farming oil extensive pasture is still carried out. In order to support the smallest farmers with keeping Such breeding, we think that the control of parasites Should be emphasized in these farms Eradication of gastrointestinal parasites from the environment is generally impractical: though, infections can be limited, and control programmes should mainly minimize the deriving economic losses. For Such put pose, we Would suggest a regional project of permanent sanitary monitoring of goat farms all over Lombardy

Wild carnivores as source of zoonotic helminths in north-eastern Italy

wo hundreds and sixty red foxes, eighteen badgers and eight stone martens from north-eastern Italy were examined for zoonotic parasites by SCT, with particular attention to Trichinella sp. and Echinococcus multilocularis. No adult worms of E. multilocularis were observed in the intestine of red foxes or mustelids. Out of 223 fox faecal samples analysed by a commercial CA-ELISA, 5.8 % was positive to Echinococcus coproantigens. Trichinella sp. was detected by digestion of muscle in 1.2 % of examined foxes (2/172), but not in mustelids (0/11). Toxocara canis, responsible for human toxocarosis, resulted to be common in fox population (48.5 %). This parasite was found both in young (53.3 % of cubs and 61.9 % of sub-adults) and in adult animals (42.7 %). Other zoonotic parasites as Uncinaria stenocephala (52.3 %) and Trichuris vulpis (0.4 %) were detected in fox populations

Abomasal nematodes of the red deer Cervus elaphus in north-eastern Italy

The composition of the abomasal helminth fauna and parasite diversity were studied in 298 red deer collected during 1997-2000 from three different sectors (Bolzano, Trento and Sondrio provinces) of the Stelvio National Park, one of the main protected areas of north-eastern Italy. The association between parasite burdens and geographical areas of the hosts was assessed using the negative binomial regression. A variety of abomasal helminths, both host specific and generalist, was found in all sectors. The most commonly observed parasites were the Spiculopteragia spiculoptera morph spiculoptera and Ostertagia leptospicularis morph leptospicularis, with prevalences of 79.5% and 40.9%, respectively. The minor morphs S. spiculoptera morph mathevossiani (prevalence 31.9%) and O. leptospicularis morph kolchida (18.8%) occurred at lower prevalences. Teladorsagia circumcincta morph circumcincta, Marshallagia marshalli morph marshalli and Haemonchus contortus were rarer, at prevalences of 1, 1.3 and 1.3%, respectively. Deviance analysis of the negative binomial regression model shows that the geographical area is significantly related to parasite burdens (P = 0.001). Prevalences of hosts with parasites were greater in the Sondrio (odds ratio = 1.31; 95% confidence interval: 0.16-10.85) and smaller in the Trento (odds ratio = 0.62; 95% confidence interval: 0.20-1.96) sectors with respect to Bolzano, but these differences were not statistically significant. Possible cross-infections by more generalist parasites between wild and domestic animals were also suggested, as deer and domestic ruminants (Bovinae, Caprinae and Ovinae) used the same feeding areas of the park sectors

Echinococcus ortleppi and E. granulosus G1, G2 and G3 genotypes in Italian bovines

To increase the knowledge on Echinococcus genotypes infesting cattle and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) born and bred in Italy, the germinal layer of hydatid cysts was collected from the liver and the lungs of 80 animals slaughtered in 2007. Two mitochondrial genes (the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the NADH subunit 1) were tested by PCR. Four genotypes were identified: G1 (sheep strain), G2 (Tasmanian sheep strain), G3 (buffalo strain), and G5 (cattle strain). Fertile cysts were detected only in the lungs of 4.5% of the total G1 lung cysts, of 9.4% of the total G3 lung cysts, and in the only G5 infected animal. This is the first report of Echinococcus ortleppi (genotype G5) in Italy