Coinfection by Ureaplasma spp., Photobacterium damselae and an Actinomyces-like microorganism in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with pleuropneumonia stranded along the Adriatic coast of Italy

A case of pleuropneumonia is reported in an adult male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) found stranded in 2014 along the Central Adriatic coast of Italy. A severe pyogranulomatous pneumonia and thoracic lymphadenopathy were present at necropsy. Numerous Splendore-Hoeppli bodies were found microscopically scattered throughout the lung. Histochemical evidence of Actinomyces-like organisms was obtained from the pulmonary parenchyma, with a strain of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida and Ureaplasma spp. being also isolated from the same tissue. For the latter, a genome fragment of approximately 1400 bp from the 16s rDNA was amplified and sequenced. BLAST analysis revealed 100% identity with an uncultured Ureaplasma spp. (JQ193826.1)

In Vitro Grown Sheep Preantral Follicles Yield Oocytes with Normal Nuclear-Epigenetic Maturation

BACKGROUND: Assisted reproductive technologies allow to utilize a limited number of fully grown oocytes despite the presence in the ovary of a large pool of meiotically incompetent gametes potentially able to produce live births. In vitro folliculogenesis could be useful to recruit these oocytes by promoting their growth and differentiation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In vitro folliculogenesis was performed starting from sheep preantral (PA) follicles to evaluate oocyte nuclear/epigenetic maturation. Chromatin configuration, quantification of global DNA methylation, and epigenetic remodelling enzymes were evaluated with immunocytochemistry, telomere elongation was assessed with the Q-FISH technique, while the DNA methylation status at the DMRs of maternally IGF2R and BEGAIN, and paternally H19 methylated imprinted genes was determined by bisulfite sequencing and COBRA. Specifically, 70% of PA underwent early antrum (EA) differentiation and supported in culture oocyte global DNA methylation, telomere elongation, TERT and Dnmt3a redistribution thus mimicking the physiological events that involve the oocyte during the transition from secondary to tertiary follicle. Dnmt1 anticipated cytoplasmic translocation in in vitro grown oocytes did not impair global and single gene DNA methylation. Indeed, the in vitro grown oocytes acquired a methylation profile of IGF2R and BEGAIN compatible with the follicle/oocyte stage reached, and maintained an unmethylated status of H19. In addition, the percentage of oocytes displaying a condensed chromatin configuration resulted lower in in vitro grown oocytes, however, their ability to undergo meiosis and early embryo development after IVF and parthenogenetic activation was similar to that recorded in EA follicle in vivo grown oocytes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, the in vitro folliculogenesis was able to support the intracellular/nuclear mechanisms leading the oocytes to acquire a meiotic and developmental competence. Thus, the in vitro culture may increase the availability of fertilizable oocytes in sheep, and become an in vitro translational model to investigate the mechanisms governing nuclear/epigenetic oocyte maturation

West Nile Virus lineage 1 in Italy: newly introduced or a re-occurrence of a previously circulating strain?

In Italy, West Nile virus (WNV) appeared for the first time in the Tuscany region in 1998. After 10 years of absence, it re-appeared in the areas surrounding the Po River delta, affecting eight provinces in three regions. Thereafter, WNV epidemics caused by genetically divergent isolates have been documented every year in the country. Since 2018, only WNV Lineage 2 has been reported in the Italian territory. In October 2020, WNV Lineage 1 (WNV-L1) re-emerged in Italy, in the Campania region. This is the first occurrence of WNV-L1 detection in the Italian territory since 2017. WNV was detected in the internal organs of a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and a kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). The RNA extracted in the goshawk tissue samples was sequenced, and a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed by a maximum-likelihood tree. Genome analysis, conducted on the goshawk WNV complete genome sequence, indicates that the strain belongs to the WNV-L1 Western-Mediterranean (WMed) cluster. Moreover, a close phylogenetic similarity is observed between the goshawk strain, the 2008–2011 group of Italian sequences, and European strains belonging to the Wmed cluster. Our results evidence the possibility of both a new re-introduction or unnoticed silent circulation in Italy, and the strong importance of keeping the WNV surveillance system in the Italian territory activ

West Nile Virus lineage 2 overwintering in Italy

In January 2022, West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 (L2) was detected in an adult female goshawk rescued near Perugia in the region of Umbria (Italy). The animal showed neurological symptoms and died 15 days after its recovery in a wildlife rescue center. This was the second case of WNV infection recorded in birds in the Umbria region during the cold season, when mosquitoes, the main WNV vectors, are usually not active. According to the National Surveillance Plan, the Umbria region is included amongst the WNV low-risk areas. The necropsy evidenced generalized pallor of the mucous membranes, mild splenomegaly, and cerebral edema. WNV L2 was detected in the brain, heart, kidney, and spleen homogenate using specific RT-PCR. Subsequently, the extracted viral RNA was sequenced. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis performed through a maximum-likelihood tree showed that the genome sequence clustered with the Italian strains within the European WNV strains among the central-southern European WNV L2 clade. These results, on the one hand, confirmed that the WNV L2 strains circulating in Italy are genetically stable and, on the other hand, evidenced a continuous WNV circulation in Italy throughout the year. In this report case, a bird-to-bird WNV transmission was suggested to support the virus overwintering. The potential transmission through the oral route in a predatory bird may explain the relatively rapid spread of WNV, as well as other flaviviruses characterized by similar transmission patterns. However, rodent-to-bird transmission or mosquito-to-bird transmission cannot be excluded, and further research is needed to better understand WNV transmission routes during the winter season in Ital

Spatial and temporal dynamics of West Nile virus between Africa and Europe

It is unclear whether West Nile virus (WNV) circulates between Africa and Europe, despite numerous studies supporting an African origin and high transmission in Europe. We integrated genomic data with geographic observations and phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences to uncover the spatial and temporal viral dynamics of WNV between these two continents. We focused our analysis towards WNV lineages 1 (L1) and 2 (L2), the most spatially widespread and pathogenic WNV lineages. Our study shows a Northern-Western African origin of L1, with back-and-forth exchanges between West Africa and Southern-Western Europe; and a Southern African origin of L2, with one main introduction from South Africa to Europe, and no back introductions observed. We also noticed a potential overlap between L1 and L2 Eastern and Western phylogeography and two Afro-Palearctic bird migratory flyways. Future studies linking avian and mosquito species susceptibility, migratory connectivity patterns, and phylogeographic inference are suggested to elucidate the dynamics of emerging viruse

Patterns of Diversity in Soft-Bodied Meiofauna: Dispersal Ability and Body Size Matter

Background: Biogeographical and macroecological principles are derived from patterns of distribution in large organisms, whereas microscopic ones have often been considered uninteresting, because of their supposed wide distribution. Here, after reporting the results of an intensive faunistic survey of marine microscopic animals (meiofauna) in Northern Sardinia, we test for the effect of body size, dispersal ability, and habitat features on the patterns of distribution of several groups.Methodology/Principal Findings: As a dataset we use the results of a workshop held at La Maddalena (Sardinia, Italy) in September 2010, aimed at studying selected taxa of soft-bodied meiofauna (Acoela, Annelida, Gastrotricha, Nemertodermatida, Platyhelminthes and Rotifera), in conjunction with data on the same taxa obtained during a previous workshop hosted at Tjärnö (Western Sweden) in September 2007. Using linear mixed effects models and model averaging while accounting for sampling bias and potential pseudoreplication, we found evidence that: (1) meiofaunal groups with more restricted distribution are the ones with low dispersal potential; (2) meiofaunal groups with higher probability of finding new species for science are the ones with low dispersal potential; (3) the proportion of the global species pool of each meiofaunal group present in each area at the regional scale is negatively related to body size, and positively related to their occurrence in the endobenthic habitat.Conclusion/Significance: Our macroecological analysis of meiofauna, in the framework of the ubiquity hypothesis for microscopic organisms, indicates that not only body size but mostly dispersal ability and also occurrence in the endobenthic habitat are important correlates of diversity for these understudied animals, with different importance at different spatial scales. Furthermore, since the Western Mediterranean is one of the best-studied areas in the world, the large number of undescribed species (37%) highlights that the census of marine meiofauna is still very far from being complete

<i>Theama mediterranea</i> sp. nov. (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida), the first interstitial polyclad from the Mediterranean

A new species of mesopsammic polyclad, Theama mediterranea sp. nov., from lower intertidal habitats of the Mediterranean Sea, is described. The species differs from congeneres found in the tropical Pacific and the Atlantic coast of South America, in terms of size, structure of the male copulatory organ and number of eyes. T. mediterranea sp. nov. has a short pelagic juvenile phase, while adults are strictly interstitial; the life cycle is annual. Based on observation of the type material of Theama evelinae Marcus, 1949, the genus Eutheama Faubel, 1983 is synonymized with Theama Marcus, 1949

Archimonocelis scopulicola Curini-Galletti, Delogu, Campus & Casu, 2007, sp. n.

Archimonocelis scopulicola sp. n. (Figs. 1, 2 C, 3 A–C) Holotype: one whole mount (SMNH 6780). Type locality: Apulia, Italy: Porto Cesareo (Lecce), Torre Scianuli (lat. 40 ° 14 ’ 3.72 ”N, long. 17 ° 54 ’ 35.77 ”E), about 7 m deep in pockets of sediments (mostly shell fragments) on a limestone cliff, May 2005. Paratype. a specimen from the type locality, whole mount (rear portion) (ZMC- 59); frontal half processed for karyology. Etymology. the specific epithet refers to the habitat where the species was found (lat. scopulus = rocky cliff, and colere = to dwell). Description. Comparatively small for the genus: the holotype, a fixed, contracted whole mount, is 3.7 mm long. Colourless and without pigmented eye-spots. With thin, cross shaped, calcareous spiculae, similar to those described for A. crucifera Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993, spread all over the body, and particularly evident in the cephalic region. Cnidosacs, containing numerous cnidocysts are well visible in living material, and arranged in a single median dorsal row. Cnidocysts consist of heteronemes of three different types: ovoid, around 5 µm in length; elongate, around 10 µm; and a few, very large and elongate cysts, about 30 µm long. Pharynx submedian, elongate, provided with numerous glandular cells (Fig. 1). Male genital system. Around ten testes arranged in one median line, from the ovaries to in front of the pharynx. The copulatory organ consists of one pair of seminal vesicles, a small bulb with the prostate vesicle (vesicula granulorum), and a stylet surrounded by 18 copulatory spines. The tubular stylet, 51 µm long in the holotype (Fig. 2 C, 3 B), and 50 µm in the paratype (Fig. 3 A), is straight and about 5 µm broad, with a slightly inflated proximal opening (8 µm in diameter), and an acuminate distal tip, provided with a very large and oblique distal opening, about 18 µm wide. The copulatory spines are arranged into a single girdle. Spines close to the stylet are 30–32 µm long and 1–1.5 µm broad, provided with a slightly falcate apex, and a small subterminal tooth. Away from the stylet, spines become progressively longer (up to 35 µm) and broader (up to 2 µm), with a distinctly falcate apex, and a more marked subterminal tooth (fig. 2 C). Female genital system. Limited observations could be performed on the living specimens. With two comparatively large ovaries, lying in front of the vitellaria, in the first third of the body. Vitellaria arranged in two lateral rows, from the ovaries to in front of the copulatory bulb. Most vitellaria are prepharyngeal, only 5 follicles per side are post-pharyngeal. Just posterior to the fusion of the oviducts, the female duct widens to form a small bursa. A vagina could not be detected on living specimens. The female pore opens posterior to the male pore; a genito-intestinal duct is present. Karyotype. Chromosome number: n = 10 (Fig. 3 C); FN = 16. Chromosomes can be arranged in a regularly decreasing series: Chrom. I = r.l.: 13.95 + 0.28; c.i.: 30.91 + 4.91 (sm); Chrom. II = r.l.: 13.65 + 0.24; c.i.: 22.47 + 4.66 (st); Chrom. III = r.l.: 12.21 + 0.53; c.i.: 27.77 + 4.23 (sm); Chrom. IV = r.l.: 10.46 + 0.28; c.i.: 41.76 + 2.20 (m); Chrom. V = r.l.: 10.34 + 0.34; c.i.: 26.63 + 6.33 (sm); Chrom. VI = r.l.: 9.72 + 0.22; c.i.: 34.41 + 2.20 (sm); Chrom. VII = r.l.: 8.84 + 0.84; c.i.: 12.53 + 3.49 (st); Chrom. VIII = r.l.: 8.84 + 0.84; c.i.: 34.73 + 3.82 (sm); Chrom. IX = r.l.: 7.39 + 0.55; c.i.: 13.52 + 4.12 (st); Chrom. X = r.l.: 6.20 + 0.01; c.i.: 15.56 + 5.10 (st) (based on the measurements of two spermatogonial plates). Diagnosis. Archimonocelis species with two seminal vesicles. With a straight, tubular stylet, about 50 µm long, with a straight, slightly inflated proximal aperture and an acuminate distal tip, provided with a large, oblique, distal opening. With a girdle of 18 copulatory spines 30–35 µm long, 1–2 µm broad, shorter and narrower proximal to the stylet, and provided with a falcate apical tip and a subterminal tooth, more marked in the spines away from the stylet. With n= 10. Remarks. Archimonocelis scopulicola n. sp. belongs to the group of species lacking accessory spines. Most species of this group are provided with two first order copulatory spines, distinctly larger and broader than the rest of the spines (see, i.a., A. crucifera Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993). Besides the new species, in eight Archimonocelis species the first order spines are absent, and copulatory spines differ slightly in size and morphology. Among these, A. bathycola (Westblad, 1952) and A. carmelitana Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993 have many more (around 100) copulatory spines than the new species, while A. hasanuddin Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1989 and A. helfrichi Karling, Mack-Fira & Dšrjes, 1972 possess four spines only (Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993). A. koinocystis Karling, 1966, from the coast of western Norway (Karling, 1966 a), has one seminal vesicle only, and its copulatory spines present distinctly falcate distal tips, proportionally much longer than in the new species (about one third of the length of the whole spines), with a much more marked and elongate basal tooth. A. rhizophoralis Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1989, from northern Australia has 12 copulatory spines, arranged in two groups: six are needle-like, without subterminal tooth, and six are falcate, with a subterminal tooth (Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1989). The stylet (65 µm long), and the spines (45–53 µm) are slightly longer than in the new species. The chromosome number is n= 5 (Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993). A. mediterranea Meixner, 1938, from western Mediterranean, has a stylet similar in size and morphology to the new species. Copulatory spines are fewer, arranged in two concentric rings: six larger spines (about 36 µm long) form the outer girdle, and six smaller spines (about 30 µm) form the inner girdle; in addition, two spines, about 45 µm long, lie close to the stylet. The chromosome number is n= 12, with a distinctly larger metacentric pair (Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993), absent in the new species. A. monicae Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993, from northern Red Sea, has a slightly larger stylet (up to 65 µm long), and fewer (11–16) and longer (45–60 µm) copulatory spines. Furthermore, it lacks a bursa. A. monicae is a very large Archimonocelis: living specimens can reach, in extension, up to 20 mm in length. The chromosome number is n= 7, with two large metacentric pairs (Martens & Curini-Galletti, 1993).Published as part of Curini-Galletti, Marco, Delogu, Valentina, Campus, Paolo & Casu, Marco, 2007, New species of the genus Archimonocelis Meixner, 1938 (Proseriata, Archimonocelididae) from southern Apulia (Italy), pp. 47-58 in Zootaxa 1557 on pages 48-51, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17827

New species of the genus <i>Archimonocelis</i> Meixner, 1938 (Proseriata, Archimonocelididae) from southern Apulia (Italy)

A survey of the composition of the genus Archimonocelis Meixner, 1938 in southern Apulia (Italy) revealed the presence of four species, three of which are new. Archimonocelis scopulicola n. sp. has a straight stylet, provided with a girdle of 18 copulatory spines, and a chromosome set with n=10. In both A. cygnicollis n. sp. and A. parastaresoi n. sp., an accessory glandular organ, provided with spines, is present. A. cygnicollis n. sp. is provided with a unique double-walled stylet. A. parastaresoi n. sp. is similar to the western Mediterranean A. staresoi Martens &amp; Curini-Galletti, 1993; size and shape of accessory spines are the main discriminating features between the two species. In addition, numerous specimens of A. carmelitana Martens &amp; Curini-Galletti, 1993 were found. A comprehensive discussion of the new species is given