A survey on zoonotic helminths in farmed fish to evaluate the safety of Italian aquaculture products

Introduction: Several zoonotic helminths can be transmitted to humans by consumption of raw, undercooked, marinated or cold smoked fish products, representing a relevant public health concern. Although up to now in Italy the presence of zoonotic helminths has been documented only in wild fish populations, extensive epidemiological surveys are needed in order to assess the possible zoonotic risks linked to consumption of national aquaculture products. At this purpose, a wide parasitological survey has being undertaken on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (RBT), gilthead seabream Sparus aurata (GSB) and European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax (ESB) farmed in Italy. Methodology: From spring 2016 to spring 2017 a total of 2347 fish have been examined. In particular, 738 RBT from 4 Italian freshwater trout farms (two farms located in the area endemic for diphyllobothriasis in Northwestern Italy, 1 in the area endemic for opisthorchiasis in Central Italy and 1 in a highly productive area of Northeastern Italy) were subjected to methods aimed to search for larval stages of diphyllobothriid cestodes (visual inspection and candling) and opisthorchiid digeneans (muscular compression/artificial digestion followed by microscopic examination). Furthermore, 781 GSB and 828 ESB from 4 marine farms (3 cage systems and 1 inland farm located in Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas) were examined for anisakid larvae by UV-press method and artificial digestion. A seasonal periodicity has been applied, sampling 65 specimens/fish species/farm/season in order to reach a statistically significant amount of fish at the end of the survey (258 fish/farm). Results: No zoonotic parasites have been found in all the examined fish at the level of confidence of 99% with a margin of error of 5%. Conclusions: The results so far obtained during this survey are encouraging and seem to confirm that the risks linked to zoonotic helminths in Italian aquacultured fish species are null or negligible, when good farming practices are applied along the production chain

Compression and diffusion: a joint approach to detect complexity

The adoption of the Kolmogorov-Sinai (KS) entropy is becoming a popular research tool among physicists, especially when applied to a dynamical system fitting the conditions of validity of the Pesin theorem. The study of time series that are a manifestation of system dynamics whose rules are either unknown or too complex for a mathematical treatment, is still a challenge since the KS entropy is not computable, in general, in that case. Here we present a plan of action based on the joint action of two procedures, both related to the KS entropy, but compatible with computer implementation through fast and efficient programs. The former procedure, called Compression Algorithm Sensitive To Regularity (CASToRe), establishes the amount of order by the numerical evaluation of algorithmic compressibility. The latter, called Complex Analysis of Sequences via Scaling AND Randomness Assessment (CASSANDRA), establishes the complexity degree through the numerical evaluation of the strength of an anomalous effect. This is the departure, of the diffusion process generated by the observed fluctuations, from ordinary Brownian motion. The CASSANDRA algorithm shares with CASToRe a connection with the Kolmogorov complexity. This makes both algorithms especially suitable to study the transition from dynamics to thermodynamics, and the case of non-stationary time series as well. The benefit of the joint action of these two methods is proven by the analysis of artificial sequences with the same main properties as the real time series to which the joint use of these two methods will be applied in future research work.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figure

Efficacy of a specific rehabilitation protocol in postural control of a young woman with multiple fragility vertebral fractures: a case report

The fragility vertebral fractures have a considerable impact on an individual's health-related quality of life due to pain, limitations in activity, social participation, altered mood and balance impairment. Physiotherapy interventions may have an important role in improving quality of life, balance and reducing the fracture risk in people with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. In literature there are only a few studies that examine exercise interventions in osteoporotic populations with vertebral fracture and few studies that examine the effects on balance with instrumental measurements. In this paper we present a case of a woman with fragility vertebral fractures and a related balance impairment and the effects of a specific rehabilitation program using both clinical evaluations that instrumental measurement

Unusual localization of pennella sp. In swordfish (xiphias gladius) hearts

The genus Pennella comprises hematophagous parasites of marine aquatic species, including cephalopods, marine mammals, and pelagic fish. Nine species have been officially included in the genus Pennella plus another six species inquirendae. They are most often found in the host’s musculature, without penetrating internal organs. For the present study, 83 hearts from swordfish (Xiphias gladius) caught in the Mediterranean Sea were sampled and immediately fixed in formalin for histopathological analysis. In total, 10 (12.05%) hearts were found to be parasitized by copepods of the genus Pennella. Macroscopically, there was mild-to-severe fibrinous pericarditis with atrial wall thickening and multiple parasitic nodules. Histologically, the parasitic nodules were surrounded by an inflammatory-necrotizing reaction. Parasitic infestation by Pennella spp. is common in pelagic fish and in swordfish, in particular. Here, however, we report atypical cardiac localization. A future area of focus is the evaluation of cardiac Pennella spp. infestation by histopathology and genetic identification of the parasites

INDAGINE PARASSITOLOGICA SULLA PRESENZA DI STADI LARVALI DI NEMATODI ANISAKIDAE IN PESCI MARINI ALLEVATI IN ITALIA

L\u2019anisakiasi \ue8 una zoonosi parassitaria di origine alimentare sostenuta da larve al terzo stadio (L3) di nematodi appartenenti alla famiglia Anisakidae ed in particolare al genere Anisakis. Soprattutto in seguito alla recente emergenza di sindromi allergiche da Anisakis, l\u2019EFSA nel 2010 ha pubblicato un parere scientifico sui rischi correlati alla presenza di parassiti zoonotici in prodotti ittici, considerando sicura la pratica d\u2019allevamento del salmone atlantico (Salmo salar) in quanto, se allevati partendo da avannotti prodotti in sistemi chiusi e alimentati sempre con mangime inerte, questi animali presenterebbero un rischio di infestazione da larve di Anisakis trascurabile. Su questa base, il Reg. UE n. 1276/2011, che modifica l\u2019allegato III del Reg. CE n. 853\2004, puntualizza la possibile deroga al trattamento di congelamento, obbligatorio per i prodotti della pesca destinati ad essere consumati sotto forma di preparazioni a rischio (crudi, marinati, affumicati a freddo, ecc.), per i prodotti ittici derivanti da allevamento quando vengono rispettati i criteri definiti dall\u2019EFSA analogamente al salmone atlantico. Appare quindi d\u2019importanza strategica fornire dati scientifici estesi ed attendibili sull\u2019assenza di parassiti zoonotici nei prodotti della maricoltura mediterranea non solo ai fini di una loro migliore qualificazione commerciale ma anche per una pi\uf9 facile applicabilit\ue0 di tale deroga da parte delle autorit\ue0 competenti. Nell\u2019ambito delle attivit\ue0 di ricerca previste dal progetto europeo H2020 ParaFishControl \u201cAdvanced Tools and Research Strategies for Parasite Control in European farmed fish\u201d, da marzo 2016 a giugno 2017 \ue8 stato condotto un esteso monitoraggio parassitologico in spigole (Dicentrarchus labrax) ed orate (Sparus aurata) allevate in Italia. Le attivit\ue0 di campionamento hanno coinvolto 4 allevamenti nazionali, di cui 3 in gabbie galleggianti ed uno in vasche a terra, prelevando almeno 258 esemplari per specie/allevamento suddivisi in 4 campionamenti a cadenza stagionale per un totale di 1040 spigole e 1090 orate. La numerosit\ue0 campionaria \ue8 stata calcolata in modo da ottenere almeno il 95% di probabilit\ue0 di evidenziare un esemplare positivo con prevalenza >2%. Per la ricerca di larve di nematodi Anisakidae sono stati associati: esame visivo diretto e mediante transilluminatore di visceri e porzioni muscolari, metodo della UV-press dei filetti e digestione con soluzione cloro- peptica del pacchetto viscerale. Tutti gli esemplari di spigola e orata esaminati sono risultati negativi per la presenza di stadi larvali di Anisakis spp. In un unico esemplare di spigola proveniente da un allevamento in gabbia \ue8 stata evidenziata la presenza di una larva di Hysterothylacium fabri (nematode non zoonotico) incistata sulla superficie del fegato ed identificata a livello di specie mediante PCR-RFLP. Alla luce della trasmissione di questo parassita a pesci predatori per via trofica, similmente ai nematodi Anisakidae zoonotici, nel prossimo futuro verranno condotte indagini mirate ad identificare i fattori di rischio che hanno condotto all\u2019infestazione da H. fabri in allevamento, seppur in un unico esemplare, ed individuare gli eventuali punti critici da monitorare. I risultati ottenuti da questa indagine indicano comunque come nelle spigole e nelle orate allevate in Italia il rischio d\u2019infestazione da Anisakis sia da ritenersi trascurabile, aprendo la via ad azioni di qualificazione dei prodotti della maricoltura mediterranea

Assessment of Biological and Sanitary Condition of Alien Fish from a High-Mountain Lake (Cottian Alps)

This study aimed to assess the biological and sanitary conditions of alien fish in a high-mountain lake (Balma Lake) located in the Cottian Alps. A single fish sampling session (August 2018) using gillnets collected 90 specimens of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Sex and age were determined (59 females and 31 males, age class 0+ to 4+). Regression analysis showed no difference in total weight and total length between males and females (ANCOVA: F = 0.453; p = 0.954). The mean condition factor (Kmean) decreased with increasing age for males and females. Terrestrial insects were the main prey found in the fish stomachs. The parasitological exam was negative, and the bacteriological exam was positive for Carnobacterium maltaromaticum and C. divergens in 33% of specimens. The total mercury, cadmium, and lead concentration in muscle tissue was within the maximum limit established by the European Commission for human consumption. The brook trout population was found to be well structured; these findings may help local administrations in the implementation of eradication measures

Underdiagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in patients with fragility fractures: retrospective analysis of over 300 patients

Osteoporosis (OP) is a silent disease unless a fracture occurs; it is a major health problem, mainly due to fragility fractures, that occur at vertebral and peripheral sites. Vertebral fractures (VF) are probably the most common fragility fractures, but they go often unrecognized. The main clinical symptoms of VF are acute and chronic back pain, spinal deformity, reduced mobility and impaired quality of life. They are frequently associated with other fragility fractures. We examined 478 patients at our outpatient clinic, who were referred for fragility fracture occurrence. The most common fragility fractures was hip fractures. However, after execution of spine X-rays in patients who had sustained hip fracture, we found that a large proportion of them had VF, which had not been reported in their medical history

Relationship between the prevalence of Dibothriocephalus latus(Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) and the load of Escherichia coli: New findings in a neglected fish-borne parasitic zoonosis

The sub-Alpine lakes of Switzerland, Italy and France have long been reported as an endemic area of diphyllobothriosis, a parasitic zoonosis aused by Dibothriocephalus latus. With this study, we explored the hypothesis for a relationship between the prevalence of D. latus in Perca fluviatilis and the Escherichia coli load in lake water. To do this, we identified eleven sampling sites in three areas (north, centre and south) of Lake Iseo (north Italy) to determine E. coli load and the prevalence of D. latus in P. fluviatilis. Prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) of D. latus infestation ranged from 0% (95% CI: 0.71–0.0) in Sarnico (southern area) to 20% (95% CI: 33.0–11.2) in Pisogne (northern area). There were significant differences in prevalence be-tween the sites (χ2= 31.12; p- value= .0006) and in E. coli load (Kruskal–Wallis test; p- value= .0005). There was decreasing gradient of E. coli load and prevalence of D. latus infestation from north to south. A significant positive correlation (r= .881; p- value= .003) was found between E. coli load and prevalence of D. latus. Also, linear regression showed a significant relationship between E. coli load and prevalence of infestation (R2= .775). Our findings offer an explanation for the link between E. coliload in water and D. latus prevalence. The potential factors in this link are the ef-ficiency of the local wastewater treatment plant, the bathymetric profile of the lake and the life cycle of D. latus, which is mainly affected by light and water temperature.KEYWORDSItaly, Lake Iseo, Perca fluviatilis, prevalence of infestation, wastewater treatment plant, the bathymetric profile of the lake and the life cycle of D. latus, which is mainly affected by light and water temperature

The unusual isolation of carnobacteria in eyes of healthy salmonids in high‑mountain lakes

Carnobacteria are common bacteria in cold and temperate environments; they are also reported during fsh mortality events. In a previous study, carnobacteria were isolated from the eyes of healthy wild salmonids from a high-mountain lake. To better understand these fndings, salmonids were captured from three high-mountain lakes (Lower and Upper Balma Lake, Rouen Lake; northwest Italy) during August 2019 and subjected to bacteriological and histological examination. Although all were healthy, 8.7% (Lower Balma Lake), 24% (Upper Balma Lake), and 32.6% (Rouen Lake) were positive for carnobacteria colonization of the eyes. A Trojan-horse efect was hypothesized to explain carnobacteria isolation in the eye. This immune-escaping macrophage-mediated mechanism has been identifed in other Gram-positive bacteria. Biochemical, molecular, and phylogenetic analysis were carried out on isolated bacteria (Carnobacterium maltaromaticum and C. divergens). Based on previous references for carnobacteria isolated from fsh, C. maltaromaticum strains were tested for the pisA precursor gene of the bacteriocin piscicolin 126. Carnobacterium maltaromaticum strains were found to display genotypic heterogeneity and a low percentage of pisA positive amplifcation. Features of geomorphology, geographic isolation, and microbiota common to the three lakes are thought to be possibly related to our fndings. Moreover, terrestrial insects collected from the lake shoreline and the stomach contents were screened for the presence of carnobacteria. The salmonids in these high-mountain environments feed mainly on terrestrial insects, which are considered possible vectors for carnobacteria that might catabolize the exoskeleton chitin. All insects tested negative for carnobacteria, but as a small number of samples were analyzed, their role as possible vectors of infection cannot be excluded. Further studies are needed to corroborate our research hypothesis