Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and dispersal among Italian smooth newt populations in a rural landscape.

Amphibians are particularly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by the intensification and modernization of farming occurring in the second half of the twentieth century in the Mediterranean basin. However, artificial water bodies, associated with traditional husbandry, proved to be important surrogate for amphibian feeding and reproduction. Here, multilocus genotypes were used to investigate the spatial population structure of Lissotriton vulgaris meridionalis and the role of drinking troughs in supporting viable breeding populations within a rural landscape interested by traditional husbandry and agriculture. Our genetic analysis highlighted the conservation value and the potential stepping-stone function of artificial aquatic sites in the dispersal of the species and for the gene flow maintenance. Indeed, populations of drinking troughs show allelic richness and heterozygosity levels comparable to those from natural ponds and there is no great evidence of genetic bottlenecks. A complex system of artificial aquatic sites and few natural wetlands was identified sustaining a well-structured network of demes highly interconnected with themselves and natural aquatic sites. The conservation of the identified genetic clusters may be useful to prevent further population declines and future loss of genetic diversity within the study area characterized by scarce natural wetlands that frequently dried because of agricultural practices and strong seasonality. Site-specific protection measures are needed to contrast the progressive disappearance of drinking troughs observed in the last years in Italy because of the abandonment of traditional farming practices in favour of modern agriculture and intensive farming.

Microsatellite Characterization and Panel Selection for Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Population Assessment.

An assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of a population is essential for designing recovery plans for threatened species. Italy hosts two brown bear populations, Ursus arctos marsicanus (Uam), endemic to the Apennines of central Italy, and Ursus arctos arctos (Uaa), in the Italian Alps. Both populations are endangered and occasionally involved in human-wildlife conflict; thus, detailed management plans have been in place for several decades, including genetic monitoring. Here, we propose a simple cost-effective microsatellite-based protocol for the management of populations with low genetic variation. We sampled 22 Uam and 22 Uaa individuals and analyzed a total of 32 microsatellite loci in order to evaluate their applicability in individual identification. Based on genetic variability estimates, we compared data from four different STR marker sets, to evaluate the optimal settings in long-term monitoring projects. Allelic richness and gene diversity were the highest for the Uaa population, whereas depleted genetic variability was noted for the Uam population, which should be regarded as a conservation priority. Our results identified the most effective STR sets for the estimation of genetic diversity and individual discrimination in Uam (9 loci, PIC 0.45; PID 2.0 × 10-5), and Uaa (12 loci, PIC 0.64; PID 6.9 × 10-11) populations, which can easily be utilized by smaller laboratories to support local governments in regular population monitoring. The method we proposed to select the most variable markers could be adopted for the genetic characterization of other small and isolated populations.

Epidemiology and familial clustering of pediatric epilepsy in the geographic isolate of Ischia.

BACKGROUND: Geographic isolates are the ideal setting to study the genetic background and the epidemiology of epilepsy. There are only few published reports on the epidemiology of pediatric epilepsy in geographic isolates. METHODS: This study was performed in the Ischia island, district of Napoli (Southern Italy). The local population includes 61,086 individuals, 8381 of them aged from 0 to 14 years. We included children with two or more unprovoked seizures or one unprovoked seizure associated to a high risk of relapse, observed from 2004 to 2017. Neonatal, febrile and acute symptomatic seizures were excluded. Eligible patients were identified through the local pediatricians' medical records. All probands and their parents underwent a face-to-face interview. Clinical charts were reviewed and electroclinical diagnoses were confirmed by two authors (AC, VB). RESULTS: Thirty-six children and adolescents were included. Overall, the prevalence of epilepsy in the Ischia island was 4.3 per 1,000 (95% CI 3.0-5.9). Incidence was 51.7 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 36.2-71.6). Sixteen (44.4%) patients had a genetic (idiopathic) origin and 20 (55.6%) a symptomatic (structural/metabolic) etiology. Nine probands (25%) had at least one family member with epilepsy (including third-degree relatives). Their pedigrees were suggestive of dominant inheritance in six and of recessive inheritance in three families. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological features of pediatric epilepsy in this geographic isolate are similar to the general population. A family history was reported in one fourth of the patients with a wide clinical heterogeneity, likely reflecting genetic heterogeneity in this population.

An improved microsatellite panel to assess genetic variability of the Italian smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris meridionalis).

Habitat loss and fragmentation are threatening amphibians by increasing population isolation. However, artificial waterbodies created for livestockmay contrast this phenomenon by providing surrogate habitats for amphibians. Here, we performed a genetic study on an amphibian species, Lissotriton vulgaris meridionalis, in a rural area in central Italy where natural wetlands are disappearing and drinking troughs for cattle watering are widespread. Specifically, we tested a panel of microsatellite markers to identify a suitable tool for addressing conservation genetic issues of this species that is undergoing severe local decline. Twelve of the 20 tested loci produced reliable amplifications and were polymorphic. Three distinct units with a low level of gene flow were distinguished and the population genetic structuring overlapped with geographic distribution. Such loci will be useful to assess the genetic diversity of the species across multiscale levels for its management and conservation.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension: two steroid-responsive cases.

PURPOSE: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is characterised by orthostatic headache, low cerebrospinal fluid pressure and diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement after intravenous gadolinium contrast administration. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often plays a crucial role for correct diagnosis. CASE DESCRIPTION: We described two similar cases of SIH, whose clinical and imaging features are typical for this pathology. At MRI brain scan, both patients showed diffuse and intense pachymeningeal enhancement and moderate venous distension and epidural vein engorgement. The two patients were treated with bed rest and oral steroid therapy, with complete and long-lasting symptomatic relief. CONCLUSIONS: Orthostatic nature of headache is the most indicative clinical feature suggesting SIH; contrast-enhanced MRI provides definite imaging diagnostic findings. Conservative treatment coupled to steroid therapy is often sufficient to obtain complete disappearance of symptoms.

An enigmatic clinical entity: A new case of olfactory schwannoma.

Olfactory schwannomas, also described as subfrontal or olfactory groove schwannomas, are very rare tumors, whose pathogenesis is still largely debated. We report a case of olfactory schwannoma in a 39-year-old woman who presented with anosmia and headache. The clinical examination did not show lesions in the nose-frontal region and there was no history of neurofibromatosis. Head MRI and CT scan revealed a lobulated extra-axial mass localized in the right anterior cranial fossa that elevated the ipsilateral frontal pole. Bilateral frontal craniotomy demonstrated a tumor strictly attached to the right portion of the cribriform plate that surrounded the right olfactory tract, not clearly identifiable. The immunohistochemical analysis suggested the diagnosis of typical schwannoma. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficit and a four-month postoperative MRI scan of the brain showed no residual or recurrent tumor.

Epidemiology of bovine tick-borne diseases in southern Italy.

This investigation was carried out in an area covering part of three southern Italian regions: Campania, Basilicata and Apulia. Eighty-one farms were involved using the formula suggested by Thrusfield; they were equally distributed over the area which was subdivided into 81 geo-referenced sub-areas. In May and June 1999 from a total of 506 cattle, older than 18 months, blood-samples were taken and ticks were collected and identified. Serum samples were tested for antibodies of Bahesia bigemina, Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale with an ELISA technique. Eight farms (9.8%) out of the 81 examined were positive for B. bigemina only, 3 (3.7%) for A. marginale only, and 70 (86.4%) for both. None of the animals of any farm was found to be positive for B. bovis. Out of the 506 sera tested, 117 (23.1 %) were positive for B. bigemina only, 58 (11.5%) forA. marginale only and 250 (49.4%) for both species; 81 (16.0%) were negative for all of them. Ticks were collected on animals on 62 (76.5%) out of the 81 farms. Adult ticks (1 410) were collected and identified; the highest number belonged to the Rhipicephalus bursa species (65.5%), followed by Rhipicephalus turanicus (8.6) and Haemaphysalis punctata (8.4). The results showed that B. bigemina, A. marginale and their potential vectors are common in the area examined and indicated that there is a risk for animals imported from tick-borne disease-free areas.