Survey of trematodes in intertidal snails from Patagonia, Argentina: new larval forms and diversity assessment.

Larval trematodes are the main parasites of snails, and they play a crucial role because they usually castrate their snail hosts and can thus alter their population and community dynamics. This study involved a survey of seven gastropod species (Crepipatella dilatata, Fissurella radiosa, Nacella magellanica, Pareuthria fuscata, Siphonaria lessonii, S. lateralis and Trophon geversianus) parasitized by 12 trematode species (one hemiurid, one gymnophallid, two lepocreadiids, two microphallids, one notocotylid, two renicolids, one philophtalmid, one schistosomatid and one zoogonid) from southern Patagonia (47°S, 65°W), Argentina. Only F. radiosa was free of parasites. The study included the description of five new larvae, based on morphological and molecular information, and a comparison of the parasite diversity with that of a northern locality (42°S, 64°W), characterized by a lower mollusc diversity. Species richness and diversity of parasites were higher in the southern site. This suggests a correlation between the level of parasitism and the diversity of molluscs (first intermediate hosts), which is higher at the high-latitude site and seems to attract shorebirds, which disperse the digenean eggs and facilitate the completion of their life cycles. These results support the notion that parasitism is influenced by large-scale factors such as biogeographical patterns, and small-scale factors such as diversity or abundance of intermediate and definitive hosts.

A new species of Procyrnea (Nematoda: Habronematidae) parasitic in Rhea pennata (Aves: Rheidae) from Patagonia, Argentina, with a key to species of the genus.

Procyrnea choique n. sp. is described from the lesser rhea, Rhea pennata d´Orbigny (Aves: Rheidae), from the Protected Natural Area Península Valdés, Chubut province, Argentina. The new species resembles P. ficheuri, P. murrayi, P. excisiformis, P. dollfusi, P. haliasturi, P. anterovulvata, P. graculae, P. brevicaudata, P. uncinipenis, P. javaensis, P. ameerae, P. ornata, P. aegotheles, P. spiralis, P. ruschii and P. aptera, mainly in the absence of lateral alae; but differs from its congeners by having a left spicule without barbs, the position of the vulva which is post-equatorial, the absence of lateral ridges, absent median precloacal papilla, asymmetrical caudal alae, males more than 6 mm long, left spicule 1 mm long and spicule ratio 1:3. Our results extend the taxonomy of Procyrnea Chabaud, 1958 and comprise the first report of a habronematid from R. pennata. A key to species of Procyrnea is presented.

Larval digenean preferences in two sympatric snail species at differing tidal levels off the Atlantic coast of Patagonia.

Larval stages of the trematodes Maritrema madrynense and Hemiuroidea fam. gen. et sp. differentially parasitized Siphonaria lessonii and S. lateralis, two sympatric pulmonate snail species on the rocky intertidal shore at Puerto Deseado, south-western Atlantic coast of Patagonia, Argentina. Snail specimens were collected at two sampling sites with contrasting physical-chemical characteristics. One site, in the upper intertidal, was exposed to sewage from fish-processing plants, greater hydrodynamic forcing and desiccation, a wider temperature range, longer exposure to ultraviolet radiation and higher abundance of birds. The second site, in the lower intertidal, was generally characterized by less stressful environmental conditions. At both sites, S. lateralis showed a markedly higher density than S. lessonii (55.13 vs. 5.87 snails/m2, respectively). Despite this, the prevalence of both digeneans was higher in S. lessonii (17.37% and 3.52% for M. madrynense and Hemiuroidea, respectively) than in S. lateralis (0.09% and 0% for M. madrynense and Hemiuroidea, respectively). This study demonstrates high parasite specificity for the host. Low densities of S. lessonii are attributed to castration of parasitized hosts and reduction of their physiological condition. The prevalence and intensity of infection of both digenean parasites were higher at the more stressful, upper intertidal site, thus suggesting that a higher abundance of birds and exposure to sewage pollution may promote the transmission of trematodes.

Monitoring diffuse volcanic degassing during volcanic unrests: the case of Campi Flegrei (Italy).

In volcanoes with active hydrothermal systems, diffuse CO2 degassing may constitute the primary mode of volcanic degassing. The monitoring of CO2 emissions can provide important clues in understanding the evolution of volcanic activity especially at calderas where the interpretation of unrest signals is often complex. Here, we report eighteen years of CO2 fluxes from the soil at Solfatara of Pozzuoli, located in the restless Campi Flegrei caldera. The entire dataset, one of the largest of diffuse CO2 degassing ever produced, is made available for the scientific community. We show that, from 2003 to 2016, the area releasing deep-sourced CO2 tripled its extent. This expansion was accompanied by an increase of the background CO2 flux, over most of the surveyed area (1.4 km2), with increased contributions from non-biogenic source. Concurrently, the amount of diffusively released CO2 increased up to values typical of persistently degassing active volcanoes (up to 3000 t d-1). These variations are consistent with the increase in the flux of magmatic fluids injected into the hydrothermal system, which cause pressure increase and, in turn, condensation within the vapor plume feeding the Solfatara emission.

[RISKOFDERM: European research project for assessment of occupational skin exposure to chemicals]. / RISKOFDERM: un progetto europeo per la valutazione dell'esposizione per via cutanea a tossici industriali.

OBJECTIVES: RISKOFDERM is a research project whose aim is to develop instruments to assess and manage occupational dermal exposure to chemical substances. METHODS: The research, funded by the European Commission, involves 15 Institutes from 10 member countries; it is a continuation of the Dermal Exposure Network experience and consists of four interrelated parts. The first phase (Qualitative survey) assumed that dermal exposure can be extrapolated from one compound to another when it is task-based: therefore six Dermal Exposure Operation units (DEOu) were defined that lead back to the variety of occupational dermal exposure conditions and an extensive Questionnaire was developed for on-site surveys to perform standard observations in selected working situations (scenarios). RESULTS: The Italian group, participating in the research, obtained a set of observations relating to two "scenarios" in different working sectors: asphalt, ceramic and pottery workers, spectacle decorators and paint production: the aim was to verify the validity of the methodology in assessing the risk of percutaneous absorption, time, frequency and extension of skin exposure. CONCLUSIONS: From the observations made it was shown that the perception of risk was poor; it is necessary to rationalise work organization, and train and inform the employees on the correct use of personal protection devices.

The sea-air exchange of mercury (Hg) in the marine boundary layer of the Augusta basin (southern Italy): concentrations and evasion flux.

The first attempt to systematically investigate the atmospheric mercury (Hg) in the MBL of the Augusta basin (SE Sicily, Italy) has been undertaken. In the past the basin was the receptor for Hg from an intense industrial activity which contaminated the bottom sediments of the Bay, making this area a potential source of pollution for the surrounding Mediterranean. Three oceanographic cruises have been thus performed in the basin during the winter and summer 2011/2012, where we estimated averaged Hgatm concentrations of about 1.5±0.4 (range 0.9-3.1) and 2.1±0.98 (range 1.1-3.1) ng m(-3) for the two seasons, respectively. These data are somewhat higher than the background Hg atm value measured over the land (range 1.1±0.3 ng m(-3)) at downtown Augusta, while are similar to those detected in other polluted regions elsewhere. Hg evasion fluxes estimated at the sea/air interface over the Bay range from 3.6±0.3 (unpolluted site) to 72±0.1 (polluted site of the basin) ng m(-2) h(-1). By extending these measurements to the entire area of the Augusta basin (~23.5 km(2)), we calculated a total sea-air Hg evasion flux of about 9.7±0.1 g d(-1) (~0.004 tyr(-1)), accounting for ~0.0002% of the global Hg oceanic evasion (2000 tyr(-1)). The new proposed data set offers a unique and original study on the potential outflow of Hg from the sea-air interface at the basin, and it represents an important step for a better comprehension of the processes occurring in the marine biogeochemical cycle of this element.