Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens: Occurrence and Host Associations over Four Years of Wildlife Surveillance in the Liguria Region (Northwest Italy).

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a considerable public health problem worldwide. The occurrence of Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia spp., and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv) was investigated via PCR and sequencing in 683 ticks collected from 105 roe deer, 61 wild boars, 49 fallow deer, and 2 chamois, in the Liguria region, northwest Italy, between 2019 and 2022. The ticks were morphologically identified. Four different tick species were found: Ixodes ricinus (66.8% of the collected ticks), Dermacentor marginatus (15.8%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.s. (15.7%), and Haemaphysalis punctata (0.9%). Six ticks (0.9%) were only identified as Rhipicephalus spp. Of the 222 pools analyzed, 27.9% were positive. Most pools (n = 58, 26.1% of pools analyzed) were positive for Rickettsia spp., and several species were found: Rickettsia slovaca was the dominant species (15.3%), followed by R. monacensis (8.1%), while R. helvetica (1.8%), R. massiliae (0.5%), and R. raoultii (0.5%) were found only sporadically. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was identified in three pools and B. burgdorferi s.l. in one pool. All samples were negative for C. burnetii and TBEv. Significant associations were found between I. ricinus and roe deer, D. marginatus and wild boar, and between R. monacensis and I. ricinus. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. differed significantly between tick and host species. This updated picture of tick species and TBPs in wild ungulates in Liguria, where the population of these animals is increasing, shows a widespread presence of potentially zoonotic Rickettsia spp. Continuous monitoring and public information on preventive measures are needed.

Stretch reduces nephrin expression via an angiotensin II-AT(1)-dependent mechanism in human podocytes: effect of rosiglitazone.

Increased glomerular permeability to proteins is a characteristic feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The slit diaphragm is the major restriction site to protein filtration, and the loss of nephrin, a key component of the slit diaphragm, has been demonstrated in both human and experimental DN. Both systemic and glomerular hypertension are believed to be important in the pathogenesis of DN. Human immortalized podocytes were subjected to repeated stretch-relaxation cycles by mechanical deformation with the use of a stress unit (10% elongation, 60 cycles/min) in the presence or absence of candesartan (1 microM), PD-123319 (1 microM), and rosiglitazone (0.1 microM). Nephrin mRNA and protein expression were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence, and the protein expression of AT(1) receptor and angiotensin II secretion were evaluated. Exposure to stretch induced a significant approximately 50% decrease in both nephrin mRNA and protein expression. This effect was mediated by an angiotensin II-AT(1) mechanism. Indeed, podocyte stretching induced both angiotensin II secretion and AT(1) receptor overexpression, podocyte exposure to angiotensin II reduced nephrin protein expression, and both the AT-1 receptor antagonist candesartan and a specific anti-angiotensin II antibody completely abolished stretch-induced nephrin downregulation. Similar to candesartan, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonist, rosiglitazone, also inhibited stretch-induced nephrin downregulation, suggesting interference with stretch-induced activation of the angiotensin II-AT(1) receptor system. Accordingly, rosiglitazone did not alter stretch-induced angiotensin II secretion, but it prevented AT(1) upregulation in response to stretch. These results suggest a role for hemodynamic stress in loss of nephrin expression and allude to a role of PPAR-gamma agonists in the prevention of this loss.

Association of cytomegalovirus infections with recurrence of humoral and cellular autoimmunity to islet autoantigens and of type 1 diabetes in a pancreas transplanted patient.

Association of type 1 diabetes and cytomegalovirus (CMV) is suspected and CMV infections have also been linked to increased risk of new onset post-transplantation diabetes. We monitored response to islet autoantigens, pancreatic endocrine function, and CMV infections in one type 1 diabetic patient receiving pancreas allograft. Time course analyses of levels of islet autoantibodies (Abs), IFN-gamma ELISPOT response, analysis of T cell function, levels of C peptide together with CMV pp65 antigenaemia and viraemia and graft biopsy histopathology were performed in comparison with a cohort of diabetic recipients. Evidence of autoimmune activation to GAD and IA2, modification of CD4(+) CD25hi T cells, loss of pancreatic function, concomitantly with multiple CMV infections and allograft rejection with peri-insulitis is provided. The parallel between metabolic outcome, initiation and progression of autoreactivity to islet autoantigens and early CMV infections after transplantation, suggests that persistent CMV infections may be relevant to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.

Hyperglycemia induces apoptosis of human pancreatic islet endothelial cells: effects of pravastatin on the Akt survival pathway.

Pancreatic islet microendothelium and beta cells exhibit an interdependent physical and functional relationship. In this study, we analyzed the effect of chronic hyperglycemia on human pancreatic islet microendothelial cells as well as the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and nephrin pathways, interleukin-1beta, and nitric oxide production. In addition, whether 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors can reverse the response to high-glucose conditions was investigated. Proliferation of purified islet microendothelial cells cultured under hyperglycemic conditions (28 mmol/L glucose) decreased compared to that of normoglycemic cells (from 12.7% after 2 days to 47.7% after 30 days, P < 0.05). In parallel, apoptosis progressively increased from 7% after 2 days to 79% after 30 days in high glucose (P < 0.05) concomitant with an early increase of caspase-3 activity. Intermittent hyperglycemia induced greater apoptosis than sustained hyperglycemia. Apoptosis was accompanied by a reduced p-Akt/Akt ratio and inhibition of nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation. Pravastatin (1 mumol/L) decreased apoptosis induced by high glucose or oxidized LDL and increased Akt phosphorylation. Hyperglycemia significantly increased the production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta and stimulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and the production of nitric oxide, possibly relevant to beta cell mass and function. Thus, chronic hyperglycemia reduces islet microendothelial cell survival by inhibiting the serine-threonine kinase Akt pathway, and the effect of pravastatin on this pathway represents a potential tool to improve islet vascularization and, indirectly, islet function.

CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS AS AN EMERGING MULTIHOST PATHOGEN IN WILD CARNIVORES IN NORTHWEST ITALY.

Canine distemper (CD) may pose a serious threat to Alpine wild carnivores and affect their population dynamics. Since 2006, the strain Europe Wildlife 2006-09, a distinct CD virus subgroup within viral lineage Europe 1 (EU1) characterized by increased virulence and host range expansion, has been linked to multiple CD outbreaks in Alpine wild carnivores. The aim of this study was to fill knowledge gaps about ongoing Alpine outbreaks of CD. To do this, we report on the circulation of canine distemper virus (CDV) and outbreaks of CD in Alpine wild carnivores in northwest Italy. A specific diagnostic protocol applied to a sample of 548 wild carnivores collected between January 2013 and December 2015 revealed the circulation of CDV belonging to the EU1 lineage. All isolates were carriers of amino-acid mutations defining the cluster Europe Wildlife 2006-09. A self-maintained multihost pathogen system may have developed in northwest Italy in which interspecies transmission from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to other noncanid species enhanced pathogen maintenance in the system.

Detection of morbillivirus infection by RT-PCR RFLP analysis in cetaceans and carnivores.

Morbillivirus genus comprises several members related to specific hosts, such as canine distemper virus (CDV) and cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) in which the dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) is included. Both CDV and DMV are able to cause serious outbreak associated with high morbidity and mortality representing an important conservation threat for terrestrial and aquatic mammalian species. This paper describes a new RT-PCR RFLP technique based on a RT-PCR with degenerate primers targeting a 287 bp fragment located on the conserved N terminus of the morbillivirus NP gene, followed by MseI RFLP, in order both to confirm the detection of the virus and to distinguish DMV from CDV. Both carnivores and cetaceans tissues (brain, lung and lymph node) presenting evidence of morbillivirus infection (MI) were analyzed. RT-PCR positive samples were typed by RFLP analysis and then sequenced to confirm the RFLP results. This method was applied during the last morbillivirus cetacean die-off occurred in the Mediterranean basin in 2013, when there was the urgent need of a rapid and economic method to investigate among causes of death on stranded cetaceans. This new technique has proved to be a valuable, reliable, simple and relatively inexpensive diagnostic tool easily applicable also in limited-resource laboratories.

Molecular and histological characterization of bovine papillomavirus in North West Italy.

Bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) are group of worldwide-spread DNA virus that infect primarily cattle determining diseases of considerable economic relevance. Recently, research on BPVs, received a great impulse owing to the development of specific biomolecular analysis, mostly based on L1 gene sequencing, that resulted in the identification of new viral types. This work is aimed at the identification and molecular and histopathological characterization of BPVs circulating in North West Italy, one of the main national cattle breeding areas. In this study, 71 bioptic specimens were submitted both to histological examination and to PCR and sequencing analysis. Histopathology revealed various lesion types; however, no connections were demonstrated between involved viral types and histopathological findings. BPV DNA was demonstrated in all the analyzed samples and several viral types were detected. Particularly, molecular investigations revealed a broad diffusion of highly pathogenic BPV1 and 2 Deltapapillomavirus and presence of BPV3 and 9 Xipapillomavirus. Two cases of co-infection were also demonstrated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed presence of different clusters and therefore a noteworthy genetic variety among the analyzed viral types. This study provides information on the main BPVs types in North West Italy and our results demonstrate the complexity of viral epidemiology which is characterized by circulation of multiple viral types even inside single herds. Knowledge of the prevalence and of the variety of BPVs is a milestone for the development of appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic measures.

Human mesenchymal stem cells modulate cellular immune response to islet antigen glutamic acid decarboxylase in type 1 diabetes.

CONTEXT: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert an immunosuppressive effect on the immune system. However, studies on the immunomodulatory potential of MSCs in type 1 diabetes are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate whether human MSCs may inhibit in vitro pancreatic islet antigen-specific T cell activation in type 1 diabetes. DESIGN: Human MSCs were isolated and characterized. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from nine type 1 diabetic patients at disease onset and 13 healthy control subjects. IFN-gamma, IL-10, and IL-4 enzyme-linked immunospot responses of lymphocytes incubated with glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) were investigated in PBMC cultures and PBMC/MSC cocultures. Levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 in supernatants were measured by ELISA. PGE2 inhibition experiments with NS-398 and indomethacin were also performed. RESULTS: Five diabetic patients were identified with a positive PBMC IFN-gamma response to GAD65 and negative IL-10 and IL-4 response. PBMC/MSC cocultures resulted in a significant decrease in the number of spots and in detection of IL-4-secreting cells. PGE2 inhibitors abrogated the immune-suppressive effect, indicating an involvement of PGE2 production, and the constitutive production of PGE2 by MSCs was enhanced in PBMC/MSC coculture. Moreover, in GAD-responder patients, GAD-stimulated PBMC/MSC cocultures significantly decreased secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-10 and increased secretion of IL-4. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence that human MSCs abrogate in vitro a proinflammatory T helper type 1 response to an islet antigenic stimulus in type 1 diabetes. MSCs induce IL-4-producing cells, suggesting a possible switch to an antiinflammatory T helper type 2 signaling of T cells.