A study on occupational exposure of Sicilian farmers to Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

INTRODUCTION: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in calves of Palermo area (Sicily) and to evaluate the occupational risk associated with occurrence of zoonotic genotypes. METHODS: A total of 217 faecal samples, from 149 calves (between 2 and 240 days of age) and 68 farmers, were collected in 19 cattle-farms of Palermo area. A questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics and personal hygienic measures was submitted to all farmers. All faecal samples were analyzed by Immunofluorescence assay and Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR); genotypes were determined by DNA sequencing of Triose Phosphate Isomerase gene for Giardia and Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA gene for Cryptosporidium. RESULTS: None farmer tested was positive for Giardia and Cryptosporidium, whereas these protozoa were respectively detected in 53 (including 5 with zoonotic G. duodenalis genotype A) and 17 (of which 1 with zoonotic C. ubiquitum) of the examined calves. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that the risk of transmitting both protozoa to farmers in Palermo area is negligible although it cannot be considered null because of identification of human genotypes/species in calves.

[Occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in wastewater, surface water and ground water samples in Palermo (Sicily)]. / Presenza di Giardia e Cryptosporidium in reflui civili e in campioni d'acqua superficiale e profonda del territorio palermitano.

This paper reports the investigation carried out on the occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts in water samples of two municipal treatment plants, and in surface water and ground water wells of the province of Palermo. The wastewater samples taken before and after treatment process were assayed over the course of one year Giardia cysts were detected in all samples throught the year at higher concentration levels than Cryptosporidium oocysts, with a peak observed in spring. The overall removal efficiency of (oo)cysts in the treatment plants was about of 90%. Their presence were also searched in surface waters (three artificial lakes and one river); (oo)cysts were detected in one lake at very low concentration; on the contrary, both parasites were found at high concentration levels in all the samples collected throught one year from the water of the river. The pattern of occurrence of both parasites appears temporally related to the level of rainfall trend. Cryptosporidium and Giardia were also found in ground water wells; their presence occurred only in waters taken from wells at a depth lower than 31 meters with concomitant presence of faecal bacteria. These results may provide further insight into the possible source of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in natural environmental and stress the potential risk associated with the use of waters for recreational and agricultural purposes.

Periodontal status in an Italian young adult population. Prevalence and relationship with periodontopathic bacteria.

To determine the prevalence of periodontitis in an Italian young adult population and the relationship with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia in subgingival plaque. A full-mouth periodontal and oral examination was performed in 70 subjects. Dental and behaviour habits were assessed with a standardised questionnaire. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from the deepest pocket of the first molars in each quadrant with a sterile curette. A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and P. intermedia were detected using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction. At subject level, the prevalence of bleeding on probing, calculus, normal pocket depth (PD), PD > 5mm and bacterial positivity were 44.8%, 43.3%, 22.9%, 11.4% and 95.7%, respectively. At quadrant level bacterial prevalence was 79.4%; P. intermedia was the most common bacteria (79.0%); A. actinomycetemcomitans had a prevalence of 40.8%. A significant linear trend across categories of gingival conditions (healthy, bleeding on probing, calculus presence) was detected for P. intermedia (p = 0.0038) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (p = 0.00005) proportions. No significant association was observed between pathogenic bacteria and PD, nor with behavioural attitudes. Gingival conditions are found to be a good predictors (VPP = 85%) for periodontopathic bacteria. For the Italian population, as no data are present, prospective longitudinal studies are needed to examine the relationship between PD and bacteria presence with periodontal disease onset and/or progression.

Early sonographic diagnosis of intrapericardial teratoma.

An intrapericardial teratoma associated with a large pleural effusion and elevated aortic outflow velocity was diagnosed at 23.6 weeks' gestation. Less than 4 weeks earlier, an obstetric scan, including a four-chamber heart view, had been normal. In less than a week following diagnosis, fetal hydrops and bradycardia developed. 'Heroic' pericardiocentesis was declined by the patient, and the fetus died. This case demonstrates the potential for rapid growth in pericardial teratomas, and illustrates the possibility of anticipating fetal compromise from tumor mass effect, when intracardiac Doppler studies are abnormal. Implications for management of these rare tumors, and specifically for the hypothetical role of fetal surgery, are discussed.

Early prenatal diagnosis of type II cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung: sonographic and histological findings.

Cystic adenomatoid malformation is a rare abnormality of the fetal lung. Depending on the size and histology of the cyst, it is classified as type I, II or III. With improving ultrasound technology, prenatal diagnosis during the mid-trimester is now possible; however, the earliest previous reports of type II cases have been at 23-24 weeks' gestation. We here report cases diagnosed at 19.5 and 20.5 weeks. In contrast to the appearance of multiple small cysts seen later in pregnancy, these cases showed a predominance of marked hyperechogenicity, usually associated with type III malformations, with small areas of lung involved by sonographically detectable cysts. Both families chose pregnancy termination. Sonographic findings, counselling, and histology are presented and discussed.