Crossover from gas-like to liquid-like molecular diffusion in a simple supercritical fluid.

According to textbooks, no physical observable can be discerned allowing to distinguish a liquid from a gas beyond the critical point. Yet, several proposals have been put forward challenging this view and various transition boundaries between a gas-like and a liquid-like behaviour, including the so-called Widom and Frenkel lines, and percolation line, have been suggested to delineate the supercritical state space. Here we report observation of a crossover from gas-like (Gaussian) to liquid-like (Lorentzian) self-dynamic structure factor by incoherent quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements on supercritical fluid methane as a function of pressure, along the 200 K isotherm. The molecular self-diffusion coefficient was derived from the best Gaussian (at low pressures) or Lorentzian (at high pressures) fits to the neutron spectra. The Gaussian-to-Lorentzian crossover is progressive and takes place at about the Widom line intercept (59 bar). At considerably higher pressures, a liquid-like jump diffusion mechanism properly describes the supercritical fluid on both sides of the Frenkel line. The present observation of a gas-like to liquid-like crossover in the self dynamics of a simple supercritical fluid confirms emerging views on the unexpectedly complex physics of the supercritical state, and could have planet-wide implications and possible industrial applications in green chemistry.

Integrative taxonomy of metazoan parasites of the bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the Mediterranean Sea, with the resurrection of Grillotia acanthoscolex Rees, 1944 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha).

Appropriate diagnoses of parasites of apex marine predators are crucial to understand their biodiversity, host specificity, biogeography, and life cycles. Such diagnoses are also informative of ecological and biological characteristics of both host and environment in which the hosts and their parasites live. We here (i) investigate the parasite fauna of a bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788) obtained from the Gulf of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea), (ii) characterize molecularly all its metazoan parasites, and (iii) resurrect and report the main morphological features and phylogenetic position of Grillotia acanthoscolex, a cestode species previously synonymized with Grillotia adenoplusia. A rich parasite fauna represented by eight different taxa was found, including two monogeneans (Protocotyle grisea and Protocotyle taschenbergi), one digenean (Otodistomum veliporum), four cestodes (Crossobothrium dohrnii, Clistobothrium sp., G. acanthoscolex, and G. adenoplusia), and one copepod (Protodactylina pamelae). Sequencing of these samples accounts for an important molecular baseline to widen the knowledge on the parasitic fauna of bluntnose sixgill sharks worldwide and to reconstruct their correct food chains. The bluntnose sixgill shark was found to be a definitive host for all endoparasites found here, confirming that it occupies an apex trophic level in the Mediterranean Sea. The taxa composition of the trophic parasite fauna confirms that the bluntnose sixgill shark mostly feeds on teleost fish species. However, the occurrence of two phillobothrid cestodes (C. dohrnii and Clistobothrium sp.) suggests that it also feeds on squids. Finally, we emphasize the importance of using integrative taxonomic approaches in the study of parasites from definitive and intermediate hosts to elucidate biology and ecology of taxa generally understudied in the Mediterranean Sea.

High-Pressure Synthesis and Gas-Sensing Tests of 1-D Polymer/Aluminophosphate Nanocomposites.

Recently, filling zeolites with gaseous hydrocarbons at high pressures in diamond anvil cells has been carried out to synthesize novel polymer-guest/zeolite-host nanocomposites with potential, intriguing applications, although the small amount of materials, 10-7 cm3, severely limited true technological exploitation. Here, liquid phenylacetylene, a much more practical reactant, was polymerized in the 12 Å channels of the aluminophosphate Virginia Polytechnic Institute-Five (VFI) at about 0.8 GPa and 140 °C, with large volumes in the order of 0.6 cm3. The resulting polymer/VFI composite was investigated by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and optical and 1H, 13C, and 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The materials, consisting of disordered π-conjugated polyphenylacetylene chains in the pores of VFI, were deposited on quartz crystal microbalances and tested as gas sensors. We obtained promising sensing performances to water and butanol vapors, attributed to the finely tuned nanostructure of the composites. High-pressure synthesis is used here to obtain an otherwise unattainable true technological material.

Molecular and morphological characterization of Bolbosoma balaenae (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae), a neglected intestinal parasite of the fin whale Balaenoptera physalus.

Post-mortem examination of a fin whale Balaenoptera physalus stranded in the Mediterranean Sea led to the finding of Bolbosoma balaenae for the first time in this basin. In this work, we describe new structural characteristics of this parasite using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy approaches. Moreover, the molecular and phylogenetic data as inferred from both ribosomal RNA 18S-28S and the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (cox1) for adult specimens of B. balaenae are also reported for the first time. Details of the surface topography such as proboscis's hooks, trunked trunk spines of the prebulbar foretrunk, ultrastructure of proboscis's hooks and micropores of the tegument are shown. The 18S + 28S rRNA Bayesian tree (BI) as inferred from the phylogenetic analysis showed poorly resolved relationships among the species of Bolbosoma. In contrast, the combined 18S + 28S + mtDNA cox1 BI tree topology showed that the present sequences clustered with the species of Bolbosoma in a well-supported clade. The comparison of cox1 and 18S sequences revealed that the present specimens are conspecific with the cystacanths of B. balaenae previously collected in the euphausiid Nyctiphanes couchii from the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean. This study provided taxonomic, molecular and phylogenetic data that allow for a better characterization of this poor known parasite.

First study on PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and trace elements in the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from southern Italy.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and non dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (ndl-PCBs), or also other toxic and potentially toxic elements tend to accumulate in the trophic web, and are associated with a wide range of deleterious effects in animals and humans. Although these contaminants have been banned since more than 30 years, their occurrence remains widespread in most of natural ecosystems. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), being a top predator may cumulate large amounts of these contaminants, and could represent a keystone species serving as sentinel of ecosystem health in freshwater environments. The aim of this paper was to investigate the concentration of OCPs, ndl-PCBs, and essential and not essential elements in tissue samples of Eurasian otter in southern Italy. Six PCBs, seven OCPs, and thirteen trace elements were detected with high concentrations in few cases, however in general, the amounts of toxic compounds seem unlikely to hazard short-term conservation of this endangered mammal. The present paper is the first to provide baseline information concerning the presence of these substances in the Eurasian otter samples and from its fragile ecosystem in Italy.

Massive Taenia hydatigena Cysticercosis in a Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Italy.

PURPOSE: Taenia hydatigena cysticercosis, due to Cysticercus tenuicollis, is a parasitic disease infecting domestic and wild animals worldwide causing economic and productive losses. Nonetheless, little attention has been paid to the role of the wild ungulates in the epidemiology of this disease. In the last years, the increasing population of wild boars in Europe has raised the attention of researchers on their role in the spreading of several infections, including those caused by cestodes. Herein, we report the description of a massive infection due to T. hydatigena cysticercosis in a wild boar from southern Italy. METHODS: An adult female boar was examined during the hunting season 2018 within the regional project "Piano Emergenza Cinghiali in Campania". A complete necropsy was performed on the boar carcass and all viscera were examined to determine number and location of the cysts. Morphological and molecular analyses of the cysts were performed to confirm the C. tenuicollis identity. RESULTS: The boar examined has revealed an impressive massive infection with 265 cysts. Measurements of the large and small larval hooks showed a mean of length as 200.3 µm and 136.8 µm, respectively. Molecular analysis of Cox1 and ND1 mitochondrial genes confirmed the C. tenuicollis identity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that wild boar could be involved in the epidemiology of T. hydatigena, due to the significant amount of boar raw offal available to definitive hosts (i.e., hunting dogs, foxes and wolves), during the hunting seasons.

Cystic echinococcosis in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from southern Italy: Epidemiological survey and molecular characterization.

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) is one of the most important parasitic zoonotic diseases in the world and it represents an important public health and socio-economic concern. In the Mediterranean basin, CE is widespread and it is endemic in Italy, with major prevalence in southern areas. Several studies have investigated CE in domestic pigs, however, such data in wild boars are scant. In the last decades the wild boar population in Italy has increased and this ungulate could play an important role in the spreading of CE in the wild. Here we report on the prevalence and fertility rate of hydatid cysts in wild boars that were shot during two hunting seasons (2016-2017) in the Campania region of southern Italy. For each animal, a detailed inspection of the carcass and organs (lungs, liver and spleen) was performed and when cysts were found, their number, morphology and fertility were determined by visual and microscopic examination. Cysts were classified morphologically as fertile, sterile, caseous and calcified. Protoscoleces and germinal layers were collected from individual cysts and DNA was extracted to identify different strains/genotypes of E. granulosus s.l. Out of a total of 2108 wild boars 93 (4.4%) were found positive for CE. Infected animals were 45 males and 48 females, aged between 1 and 8 years. The average number of cysts per wild boar was 1.3 (min 1 - max 13). The total number of cysts collected was 123, of which 118 (95.9%) in the liver, 4 (3.3%) in the lungs and 1 (0.8%) in the spleen. Of all analyzed cysts, 70 (56.9%) were fertile and 53 (43.1%) sterile/acephalous. The presence of fertile cysts in 19.4% of CE-positive animals is noteworthy. Overall, molecular diagnosis showed 19 wild boars infected with the pig strain (G7).

Occurrence of Rhabditid Nematodes in the Pet Giant African Land Snails (Achatina fulica).

Gastropods comprise nearly 60,000 species of aquatic as well as terrestrial mollusks, primarily snails and slugs. The giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) is one of the most popular pet snails worldwide. This gastropod mollusk is known as the intermediate host of several parasites that cause severe diseases in pets, free-ranging vertebrates, and humans. The aim of this survey was to investigate the occurrence of parasites in giant African land snails kept as pets in southern Italy. Fresh fecal samples were collected from a total of 60 giant African land snails kept in three private collections in Campania region (Italy). In addition, microscopic analysis of mucus and histological examination of biopsy samples from the foot muscle of 30 individual snails were performed. Coprological examination revealed the presence of rhabditid nematodes identified by both morphological and molecular assessment as Rhabditella axei in two out of three examined samples, and Rhabditis terricola, Cruznema sp., and Pristionchus entomophagus in one coprological sample. No parasites were detected in the muscle biopsy samples, or in the mucus. Due to the potential harm of rhabditid nematodes, their presence in giant African land snails potentially in contact with both pets and humans should not be disregarded.

Outcomes after non-cardiac surgery: mortality, complications, disability, and rehospitalization.

In the last 25 years, the number of patients aged ≥75 years undergoing non-cardiac surgery has greatly increased. In elderly patients, frailty is significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse events, functional decline, procedural complications, prolonged hospitalization, and mortality. The relationship between frailty and increased mortality and morbidity requires an appropriate tool of assessment to accurately quantify the patient's clinical and perioperative conditions. The preoperative evaluation of elderly patients candidate for non-cardiac surgery should include assessment of frailty, sarcopenia and malnutrition, as these are related to high surgical risk. For colon-rectal surgery as also for gastric cancer surgery, especially early gastric cancer, the introduction of laparoscopy has yielded considerable benefits in terms of short-term postsurgical outcomes, e.g. lower rate of intraprocedural bleeding and reduced length of hospital stay. Despite the progress made in preoperative assessment, surgical procedures and postoperative management, the improvement of outcomes after non-cardiac surgery in elderly patients remains a challenge and calls for future, well-designed clinical studies.

Evolution of surgical techniques for a progressive risk reduction.

Advanced age is a strong predictor of high perioperative mortality in surgical patients and patients aged 75 years and older have an elevated surgical risk, much higher than that of younger patients. Progressive advances in surgical techniques now make it possible to treat high-risk surgical patients with minimally invasive procedures. Endovascular techniques have revolutionized the treatment of several vascular diseases, in particular carotid stenosis, aortic pathologies, and severely incapacitating intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia. The main advantages of the endovascular approach are the low complication rate, high rate of technical success and a good clinical outcome. Biliary stenting has improved the clinical status of severely ill patients with bile duct stricture before major surgery, and represents a good palliative therapy in the case of malignant biliary obstruction.

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) as a potential host for rickettsial pathogens in southern Italy.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and rickettsiosis are zoonotic tick-borne diseases of canids caused by the intracellular obligate bacteria Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia species respectively. In this study, we investigated using standard and real-time PCR and sequencing, the occurrence and molecular characterization of E. canis and Rickettsia species in the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from the southern Italian population. Samples were screened by using molecular assays also for Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Clamydophyla spp., Coxiella burnetii, Leishmania spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia spp. detection, and helminths were studied by traditional methods. Out of six carcasses tested, three were positive for E. canis and co-infection with Rickettsia sp. occurred in one of those. Sequences of the 16S rRNA E. canis gene were identical to each other but differed from most of those previously found in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and wolves (Canis lupus) from southern Italy. Helminths included just cystacanths of Sphaerirostris spp. from the intestine of two Eurasian otters and the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum from the lungs of a single Eurasian otter. None of the samples was positive for the other investigated selected pathogens. This study is the first report on the evidence of infection by rickettsial pathogens in the Eurasian otter. The present result prompts some inquiries into the pathogenic role of those bacteria for the isolated sub-populations of the endangered Eurasian otter in southern Italy.

Laparoscopic hepatectomy for HCC in elderly patients: risks and feasibility.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) appears to be safe and effective as open liver resection (OLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, studies comparing LLR with ORL in elderly patients are limited. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes of LLR versus OLR for HCC in elderly patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made comparing laparoscopic (n = 11) and open (n = 18) liver resections in elderly patients performed at the University of Naples "Federico II" between January 2010 and December 2014. Demographic data, operative and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Demographic and tumor characteristics of laparoscopic and OLRs were similar. There were also no significant differences in operating room time. Patients undergoing OLR had increased rate of minor complications (33 vs. 0%), longer lengths of stay (6 vs. 3 days) and higher blood loss (310 ± 84 vs. 198 ± 34 ml). There were no significant differences in major complication rates or 90-day mortality. DISCUSSION: LLR is safe and feasible as OLR for treatment of HCC in selected elderly patients.

A unique association of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and acute myocarditis, as assessed by cardiac MRI: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), is a genetic disorder of the heart, which mainly involves the right ventricle. It is characterized by hypokinetic areas at the free wall of the right ventricle (RV) or both ventricles, where myocardium is replaced by fibrous or fatty tissue. ARVD is an important cause of ventricular arrhythmias in children and young adults. Although the transmission of the disease is based on hereditary, in young adults it may not show any symptoms. The main differential diagnoses with other frequent etiological causes of sudden arrhythmia are: idiopathic outflow tract ventricular tachycardia of the RV, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy and sarcoidosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe an unusual case of a 44-year-old woman who was hospitalized for ventricular tachycardia, deep asthenia and dyspnoea with no previous history of cardiac disease. The patient had a ten-year history of palpitations, which started immediately after her last pregnancy. She was diagnosed with both acute/subacute viral myocarditis and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, based on established clinical and cardiac MRI criteria. After the diagnosis the patient received an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Currently, she is on clinical follow-up with no apparent further complications. CONCLUSION: Analyzing this rare case, we have shown the link between myocarditis and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, and how important is to perform a cardiac MRI, in the context of acute myocarditis and ventricular arrhythmia.

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in southern Italy.

Angiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) infection was detected at post-mortem examination in the pulmonary arteries and hearts of 34/102 (33,3%) of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the Campania Region in southern Italy. Pathological changes consisted of granulomatous interstitial pneumonia caused by larvae and intravascular pulmonary adult nematodes. These changes confirm that angiostrongylosis infection in red foxes has a mainly chronic course, in which the infected host may disperse parasite larvae in the environment over its lifetime. Results suggest that the life cycle of A. vasorum is well established in the red fox in the Campania Region representing a potential infection risk for dogs.

Fatal Paratanaisia bragai (Digenea: Eucotylidae) infection in scarlet macaws (Ara macao) in Costa Rica.

We report on four fatal cases of renal infection due to Paratanaisia bragai in scarlet macaws (Ara macao) from two rescue centres in Costa Rica. At necropsy, birds had severe dehydration and cachexia. Two birds had hydropericardium, oedematous lungs, and liver lipidic degeneration. All birds had enlarged kidneys with brown pale discoloration and diffuse white spots on the cortical and sliced surfaces. Ureters were filled with many specimens of P. bragai. Histopathologically, the urinary system revealed multifocal interstitial lymphocytic-plasmacytic nephritis, multifocal mineralization of renal tubules, and interstitial fibrosis associated with flukes. Death of all scarlet macaws was related to severe nephritis leading to chronic renal failure due to P. bragai infection. It is plausible that P. bragai infection of scarlet macaws was accidental due to ingestion of the gastropod intermediate host inside the cages during the rainy season when humidity is higher and gastropods are more active. This represents the second report of parasitism by Eucotylidae digeneans in birds of Psittaciformes and the first in scarlet macaws.

A new strategy to estimate levothyroxine requirement after total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND: The current approach for calculating the starting dose of levothyroxine (LT4) after total thyroidectomy is based on the patient's body weight (BW). The aim of the study was to identify the major predictive factors of LT4 requirement and to elaborate a new method to improve the accuracy of the LT4 starting dose after total thyroidectomy. METHODS: The study consists of two parts. The first part consisted of the retrospective identification of 92 adult patients (retrospective cohort) who had undergone a total thyroidectomy for benign disease and who had begun LT4 treatment at a dose of 1.6 µg/kg/day. Adjustments to optimize the LT4 dose were then performed at the post-surgery follow-up on the basis of serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels. The results of this retrospective analysis were used to formulate a nomogram for a proper calculation of the LT4 starting dose that was then used prospectively in the second part of the study on 31 consecutive patients (prospective cohort). RESULTS: At the first follow-up, 37 (40%) patients from the retrospective cohort were euthyroid. Univariate analysis indicated significant correlations between the optimal dose of LT4 and BW, body mass index (BMI), age, preoperative mean corpuscular volume, and free triiodothyronine (fT3). The optimal dose of LT4, analyzed for BMI and age, showed an inverse relationship with these two parameters, and ranged from 1.4 to 1.8 µg/kg/day. In the prospective cohort, the use of an age- and BMI-related nomogram improved the prediction of the optimal LT4 starting dose, with 68% of patients being euthyroid at the first follow-up compared to 41% of patients reported to have reached euthyroid state using the best strategy proposed in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that BW is not the only variable for predicting LT4 requirement, as it decreases with the increase in age and BMI, probably due to the relative decrease of lean body mass. A new correlation between optimal dose and presurgical levels of fT3 and mean corpuscular volume was observed. We propose an easy and more efficient method of calculating LT4 starting dose after total thyroidectomy for benign disease.

Lifestyle-related risk factors, smoking status and cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease represents one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in highly developed countries and is known to be associated with some lifestyle-related risk factors (e.g. alcohol consumption, smoking status, diet, physical activity, bodyweight). There is still incomplete information about their combined effect on cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients with optimal pharmacological blood pressure control. AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of some lifestyle behaviours, using a specific questionnaire, with development of cardiovascular disease in treated hypertensive patients. METHODS: 617 hypertensive, non-diabetic participants (aged 53.1 ± 7.6 years, 44.9% male; mean age 53.1 ± 7.6 years) free of prevalent cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver cirrhosis and/or failure, chronic kidney disease more than grade 3 (glomerular filtration rate by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) were analysed. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined when left ventricular mass index was >51 g/m2. Carotid artery atherosclerosis was assessed as an increased intima medial thickness (IMT) by B-mode ultrasonography. IMT values between 0.9 and 1.3 mm were defined as 'thickening' and those >1.3 mm as 'plaque'. Assessment of smoking status, dietary and non-dietary factors was established by administration of a specific questionnaire. RESULTS: In the initial population of examined patients, 288 were smokers and 329 were non-smokers. At baseline, the patients belonging to smoking group were less often overweight than those belonging to the non-smoking group, showing a lower initial body mass index (BMI) [27.54 ± 4.0 vs 28.28 ± 4.3; p < 0.029], lower plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) [48.14 ± 12.6 vs 51.39 ± 14.1 mg/dL; p < 0.006] and were more often affected by carotid artery atherosclerosis (93.9 % vs 86.1%; p < 0.002) than non-smoking patients. When analysed for dietary and other lifestyle-related risk factors, we found a higher prevalence of carotid atherosclerotic disease in patients consuming less than two meals per day than in those consuming more than two meals per day (96.6% vs 85.7%; p < 0.001), without any significant difference in the mean number of medications taken and in specific classes of medications. Total amount of cigarettes smoked, calculated as packs per year (39.14 ± 16.5 vs 20.81 ± 13.6; p < 0.0001) was higher in patients with a diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease of the carotid artery than in patients free of this disorder, whereas the average age at which people began smoking was lower (17.58 ± 6.3 vs 21.53 ± 10.2 years). In a binary model of logistic regression adjusted for BMI, HDL-C, smoking status and number of daily meals, only smoking status was confirmed to be strongly correlated to clinical evidence of carotid atherosclerosis (p < 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients, in optimal blood pressure control, smoking status has been shown to be independently associated with an increased maximum arterial IMT (IMTmax). In particular, an increase of the IMT was associated with the total amount of cigarettes smoked (calculated as packs per year) and the average age at which people began smoking.

Emergency care necessity for sickle cell disease patients at Rio de Janeiro State Coordinating Blood Bank

Hemoglobinopathies, in particular sickle cell disease, is the most prevalent group of genetically transmitted diseases in the Brazilian population and should thus be treated as a public health problem. Many of these patients frequently present with complications and require emergency care at the blood bank Coordinator in Rio de Janeiro. This study was developed with the aim of characterizing the emergency assistance required by sickle cell disease patients registered in the blood bank from January 2007 to December 2008. A retrospective study of medical records was made of 78, mostly children, patients from the date of their registration until December 2009. Most attendances (63.7 percent) were not considered emergency care. The use of specialized services for cases that do not require this level of complexity may saturate the capacity of these centers. However, delay of intervention for complications due to the transportation of patients to specialist centers may lead to deterioration in the clinical condition.

Molecular identification and pathology of Anisakis pegreffii (Nematoda: Anisakidae) infection in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta).

Nematodes of genus Anisakis spp. parasitize a wide range of marine hosts with marine mammals (mainly cetaceans) serving as definitive hosts, while fish, squid and other invertebrates serve as paratenic or intermediate hosts. Sea turtles can act as accidental or paratenic hosts for Anisakis spp. larvae, harbouring third-stage larvae unable to complete their life cycle in an ectothermic vertebrate. Post-mortem examination of 96 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the Italian coast of the Mediterranean Sea showed infection by Anisakis larvae Type I from 4 of 6 locations that were identified as belonging to Anisakis pegreffii by sequence analyses of the mtDNA cox2. Thirteen turtles (11 males and 2 females) were infected with A. pegreffii. Larvae were detected through gross necroscopy from 7 turtles, while in other 6 positive loggerhead sea turtles A. pegreffii larvae were revealed by histopathology. Pathological changes associated with A. pegreffii larvae in the stomach and intestine included necrosis and granulomatous response compatible with larvae migration. The role of the loggerhead sea turtle as an accidental host in the life cycle of this nematode is also discussed. This study is the first description of pathological changes associated with A. pegreffii in a sea turtle.