A multidisciplinary approach to estimating wolf population size for long-term conservation.

The wolf (Canis lupus) is among the most controversial of wildlife species. Abundance estimates are required to inform public debate and policy decisions, but obtaining them at biologically relevant scales is challenging. We developed a system for comprehensive population estimation across the Italian alpine region (100,000 km2 ), involving 1513 trained operators representing 160 institutions. This extensive network allowed for coordinated genetic sample collection and landscape-level spatial capture-recapture analyses that transcended administrative boundaries to produce the first estimates of key parameters for wolf population status assessment. Wolf abundance was estimated at 952 individuals (95% credible interval 816-1120) and 135 reproductive units (i.e., packs) (95% credible interval 112-165). We also estimated that mature individuals accounted for 33-45% of the entire population. The monitoring effort was spatially estimated thereby overcoming an important limitation of citizen science data. This is an important approach for promoting wolf-human coexistence based on wolf abundance monitoring and an endorsement of large-scale harmonized conservation practices.

Una estrategia multidisciplinaria para la estimación del tamaño poblacional de los lobos para la conservación a largo plazo Resumen El lobo (Canis lupus) está entre las especies de fauna más controversiales. Se requieren estimaciones de abundancia para informar al debate público y las decisiones políticas, pero es un reto obtenerlos en escalas con relevancia biológica. Desarrollamos un sistema para la estimación completa de la población en la región alpina de Italia (100,000 km2 ), con la participación de 1,513 operadores entrenados que representan a 160 instituciones. Esta red extensa permitió una colecta coordinada de muestras genéticas y análisis de captura-recaptura espacial que trascendieron las fronteras administrativas para así producir las primeras estimaciones de los parámetros clave para la evaluación del estado de la población de los lobos. Se estimó la abundancia en 952 individuos (95% intervalo de confianza 816-1120) y 135 unidades reproductivas (es decir, manadas) (95% intervalo de confianza 112-165). También estimamos que los individuos maduros representaban el 33-45% de toda la población. El esfuerzo de monitoreo se estimó espacialmente, por lo que sobrepasó una limitación importante de la ciencia ciudadana. Esta estrategia es importante para promover la coexistencia entre lobos y humanos con base en el monitoreo de la abundancia y el apoyo a las prácticas armonizadas de conservación a gran escala.

Haemoparasites in red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa): first record of Haemoproteus sp. in Italy?

During a health survey in the Province of Alessandria (NW Italy) 267 free ranging red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa; 137 males and 130 females) were captured in 2009 (n = 101), 2010 (n = 130) and 2011 (n = 36). After biometric data and blood samples collection, animals were released on site. Blood samples were used for the preparation of blood smears. A total of 1.5% of smears presented parasites with a light blue finely granular cytoplasm in red blood cells. The parasites were identified, on the basis of their morphology (no molecular identification was possible), as being Haemoproteus sp. juvenile forms. The infestation prevalence was 0.8% in 2010 and 8.3% in 2011. No parasite was observed in 2009. The size of the infested erythrocytes was not altered (P > 0.05) and the nuclear displacement ratio was 0.8 ± 0.2. All the birds were apparently in good health status. To our knowledge this is the first description of Haemoproteus sp. in red-legged partridge, and more in general in birds belonging to Galliformes Order in Italy.

First report of Obeliscoides cuniculi in European brown hare (Lepus europaeus).

Obeliscoides cuniculi is a New World nematode parasite of the Trichostrongilidae family infecting the gastric tract of different domestic and wild Lagomorph species. This parasite is reported for the first time from a European brown hare (Lepus europaeus). The nematodes isolated from the gastro-intestinal tract were identified using the primary characteristics used to differentiate the species of this genus as adults morphology (length and thickness) and other characteristics of spicules, cervical papillae, cuticular ridges and striations. In the Italian study area, the European brown hare lives in sympatry with the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), species in which the nematode was previously isolated; therefore, the possibility of a cross-infestation must be considered.

Use of western blot to study Microsporum canis antigenic proteins in canine dermatophytosis.

Western blotting was used to describe the Microsporum canis proteins with antigenic activity in dogs with dermatophytosis. Electrophoretic separation of whole fungal strain extract cultured from a cat was performed under denaturing conditions. The proteins were blotted onto nitrocellulose and probed with sera collected from 22 dogs with dermatophytosis (18 M. canis, 3 M. gypseum, 1 Trichophyton mentagrophytes; group A), 20 dogs with skin diseases other than dermatophytosis, and 22 dogs with no clinical cutaneous signs (group B, n = 42). Nine principal IgG-binding proteins with apparent molecular weights of 180, 144, 130, 120, 102, 96, 80, 68, and 48 kD were visualised on group A blots. For these proteins, serological cross-reactivity with different strains of M. canis may be indirectly confirmed, whereas additional proteins were found to react with sera from individual dogs. The proteins visualised in this study may represent diagnostic markers of dermatophyte infection. The proteins should be further evaluated for their role in the cellular immune response of dogs with dermatophytosis.

Prevalence of cryptosporidian infection in cats in Turin and analysis of risk factors.

An epidemiological study was carried out to identify factors associated with the risk of cryptosporidian infection in cats. Faecal samples from 200 domestic cats were collected in the small animal clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Turin (north-west Italy). The faecal samples were analysed for the presence of Cryptosporidium species oocysts using a centrifugation concentration floatation method. For each cat, age, sex, breed, indoor/outdoor status, diet, diarrhoea and presence of other enteric parasites were analysed for association with Cryptosporidium species infection. Cryptosporidia oocysts were identified in 49 cats (24.5%) aged from 2 months to 18 years. Statistical analysis revealed that four variables are significantly associated with an increased risk of infection: less than 1 year of age (chi(2)=6.5, P=0.01), feeding home-cooked diet (chi(2)=6.92, P<0.01), presence of diarrhoea (chi(2)=4.34, P<0.037), and presence of other enteric parasites (chi(2)=10.31, P<0.01). No statistical differences were found for sex (chi(2)=1.56, P=0.21), breed (chi(2)=0.78, P=0.38) and outdoor/indoor status (chi(2)=1.49, P=0.22). Cryptosporidium species was the parasite most frequently detected in the cats surveyed.

Biotin-avidin amplified ELISA for detection of antibodies to Sarcoptes scabiei in chamois (Rupicapra spp.).

Scabies is a major threat to the well being of mountain-dwelling Bovid hosts, Rupicapra rupicapra and Rupicapra pyrenaica. Severe outbreaks are in progress over a significant part of their distribution area and resource managers demand improved methods to monitor, analyse and possibly forecast the spread and effects of scabies at the population level. An amplified capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect antibodies to Sarcoptes scabiei in chamois (Rupicapra spp.) serum. The method used the biotin-avidin amplification system and was validated on a panel of 144 serum samples, of which 40 were obtained from scabietic and 104 from healthy unexposed individuals originating from a scabies-free area. The antigen, a whole body extract of the various developmental stages of S. scabiei, was prepared from mites actively leaving the skin lesions of naturally infested red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). The resulting LAB-ELISA was characterised by 93% sensitivity, 97% specificity and a high degree of repeatibility. A single seroreactor was found amongst 32 chamois affected with skin pathologies other than scabies, including infestations by other Acarina (Trombicula spp. and Ixodid ticks). Antibodies to S. scabiei were present in 26 out of 169 sera (15.4%) obtained by clinically healthy chamois within a scabies outbreak area, indicating that asymptomatic infestations by S. scabiei can be revealed by serological methods in the studied Caprinae hosts.