Epidemiological update of cystic echinococcosis in livestock and assessment of practices related to its control in the Mediterranean area.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic parasitic disease that still represents a serious threat to human and animal health worldwide. The Mediterranean basin is recognized as one of the major hotspots of CE due to several factors, including the presence of diverse intermediate host species as well as socio-economic and cultural conditions of local communities. This study aims to take a closer look at epidemiological data on CE in the Mediterranean area and assess the knowledge attitudes and practices of shepherds towards this disease in four countries (Algeria, Greece, Italy and Tunisia), highly endemic for CE, with the final goal of identifying highly endemic risk areas and practices in use which might potentially allow the persistence of E. granulosus infection in these areas. To update the epidemiological scenario of CE in Mediterranean areas, a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature on CE prevalence data published during the 2017-2023 period was carried out and, through a geographical information system (GIS), a map displaying the current CE distribution in the Mediterranean area was generated. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted through in-depth interviews of the farmers to collect information on their management system as well as knowledge attitudes and practices towards CE. From the farmer-participatory survey some risky practices emerged including the non-regular deworming of dogs or the use of ineffective drugs or dosing, as well as the provision of uncooked animal viscera to dogs. Finally, lower levels of knowledge and awareness of the disease was observed among farmers from North Africa compared with those of European countries. In conclusion, the results obtained highlight that CE is still a very serious problem in Mediterranean areas and increased efforts are needed to promote awareness among farmers and to turn research results into policy in order to reduce the spread of this disease, according to the One Health perspective.

Ultrasound-Guided Centrally Inserted Central Catheter (CICC) Placement in Newborns: A Safe Clinical Training Program in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Centrally inserted central catheters (CICCs) are increasingly used in neonatal care. CICCs have garnered attention and adoption owing to their advantageous features. Therefore, achieving clinical competence in ultrasound-guided CICC insertion in term and preterm infants is of paramount importance for neonatologists. A safe clinical training program should include theoretical teaching and clinical practice, simulation and supervised CICC insertions. METHODS: We planned a training program for neonatologists for ultrasound-guided CICCs placement at our level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Modena, Italy. In this single-centre prospective observational study, we present the preliminary results of a 12-month training period. Two paediatric anaesthesiologists participated as trainers, and a multidisciplinary team was established for continuing education, consisting of neonatologists, nurses, and anaesthesiologists. We detail the features of our training program and present the modalities of CICC placement in newborns. RESULTS: The success rate of procedures was 100%. In 80.5% of cases, the insertion was obtained at the first ultrasound-guided venipuncture. No procedure-related complications occurred in neonates (median gestational age 36 weeks, IQR 26-40; median birth weight 1200 g, IQR 622-2930). Three of the six neonatologists (50%) who participated in the clinical training program have achieved good clinical competence. One of them has acquired the necessary skills to in turn supervise other colleagues. CONCLUSIONS: Our ongoing clinical training program was safe and effective. Conducting the program within the NICU contributes to the implementation of medical and nursing skills of the entire staff.

Baiting not-owned dogs against Echinococcus granulosus: innovative tools for integrated control.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is one of the most widespread zoonoses in Mediterranean countries. Baiting not-owned dogs with praziquantel (PZQ), due to their key role in the maintaining the transmission of CE, currently appears to be the most effective way to limit the transmission of CE, as well as an important aspect to introduce for the control of this parasitic disease. Therefore, this study aims to test 3 types of PZQ-based baits by evaluating different parameters (integrity over time, attractiveness and palatability for dogs, and mechanical resistance after release to different altitudes) and the bait acceptance in field by target animals, i.e. not-owned dogs, by using camera traps. The double PZQ-laced baits (with a double layer of highly palatable chews) showed the greatest resistance in the environment while also preserving the attractiveness and palatability up to 10 days, also withstood heights of 25 m, thus resulting as the most suitable also for drone delivery. The results on the field showed that most of the baits were consumed by not-owned dogs (82.2%), while the remaining were consumed by wild boars (8.9%), foxes (6.7%), badgers (1.1%) and hedgehogs (1.1%), confirming the specific and high attractiveness of the double PZQ-laced baits for the target population and highlights how an anthelmintic baiting programme may be a viable tool for the management of E. granulosus among free-ranging dog populations in endemic rural areas.

An innovative strategy for deworming dogs in Mediterranean areas highly endemic for cystic echinococcosis.

BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a zoonotic parasitic disease of economic and public health importance worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean area. Canids are the main definitive hosts of the adult cestode contaminating the environment with parasite eggs released with feces. In rural and peri-urban areas, the risk of transmission to livestock as well as humans is high because of the free-roaming behavior of owned/not owned dogs. Collecting data on animal movements and behavior using GPS dataloggers could be a milestone to contain the spread of this parasitosis. Thus, this study aims to develop a comprehensive control strategy, focused on deworming a dog population in a pilot area of southern Italy (Campania region) highly endemic for CE. METHODS: Accordingly, five sheep farms, tested to be positive for CE, were selected. In each sheep farm, all shepherd dogs present were treated every 2 months with praziquantel. Furthermore, 15 GPS dataloggers were applied to sheep and dogs, and their movements were tracked for 1 month; the distances that they traveled and their respective home ranges were determined using minimum convex polygon (MCP) analysis with a convex hull geometry as output. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean daily walking distances traveled by sheep and dogs did not significantly differ. Over 90% of the point locations collected by GPS fell within 1500 mt of the farm, and the longest distances were traveled between 10:00 and 17:00. In all the sheep farms monitored, the area traversed by the animals during their daily activities showed an extension of < 250 hectares. Based on the home range of the animals, the area with the highest risk of access from canids (minimum safe convex polygon) was estimated around the centroid of each farm, and a potential scheme for the delivery of praziquantel-laced baits for the treatment of not owned dogs gravitating around the grazing area was designed. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the usefulness of geospatial technology in supporting parasite control strategies to reduce disease transmission.

Downregulation of praja2 restrains endocytosis and boosts tyrosine kinase receptors in kidney cancer.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer in the adult population. Late diagnosis, resistance to therapeutics and recurrence of metastatic lesions account for the highest mortality rate among kidney cancer patients. Identifying novel biomarkers for early cancer detection and elucidating the mechanisms underlying ccRCC will provide clues to treat this aggressive malignant tumor. Here, we report that the ubiquitin ligase praja2 forms a complex with-and ubiquitylates the AP2 adapter complex, contributing to receptor endocytosis and clearance. In human RCC tissues and cells, downregulation of praja2 by oncogenic miRNAs (oncomiRs) and the proteasome markedly impairs endocytosis and clearance of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and amplifies downstream mitogenic and proliferative signaling. Restoring praja2 levels in RCC cells downregulates EGFR, rewires cancer cell metabolism and ultimately inhibits tumor cell growth and metastasis. Accordingly, genetic ablation of praja2 in mice upregulates RTKs (i.e. EGFR and VEGFR) and induces epithelial and vascular alterations in the kidney tissue.In summary, our findings identify a regulatory loop between oncomiRs and the ubiquitin proteasome system that finely controls RTKs endocytosis and clearance, positively impacting mitogenic signaling and kidney cancer growth.

Effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum) anthelmintic treatment on milk production in dairy sheep naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

Anthelmintic drug resistance has proliferated across Europe in sheep gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). Sheep welfare and health are adversely impacted by these phenomena, which also have an impact on productivity. Finding alternatives for controlling GINs in sheep is thus of utmost importance. In this study, the anthelmintic effectiveness (AE) of a Calabrian ethnoveterinary aqueous macerate based on Punica granatum (whole fruits) was assessed in Comisana pregnant sheep. Furthermore, an examination, both qualitative and quantitative, was conducted on milk. Forty-five sheep were selected for the investigation. The sheep were divided by age, weight, physiological state (pluripara at 20 days before parturition), and eggs per gram of feces (EPG) into three homogeneous groups of 15 animals each: PG received a single oral dosage of P. granatum macerate at a rate of 50 mL per sheep; AG, treated with albendazole, was administered orally at 3.75 mg/kg/bw; and CG received no treatment. Timelines were as follows: D0, treatments, group assignment, fecal sampling, and AE assessment; D7, D14, D21, fecal sampling, and AE evaluation. The FLOTAC technique was used to evaluate the individual GIN fecal egg count (FEC) using a sodium chloride flotation solution (specific gravity = 1.20) and 100 × (1-[T2/C2]) as the formula for evaluating FEC reduction. Following the lambs' weaning, milk was collected on the following days (DL) in order to quantify production: DL35, DL42, DL49, DL56, DL63, DL70, DL77, and DL84. The amount of milk produced by every animal was measured and reported in milliliters (ml) for quantitative evaluations. Using MilkoScan TM fT + foss electric, Denmark, the quality of the milk (casein, lactose, protein concentration, and fat, expressed as a percentage) was assessed. The macerate demonstrated a considerable AE (51.8%). Moreover, its use has resulted in higher milk production rates quantitatively (15.5%) and qualitatively (5.12% protein, 4.12% casein, 4.21% lactose, and 8.18% fat). The study showed that green veterinary pharmacology could be the easiest future approach to counteracting anthelmintic resistance in sheep husbandry.

Metabolic rewiring and autophagy inhibition correct lysosomal storage disease in mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB.

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are lysosomal disorders with neurological involvement for which no cure exists. Here, we show that recombinant NK1 fragment of hepatocyte growth factor rescues substrate accumulation and lysosomal defects in MPS I, IIIA and IIIB patient fibroblasts. We investigated PI3K/Akt pathway, which is of crucial importance for neuronal function and survival, and demonstrate that PI3K inhibition abolishes NK1 therapeutic effects. We identified that autophagy inhibition, by Beclin1 silencing, reduces MPS IIIB phenotype and that NK1 downregulates autophagic-lysosome (ALP) gene expression, suggesting a possible contribution of autophagosome biogenesis in MPS. Indeed, metabolomic analyses revealed defects of mitochondrial activity accompanied by anaerobic metabolism and inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which acts on metabolism and autophagy, rescues lysosomal defects. These results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of MPS IIIB physiopathology, supporting the development of new promising approaches based on autophagy inhibition and metabolic rewiring to correct lysosomal pathology in MPSs.

In vitro evaluation of the immunomodulatory activity of the nutraceutical formulation AminoDefence.

Immune system (IS) functionality is warranted by inter-dependent processes that balance body defences without exceeding in inflammation. An ideal nutraceutical approach should sustain the protective IS activity while controlling inflammation. The potential immunomodulatory activity of the food supplement (FS) AminoDefence was studied in resting macrophages RAW264.7 and following stimulation of bacterial- and viral-associated inflammation trough LPS and PolyI:C treatments, respectively. In unstimulated macrophages, the formulation exerted a dose-dependent immunostimulant activity by up-regulating NO, IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1 release, while it dampened the aberrant release of these factors induced by pro-inflammatory stimuli. Exploring the contribution of single components Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea) extract and quercetin, used at proportional concentrations than in whole formulation, a more pronounced immunostimulant effect was observed for E. purpurea, and an anti-inflammatory activity for quercetin. Hence, AminoDefence exerts an immunomodulatory activity in macrophages by effectively stimulating a protective inflammatory response and limiting it in cases of excessive inflammation.

Parasitological transitions: selected outcomes from the XXXII Congress of the Italian Society for Parasitology.

Founded in 1959, the Italian Society of Parasitology (SoIPa) includes nearly 200 researchers and professionals in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, epidemiology and environmental sciences. The diversity of its members, in a historical and continuous collaboration with other international scientific societies, embodies a broad and multidisciplinary field such as parasitology. Since 1959, SoIPa has organized a biennial congress, covering all aspects of general parasitology with participants from all over Italy, Europe and beyond, involved in a dynamic and multi-faceted scientific framework of contributions and symposia. The present Special Issue (SI) contains 6 review papers and 1 research article, focussed on emerging topics presented and discussed during some of the symposia organized within the XXXII SoIPa Congress, held in Naples from 27th June to 30th June 2022. These review papers reflect several emerging subjects (i.e. 'Italian network on Neglected Tropical Diseases', 'Wildlife parasites and citizen science', 'Comparing approaches to parasitological issues', 'Unusual perspectives on the role of parasites') with the aim to explore the new role that parasitologists can play in the future society, working together to promote dialogue on science-informed decisions to support the so-called 'twin green and digital transition'.

Epidemiological and molecular updates on hookworm species in dogs from southern Italy.

BACKGROUND: The zoonotic hookworms Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala are widespread soil-transmitted helminths in dogs in Europe. Given the veterinary and public health importance of hookworms in dogs and the recent changes in the molecular epidemiology of some species, there is a need to continuously monitor the epidemiological and molecular prevalence of these parasites also at the "local" level. The present study aimed to update the epidemiological scenario of hookworm infections in both owned and stray dogs in southern Italy and to discriminate between different hookworm species (A. caninum and U. stenocephala) through molecular analyses. For this purpose, a retrospective analysis was performed over 10 years (2011-2021), including a total of 7008 owned dogs and 5642 stray dogs referred to our laboratory for copromicroscopic examinations. Moreover, 72 faecal samples, from dogs naturally infected by hookworms, were used to discriminate between A. caninum and U. stenocephala using two PCR protocols. Prior to molecular analyses, a subsample of 40/72 positive faecal samples was used for morphometric investigations on hookworm eggs. RESULTS: The results of the ten-year retrospective analysis (2011-2021) showed an overall prevalence of hookworm infection of 9.16%, specifically 5.1% in owned dogs and 14.2% in stray dogs. Logistic regression showed a significant association between positivity to hookworms and the variable "puppies" both in stray (13.84%; OR = 2.4) and owned (7.07%; OR = 2.2) dogs. The results of molecular analyses showed that positivity was confirmed only in 21/72 samples, specifically, 6 samples using protocol A and 19 with protocol B. Sequencing revealed 15 samples positive to U. stenocephala and 6 to A. caninum. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study showed a high prevalence of hookworm infections in dogs in southern Italy, updating the epidemiological scenario of the last decade. Moreover, the results of the study revealed the first identification of hookworm species in dogs in Italy by molecular studies, highlighting that U. stenocephala is more prevalent than A. caninum.

Infiltrating macrophages amplify doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage: role of catecholamines.

BACKGROUND: The functional contribution of non-myocyte cardiac cells, such as inflammatory cells, in the setup of heart failure in response to doxorubicin (Dox) is recently becoming of growing interest. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to evaluate the role of macrophages in cardiac damage elicited by Dox treatment. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were treated with one intraperitoneal injection of Dox (20 mg/kg) and followed up for 5 days by cardiac ultrasounds (CUS), histological, and flow cytometry evaluations. We also tested the impact of Dox in macrophage-depleted mice. Rat cardiomyoblasts were directly treated with Dox (D-Dox) or with a conditioned medium from cultured murine macrophages treated with Dox (M-Dox). RESULTS: In response to Dox, macrophage infiltration preceded cardiac damage. Macrophage depletion prevents Dox-induced damage, suggesting a key role of these cells in promoting cardiotoxicity. To evaluate the crosstalk between macrophages and cardiac cells in response to DOX, we compared the effects of D-Dox and M-Dox in vitro. Cell vitality was lower in cardiomyoblasts and apoptosis was higher in response to M-Dox compared with D-Dox. These events were linked to p53-induced mitochondria morphology, function, and autophagy alterations. We identify a mechanistic role of catecholamines released by Dox-activated macrophages that lead to mitochondrial apoptosis of cardiac cells through ß-AR stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that crosstalk between macrophages and cardiac cells participates in cardiac damage in response to Dox.

Corrigendum: Emerging risk of Dirofilaria spp. infection in shelter dogs in southern Italy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1112036.].

First application of a droplet digital PCR to detect Toxoplasma gondii in mussels.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the main food-, water- and soil-borne zoonotic disease worldwide. Over the past 20 years many papers were published on the transmission of T. gondii by marine animals, including mollusks, which can concentrate the oocysts and release them. Sporulated oocysts may remain viable and infective for 18 months in seawater. Therefore, raw or undercooked bivalve mollusks pose a risk to humans. This study aimed to apply and validate for the first time a very sensitive digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) protocol to detect and quantify T. gondii DNA in mussels. Four concentration levels: 8000 genomic copies (gc)/µL, 800 gc/µL, 80 gc/µL, 8 gc/µL of a T. gondii reference DNA were tested. DNA was extracted from 80 pools of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). Forty pools were contaminated with T. gondii reference DNA and used as positive controls, while 40 pools were used as negative controls. DdPCR reaction was prepared using a protocol, previously developed by the authors, for detection of T. gondii in meat. Amplification was obtained up 8 gc/µL. All infected replicates resulted positive, as well as no droplets were detected in negative controls. The droplets produced in the reaction ranged from 8,828 to 14,075 (average 12,627 droplets). The sensitivity and specificity of ddPCR were 100% (95%CI = 94.3-99.9). In addition, 100 pools of mussels collected in the Gulf of Naples were used to validate the protocol. Of these 16% were positive (95% CI = 9.7-25.0) for T. gondii. Samples were also tested by real-time PCR and no positive samples were found. Data obtained from ddPCR showed good identification of negative and positive samples with higher specificity and efficiency than real-time PCR. This tool could be very useful for a rapid sensitive detection of low DNA concentrations of T. gondii in mussels, reducing the risk of toxoplasmosis in humans.

Invitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) essential oil against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep.

Nowadays, the exclusive use of commercial anthelmintics for the treatment of gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants is less sustainable due to anthelmintic resistance, as well as the problem of drug residues in animal products and the environment. Therefore, an integrated therapeutic approach is needed, including the search for alternatives to synthetic anthelmintic drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using the essential oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. For this purpose, the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of this oil and the toxic effects on the hosts were examined. In the in vitro egg hatch test, ovicidal activity varied from 21.0-90.3% depending on the concentration of essential oil used (0.0125, 0.025, 0.049, 0.195, 0.781, 3.125, 12.5, and 50 mg/mL). To some extent, anthelmintic efficacy was confirmed in the in vivo fecal egg count reduction test at a mean dose of 150 mg/kg, with an average reduction of nematode eggs of 26.9 and 46.0% at Days 7 and 14 after treatment, respectively. Furthermore, no toxic effects of applied oil were observed on sheep behavior, kidney, or liver function. The main compounds identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyzes were menthol (32.6%), menthone (22.0%), menthyl-acetate (10.0%), and isomenthone (9.39%). Due to their complex chemical compositions, numerous bioactive ingredients, and natural origin, herbal formulations represent a potentially valuable alternative for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. In this context, the results of the present study showed that peppermint essential oil is one of the promising candidates. Further studies should be performed to collect more data on the safety profile of M. piperita EO in treated animals to find the most appropriate formulation for use in field conditions and to test it against resistant gastrointestinal nematode populations.

Diversity and geographic distribution of haplotypes of Dirofilaria immitis across European endemic countries.

BACKGROUND: Dirofilaria immitis, also known as heartworm, is one of the most important parasitic nematodes of domestic dogs, causing a potentially serious disease, cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis, which can be lethal. This species seems to be less 'expansive' than its sister species Dirofilaria repens, and it is believed that climate change facilitates the spread of this parasite to new non-endemic regions. METHODS: In total, 122 heartworm isolates were analysed from nine endemic countries in Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine) and a single isolate from Bangladesh by amplification and sequencing of two mitochondrial (mt) DNA markers: cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NADH). The main aim of the current study was to determine the genetic diversity of D. immitis and compare it with D. repens haplotype diversity and distribution. DNA was extracted from adult heartworms or microfilariae in blood. Most isolates originated from dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) while 10 isolates originated from wildlife species from Romania, including eight isolates from golden jackals (Canis aureus), one isolate from a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and one isolate from a red fox (Vulpes vulpes). RESULTS: Median spanning network analysis was based on the combined sequence (1721 bp) obtained from two mt markers and successfully delineated nine haplotypes (Di1-Di9). Haplotype Di1 was the dominant haplotype encompassing 91 out of the 122 sequences (75%) from all nine countries and four host species. Haplotype Di2 was the second most common haplotype, formed solely by 13 isolates from Italy. The remaining sequences were assigned to Di3-Di9 haplotypes, differing by 1-4 SNPs from the dominant Di1 haplotype. There was evidence for geographical segregation of haplotypes, with three unique haplotypes associated with Italy and four others associated with certain countries (Di4 and Di7 with Slovakia; Di8 with Greece; Di6 with Hungary). CONCLUSION: Diversity in D. immitis mt haplotypes was lower by half than in D. repens (9 vs. 18 haplotypes in D. immitis and D. repens, respectively), which may be associated with the slower expansion of heartworm in Central and NE Europe. NADH gene appears to be conserved in Dirofilaria sp. by showing lower genetic diversity than the analysed COI gene.

Comparison of Mini-FLOTAC, Flukefinder and sedimentation techniques for detection and quantification of Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron daubneyi eggs using spiked and naturally infected bovine faecal samples.

BACKGROUND: Fasciolosis (Fasciola hepatica) and paramphistomosis (Calicophoron daubneyi) are two important infections of livestock. Calicophoron daubneyi is the predominant Paramphistomidae species in Europe, and its prevalence has increased in the last 10-15 years. In Italy, evidence suggests that the prevalence of F. hepatica in ruminants is low in the southern part, but C. daubneyi has been recently reported at high prevalence in the same area. Given the importance of reliable tools for liver and rumen fluke diagnosis in ruminants, this study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Mini-FLOTAC (MF), Flukefinder(R) (FF) and sedimentation (SED) techniques to detect and quantify F. hepatica and C. daubneyi eggs using spiked and naturally infected cattle faecal samples. METHODS: Briefly, negative bovine faecal samples were artificially spiked with either F. hepatica or C. daubneyi eggs to achieve different egg count levels: 10, 50 and 100 eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces. Moreover, ten naturally infected cattle farms from southern Italy with either F. hepatica and/or C. daubneyi were selected. For each farm, the samples were analysed individually only with MF technique and as pools using MF, FF and SED techniques. Bayesian latent class analysis (LCA) was used to estimate sensitivity and accuracy of the predicted intensity of infection as well as the infection rate in the naturally infected farms. RESULTS: The outcome of this study showed that the highest number of eggs (F. hepatica and C. daubneyi) recovered was obtained with MF, followed by FF and SED in spiked infected samples at 50 and 100 EPG, while at lower infection levels of 10 EPG, FF gave the best results. Moreover, the sensitivity for all the techniques included in the study was estimated at > 90% at infection levels > 20 EPG for both F. hepatica and C. daubneyi eggs. However, MF was the most accurate of the three techniques evaluated to estimate fluke infection intensity. Nevertheless, all three techniques can potentially estimate infection rate at farm level accurately. CONCLUSIONS: Optimization and standardization of techniques are needed to improve the FEC of fluke eggs.

First morphometric and molecular characterization of Fasciola spp. in Northwest Tunisia.

The aim of this study was to characterize the Tunisian Fasciola spp. flukes by morphometric and molecular analyses. Flukes were collected from livers of sheep slaughtered in Sejnane slaughterhouses (Bizerte gouvernorate, Northwest Tunisia) between January and March 2021.Five morphometric parameters were determined for all the liver flukes, as follows: (i) total body length (BL), (ii) distance between ventral sucker and the tail (VS-T), (iii) distance between oral sucker and ventral sucker (OS-VS), (iv) abdomen diameter (AD), (v) tail diameter (TD) and the body length to width ratio (BL/BW). Molecular identification of the fluke specimens was carried out by polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of a 680 bp sequence of the internal transcribes spacer 1 (ITS1) gene and by amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of a 500 bp sequence of the ITS2 gene. Morphometric measurements showed that the mean of the total body length of the adult flukes was 21.1 ± 2.7 mm with minimum and maximum lengths of 13 and 31 mm, respectively. The PCR-RFLP analysis revealed a single profile consisting of three bands of approximately 370, 100, and 60 bp. Fasciola sequences described in the present study (GenBank numbers: OQ457027 and OQ457028) showed 99.58-100% identity to Fasciola hepatica. In conclusion, the results of this study show that molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirm the presence of a single species of F. hepatica in the Sejnane region Northwest of Tunisia. However, further studies are needed to identify the occurrence of Fasciola species in other Tunisian regions.

Emerging risk of Dirofilaria spp. infection in shelter dogs in southern Italy.

In southern Italy, the number of autochthonous cases of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs has increased considerably. This also occurs in the Campania region, particularly in coastal areas, where infections with D. immitis and Dirofilaria repens have been reported more frequently. Therefore the aim of the present study was to better investigate the occurrence of Dirofilaria spp. in a local dog shelter in Castel Volturno (Campania region, southern Italy). Briefly, a total of 260 blood samples were analysed for identification of microfilariae (mff) and detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen. Dogs were classified according to their age (1-3 years; 4-6 years; 7-11 years; > 11 years) and length of stay in the shelter at the time of sampling (dogs that entered in the shelter in the last 4 months; dogs housed in the shelter for more than 4 months up to 2 years; dogs housed for more than 2 years). The modified Knott's test revealed that 195 dogs (75.0%) were positive for circulating mff of Dirofilaria spp. Specifically, 104/260 (40.0%) dogs were positive for D. immitis and 91/260 (35.0%) were positive for D. repens. In addition, 72/260 (27.7%) dogs had both D. immitis and D. repens mff. Antigen testing revealed that 78/260 (30.0%) dogs were positive for D. immitis. However, 26/104 (25.0%) of the dogs with D. immitis mff were antigen-negative. The overall k concordance between the modified Knott's test and the antigenic test was ≤0.2 (poor) (p = 0.000). The results of the logistic regression model showed a significant association between Dirofilaria exposure and the period of time the dogs had spent in the shelter at the time of sampling. Dogs housed in the shelter for 4 months (group 1) and between 4 months and 2 years (group 2) had higher Dirofilaria positivity than dogs in group 3 (housed for more than 2 years) (80.4% vs. 79.6% vs. 62.4%, respectively). Moreover, male dogs and older dogs (between 7 and 11 years of age) were more likely to be infected with Dirofilaria spp.

Challenges of copro-parasitological surveys in wild Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) populations addressed through a combination of molecular and statistical tools.

Copro-parasitological surveys in wildlife face challenges due to the secretive nature of many species and the unknown performance of the diagnostic tests employed. To overcome these issues, we used a combination of hierarchical models (site-occupancy and N-mixture models) applied to copro-parasitological data obtained from fecal samples assigned to the host species by molecular methods in the Iberian ibex in north-western Iberian Peninsula. The aims were to compare the performance of four diagnostic tests (Mini-FLOTAC, McMaster, Willis flotation, and natural sedimentation) and to use this methodological approach (molecular analysis with hierarchical models) to better estimate positivity proportion and shedding intensity in a wild ibex population. Pooled fecal samples were collected, and those confirmed by molecular analyses to be the host species in question were included in the study. Hierarchical models confirmed different performances of each diagnostic test, with Mini-FLOTAC showing higher sensitivity for eimeriid coccidia, Willis flotation (for proportion positive) and McMaster (for shedding intensity) in gastrointestinal Strongylida, and equal performance of MiniFlotac/Willis flotation (for proportion positive) and MiniFlotac/McMaster (for shedding intensity) in Moniezia spp. This study employed a combination of molecular and statistical methods that improved the estimates of prevalence and shedding intensity and allowed us to compare the performance of four diagnostic tests while assessing the effect of covariates. Such improvements are critical to enhancing inference in non-invasive wildlife copro-parasitological studies.

Neglected Tropical Diseases in Italy: introducing IN-NTD, the Italian network for NTDs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as a diverse group of primarily infectious diseases, which disproportionately affect poor and marginalized populations worldwide. In this context, NTDs are responsible for important morbidity and mortality and justify a global response. Moreover, NTDs are relatively neglected by research and development as well as by funding, if compared with the magnitude of the public health problem they represent. This happens even though, unlike other infectious diseases, they can be prevented, controlled and eliminated by targeted public health interventions. NTDs are mainly prevalent in communities from low-income countries in tropical and sub-tropical areas but are also present in upper­middle-income countries, including several in Europe. Here, we provide an update on the most relevant parasitic endemic or imported NTDs in Italy and illustrate the rationale for the establishment of the Italian network on NTDs, an alliance of scientific societies, institutes, foundations, universities and non-profit organizations united to fight NTDs.