High Prevalence of Hymenolepis (Rodentolepis) nana in Amateur Breeding Facilities of Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) and Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) from Italy.

PURPOSE: Hymenolepis (Rodentolepis) nana is an enteric tapeworm globally widespread in wild and captive rodents. The survey was carried out in three chinchilla breeding facilities and in one sugar glider breeding facility in Central and Southern Italy. METHODS: One hundred and four chinchilla fecal pools and 40 sugar glider fecal pools were collected from cages housing breeding pairs or females with their offspring. Fecal samples were examined with a qualitative and quantitative copromicroscopical approach. Hymenolepis eggs were identified based on morphological and morphometrical features, and the average number of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces was estimated. RESULTS: Hymenolepis nana eggs were detected in 39.42% of chinchilla samples with an average of 16.33 EPG; whereas, all of the sugar glider samples tested positive with an average of 454.18 EPG. Neither helminth eggs nor protozoan cysts/oocysts were detected in any of the breeding facilities. CONCLUSION: The results clearly show a diffuse parasitism in both chinchillas and sugar gliders, and should be taken into consideration given the rising popularity of these two pet species combined with the zoonotic complications presented by H. nana.

Neuronal satellitosis is a common finding in the avian brain.

Perineuronal or neuronal satellitosis is the term describing the presence of glial cells in the satellite space surrounding the neuronal perikaryon. Confusingly, this finding has been described both as a physiologic and pathologic condition in humans and animals. In animals, neuronal satellitosis has been described in mammals, as well as in avian species. For the latter, the authors wondered whether neuronal satellitosis is expressed in the normal telencephalon of different avian orders and families and whether this pattern in different species shows a specific brain-region association. For these aims, this study explored the presence of neuronal satellitosis in the major areas of the healthy telencephalon in wild and domestic avian species of different orders and families, evaluating its grade in different brain regions. Neuronal satellitosis was seen in the hyperpallium and mesopallium as areas with the highest grade. Passeriformes showed the highest grade of neuronal satellitosis compared to diurnal or nocturnal raptors, and Charadriiformes. To clarify the exact role of neuronal satellitosis in animals without neurological disease, further studies are needed.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSNeuronal satellitosis is a common finding in the healthy avian telencephalon.Neuronal satellitosis is a species- and brain-region-associated finding in birds.Passeriformes have the highest grade of neuronal satellitosis.