Acaricidal activity of pine essential oils and their main components against Tyrophagus putrescentiae, a stored food mite.

Some essential oils obtained from the branches of four Pinus species (P. pinea L., P. halepensis Mill., P. pinaster Soil in Ait., and P. nigra Arnold) have been evaluated for their acaricidal activity by aerial diffusion against the stored food mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (L.). All the essential oils showed a good efficacy, but P. pinea oil and its two constituents 1,8-cineole and limonene were the most effective compounds, showing 100% acaricidal activity at 8 microL; 1,8-cineole showed the same activity at 6 microL.

Leishmania infantum and Neospora caninum simultaneous skin infection in a young dog in Italy.

Leishmania infantum, the agent of canine leishmaniasis in Mediterranean countries, and Neospora caninum, a recently recognized protozoal pathogen in dogs, were diagnosed in a 9-month-old Argentine Dogo dog. Both skin lesions and neurological signs were present. Histopathology of cutaneous lesions revealed a suppurative, diffuse dermatitis with numerous intracellular protozoa. Serology was positive for both L. infantum (1:640) and N. caninum (1:800). Double-label immunohistochemical staining of skin samples with hyperimmune serum from L. infantum-infected dogs was positive for protozoa within macrophages, while the polyclonal antibody specific for N. caninum showed positive reactions for protozoa in endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the infection with both protozoa. This is, to the authors' knowledge, the first case of simultaneous infection with L. infantum and N. caninum in a dog. It is possible that the immunosuppressive effects of Leishmania infection or long-term steroid therapy may have been a contributing factor to the development of N. caninum in this dog.

A new species, Toxocara lyncis, in the caracal (Lynx caracal).

Toxocara lyncis, sp. n. is described from Lynx caracal in Somalia. It most closely resembles T. cati, the only species of Toxocara reported from L. caracal. It differs from T. cati in the comparative length of the spicules and the esophagus, and in the shape of the cervical alae. Cervical alae have a nearly uniform width along their length in T. lyncis, while they are narrow anteriorly and broad posteriorly forming an arrow head shaped cephalic end in T. cati.

Isospora thibetana N. sp. (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae), a parasite of the Tibetan siskin (Serinus thibetanus = Carduelis thibetanus) (Passeriformes, Fringillidae).

Tibetan siskins are birds native to the Himalayan region often imported into Italy for commercial purposes. Fecal examination of 45 imported subjects with clinical signs of diarrhoea revealed the presence of a large number of coccidian oocysts. After sporulation, accomplished by mixing feces with 2.5% (w/v) aqueous K2Cr2O7 at room temperature (22 degrees C +/- 1 degree C), exogenous stages of an Isospora species were revealed. The oocysts of this Isospora are spherical, have a bilayered colorless wall, and average 23.24 microm x 23.05 microm; oocyst residuum and micropyle are absent, while an oval polar granule is rarely present. The elliptical sporocysts average 18.44 microm x 10.97 microm and the Stieda body protrudes slightly from the end of the sporocyst. A spherical sporocyst residuum, is present though it sometimes consists of scattered granules. The spindle-shaped sporozoites average 11.53 microm x 2.86 microm, and have two refractile bodies. The taxonomic position of the tibetan siskin is controversial. Some authors include this species in the genus Serinus, while others include it in the genus Carduelis. The coccidian species isolated from these tibetan siskins was, for this reason, compared with the Isospora species previously described both in the genus Carduelis and in the genus Serinus. As a result of this comparison a new species, Isospora thibetana, was named. In the intestine of dead subjects, oocysts were found only in the ileum where the mucosa was greatly thickened and presented a heavy leucocytic infiltration consisting mainly of lympho-monocytic cells. A similar infiltration was observed in liver and lungs as well.

Ancylostoma genettae, A. protelesis, A. somaliense: three new species from wild Carnivora in the Somali Republic.

Ancylostoma braziliense was found in Somalia in Acinonyx jubatus, Canis familiaris, C. mesomelas, Crocuta crocuta, Felis catus, F. libyca, Genetta genetta, Otocyon megalotis, Proteles cristatus; A. caninum in A. jubatus, C. familiaris, C. mesomelas, C. crocuta; A. duodenale in C. crocuta; A. iperodontatum in Lynx caracal; A. paraduodenale in Felis serval; A. tubaeforme in A. jubatus, F. catus, F. libyca; Arthrocephalus gambiense in Ichneumia albicauda; Uncinaria parvibursata in Mellivora capensis. In addition, three new species of Ancylostoma were collected: A. genettae in Genetta genetta, A. protelesis in Proteles cristatus, A. somaliense in Canis mesomelas. These new species are described and illustrated.

Larval salivary gland proteins of the sheep nasal bot fly, (Oestrus ovis L.), are major immunogens in infested sheep.

Tissue extracts from larval instars of the sheep nasal bot, Oestrus ovis, were resolved by gel electrophoresis under both native and denaturing conditions. Polypeptides resolved under these conditions were tested by immunoblotting against sera of infested sheep. Of all tissues examined in this study, salivary glands proved to be major immunogens in infested sheep. Salivary gland polypeptides were also detected in the washing solution as larval secretory products (LSP). To a minor extent, a few polypeptides from the larval cuticle were also found to be immunogenic, but they did not contribute to LSP. These results were further corroborated by nasal infestation of rabbits that also developed specific antibodies against larval salivary gland polypeptides from Oestrus ovis.

Structure/activity relationship of some natural monoterpenes as acaricides against Psoroptes cuniculi.

The pharmacological activity of many essential oils on a large number of human and animal pathogens, as used in folk medicine, has been confirmed world-wide by several laboratory investigations. Unfortunately, the biological properties of essential oils can be extremely inconsistent because of the variability of their chemical composition. The acaricidal activities of some natural terpenoids, which are the main constitutents of several essential oils, were evaluated in vitro against the mange mite (Psoroptes cuniculi) of the rabbit, by direct contact and by inhalation. Because the test components represent different chemical classes (hydrocarbons, alcohols, and phenols, with free and esterified or etherified functional groups), it was also possible to discern in a preliminary fashion a correlation between chemical structure and acaricidal activity. The results obtained suggest that molecules possessing free alcoholic or phenolic groups showed the most potent acaricidal activity.

Acaricidal agents of natural origin against Psoroptes cuniculi.

Lavandula angustifolia Miller essential oil and some of its main constituents, i.e. linalool, linalyl acetate, and camphor were tested in vitro for their bioactivities against Psoroptes cuniculi (Delafond, 1859), mite of the rabbit. The essential oil and linalool were found to have very powerful miticidal activities.

[A case of relapsing cutaneous larva migrans transmitted by a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)]. / Un caso di larva migrans cutanea recidivante trasmesso dal ghepardo (Acinonyx jubatus).

A case of relapsing "creeping eruption" connected with parasites of the cheetah is reported in the man. The parasitological examination, carried out in two cheetahs liable of this syndrome, has shown two different helmintic species: Ancylostoma caninum and Ancylostoma tubaeforme.