Genetic variability of Dirofilaria repens isolates from humans and dogs in Italy.

Dirofilaria repens is a paradigmatic example of an emerging vector-borne pathogen (VBP) in both human and veterinary fields. The spatial expansion and the increasing zoonotic impact of this VBP can be related to several drivers including the genetic structure of parasite populations. Italy is one of the European countries traditionally endemic with the highest incidence of canine and human cases of subcutaneous dirofilariosis. The present study aimed to assess the genetic identity and variability of D. repens isolates of human and canine origin from areas of Central Italy, compared with those isolated from different areas of Europe by sequence analysis of mtDNA genes (i.e., 12 S rDNA and cox1). A total of twenty isolates of D. repens were obtained from biopsies of subcutaneous and ocular cases of dirofilariosis occurring in 10 dogs and 10 humans. The sequence analysis of 12 S rDNA showed that all the sequences obtained clustered as a monophyletic group with a strong nodal support, indicating that all sequence types represented D. repens. The cox1 and the 12 S sequence analysis did not show host-related polymorphisms between human and dog-derived specimens. The sequence analysis of cox1 was performed including 8 additional sequences previously obtained from human and canine isolates in the same areas. Out of the 28 sequences analyzed, 20 were grouped in a haplogroup comprising 15 haplotypes (i.e., DR1, DR2, DR4, DR5, DR7, DR8, DR10-DR18), 2 sequences matched to DR9, reported for the first time in Italy, and 6 showed peculiar polymorphisms that were not previously described. The results obtained have implications for a better understanding of the epidemiology and phylogeography of this emerging vector-borne zoonotic parasite.

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.

Role of expectations in clinical outcomes after deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established treatment that significantly improves the motor symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); however, patients may experience post-operative psychological distress and social maladjustments. This phenomenon has been shown to be related to patients' pre-operative cognitive representations, such as expectations. In this systematic review, we discuss the findings on the role of the expectations of patients with PD regarding the clinical outcomes of DBS to identify areas of intervention to improve pre-operative patient education and promote successful post-operative psychosocial adjustment. PubMed was searched for relevant articles published up to 16 January 2023. Of the 84 identified records, 10 articles focusing on the treatment expectations of patients with PD undergoing DBS were included in this review. The selected studies were conducted among cohorts of patients with different DBS targets, among which the most common was the bilateral subthalamic nucleus. Overall, the data showed that patients' expectations contribute to treatment efficacy. Experiments investigating the placebo effect itself have shown clinical improvement after the induction of positive therapeutic expectations; conversely, unrealistic treatment expectations can affect patient satisfaction after surgery, clinical outcomes, and subjective well-being. This review highlights the need for routine clinical practice to better investigate and manage patients' pre-operative expectations, as well as multidisciplinary education to improve patient satisfaction and psychosocial adjustment after DBS.

Parasitological Survey in European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) Breeding Facilities in Southern Italy.

Parasites are considered important regulating factors of hosts' population dynamics, not only in free-ranging wildlife, but also in captive bred animals. To date, only few studies have been carried out to assess the parasitic communities of the European brown hare in Southern Italy, and only one focused on animals in captivity. The aim of the present survey was to assess the composition of the endoparasite community in game hares bred for restocking purposes. For this purpose, 215 fecal pools collected in eight different breeding facilities were examined by qualitative and quantitative coprological techniques. Parasites characterized by a direct life cycle, including six species of coccidia from the genus Eimeria and the nematode Trichostrongylus retorataeformis, proved to be the most prevalent parasites. Further helminthic infestations by Passalurus ambiguous, Strongylosides papillosus, Cittotenia spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum were also detected, but with an overall prevalence lower than 20%. The present study contributes to increasing knowledge on the health status of a poorly investigated species, and is useful for optimizing breeding efforts in captivity.

Retrospective Longitudinal Survey on Canine Vector-Borne Pathogens: Trends and Challenges of 10 Years of Activities of a Veterinary Blood Bank.

Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBPs) represent a challenge for veterinary transfusion medicine, since some can be transmitted by blood transfusion and are of zoonotic concern. Epidemiological data on CVBPs, obtained during 10 years of pre-donor screening (2012−2021) by a veterinary blood bank in central Italy, were used to conduct a retrospective epidemiological longitudinal survey. The results were obtained using the Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) conducted on sera in order to assess IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocythophilum, Babesia canis, and Rickettsia conorii; the modified Knott's test and an ELISA kit were used to detect Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens. In total, 324 out of the 1260 canine blood donors (25.71%) tested seropositive for at least one pathogen. The highest overall positive rate was detected for L. infantum (12.22%), followed by E. canis (2.30%), A. phagocytophilum (1.19%), D. repens (0.95%), D. immitis (0.32%), and B. canis (0.16%). From 2012 to 2014, a prevalence of 20.12% was recorded for R. conorii. Mixed infections were recorded in 21 dogs. For all the CVBPs investigated, significant differences (p < 0.05) were not observed over the period studied. The results evidenced a non-negligible prevalence of CVBPs in canine donors, which were selected based on strict criteria concerning regular endo- and ectoparasite controls. The results confirmed that the blood bank could be a reliable local epidemiological observatory. The need for implemented screening is discussed.

Detection of Leishmania spp. in Chronic Dermatitis: Retrospective Study in Exposed Horse Populations.

Leishmania infantum is a protozoan causing human zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) and visceral-cutaneous canine leishmaniosis (CanL) in the Mediterranean Basin. L. infantum is able to infect a large number of wild and domestic species, including cats, dogs, and horses. Since the 1990s, clinical cases of equine leishmaniasis (EL), typically characterized by cutaneous forms, have been increasingly diagnosed worldwide. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of clinical forms of EL in CanL-endemic areas in Italy, where exposure of equine populations was ascertained from recent serological surveys. For this purpose, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded skin biopsies of 47 horses presenting chronic dermatitis compatible with EL were retrospectively selected for the study and subjected to conventional and q-PCR. A singular positivity for L. infantum was found; BLAST analysis of sequence amplicons revealed a 99-100% homology with L. infantum sequences. The histological examination revealed a nodular lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic infiltrate; immunohistochemistry showed rare macrophages containing numerous positive amastigotes. The present retrospective study reports, for the first time, a case of a cutaneous lesion by L. infantum occurring in an Italian horse. Pathological and healthy skin samples should be investigated on a larger scale to provide information on the potential clinical impact of EL in the practice, and to define the role of horses in epidemiological ZVL and CanL scenarios.

Spectral Optical Readout of Rectangular-Miniature Hollow Glass Tubing for Refractive Index Sensing.

For answering the growing demand of innovative micro-fluidic devices able to measure the refractive index of samples in extremely low volumes, this paper presents an overview of the performances of a micro-opto-fluidic sensing platform that employs rectangular, miniature hollow glass tubings. The operating principle is described by showing the analytical model of the tubing, obtained as superposition of different optical cavities, and the optical readout method based on spectral reflectivity detection. We have analyzed, in particular, the theoretical and experimental optical features of rectangular tubings with asymmetrical geometry, thus with channel depth larger than the thickness of the glass walls, though all of them in the range of a few tens of micrometers. The origins of the complex line-shape of the spectral response in reflection, due to the different cavities formed by the tubing flat walls and channel, have been investigated using a Fourier transform analysis. The implemented instrumental configuration, based on standard telecom fiberoptic components and a semiconductor broadband optical source emitting in the near infrared wavelength region centered at 1.55 µm, has allowed acquisition of reflectivity spectra for experimental verification of the expected theoretical behavior. We have achieved detection of refractive index variations related to the change of concentration of glucose-water solutions flowing through the tubing by monitoring the spectral shift of the optical resonances.

Flow-through micro-capillary refractive index sensor based on T/R spectral shift monitoring.

We present a flow-through refractive index sensor for measuring the concentration of glucose solutions based on the application of rectangular glass micro-capillaries, with channel depth of 50 µm and 30 µm. A custom designed and 3D printed polymeric shell protects the tiny capillaries, ensuring an easier handling and interconnection with the macro-fluidic path. By illuminating the capillary with broadband radiation centered at λ~1.55 µm, both the transmitted (T) and reflected (R) optical spectrum from the capillary are detected with an optical spectrum analyzer, exploiting an all-fiber setup. Monitoring the spectral shift of the ratio T/R in response to increasing concentration of glucose solutions in water we have obtained sensitivities up to 530.9 nm/RIU and limit of detection in the range of 10-5-10-4 RIU. Experimental results are in agreement with the theoretically predicted principle of operation. After the demonstration of amplitude detection at a single wavelength, we finally discuss the impact of the capillary parameters on the sensitivity.

Low-Coherence Reflectometry for Refractive Index Measurements of Cells in Micro-Capillaries.

The refractive index of cells provides insights into their composition, organization and function. Moreover, a good knowledge of the cell refractive index would allow an improvement of optical cytometric and diagnostic systems. Although interferometric techniques undoubtedly represent a good solution for quantifying optical path variation, obtaining the refractive index of a population of cells non-invasively remains challenging because of the variability in the geometrical thickness of the sample. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of infrared low-coherence reflectometry for non-invasively quantifying the average refractive index of cell populations gently confined in rectangular glass micro-capillaries. A suspension of human red blood cells in plasma is tested as a reference. As a use example, we apply this technique to estimate the average refractive index of cell populations belonging to epithelial and hematological families.