Daniela Pasotto

Study on Ticks and Tick-Borne Zoonoses in Public Parks in Italy

A survey on tick density and on tick‐borne zoonoses was carried out in four public parks in the outskirts of Imola (northern Italy) from June to October 2006. All stages of Ixodes ricinus and only larvae of Riphicephalus sanguineus were recovered by dragging, performed on 100‐m transects. Almost all ticks (99%) were harvested in one park. I. ricinus density (nymphs/100 m2) ranged from 0 in park L to 6.3 in park F. Nymphs and adults of I. ricinus were subjected to PCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. and Rickettsia spp. The observed prevalences were 38.3% for Bartonella henselae, 5.2% for Bartonella clarridgeiae, 10.4% for B. burgdorferi s. l., 2.6% for Rickettsia helvetica and 13% for Rickettsia monacensis, respectively. No DNA of A. phagocytophilum was found. Acarological risks (AR) were calculated as probabilities of collecting at least one infected nymph per transect. The AR values calculated for the various zoonotic agents were 11.4% for R. helvetica, 27.7% for B. clarridgeiae, 49.7% for B. burgdorferi s. l., 57.2% for R. monacensis and 90.4% for B. henselae, respectively. In this study, B. clarridgeiae was for the first time identified in I. ricinus ticks.

Detection of Bartonella bovis in a cattle herd in Italy.

BACTERIA of the genus Bartonella are Gram-negative, pleomorphic, fastidious and are transmitted by bloodsucking arthropods. These microorganisms are intracellular parasites of erythrocytes and endothelial cells and can cause persistent bacteraemia in human beings and animals. Currently, 20

Serological survey for influenza type A viruses in domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) in North-Eastern Italy.

To ascertain the potential transmission of influenza A viruses to dogs and cats, a serological survey was carried out in North‐eastern Italy. In a 4‐year period, 637 serum samples were screened using a Mab‐based competitive ELISA for anti‐nucleoprotein A (NPA) antibody detection of influenza viruses. No evidence of anti‐NPA antibodies was observed.

Transition cow: non-specific immune response.

The immune system of all vertebrates, including bovines, consists of cells and their products, whose prime function is the protection of the host against pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites; it can also act as an accommodation device to facilitate the development of relatively peaceful associations with foreign organisms which, in some instances and especially in ruminants, could be or could become symbiotic (Morrison, 1986; Halliwell and Gorman, 1989; Poli and Cocilovo, 1996). The defence of the body against pathogens can be divided into innate and adaptive; both play specific roles in host defence and are essential for health. Pathogens encountered daily during the life of a normal healthy individual are detected and destroyed within hours by defence mechanisms that are not antigen-specific: these are the mechanisms of innate immunity. Only if a pathogen can breach these early lines of defence will an adaptive immune response ensue, with the generation of humoral and cell-mediated antigen-specific effector cells that specifically target the pathogen, and memory cells that prevent subsequent infection with the same pathogen (Morrison, 1986; Halliwell and Gorman, 1989; Poli and Cocilovo, 1996). The innate immune system, or non-specific immune response consists of physical barriers, humoral factors, and cellular response. The non-antigen-specific defence mechanisms tend to be highly conserved in vertebrates, and these mechanisms in cattle are basically similar to those observed in other species, although they are characterized by some unique aspects (Goodeeris, 1996; Poli and Cocilovo, 1996). The physical barriers consist of skin and mucosae, which provide obstructions to the penetration of pathogens. Humoral factors are an integral and important part of the innate immune system. Plasma proteins of the complement system, some enzymes like lysozyme, interferons, and the acute-phase proteins, such as haptoglobin, are some of the essential elements (Halliwell and Gorman, 1989; Poli and Cocilovo,

Post-mortem investigations on a leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea stranded along the Northern Adriatic coastline

Leatherback sea turtles Dermochelys coriacea are regularly reported in the Mediterranean Sea but rarely reach the northern Adriatic Sea. In the summer of 2009, a well-preserved carcass of an adult female of this species was found dead along the coast of Lido di Venezia. A complete necropsy was carried out, along with evaluation of levels of tissue trace elements. The the post-mortem revealed acute severe bacterial gastroenteritis caused by Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida, an opportunistic agent that infected an apparently debilitated animal weakened by ingested plastic debris. High levels of heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd and As) found in the liver and kidneys might have contributed to the animals demise. These findings support previous indications that marine debris is one of the major threats to marine animals, particularly for critically endangered species such as the leatherback turtle.

Description of a double centrifugation tube method for concentrating canine platelets

BackgroundTo evaluate the efficiency of platelet-rich plasma preparations by means of a double centrifugation tube method to obtain platelet-rich canine plasma at a concentration at least 4 times higher than the baseline value and a concentration of white blood cells not exceeding twice the reference range. A complete blood count was carried out for each sample and each concentrate. Whole blood samples were collected from 12 clinically healthy dogs (consenting blood donors). Blood was processed by a double centrifugation tube method to obtain platelet concentrates, which were then analyzed by a flow cytometry haematology system for haemogram. Platelet concentration and white blood cell count were determined in all samples.ResultsPlatelet concentration at least 4 times higher than the baseline value and a white blood cell count not exceeding twice the reference range were obtained respectively in 10 cases out of 12 (83.3%) and 11 cases out of 12 (91.6%).ConclusionsThis double centrifugation tube method is a relatively simple and inexpensive method for obtaining platelet-rich canine plasma, potentially available for therapeutic use to improve the healing process.

Lethal septic shock after dental scaling in a healthy dog due to Ochrobactrum anthropi-contaminated propofol

A 10-year-old, 6-kg male Yorkshire terrier dog was scheduled for routine dental cleaning. No significant problem was observed either during anaesthesia, which was induced with propofol, or during recovery. However, 2 hours after discharge, the dogs owner returned to the clinic, complaining that the animal was lethargic and had had bloody diarrhoea. On physical examination the dog was depressed, dyspnoeic, tachycardic and hypoglycaemic. Despite supportive treatment, the dog deteriorated and died within a few hours.A presumed diagnosis of sepsis was confirmed by laboratory testing. Bacteriological and molecular examinations of both premortem blood samples and the anaesthetic, highlighted the presence of Ochrobactrum anthropi, an opportunistic pathogen usually associated with immunocompromised hosts with indwelling medical devices. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of sepsis in a healthy dog due to contamination of an anaesthetic solution by O. anthropi, suggesting a potential role of this microorganism as an emerging pathogen.