Iolanda Moretta

Prevalence and diagnosis of Babesia and Theileria infections in horses in Italy: a preliminary study.

Babesia caballi and Theileria equi are the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. In this preliminary epidemiological study, 412 horses reared in central and northern Italy were sampled and three diagnostic methods compared, namely, the microscopy, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and a PCR. Possible risk factors (such as area, season, breed, activity, sex, age, and grazing) associated with serological positivity were evaluated. A seroprevalence of 68.4% was found: 12.4% of the animals had anti-T. equi antibodies, 17.9% anti-B. caballi antibodies and 38.1% had antibodies against both species. Of the seropositive samples, 3.1% and 9.4% were positive to microscopy and PCR, respectively; 31.5% of the horses were IFAT-negative but 1.4% and 2.4% of the corresponding blood samples were positive to microscopy and PCR, respectively. Molecular techniques revealed that the species present were closely related to T. equi, Theileria sergenti, Theileria buffeli and the Babesia microti-like piroplasm provisionally named Theileria annae. Grazing was found to be a pronounced risk factor for equine piroplasmosis.

Field effectiveness of pyrantel and failure of Parascaris equorum egg count reduction following ivermectin treatment in Italian horse farms

A study was carried out to assess the field efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) and pyrantel pamoate (PYR) against Parascaris equorum. Seventy-three foals (3-18 months old) from 5 stud farms, not treated with anthelmintics in the previous 10 weeks and with individual faecal egg counts (FEC) >200, were included in the study. For each stud farm, 5-7 foals were included in the IVM-treatment group (IVM 0.2%, 200 mcg/kg body weight) or in the PYR-treatment group (PYR 38%, 13.2mg/kg body weight) and 3 were untreated as controls. For each foal, FECs were carried out before treatment (Day 0) and on Days 7 and 21. An individually based estimation of efficacy was assessed by a bootstrap simulation applied to different previously suggested formulae to evaluate the percent reduction of faecal egg counts (FECR). Two thousand bootstrap resamples were constructed from individual FECRs and the parasite population was considered susceptible for FECs >or=90 and 95% confidence interval (C.I.) >or=95%, suspected resistant for FECRs comprised between 80 and 90% and 95% C.I. <95% and resistant when FECR <or=80 and 95% C.I. <or=90%. IVM treatment was effective in foals from 2 farms, was equivocal at both study times in 1 farm and ineffective in 2 farms, while PYR was fully effective on all farms. This data shows that P. equorum-resistant populations are present also in Italy and the phenomenon is spreading in horses throughout Europe.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii in sheep in Grosseto district, Tuscany, Italy

BackgroundSerum samples from 630 milk sheep, in 33 dairy flocks representative of the southern area of the Tuscany region, were tested for the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Questionnaires exploring the management system were completed by the veterinarian in charge of the flocks.ResultsAt least one seropositive animal was found in 32 of the 33 flocks tested (97.0%; 95% CI: 84.2%, 99.9%). In the positive flocks, median seroprevalence was 29.4% (interquartile range: 15.9%-46.1%). Overall animal-level seroprevalence, adjusted for sampling weights and test sensitivity and specificity, was 33.3% (95% CI: 24.8%, 42.7%). In a multivariable negative binomial regression model the number of seropositive animals in a flock decreased with increasing flock size (for >400 vs. <300 animals: count ratio (CR) = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.95; P = 0.028) and was greater on farms where stray cats had access to animals’ water (CR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.26; P = 0.027).ConclusionsSmall flock size and access of cats to water are potential risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in sheep in the Grosseto district in Tuscany, Italy. Sheep could be an important source of T. gondii infection in humans, since we estimate that between 25% and 43% of sheep in the district were seropositive. Toxoplasmosis is also likely to be an important cause of abortion in sheep in the district. Control and prophylactic measures must be adopted to improve the rearing system and the implementation of health promoting programmes in a joint effort between sheep farmers, farmers’ associations and veterinarians to inform about the means of transmission of the infection and for a better understanding of the disease.

Occurrence of Giardia duodenalis infection in chinchillas (Chincilla lanigera) from Italian breeding facilities.

The present work investigated the occurrence of Giardia infection in Chinchilla lanigera reared in three Italian breeding facilities and determined their role as potential zoonotic reservoir. One hundred and four fecal samples were tested for the presence of Giardia spp. cysts using a Direct Fluorescent Assay (DFA). A high positivity rate (39.4%) was found despite all animals were asymptomatic at the time of sampling. Thirty-one positive samples were genetically characterized by sequence analysis of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the Giardia ribosomal DNA. Assemblages B (29 isolates) and C (two isolates) were identified. These results showed that Giardia infection can be common in chinchillas, thus spurring further molecular epizootiological studies of the infection to assess the zoonotic potential or host specificity of their isolates, to determine the source of infections, to identify the routes of transmission, and to control the infection among animal populations.

Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants in Northern Italy – prevalence and risk factors

OBJECTIVE The aim of the survey was to evaluate Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in small ruminants and possible risk factors associated with the infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sera from 474 goats and 502 sheep reared on 42 farms in northern Italy were collected and tested for IgG antibodies to T. gondii by IFAT (indirect immunofluorescence antibody test). To identify risk factors, a binary logistic regression analysis of the variables was performed. An audit form about farm management was used. RESULTS Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 96.6% of goat farms and in 87.5% of sheep farms; 41.7% goats and 59.3% sheep resulted positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in sheep than in goats. Seroprevalence values were similar in goats from eastern and western areas, whereas goats from the southern area were at lower risk of infection. Saanen goats presented the lowest seroprevalence (30.7 %), whereas cross-breed exhibited the highest rate (48.7%). Goats from farms housing both sheep and goats had an infection risk 1.39 times higher than goats from farms that did not house sheep. Animals bred on intensive farms showed lower prevalence (22.1%) in comparison with those from extensive (45.6%) or semi-intensive farms (60%). Sampling area was one of the strongest predictors of T. gondii infection in sheep flocks. Transhumant flocks showed a higher risk of infection by T. gondii compared with semi-intensive farms (66.8% vs. 38.4%). CONCLUSIONS The highest T. gondii seroprevalence values were registered in transhumant flocks of sheep and in family businesses rearing goats. As these traditional activities represent an important resource for the conservation of the territory and its economy, management practices for a better control of the disease should be improved.

Trichophyton verrucosum infection in cattle farms of Umbria (Central Italy) and transmission to humans

Trichophyton verrucosum is the most common ringworm agent in cattle. Epidemiology of cattle dermatophytoses in Central Italy is not clear. Its diffusion among cattle and herdsmen was investigated in 20 Umbrian farms, Central Italy. Hairs and scales were taken from 395 animals and 31 workers. Typical ringworm was present in 71.7% of cattle under 6 months and in 11% of animals over 6 months. T. verrucosum was isolated from 98.9% of symptomatic heads and was the most prevalent dermatophyte in all herds investigated (isolated in 18 of the 20 farms). T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes was found in 16 symptomatic and in eight asymptomatic young animals. Prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of both species was significantly higher in young heads (21.1% vs. 8.1%) and the age below 6 months was the only statistically significant risk factor associated with dermatophytosis. About the workers, all the 14 men with lesions were positive for T. verrucosum; copresence of T. verrucosum and Microsporum gypseum was noticed in one case. Results indicate a high diffusion of T. verrucosum among both animals and humans in Umbrian farms and confirm the dermatophyte infection as a public health problem. Periodic epidemiological surveys, treatment of sick livestock and workers, cleaning/sanitisation of herds and vaccination programmes may be useful in controlling the infection.

Dermatitis caused by arthropods in domestic environment: an Italian multicentre study

Skin diseases caused by mites and insects living in domestic environments have been rarely systematically studied.

Indoor dermatitis due to Aeroglyphus robustus.

DEAR EDITOR, Aeroglyphus robustus is an astigmatid mite described initially by Banks in 1906 and called Glycyphagus robustus. In 1941 Zachvatkin described and called the subfamily Aeroglyphinae and the genus Aeroglyphus. He considered this mite of Canadian origin to be the same as the European species A. peregrinans (Berlese, 1892), and he upgraded the subfamily Aeroglyphinae to family Aeroglyphidae. It was only in 1959 that Cooreman described A. robustus in detail, distinguishing it morphologically from A. peregrinans. At present, in the Italian acarofauna, A. robustus is not present in the family Aeroglyphidae, and its pathogenic role in humans has never been described before. The taxonomy of A. robustus is order Astigmata, suborder Acaridia, superfamily Glycyphagoidea, family Aeroglyphidae. A 57-year-old nonatopic healthy man was referred for an itchy rash with small and isolated erythematous papules, some with pinhead-shaped central tense vesicles and some excoriated and covered by small crusts. The lesions initially involved the extensor surface of the forearms and the sides of the trunk (Fig. 1); after 1 week they spread to the upper and lower limbs. The patient’s wife showed similar skin lesions. They had no other systemic symptoms, and physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. The patient was a farmer, and 1 5 months earlier he had brought home two large bags of grain, cramming them in at the entrance. The grain, of unknown origin, had been collected from a container located near the patient’s house. The patient and his wife were treated with oral cetirizine (10 mg per day) and desoximetasone ointment, with partial reduction of itching and skin lesions within 10 days. Domestic ectoparasitosis was suspected. In order to verify it, sawdust collected from all of the rooms and the grain bags was examined with E.D.P.A. (Esame Diretto Polveri Ambientali), patented by one of the authors. Briefly, dust samples were collected by broom and dustpan from the floor of the home’s rooms and labelled in small containers. After microsieving, sedimentation or flotation, pathogen arthropods and their specific traces (fragments, exuviae, bristles, faeces) were observed with a stereomicroscope and prepared and mounted on slides in warm Berlese solution for direct observation by optical microscope. The dust sample collected from the grain bags was twice as rich in weeds/pests as those collected from the rooms of the house. However, in both samples A. robustus was identified, with several adults (Fig. 2a) and immature forms (protonymphs, nymphs, larvae). Aeroglyphus robustus is morphologically characterized by dorsally tuberculate idiosoma covered by numerous idiosomal multibranched bristles shaped like wheat plugs and, in particular, by two very long opisthosomal bristles in the female (Fig. 2b). The so-called hypopial deutonymphs of A. robustus were also identified (Fig. 2c); they are typical forms of resistance to untoward environmental conditions. Inspection of the house showed the presence of moulds of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus, in a high relative humidity (85%), on some north-facing walls. The patient tried to eliminate the house infestation using an aerosol automatic spray insecticide based on cyfluthrin. This approach turned out to be ineffective because the mites hide where the insecticide does not reach them and because of the presence of the resistant form (hypopial deutonymph). In fact, a new E.D.P.A. examination showed vital adults and immature forms of A. robustus. Intervention by a pest-control company was then required and the domestic environment was fumigated with cyphenothrin. Immediately the patients’ skin lesions improved, but after 2 weeks similar new skin lesions in the farmer and his wife appeared again. Probably, hypopial

A first record of the tortoise tick, Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus 1758) on Malta

ABSTRACT Tortoises of the genus Testudo are commonly kept pets on the Maltese Islands. This is a first record of the presence of Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus 1758), also known as the “tortoise tick,” on Malta. Two male H. aegyptium were collected from an adult Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca Linnaeus 1758) and a further two male H. aegyptium were collected from an adult female Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni Lortet 1883). These tortoises were believed to be illegally imported, wild-caught specimens from North Africa. The presence of H. aegyptium on Malta is of both biological and medical relevance since these ticks are known potential vectors for numerous zoonotic diseases. This is also believed to be the first record of T. kleinmanni as a host for H. aegyptium.

Bed bug dermatitis: detection dog as a useful survey tool for environmental research of Cimex lectularius

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