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Bee pollen’s nutritional and beneficial health properties depend on the botanical origin and storage conditions. Palynological analysis determines the botanical composition of the multiflora and colour fractions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Tuscan bee pollen stored at freezing temperature for 2 years to verify the preservation of nutraceutical properties of the multiflora and colour fractions. Polyphenols, flavonoids content, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds profiles were measured. Non-terpene derivatives (acids and aldehydes) represented the main class of volatile compounds in most analysed samples. Among the colour fractions, coral showed significant differences in the antioxidant compounds. In the multiflora were also determined the soluble sugar content (128.33 mg/g of fresh weight) and mineral content, with the prevalence of K, organic N and Ca. The results suggest that the freezing storage of bee pollen for a long period can be still used as food.

The increase in invasive alien species is a concern for the environment. The establishment of some of these species may be changing the balance between pathogenicity and host factors, which could alter the defense strategies of native host species. Vespid species are among the most successful invasive animals, such as the genera Vespa, Vespula and Polistes. Bee viruses have been extensively studied as an important cause of honey bee population losses. However, knowledge about the transmission of honey bee viruses in Vespids is a relevant and under-researched aspect. The role of some mites such as Varroa in the transmission of honey bee viruses is clearer than in the case of Vespidae. This type of transmission by vectors has not yet been clarified in Vespidae, with interspecific relationships being the main hypotheses accepted for the transmission of bee viruses. A majority of studies describe the presence of viruses or their replicability, but aspects such as the symptomatology in Vespids or the ability to infect other hosts from Vespids are scarcely discussed. Highlighting the case of Vespa velutina as an invader, which is causing huge losses in European beekeeping, is of special interest. The pressure caused by V. velutina leads to weakened hives that become susceptible to pathogens. Gathering this information is necessary to promote further research on the spread of bee viruses in ecosystems invaded by invasive species of Vespids, as well as to prevent the decline of bee populations due to bee viruses. INTERREG ATLANTIC AREA PROGRAM | Ref. EAPA_800/2018—Atlantic‐POSitive Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481D-2022-021

The occurrence of the honeybee caste polyphenism arises when a change in diet is transduced into cellular metabolic responses, resulting in a developmental shift mediated by gene expression. The aim of this investigation was to detect and describe the expression profile of water-soluble proteases during the ontogenesis of honeybee worker-fate larvae. The extraction of insect homogenates was followed by the electrophoretic separation of the protein extract in polyacrylamide gels under semi-denaturing condition, precast with gelatin, pollen, or royal jelly protein extracts. The worker-fate honeybee larva showed a proteolytic pattern that varied with aging, and a protease with the highest activity at 72 h after hatching was named PS4. PS4 has a molecular weight of 45 kDa, it remained active until cell sealing, and its enzymatic properties suggest a serine-proteinase nature. To define the process that originates a queen-fate larvae, royal jelly and pollen were analysed, but PS4 was not detected in either of them. The effect of food on the PS4 was investigated by mixing crude extracts of queen and worker-fate larvae with pollen and royal jelly, respectively. Only royal jelly inhibited PS4 in worker-fate larvae. Taken together, our data suggest that PS4 could be involved in caste differentiation.

Anthropic areas play a pivot role for main wolf conservation challenges. Wolf presence in the higher Pisan hills has been well documented while wolf settlement in the lower Pisan hills is still uncertain. In this study, long-term information on wolf presence in a highly anthropic area of the lower Pisan hills was collected by using non-invasive monitoring techniques. Furthermore, both the relationship of this predator with human activity and the impact of hunting on wolf presence have been investigated. The results obtained indicate the presence of a stable and reproductive wolf pack composed by both Italian wolf and hybrids individuals in the municipalities of Crespina Lorenzana and Casciana Terme Lari. A high impact of wolf on livestock was recorded in this area since no prevention systems were adopted by farmers. Wolf appears not to have a negative impact on wild boar population. Similarly, wild boar drive hunting does not appear to affect the wolf pack presence in the area. Thereby wolf may play a key role as controller of wild population. Prevention strategies improvement becomes instrumental to promote wolf-human coexistence. Further investigation to monitor pack hybridization level and turnover and to assess the impact of packs on wild population and livestock in anthropic areas is desirable.

Mammal's saliva contains a variety of electrolytes and proteins. They carry out an important role in the digestion process, in the antibacterial and antiviral activity, in lubrication and maintenance of oral general health status. It may also contain several enzymes according to dietary habits and general wellness. Sialochemistry is a valid alternative to the haematochemical analysis for the evaluation of animal health and nutritional status. At present, very little knowledge is available on health status and pathology of crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) and no data are yet available on salivary enzymes. Between 2018 and 2020, a preliminary investigation of enzymatic activity on saliva samples was carried out from captured porcupines. In crested porcupine saliva, enzymatic activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin, N-Aminopeptidase, amylase, lignin peroxidise, cellulase and chitinase were recorded. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and alkaline phosphatase activity was also detected. The superoxide dismutase activity resulted higher (3.13 SD 3.58 U/mg proteins) than those of catalase (130.80 SD 110.65 mU/mg proteins) and glutathione S-transferase (20.21 SD 16.62 mM/mg proteins). Alkaline phosphatase activity resulted lower (5.91 SD 6.12 mU/mg proteins) than acidic phosphatase (19.00 SD 16.16 U/mg proteins) with the highest values of saliva alkaline phosphatases recorded in young individuals. These preliminary data bring new knowledge on crested porcupine saliva enzymes and may provide a useful tool for further investigation on the adaptive response of crested porcupine to different environmental condition and diet. Additional investigation concerning a possible alternative use of saliva enzymes as indicator of health and nutritional status of this rodent are desirable.

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The crested porcupine is a frequent host species in wildlife rescue centers and no guidelines for its management, liberation and post-liberation monitoring are yet available. Here, captive-grown porcupines’ behavior and survival in the wild after liberation were investigated and described for the first time. Management strategies adopted at the centers could affect porcupine adaptation to the natural environment. The detention of porcupettes in single cages and fed only human-supplied food may not ensure ethological welfare, nor a suitable behavioral development compatible with wildlife. The liberation of captive-grown porcupines should also be carefully planned to promote and increase the possibility of post-liberation success.

Senotainia tricuspis (Meigen, 1838) is a Sarcophagid dipteran endoparasitoid of Apis mellifera L., and myiasis, caused by this fly, is reported in several European, North African and Middle Eastern countries. Nevertheless, very little knowledge concerning the aggression and parasitisation behavior of S. tricuspis toward A. mellifera is available in the scientific literature, and the temporal pattern of aggression remains unclear. The aim of this investigation was to describe the aggressive behavior of S. tricuspis and to provide data on pupation and adult emergence in order to identify further tools for the control of senotainiosis in beekeeping. Data were collected in an apiary in Pisa province (Tuscany, Italy), where observations of aggressive behavior were conducted indirectly by using a VHS camera and also directly by an observer. Four behavioral categories of the attack were described. A total of 55 aggressions, 21 beecatchers, 104 chases and 6 parasitization events were recorded with the camera. Slow-motion recording analyses of the parasitization episodes resulted in contact of at least 1/6 s between the parasitoid and the host. Through four days of direct observations, a total of 1633 aggression events were recorded. The daily temporal pattern of the number of aggressions showed two main peaks: one during the morning hours (i.e., from 10:00 to 11:00) and one in the afternoon (i.e., from 15:00 to 17:00). The morphometric data on the first-instars of S. tricuspis allowed us to hypothesize a penetration in the bee through its prothoracic spiracle as a modality of entrance in the host body. Third-instars successfully pupate when sinking in topsoil or clay soil, and adults emerge when left to a 4 °C overwintering period of six months. Furthermore, the high mortality rate of those larvae that did not sink and did not pupate successfully suggests that reaching a certain depth in the soil is a determining factor for larvae survival and that mulch and/or minimum soil tillage could prevent severe senotainiosis in apiaries.

Osmia cornuta Latr. is largely managed worldwide for the pollination of orchard crops, playing a key role in the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and ensuring economic and social benefits for human society. The management techniques of this pollinator include the possibility of delaying emergence from cocoons after diapause, allowing for the pollination of later-blooming fruit crops. In this study, the mating behaviour of bees emerging at the natural time (Right Emergence Insects) and of late-emerged bees (Aged Emergence Insects) was described in order to test if a delay in emergence could affect the mating sequence of O. cornuta. Markov analysis of the mating behaviour revealed the occurrence of antenna motion episodes that were repeated in a stereotyped manner at regular intervals during the mating sequence of both Right Emergence Insects and in Aged Emergence Insects. Pouncing, rhythmic and continuous emission of sound, motion of antennae, stretching of the abdomen, short and long copulations, scratching, inactivity, and self-grooming were identified as the stereotyped behavioural units of a behavioural sequence. The occurrence of short copulations, the frequency of which increased with the age of bees, could lead to a failure in the reproduction of the mason bee.

The predator Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) represents one of the major threats to honeybee survival. Viral spillover from bee to wasp has been supposed in several studies, and this work aims to identify and study the virome of both insect species living simultaneously in the same foraging area. Transcriptomic analysis was performed on V. velutina and Apis mellifera samples, and replicative form of detected viruses was carried out by strand-specific RT-PCR. Overall, 6 and 9 different viral types were reported in V. velutina and A. mellifera, respectively, and five of these viruses were recorded in both hosts. Varroa destructor virus-1 and Cripavirus NB-1/2011/HUN (now classified as Triato-like virus) were the most represented viruses detected in both hosts, also in replicative form. In this investigation, Triato-like virus, as well as Aphis gossypii virus and Nora virus, was detected for the first time in honeybees. Concerning V. velutina, we report for the first time the recently detected honeybee La Jolla virus. A general high homology rate between genomes of shared viruses between V. velutina and A. mellifera suggests the efficient transmission of the virus from bee to wasp. In conclusion, our findings highlight the presence of several known and newly reported RNA viruses infecting A. mellifera and V. velutina. This confirms the environment role as an important source of infection and indicates the possibility of spillover from prey to predator.

Italy is the only European country where the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) lives. A parasitological investigation was performed on faecal samples, aimed to evaluate Giardia and other parasites in a free-ranging crested porcupine population in Central Italy. Samples were collected from captured and road-killed individuals as well as from feeding areas and pathways. Collected faecal samples were examined by the Mini-FLOTAC technique and a rapid immunoassay for the search of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. faecal antigens. For the identification of Giardia species and genotypes, molecular analysis was performed on Giardia-positive samples, by using PCR protocols able to amplify glutamate dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase and a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes.A total of 52 crested porcupine faecal samples were collected and analysed. At microscopical examination, 39 out of 52 samples were found positive for at least a single parasite species and six different parasite taxa were identified. Forty-eight percent (25/52) of faecal samples were positive for Giardia spp. and 1.9% (1/52) for Cryptosporidium spp. at the immunoassay. Among 12 faecal samples belonging to different individuals, 33.3% (4/12) were positive for Giardia spp. By using the Mini-FLOTAC technique, positivity for Trichuris spp. (32.7%, 17/52), gastrointestinal strongyles (32.7%, 17/52), capillariid eggs (3.8%, 2/52) and coccidian oocysts (1.9%; 1/52) was also evidenced. Molecular analysis was performed on 17 out of 25 Giardia-positive isolates. At the SSU rDNA locus, expected bands were achieved for 12 out of 17 isolates and all samples were assigned to Giardia duodenalis assemblage B. Sequencing at tpi locus revealed potentially zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage AII (two isolates) and assemblage BIV (one isolate). The present study provides the first report of G. duodenalis infection in H. cristata. More in depth studies are needed on the impact and epidemiology of G. duodenalis and other identified parasites in crested porcupines. Keywords: Hystrix cristata, Nematodes, Protozoa, Giardia duodenalis, Potential zoonotic assemblages

Protein-supplemented artificial diets are widely used by beekeepers during winter and whenever food availability is low, yet no data are available concerning their effects on bees' health. In this work, the effects of two commercial diets enriched with 1.7% and 7.7% protein concentration on feed intake, survival rate, glucose oxidase, phenoloxidase and glutathione S-transferase in newly emerged and forager bees were tested. Administration of a 7.7% protein-enriched diet significantly reduced the lifespan of both newly emerged and forager bees, while only in foragers a significantly higher feed intake was recorded. In newly emerged bees, administration of a high-protein-enriched diet stimulated glucose oxidase production at the 10th day of feeding, determined a reduction of phenoloxidase and did not affect glutathione S-transferase activity. In forager bees, a high level of protein inclusion did not determine any significant variation in either glucose oxidase, phenoloxidase or glutathione S-transferase activity. Therefore, the results obtained in this investigation suggest that administration of commercial protein diets negatively affect honey bee health, determining an increase in mortality. Further investigations on the effect of concentration and quality of proteins are desirable to provide beekeepers with scientific evidence on protein feeding.

Gastrointestinal nematodes and protozoa and other parasite occurrences were evaluated in free-ranging wolf (Canis lupus italicus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations from natural and anthropized areas of Central Italy. Analyzed fecal samples were collected from 60 foxes and 40 wolves in the anthropized areas, and 41 foxes and 39 wolves in the natural areas. In foxes, hookworm infections (p < 0.0001) were more frequently recorded in the anthropized environment, while coccidia (p < 0.05) and Cryptosporidium spp. (p < 0.0001) were more frequent in the natural area. In wolves, a higher frequency of hookworms (p < 0.0001) was observed in natural areas, while coccidia were more common in the anthropized area (p < 0.05). Moreover, in the natural environment, trichuroid nematodes (p < 0.0001) were significantly more frequent in wolves than in foxes, while Cryptosporidium (p < 0.001) and Giardia duodenalis (p < 0.001) were more common in foxes. In the anthropic area, the occurrence of hookworms was found to be significantly higher in foxes (p < 0.0001), while trichuroid nematodes were more common in wolves (p < 0.0001). The obtained data are indicative of a different diffusion of specific parasite taxa in wolves and foxes living in the natural and/or anthropized environments examined herein.

Previous data on crested porcupine reproduction biology were mostly collected in captivity or semi-captivity due to its elusive, burrowing and mainly nocturnal habits. Between 2017 and 2019 the reproductive behaviour (i.e., intrapair mounting and copulation, birth and parental care) of free-ranging crested porcupine was documented and described. Nightly rhythms of single and multiple mounting occurred throughout the year while only two copulation events were recorded. Three months after both copulation events, the birth of porcupettes (porcupine per pair per year and the litter size observed ranged from 1 to 2 porcupettes. The first emerging of porcupettes from burrow occurred at 10–15 days after birth. Parents and sub-adults of the family actively perform parental care and the permanence of sub-adults within the family (i.e., from birth to dispersal) resulted to be at least 1 year. This investigation provides new useful insights on porcupine reproductive behaviour in the wild. Such new knowledge may be useful to the management of porcupines in wild, semiwild and captive condition as well as to delineate the key habitat desiderata of this rodent.

The interest in antimicrobial compounds as feed additives is currently increasing. Among different options, tannins seem to have several beneficial effects when employed in animals diet. The present study aimed at investigating the influence on caecal microbial communities of the supplementation of a chestnut and quebracho tannins mix in meat rabbit's diet, also considering animals live performances. Four groups of rabbits were fed with a different diet: a control diet (C); a control diet with coccidiostat (CC), and two experimental diets with 0.3% (T0.3) and 0.6% (T0.6) chestnut and quebracho tannins mix. For microbial analysis, culture-dependent and culture-independent methods were employed. Live performances were not significantly affected by tannins mix supplementations, as well as culturable microbial loads of E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. C. perfringens was always under the detection limit. A consistent result was obtained by qPCR. As for PCR-DGGE analysis, the Richness and evenness (Shannon-Weiner index) of bacterial communities in caecum resulted significantly higher in control samples (C and CC) than in those from rabbit fed with tannin-containing diets. Sequencing analysis revealed that the phylum Firmicutes was less represented in samples from control groups. As for the methanogen archaeal DGGE, no significant differences were found in richness and diversity among different groups, all dominated by Methanobrevibacter spp.. This work highlights the potential antimicrobial effect of chestnut and quebracho tannins mix in an in vivo system revealed by molecular analysis.

The effects of dietary supplementation of tannins mix (quebracho and chestnut) in rabbit diet were evaluated for productive performances, health parameters and digestibility in order to quantify their practical utilisation in the rearing system. One-hundred and twenty Martini group hybrid rabbits of 30 days old were fed four different diets for 60 days. The diets were formulated as: basal diet (negative control, C), basal diet supplemented by 0.3% of tannins mix (T0.3), basal diet supplemented by 0.6% of tannins mix (T0.6) and basal diet supplemented with coccidiostat (positive control, CC). Live performances did not show any significant differences, moreover, no significant differences were observed for all carcase traits except for gastrointestinal tract (p = .015, lowest values for T0.3 diet). Also, digestibility of the feed and faecal microbial load was not influenced by tannins addition. Slight differences between the diets were detected in catalase and glutathione peroxidase concentrations in plasma, as a common trend was revealed with higher values of C than the other diets. From an economical point of view, T0.3 diet showed to be more profitable than CC and T0.6. Tannins addition might be taken into account as potential feed additive in rabbit feeds, as it does not affect negatively the productive performances, digestibility and induce a slight increase of antioxidant status.Highlights On an economical point of view tannin diet showed to be more profitable than a diet added with coccidiostat. Addition of tannins in rabbits’ feed did not affect negatively productive performances and digestibility. Tannins represent a valuable feed additive in rabbit farming as a slightly increase of antioxidant status was induced.

β-glucans can activate the animal innate immune system by acting as immune-modulators and inducing various stimulatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 1,3-1,6 β-glucans administered orally for 96 h on Apis mellifera workers (newly emerged and nurse bees). β-glucans were included in honey and syrup. Survival rate and phenoloxidase activity were measured. In both newly emerged and nurse bees, β-glucans supplementation did not affect survival rate (p > 0.05). Conversely, phenoloxidase activity was higher in both newly emerged bees (p = 0.048) and nurse bees (p = 0.014) fed with a honey diet enriched with β-glucans compared to those fed with only honey. In both the newly emerged and nurse bees, no statistical differences in phenoloxidase activity were recorded between the group fed with a syrup-based diet enriched with β-glucans and the control group (p > 0.05). The absence of significant variation in survival suggests that the potential negative effect of β-glucans in healthy bees could be mitigated by their metabolism. Conversely, the inclusion of β-glucans in a honey-based diet determined an increase of phenoloxidase activity, suggesting that the effect of β-glucan inclusion in the diet of healthy bees on phenoloxidase activity could be linked to the type of base-diet. Further investigations on β-glucans metabolism in bees, on molecular mechanism of phenoloxidase activation by 1,3-1,6 β-glucans, and relative thresholds are desirable. Moreover, investigation on the combined action of honey and β-glucans on phenoloxidase activity are needed.

The tiletamine-zolazepam mixture is a widely used anesthetic for chemical immobilization of wild mammals due to its short induction time, good muscle relaxation, smooth recovery with low convulsions occurrence, and minimal effect on respiration. An injection dose of 7–8 mg/kg of tiletamine-zolazepam has been proven to be an effective and safe immobilizing mixture for crested porcupines under field conditions. However, the occurrence of long immobilization and recovery times, with high excitement and convulsion during awakening, were recorded. In order to reduce such side effects after recovery, the effectiveness of a lower dosage (4–6 mg/kg) of tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil®) was tested. The results obtained confirm that the use of tiletamine-zolazepam in crested porcupine immobilization provides a quick induction, wide safety margin, and predictable awakening under field conditions. A smaller injection dosage of 5 mg/kg has been proven to be sufficient to ensure a short induction time (average: 7.1 min), with good muscle relaxation and little excitement of the animals during awakening. The lower dosage of tiletamine-zolazepam, while providing a shorter recovery time (average: 53.6 min), proves to be adequate for standard handling procedures. Furthermore, the smaller amount of tiletamine-zolazepam also ensures safe immobilization for pregnant individuals and porcupettes.

The crested porcupine is a widespread naturalized Italian rodent of African origin, nevertheless, very little information on the population abundance and its health status is available. In this study, the hematological and serum chemistry profile of 10 free-ranging captured crested porcupines was established for the first time. The mean hematological values resulted: 5.7 SD 0.4 M/&mu, L for red blood cells, 13.6 SD 0.8 g/dL for hemoglobin, 77.3 SD 5.7 fL for mean corpuscular volume and 30.1 SD 4.7 g/dL for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, 14.4 SD 7.2 K/&mu, L for white blood cells, and 557.0 SD 469.9 K/&mu, L for platelets. The mean urea and creatinine values resulted with 19.8 SD 8.3 mg/dL and 1.6 SD 3.0 mg/dL, respectively. The mean value of total protein was 6.7 SD 1.0 g/dL, with values of albumin higher than globulins. The mean activity of creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase was 927.3 SD 607.6 U/L, 199.2 SD 70.8 U/L, 16.9 SD 13.7 U/L, and 256 SD 75.8 U/L, respectively. Highest values of alkaline phosphatase were recorded in two porcupines presenting severe injuries with clear signs of infection. These preliminary results may be a helpful tool in order to assess porcupine health status.

Honeybee pathogens have an important role in honeybee colony mortality and colony losses; most of them are widely spread and necessitate worldwide solutions to contrast honeybee’s decline. Possible accepted solutions to cope with the spread of honeybee’s pathogens are focused on the study of experimental protocols to enhance the insect’s immune defenses. Honeybee’s artificial diet capable to stimulate the immune system is a promising field of investigation as ascertained by the introduction of 1,3-1,6 β-glucans as a dietary supplement. In this work, by collecting faecal samples of honeybees exposed to different dietary conditions of 1,3-1,6 β-glucans (0.5% and 2% w/w), it has been possible to investigate the Deformed wing virus (DWV) viral load kinetic without harming the insects. Virological data obtained by a one-step TaqMan RT-PCR highlighted the ability of 1,3-1,6 β-glucans to reduce the viral load at the 24th day of rearing. The results indicated that the diet supplemented with 1,3-1,6 β-glucans was associated with a dose-dependent activation of phenoloxidase. The control group showed a higher survival rate than the experimental groups. This research confirmed 1,3-1,6 β-glucans as molecules able to modulate honeybees’ defense pathways, and this is the first report in which the kinetic of DWV infection in honeybee faeces has been monitored by a RT-qPCR.

Italy is the only European country where the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) lives. A parasitological investigation was performed on faecal samples, aimed to evaluate Giardia and other parasites in a free-ranging crested porcupine population in Central Italy. Samples were collected from captured and road-killed individuals as well as from feeding areas and pathways. Collected faecal samples were examined by the Mini-FLOTAC technique and a rapid immunoassay for the search of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. faecal antigens. For the identification of Giardia species and genotypes, molecular analysis was performed on Giardia-positive samples, by using PCR protocols able to amplify glutamate dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase and a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes. A total of 52 crested porcupine faecal samples were collected and analysed. At microscopical examination, 39 out of 52 samples were found positive for at least a single parasite species and six different parasite taxa were identified. Forty-eight percent (25/52) of faecal samples were positive for Giardia spp. and 1.9% (1/52) for Cryptosporidium spp. at the immunoassay. Among 12 faecal samples belonging to different individuals, 33.3% (4/12) were positive for Giardia spp. By using the Mini-FLOTAC technique, positivity for Trichuris spp. (32.7%, 17/52), gastrointestinal strongyles (32.7%, 17/52), capillariid eggs (3.8%, 2/52) and coccidian oocysts (1.9%; 1/52) was also evidenced. Molecular analysis was performed on 17 out of 25 Giardia-positive isolates. At the SSU rDNA locus, expected bands were achieved for 12 out of 17 isolates and all samples were assigned to Giardia duodenalis assemblage B. Sequencing at tpi locus revealed potentially zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage AII (two isolates) and assemblage BIV (one isolate). The present study provides the first report of G. duodenalis infection in H. cristata. More in depth studies are needed on the impact and epidemiology of G. duodenalis and other identified parasites in crested porcupines., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Giardia and other parasites were assessed in free-ranging Hystrix cristata. • Six parasite taxa were identified in 39 out of 52 examined faecal samples. • Giardia duodenalis was prevalent and assemblages AII and BIV were identified. • This is the first report of G. duodenalis in the crested porcupine (H. cristata). • More studies are needed on the epidemiology of identified parasites in H. cristata.

Propolis antimicrobial activity has been limitedly studied in food, particularly in dairy products. We studied the antimicrobial activity of an alcoholic extract of an Italian propolis in sterile skim milk, pasteurized cow’s milk, and cow’s and goat’s whey cheese (ricotta). Following the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration on Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, the extract was employed at 2 and 5% (P2, P5), using controls with the same ethanol concentrations (E2, E5) and without any addition. In milk trials, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were tested. P2 and P5 samples registered significant decreases of Gram+ bacteria in skim milk. The same was true for P5 in cows’ milk, but only with S. aureus for P2. Ricotta was inoculated with L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and B. cereus and stored at 8.5°C. In cow’s milk ricotta, L. monocytogenes counts in P5 were always lower than control during the storage time, significantly so from the 14th day. In goat’s ricotta, L. monocytogenes counts in P5 were at least one logarithm lower than E5, whereas the extract didn’t show a significant effect on S. aureus and B. cereus. The antimicrobial activity of propolis, particularly on L. monocytogenes, could be employed in ready-to-eat refrigerated dairy products.

To investigate the effects of two nectar nonprotein amino acids, β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), on Osmia bicornis survival and locomotion, two groups of caged bees were fed with sugar syrup enriched with β-alanine and GABA, respectively. A further control group was fed with sugar syrup. Five behavioural categories were chosen according to the principle of parsimony and intrinsic unitary consistency from start to end, and recorded by scan sampling: two states (remaining under paper or in tubes) and three events (walking on net, feeding from flower and flying). We also analysed the amino acid content of haemolymph sampled from an additional 45 bees fed the same diets (15 per diet type). Bees fed with β-alanine had a significantly shorter survival time than those fed with the control and GABA diets. The GABA diet induced higher levels of locomotion than β-alanine. The former nonprotein amino acid was only detected in the haemolymph of bees fed GABA. The results suggest that insects consuming nonprotein amino-acid-rich diets absorb and transfer these substances to the haemolymph and that nonprotein amino acids affect survival and locomotion. Ecological consequences are discussed in the framework of plant reproductive biology.

A nest-trapping (NT) and a releasing and rearing (RR) campaign were performed in two similar areas of Tuscany (Italy), towards nest inducing and reproduction of Osmia cornuta Latr. For the NT campa...

Information concerning the pathogenic role of honey bee viruses in invasive species are still scarce. The aim of this investigation was to assess the presence of several honey bee viruses, such as Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Slow Paralysis Virus (SPV), Sac Brood Virus (SBV), Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), in Vespa velutina specimens collected in Italy during 2017. Results of this investigation indicate that among pathogens, replicative form of KBV and BQCV were detected, assessing the spillover effect of both these viruses from managed honey bees to hornets.

Propolis antimicrobial activity has been limitedly studied in food, particularly in dairy products. We studied the antimicrobial activity of an alcoholic extract of an Italian propolis in sterile skim milk, pasteurized cow’s milk, and cow’s and goat’s whey cheese (ricotta). Following the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration on Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, the extract was employed at 2 and 5% (P2, P5), using controls with the same ethanol concentrations (E2, E5) and without any addition. In milk trials, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were tested. P2 and P5 samples registered significant decreases of Gram+ bacteria in skim milk. The same was true for P5 in cows’ milk, but only with S. aureus for P2. Ricotta was inoculated with L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and B. cereus and stored at 8.5°C. In cow’s milk ricotta, L. monocytogenes counts in P5 were always lower than control during the storage time, significantly so from the 14th day. In goat’s ricotta, L. monocytogenes counts in P5 were at least one logarithm lower than E5, whereas the extract didn’t show a significant effect on S. aureus and B. cereus. The antimicrobial activity of propolis, particularly on L. monocytogenes, could be employed in ready-to-eat refrigerated dairy products.

Bee pollen is the result of flower pollen collecting and processing by honey bees. Due to its nutritional profile, it is considered a functional food. The present work aimed at evaluating labelling, pH, Aw, microbiological and mycotoxicological profile of 29 bee pollen samples (dried and fresh) purchased at retail in Tuscany (Italy). Only one pollen lacked more than two mandatory indications. Aw ranged from 0.19 to 0.77, while pH from 4.50 to 6.10. Fresh samples presented higher bacterial loads than dried samples. Total bacterial counts, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and molds and lactic acid bacteria ranges were 2.2–6.0

Royal Jelly (RJ), a honeybee hypopharyngeal gland secretion of young nurse and an exclusive nourishment for bee queen, has been used since ancient times for care and human health and it is still very important in traditional and folkloristic medicine, especially in Asia within the apitherapy. Recently, RJ and its protein and lipid components have been subjected to several investigations on their antimicrobial activity due to extensive traditional uses and for a future application in medicine. Antimicrobial activities of crude Royal Jelly, Royalisin, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, Jelleines, Major Royal Jelly Proteins against different bacteria have been reported. All these beehive products showed antimicrobial activities that lead their potential employment in several fields as natural additives. RJ and its derived compounds show a highest activity especially against Gram positive bacteria. The purpose of this Review is to summarize the results of antimicrobial studies of Royal Jelly following the timescale of the researches. From the first scientific applications to the isolation of the single components in order to better understand its application in the past years and propose an employment in future studies as a natural antimicrobial agent.

The employment of natural substances such as beehive products with a preventive and therapeutic purpose has been a widespread custom since ancient times. In this investigation, the antibacterial activity of 41 honey samples from different Ukraine regions has been evaluated. For each honey, melissopalynological and physico-chemical analysis were performed in order to determine botanical origin, pH, glucose and fructose contents and free acidity. So, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcusaureus CCM 4223, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium CCM 3807 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was assessed through the determination of MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) values by the microdilutions method. The results show that the most susceptible bacterial strain was L. monocytogenes. Its growth was inhibited at a honey concentration ranging from 0.094 to 0.188 g/mL. The most resistant bacterial strain was S. aureus. As concerns MBC values, L. monocytogenes was the most susceptible bacteria, while S. aureus was the most resistant. Helianthus spp. honeys was the most effective against all tested bacterial strains, followed by Robinia spp. and multifloral honeys. Promising results for MIC tests have been found for Brassica spp.

The effects of veterinary drugs, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids on the European honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola, 1806) ventriculum microbial profile were investigated. Total viable aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci, Escherichia coli, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., aerobic bacterial endospores and Enterococcus spp. were determined using a culture-based method. Two veterinary drugs (Varromed&reg, and Api-Bioxal&reg, ), two commercial dietary supplements (ApiHerb&reg, and ApiGo&reg, ) and two non-protein amino acids (GABA and beta-alanine) were administered for one week to honey bee foragers reared in laboratory cages. After one week, E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. were significantly affected by the veterinary drugs (p &lt, 0.001). Furthermore, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids induced significant changes in Staphylococcus spp., E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. (p &lt, 0.001). In conclusion, the results of this investigation showed that the administration of the veterinary drugs, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids tested, affected the ventriculum microbiological profile of Apis mellifera ligustica.GABA, beta-alanine, oxalic acid, diet effect, microbiota

American foulbrood disease (AFB) is the main devastating disease that affects honeybees' brood, caused by Paenibacillus larvae. The trend of the research on AFB has addressed the mechanisms by which P. larvae bacteria kill honeybee larvae. Since prepupae could react to the infection of AFB by increasing protease synthesis, the aim of this work was to compare protease activity in worker prepupae belonging to healthy colonies and to colonies affected by AFB. This investigation was performed by zymography. In gel, proteolytic activity was observed in prepupae extracts belonging only to the healthy colonies. In the prepupae extracts, 2D zimography followed by protein identification by MS allowed to detect Trypsin-1 and Chymotrypsin-1, which were not observed in diseased specimens. Further investigations are needed to clarify the involvement of these proteinases in the immune response of honeybee larvae and the mechanisms by which P. larvae inhibits protease production in its host.

In this article, we document the first isolation of a replication-competent deformed wing virus from Vespa crabro in Italy. Although the virus has never been isolated from this insect, the sequence of this virus shows a strong sequence homology with isolates obtained from Apis mellifera , which is considered its natural host.

The health status of the honey bee populations has attracted a great amount of interest in recent years. We investigated honey bee health in five natural protected areas in Italy from October 2009 to December 2010. Areas were selected to represent a wide range of bio‑geographical zones including alpine, continental, and Mediterranean. Within each of these natural protected areas, one apiary of 20 colonies near potential pollution sources (e.g., agricultural areas, industrial areas, or urban settlements) and another apiary of 20 colonies far from possible sources of pollutants have been placed. To monitor honey bee health, colony mortality was related to: honey bee pathologies, environment (Naturality Index, plant protection products and heavy metal exposure), and apiary management. Anthropogenic pollutants and pathogens did not have significant effects on colony mortality while environment and the poor colony management skills of the beekeepers did.

Considering the interest in avian semen processing and storage, the objective of this study was to identify the domestic fowl seminal plasma proteins using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry MS/MS. For three times in a 4-month period, seminal plasma was obtained from semen collected from four local male chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and prepared for two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A total of 83 spots were detected across all gels and analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF. Among these spots, 17 have been successfully identified. The most intensely stained spots were recognized as serum albumin, ovotransferrin, alpha-enolase, fatty acid binding protein, thioredoxin, trypsin inhibitor CITI-1 and gallinacin-9. From these proteins, two are characteristic of avian seminal plasma, the ovotransferrin and gallinacin-9, and one is specific of the Gallus species, the chicken trypsin inhibitor CITI-1.

Beeswax is the substance that forms the structure of a honeycomb; the bees secrete wax to build the honeycombs where to store honey. Thanks to its rich hydrophobic protective properties, the beeswax is in fact present within cosmetics and body products. Also, beeswax is used in the food industry: as a film to wrap cheese for maturing or as a food additive (E901) to give shine to the products. Exactly as the honey which it contains, beeswax is also characterized by several therapeutic properties of great interest to us; it is thought to be particularly effective in healing bruises, inflammation and burns. Recently, the interest of researchers has moved even on antimicrobial properties of beeswax although there are still few studies in the literature focused only on the action of beeswax. The few studies showed an antimicrobic effectiveness of beeswax against overall Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger; these inhibitory effects are enhanced synergistically with other natural products such as honey or olive oil. This minireview aims to be a collection of major scientific works that have considered the antimicrobial activity of beeswax alone or in combination with other natural products in recent years.

Land-use change and intensification threaten bee populations worldwide, imperilling pollination services. Global models are needed to better characterise, project, and mitigate bees' responses to these human impacts. The available data are, however, geographically and taxonomically unrepresentative; most data are from North America and Western Europe, overrepresenting bumblebees and raising concerns that model results may not be generalizable to other regions and taxa. To assess whether the geographic and taxonomic biases of data could undermine effectiveness of models for conservation policy, we have collated from the published literature a global dataset of bee diversity at sites facing land-use change and intensification, and assess whether bee responses to these pressures vary across 11 regions (Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe; North, Central and South America; Australia and New Zealand; South East Asia; Middle and Southern Africa) and between bumblebees and other bees. Our analyses highlight strong regionally-based responses of total abundance, species richness and Simpson's diversity to land use, caused by variation in the sensitivity of species and potentially in the nature of threats. These results suggest that global extrapolation of models based on geographically and taxonomically restricted data may underestimate the true uncertainty, increasing the risk of ecological surprises. Fil: De Palma, Adriana. Natural History Museum; Reino Unido. Imperial College London; Reino Unido Fil: Abrahamczyk, Stefan. Universitat Bonn; Alemania Fil: Aizen, Marcelo Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Albrecht, Matthias. Institute for Sustainability Sciences; Suiza Fil: Basset, Yves. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; Panamá Fil: Bates, Adam. Nottingham Trent University; Reino Unido Fil: Blake, Robin J.. University of Reading; Reino Unido Fil: Boutin, Céline. Carleton University; Canadá Fil: Bugter, Rob. Wageningen University and Research; Países Bajos Fil: Connop, Stuart. University of East London; Reino Unido Fil: Cruz López, Leopoldo. El Colegio de la Frontera del Sur; México Fil: Cunningham, Saul A.. CSIRO Exploration and Mining; Australia Fil: Darvill, Ben. University of Stirling; Reino Unido Fil: Diekötter, Tim. Geomar-Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel; Alemania. University Marburg; Alemania. Institute of Integrative Biology; Suiza Fil: Dorn, Silvia. ETH Zurich; Suiza Fil: Downing, Nicola. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Reino Unido Fil: Entling, Martin H.. Universitat Koblenz; Alemania Fil: Farwig, Nina. Universitat Phillips; Alemania Fil: Felicioli, Antonio. Università degli Studi di Pisa; Italia Fil: Fonte, Steven J.. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados Unidos Fil: Fowler, Robert. University of Sussex; Reino Unido Fil: Franzén, Markus. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; Alemania Fil: Goulson, Dave. Universität Göttingen; Alemania Fil: Grass, Ingo. Universität Göttingen; Alemania Fil: Hanley, Mick E.. University of Iowa; Estados Unidos Fil: Hendrix, Stephen D.. University of Iowa; Estados Unidos Fil: Herrmann, Farina. Universität Würzburg; Alemania Fil: Herzog, Felix. Institut for Sustainability Sciences; Suiza Fil: Holzschuh, Andrea. Universität Würzburg; Alemania Fil: Jauker, Birgit. Justus-Liebig University; Alemania Fil: Kessler, Michael. Institut für Systematische und Evolutionäre Botanik; Suiza Fil: Knight, M.E.. Plymouth University; Reino Unido Fil: Kruess, Andreas. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation; Alemania Fil: Lavelle, Patrick. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; Francia. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical; Colombia Fil: Le Féon, Violette Alice Marie. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia Fil: Lentini, Pia. University of Melbourne; Australia Fil: Malone, Louise A.. New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Marshall, Jon. Marshall Agroecology Ltd; Reino Unido Fil: Pachón, Eliana Martínez. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Colombia Fil: McFrederick, Quinn S.. University of California; Estados Unidos Fil: Morales, Carolina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Mudri Stojnic, Sonja. University of Novi Sad; Serbia Fil: Nates Parra, Guiomar. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Colombia Fil: Nilsson, Sven G.. Lund University; Suecia Fil: Öckinger, Erik. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Suecia Fil: Osgathorpe, Lynne. RSPB; Reino Unido Fil: Parra-H, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Colombia. Corporación para la Gestión de Servicios Ecosistémicos, Polinización y Abejas; Colombia Fil: Peres, Carlos A.. University of East Anglia; Reino Unido Fil: Persson, Anna S.. Lund University; Suecia Fil: Petanidou, Theodora. University of the Aegean; Grecia Fil: Poveda, Katja. Cornell University; Estados Unidos Fil: Power, Eileen F.. Trinity College Dublin; Irlanda Fil: Quaranta, Marino. Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi del l'Economía Agraria; Italia Fil: Quintero, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Rader, Romina. University of New England; Australia Fil: Richards, Miriam H.. Brock University; Canadá Fil: Roulston, Tai. University of Virginia; Estados Unidos Fil: Rousseau, Laurent. Université du Québec a Montreal; Canadá Fil: Sadler, Jonathan P.. University of Birmingham; Reino Unido Fil: Samnegård, Ulrika. University of Birmingham; Reino Unido Fil: Schellhorn, Nancy A.. CSIRO Exploration and Mining; Australia Fil: Schüepp, Christof. University of Bern; Suiza Fil: Schweiger, Oliver. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; Alemania Fil: Smith Pardo, Allan H.. United States Department of Agriculture; Estados Unidos. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Colombia Fil: Steffan Dewenter, Ingolf. Universität Würzburg; Alemania Fil: Stout, Jane C.. Trinity College Dublin; Irlanda Fil: Tonietto, Rebecca K.. Northwestern University; Estados Unidos. Chicago Botanic Garden; Estados Unidos Fil: Teja, Tscharntke. Universität Göttingen; Alemania Fil: Tylianakis, Jason M.. Imperial College London; Reino Unido. University of Canterbury; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Verboven, Hans A. F.. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; Bélgica Fil: Vergara, Carlos H.. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; México Fil: Verhulst, Jort. No especifíca; Fil: Westphal, Catrin. Universität Göttingen; Alemania Fil: Yoon, Hyung Joo. National Institute of Agricultural Science; Corea del Sur Fil: Purvis, Andy. Natural History Museum; Reino Unido. Imperial College London; Reino Unido

A male specimen of Bombus terrestris (L. 1758) showing an intermediate colour between the subspecies xanthopus Kriechbaumer 1870 endemic to Corsica and the subspecies terrestris ubiquitous in the mainland was found within samples collected in 1999 on the Tuscan coast. Hybrid specimens between these subspecies are common on some of the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, while others only have pure populations. The finding is significant as it could signal the spread of the subspecies xanthopus_to the mainland. We consider and discuss the circumstances of the finding.

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) mediate both perception and release of chemical stimuli in insects. The genome of the honey bee contains 21 genes encoding OBPs and 6 encoding CSPs. Using a proteomic approach, we have investigated the expression of OBPs and CSPs in the mandibular glands of adult honey bees in relation to caste and age. OBP13 is mostly expressed in young individuals and in virgin queens, while OBP21 is abundant in older bees and is prevalent in mated queens. OBP14, which had been found in larvae, is produced in hive workers' glands. Quite unexpectedly, the mandibular glands of drones also contain OBPs, mainly OBP18 and OBP21. We have expressed three of the most represented OBPs and studied their binding properties. OBP13 binds with good specificity oleic acid and some structurally related compounds, OBP14 is better tuned to monoterpenoid structures, while OBP21 binds the main components of queen mandibular pheromone as well as farnesol, a compound used as a trail pheromone in the honey bee and other hymenopterans. The high expression of different OBPs in the mandibular glands suggests that such proteins could be involved in solubilization and release of semiochemicals.

The crested porcupine ( Hystrix cristata L., 1758) is the largest rodent among the Italian fauna. It is nocturnal, monogamous, herbivorous and lives in burrows that could be self made as well as made by other mammals such as fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) and badger ( Meles meles ). It exhibits moonlight avoidance and male performs parental care. In Europe, distribution of the species is limited to Italy, although the presence of porcupine in Balkans is still debated. Outside Europe crested porcupine distribution includes parts of northwestern Africa from Morocco to Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa from Gambia to Tanzania.

An expressed sequence tag database of the freshwater fish parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ciliophora) was analyzed to seek for proteases potentially involved in the invasion and degradation of host tissues during infection. The translation of the database revealed two cathepsin L cysteine proteases (Icp1 and Icp2) of the C1A peptidase subfamily. The analysis of Icp1 and Icp2 sequences suggested that both proteases would be synthesized as preproproteins, with a mature domain of 27.9 and 22.8 kDa, respectively. Their expression level was determined in the trophont parasitic stage, in the tomont reproductive stage, and in the theront infective stage by real-time RT-PCR. ICP1 and ICP2 were significantly upregulated in trophont and theront stages in comparison with the tomont stage. Mature peptides of Icp1 and Icp2 were identified in crude extracts of I. multifiliis trophonts by LC-MS/MS. Zymograms showed three to seven activity bands at the optimum pH of cathepsin L cysteine proteases. Two bands displaying cysteine protease activity were identified by inhibition with E-64. They represented the major proteolytic activity of the trophont stage at pH 5-7, suggesting that cysteine proteases play an important role in the infection process.

The recent availability of the honey-bee Apis mellifera genome and trascriptome of both the female castes, has stimulated new efforts in investigating the protein composition of royal jelly (RJ), its role in caste differentiation and its quality and typicality by a proteomic approach. This study is aimed both to separate and identify proteins of royal jelly and to detect some of them in honey-bee pollen-bread by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and by de novo sequencing. All the identified proteins belonged to the Apis mellifera genome. Apalbumin 1 was also confirmed to be present in honey-bee pollen-bread where the presence of apalbumin 2 was also found. In addition several fragments of apalbumin 1 and apalbumin 3 were also found in RJ. These could be the result of protease activity other than that of serine-protease. This study is a contribution to the description of royal jelly proteome.

L’ecosistema alveare, sia selvatico che allevato razionalmente, con le sue componenti biotopiche e biocenotiche, costituisce un’importante risorsa rifugio e trofica per molti animali che non siano le api. La struttura del nido e i favi nel caso di un alveare selvatico e/o ferale o la struttura dell’arnia e dei telaini, se allevata, forniscono riparo da predatori e rifugio termico a molti animali di piccola taglia. Le api adulte e negli stadi pre-immaginali, associate ai bozzoli e al polline, costituiscono un’importante fonte proteica, il miele e un’importante fonte di zuccheri e vitamine, mentre la gelatina reale e le larve forniscono lipidi.

I rospi e le rane non rappresentano un problema per l’apicoltura; cio non toglie che alcune specie siano capaci di nutrirsi di api, come il Bufo bufo Linnaeus, 1758 e il Bufo vulgaris Laurenti, 1768, ambedue rospi europei [1]. Anche tra le rane, sia la esculenta che la temporaria sono state osservate mangiare api, rispettivamente in Polonia e Inghilterra [2]. I rospi possono anche posizionarsi in fronte a un alveare e catturare le api appena si affacciano al predellino di volo [3]. In centro America, e dopo la sua introduzione anche in Australia, il Bufo marinus tende ad aggregarsi con altri individui della stessa specie in fronte all’apiario, causando cosi qualche danno. Questo rospo, nei paesi dove e stato introdotto, e risultato essere una specie invasiva responsabile di danni ecologici, in quanto compete con altri mangiatori di insetti, usurpandone la nicchia trofica. Va detto anche, pero, che Bufo marinus sembra essere uno dei limitatori naturali delle popolazioni di gruccioni, a loro volta considerati predatori di api [4]. In generale, pero, al di la del caso Bufo marinus, i rospi e le rane sono animali da salvaguardare e il loro valore ecologico e di gran lunga maggiore del potenziale danno in apicoltura.

Le malattie possono influire seriamente sulla sopravvivenza e sul successo riproduttivo degli organismi viventi e rappresentano un potente agente di selezione naturale. La crescente consapevolezza dello stretto rapporto che intercorre tra socialita e malattie ha portato negli ultimi anni a un interesse sempre piu vivo da parte della comunita scientifica e a interrogativi di tipo generale su questo affascinante argomento della biologia: che ruolo ricopre la socialita nell’evoluzione della resistenza alle malattie? L’alta densita di individui, spesso associata alle colonie di insetti sociali, le rende piu suscettibili alle infezioni e alla trasmissione di patogeni? La vita di gruppo e in grado di offrire nuovi meccanismi di cooperazione che permettono di abbassare il rischio di incorrere in malattie ed epidemie? Le conoscenze fino ad oggi acquisite suggeriscono che la socialita sia generalmente associata a una maggiore esposizione ai patogeni e al rischio di epidemie [1, 2]. Le cause primarie sono da ricercarsi soprattutto in fattori intrinseci alla socialita stessa, quali l’alta densita di popolazione, il frequente contatto fisico tra i compagni di nido e la ridotta variabilita genetica [2–4]. Nonostante cio, gli imenotteri sociali (api, vespe e formiche) e le termiti hanno avuto un enorme successo in tutti gli ecosistemi a conferma di efficaci strategie e meccanismi di difesa evoluti nei confronti di numerosi agenti patogeni. Studi recenti hanno di fatto dimostrato che il comportamento sociale puo, in alcuni casi, anche essere associato a una riduzione del carico parassitario a causa di risposte immunitarie densita-dipendenti o strategie difensive collettive [5, 6]. La socialita permette, infatti, di acquisire un alto grado di protezione contro i parassiti a livello di colonia, con difese comportamentali rese possibili solamente grazie alla collaborazione di tutti i membri del gruppo [5–7]. Il fatto che la socialita porti da un lato all’aumento del rischio di trasmissione di malattie e, dall’altro, a nuove strategie difensive non rappresenta una contraddizione ma e una diretta conseguenza delle dinamiche coevolutive che si instaurano ogni volta che un parassita incontra il suo ospite. Continui adattamenti e contro-adattamenti derivanti dalla corsa agli armamenti tra ospite e parassita vengono, infatti, messi continuamente in atto da entrambe le parti in un sistema evolutivo costantemente in equilibrio [8].

The paper reports the results obtained over a period of 19 months (June 1992 to December 1993) from the study of the mounting behaviour of a pair of crested porcupines kept in semicaptivity under red light illumination. Forty‐two mounting episodes which occurred inside the artificial burrow were recorded by a videocamera and subsequently analysed to describe the sequence of the mounting and copulation behaviour. The crested porcupine has a rather articulate courtship pattern. In this species, as in the Indian crested porcupine, mounting and copulation occurs throughout the year and appears to be independent of the reproductive status.