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Heavy metals and metalloids in the environment are recognised as a threat to the health of organism. Terrestrial birds are ideal subjects for the examination of these pollutants because of their high mobility and high intra- and interspecific variation in trophic levels. We examined the contents of 6 trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Sb and V) and metalloids (As) in the liver, kidney, muscle, and feathers of woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola) from Southern Italy by a validated ICP-MS method. Significant differences in trace elements were found in all the tissues examined (p < 0.05). The highest Sb and Cr levels were found in feathers samples with mean values of 0.019 mg/Kg and 0.085 mg/Kg, respectively. High Pb levels were found in muscle, with 23 % of the samples exceeding the limits set by the European Union. Cd was predominantly found in the kidney samples (0.76 mg/Kg). Vanadium was the less abundant trace metal, showing the highest concentrations in the liver (0.028 ± 0.011 mg/Kg). Higher As levels were found in muscle (0.02 ± 0.015 mg/Kg). No significant differences between sex and age classes (juveniles vs. adults) were found, nor were there correlations between morphometric parameters and trace metal/metalloid contents. Principal Component Analysis determined differences in metal accumulation between tissues. Feathers were confirmed as useful indicators of metal contamination. The results of this work confirmed that the accumulation of toxic elements in the tissues of woodcocks is primarily influenced by ecological traits such as feeding habits and migration status. Statistical analysis of the tissues would seem to exclude important accumulation phenomena of Pb. The high levels found in the muscle could be due to lead ammunition. This work provides the first data on the accumulation of As, Cr, Sb, and V in woodcocks tissue, providing a more comprehensive insight into the potential impact of these pollutants on birds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rickettsiae (family Rickettsiaceae, order Rickettsiales) are obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by arthropod vectors. Several Rickettsia species causing vector-borne rickettsioses belong to the spotted fever group (SFG). Traditionally, Rickettsia conorii has been considered as the main etiologic agent of Mediterranean spotted fever. However, the molecular characterization of rickettsiae allowed identifying other species involved in spotted fever in the Mediterranean region. In this study, 42 ticks collected from humans were subjected to morphological identification and molecular characterization of Rickettsia species potentially involved in human rickettsiosis in Sicily. Fourteen ticks positive to at least two Rickettsia spp. molecular markers were used in the study. Identified Rickettsia spp. included R. conorii, found in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rickettsia aeschlimannii found in Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Dermacentor marginatus and Ixodes ricinus, Rickettsia massiliae found in R. turanicus and R. sanguineus s.l., and Rickettsia slovaca found in D. marginatus and R. sanguineus s.l. Our results showed a great variety of zoonotic Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from humans in Sicily. The Rickettsia spp. reported in this study were identified in previously recognized or new potential tick vectors in Europe, highlighting the risk of infection by different Rickettsia spp. for humans bitten by ticks in Sicily., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)