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Extraintestinal nematodes of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) are a wide group of parasites that infect wild and domestic carnivores and occasionally humans. Nematodes in the cardiopulmonary system, stomach, urinary apparatus and muscle tissue of 165 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from north-west Italy (Liguria and Piedmont) were investigated between 2009 and 2012. Of the cardiopulmonary nematodes, a high prevalence of Angiostrongylus vasorum and Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila) was found, 78.2% and 41.8% respectively; Crenosoma vulpis (15.8%) and Filaroides spp. (4.8%) were also found. Spirocerca lupi (23.5%), Aonchotheca putorii (syn. Capillaria putorii) (8.6%) and Physaloptera spp. (2.5%) were detected in the stomach and Pearsonema plica (syn. Capillaria plica) (56.8%) in the bladder. Eucoleus boehmi (syn. Capillaria boehmi) was also detected in the nasal cavities of one of the two foxes examined. A coprological examination revealed eggs of E. aerophilus, A. putorii, S. lupi, Physaloptera spp. and eggs of intestinal parasites. Filarial worms were absent in all the 165 animals examined, nor was there evidence of Trichinella spp. in any of the foxes. The foxes were found to host a high prevalence of many species of extraintestinal nematodes. The prevalence of A. vasorum in foxes found in the present study is among the highest in Europe. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, E. boehmi and Filaroides spp. have never been reported before in this host in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although rare in developed countries, most acquired human cases of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection are associated with travel to developing countries where HEV is endemic. Increasingly, however, sporadic, non-travel-related HEV cases have been reported in developed countries. In Italy, only two studies to date have investigated the presence of HEV in wild boars. Here, we report a serological and virological survey of HEV in wild boar populations in northwestern Italy. During the hunting season, 594 serum and 320 liver samples were collected and screened for antibodies to HEV and HEV RNA. Overall, the seroprevalence was 4.9 %, and HEV RNA was detected in 12 liver samples (p = 3.7 %). No serum samples tested positive for HEV RNA. Phylogenetic analysis of the ORF2 region revealed that the isolates clustered within genotype 3, subtypes 3e and 3f, and were closely related to HEV strains previously detected in domestic pigs farmed in the same geographic area. Although the routes of viral transmission are still poorly understood, our data show that HEV genotypes 3e and 3f circulate in wild boars in northwestern Italy. Also, they provide evidence that autochthonous HEV infections in Italy could also be linked to wild boar populations, suggesting an increased risk for domestically acquired HEV infection in humans through wild animals. The HEV sequences determined in this study may be useful for comparing present and future human isolates to identify transmission events between wild boar, humans, and farmed pigs. Similarly to other more commonly known zoonotic agents, HEV should be included in national or regional disease surveillance programs for wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito-borne arboviruses ( MBV) represent an important health problem, causing diseases and deaths both in human and animals mainly in tropical and subtropical countries. In recent years, they have emerged also in temperate regions where they have caused epidemics. Of mounting concern among public health authorities in Europe are zoonotic mosquito-borne viruses belonging to the Flavivirus genus. The aim of this study was to carry out active surveillance on mosquitoes in two regions of northwestern Italy (Liguria and Piedmont) to gain a better knowledge of the mosquito populations by identifying potential vectors of arboviruses and to investigate arbovirus infection. A network of 61 CO2 CDC traps was placed in the study area; sampling was conducted from May to October 2011. A total of 46 677 mosquitoes was collected, identified to species level, and classified according to their vector competence. Mosquitoes collected from 16 traps, selected according to risk-based factors, were tested by biomolecular analysis to detect flavivirus infection. This study highlights the importance of entomological surveillance in northwestern Italy because most of the mosquitoes collected were found to have high vector competence. Moreover, the risk-based virological surveillance allowed to detect the presence of mosquito flavivirus RNA, phylogenetically closely related to the MMV Spanish isolate, in three pools and USUV RNA in one pool in new areas where it has not been reported previously. The availability of continuous data on mosquito populations provides invaluable information for use in cases of an epidemic emergency. Maintenance of this integrated system for the next years will provide stronger data that can inform the design of a risk-based surveillance for the early detection of the occurrence of outbreaks of tropical MBDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the result of examinations on striped dolphins (stenella coeruleoalba) for cerebral toxoplasmosis stranded in the Ligurian sea coast in Italy. The authors reveal that severe, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis was detected in 4 striped dolphins. They mention that other findings included severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia and pulmonary atelectasis, consolidation and emphysema.

Summary A detailed macroscopic and histological description is given of tuberculous-like lesions in mandibular lymph nodes obtained from wild boar (Sus scrofa) collected in Italy during the 1995/1996 hunting season, as well as a correlation with results obtained from a Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex target amplified test system. According to macroscopic appearance, lesions were largely represented by caseous-necrotic-calcified granulomata (n=272/285; 95.4%), while histological investigations showed mainly necrotic-calcified (n=82/218; 37.6%) and fibronecrotic-calcified (n=81/218; 37.2%) lesions. When tested with a target rRNA amplification/hybridization technique to detect M. tuberculosis complex, 112 (43.6%) samples out of 275 tested gave positive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is an emerging zoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted in southern Europe by phlebotomine sand flies of the subgenus Phlebotomus (Larroussius). Endemic foci of CanL have been recorded in northern continental Italy since early 1990s and attributed to the northward expansion of vector populations due to climatic changes in association with travelling/relocated infected dogs from the southern Mediterranean littoral. In this study, further spread of endemic Leishmania foci was monitored during 2018-2019 in five regions (Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia), with focus to territories where investigations were not performed, or they have been inconclusive. Clinical cases of CanL identified by local veterinary practitioners and confirmed by reference diagnosis centers were regarded as autochthonous if their origin from, or travel to, areas endemic for CanL were excluded in the previous ≥2 years. Around these index cases, i) serosurveys for L infantum were carried out where indicated, ii) sampling from potential autochthonous cases in healthy or clinically-suspected resident dogs was intensified by collaborating veterinary practitioners, and iii) suitable sites were investigated for the presence of competent phlebotomine vectors. Fifty-seven municipalities whose enzootic status of CanL was unreported before 2018, were identified as endemic. The stability of 27 foci recorded over the past decade, was also confirmed. Competent phlebotomine vectors, mainly Phlebotomus perniciosus, were collected for the first time in 23 municipalities. The newly recorded endemic municipalities appear to be distributed over a west-to-east decreasing gradient: 30 in Piedmont, 21 in Lombardy, 4 in Veneto and 2 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. As regards Veneto, it should be noted that a relatively restricted territory was investigated as several municipalities of the region had already been surveyed and detected as endemic for CanL in the past. Cold climate conditions of the easternmost region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia bordering non-endemic territories of Slovenia, are probably less favorable to L infantum transmission., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) is considered an emerging threat having caused several epidemics worldwide. Only few DMV genomes are publicly available. Here, we report the use of target enrichment directly from cetacean tissues to obtain novel DMV genome sequences, with sequence comparison and phylodynamic analysis. RNA from 15 tissue samples of cetaceans stranded along the Italian and French coasts (2008-2017) was purified and processed using custom probes (by bait hybridization) for target enrichment and sequenced on Illumina MiSeq. Data were mapped against the reference genome, and the novel sequences were aligned to the available genome sequences. The alignment was then used for phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis using MrBayes and BEAST. We herein report that target enrichment by specific capture may be a successful strategy for whole-genome sequencing of DMV directly from field samples. By this strategy, 14 complete and one partially complete genomes were obtained, with reads mapping to the virus up to 98% and coverage up to 7800X. The phylogenetic tree well discriminated the Mediterranean and the NE-Atlantic strains, circulating in the Mediterranean Sea and causing two different epidemics (2008-2015 and 2014-2017, respectively), with a limited time overlap of the two strains, sharing a common ancestor approximately in 1998.

Toxoplasmosis represents an important public health issue, with the consumption of raw or undercooked meat being a major way of human infection. The role of beef in the transmission of the parasite to humans is questioned due to lower quantity of tissue cysts compared with other meat-producing species. However, the habit of consuming raw beef is regionally diffused, and the risk posed by Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle should not be overlooked. Therefore, to update information on T. gondii in cattle reared in Italy, a multicentric seroepidemiological survey was designed and implemented in four Northern regions (Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont, and Trentino Alto Adige) and Sardinia. Overall, a convenience sampling was performed, collecting 1444 serum samples from 57 beef cattle herds. Thirteen beef breeds were sampled, besides cross-breed; bovines age varied from 3 months to over 12 years. Sera were tested with a commercial ELISA for the detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies. Individual and herd data were analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. A T. gondii seroprevalence of 10.2% was recorded, with differences among regions and values ranging from 5.3% in Liguria to 18.6% in the Piedmont region (p value = 0.0001). Both young and adult animals and males and females tested positive, without any significant difference (age and gender: p value > 0.05). Lower seroprevalence values were recorded in cattle born in Italy (8.7%) if compared with animals imported from abroad (13.4%) (p value = 0.046). The spread of T. gondii in beef cattle destined to Italian consumers is confirmed, suggesting the need of continuous monitoring of the infection.

Brucella ceti infections have been increasingly reported in cetaceans, although a very limited characterization of Mediterranean Brucella spp. isolates has been previously reported and relatively few data exist about brucellosis among cetaceans in Italy. To address this gap, we studied 8 cases of B. ceti infection in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Italian coastline from 2012 to 2018, investigated thanks to the Italian surveillance activity on stranded cetaceans. We focused on cases of stranding in eastern and western Italian seas, occurred along the Apulia (N = 6), Liguria (N = 1) and Calabria (N = 1) coastlines, through the analysis of gross and microscopic findings, the results of microbiological, biomolecular and serological investigations, as well as the detection of other relevant pathogens. The comparative genomic analysis used whole genome sequences of B. ceti from Italy paired with the publicly available complete genomes. Pathological changes consistent with B. ceti infection were detected in the central nervous system of 7 animals, showing non-suppurative meningoencephalitis. In 4 cases severe coinfections were detected, mostly involving Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV). The severity of B. ceti-associated lesions supports the role of this microbial agent as a primary neurotropic pathogen for striped dolphins. We classified the 8 isolates into the common sequence type 26 (ST-26). Whole genome SNP analysis showed that the strains from Italy clustered into two genetically distinct clades. The first clade comprised exclusively the isolates from Ionian and Adriatic Seas, while the second one included the strain from the Ligurian Sea and those from the Catalonian coast. Plotting these clades onto the geographic map suggests a link between their phylogeny and topographical distribution. These results represent the first extensive characterization of B. ceti isolated from Italian waters reported to date and show the usefulness of WGS for understanding of the evolution of this emerging pathogen., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging and widespread zoonosis, worldwide distributed, due to a wide variety of wild and domestic animal species able to act as natural or accidental hosts. During last years, in Europe, as in Italy, wild boar (Sus scrofa) population is increased. This animal represents a reservoir for different etiological agents, such as Leptospira. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in wild boar hunted in Liguria region (Italy) during two-year hunting seasons. From 611 hunted wild boar, kidneys were collected. DNA was extracted from each organ and different targets were used to detect pathogenic (lipL32 gene), intermediate (16S rRNA gene) and saprophytic (23S rRNA gene) Leptospira by Taqman-based RealTime-PCR assays. Overall, kidneys were sampled from 282 adults, 155 sub-adults and 174 young wild boar (in total 314 males and 298 females). By RealTime PCR 77 kidneys were positive and, among these, 74 resulted positive for pathogenic (96.10%) and 3 (3.90%) for intermediate Leptospira. No significant differences in pathogenic Leptospira infection ratio were detected between male (11.50%) and female (12.75%). Only 13 sub-adult animals (8.39%) resulted infected by pathogenic Leptospira; 23 young animals (13.22%) and 38 adult animals (13.47%) were positive. The results of this study confirmed the importance of wild boar in the epidemiology of leptospirosis, which is able to infect other animal species (domestic and wild) including humans. Rarely, intermediate Leptospira could be able to infect wild boar with a renal localization that can contribute to their shedding and circulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Canine distemper (CD) may pose a serious threat to Alpine wild carnivores and affect their population dynamics. Since 2006, the strain Europe Wildlife 2006-09, a distinct CD virus subgroup within viral lineage Europe 1 (EU1) characterized by increased virulence and host range expansion, has been linked to multiple CD outbreaks in Alpine wild carnivores. The aim of this study was to fill knowledge gaps about ongoing Alpine outbreaks of CD. To do this, we report on the circulation of canine distemper virus (CDV) and outbreaks of CD in Alpine wild carnivores in northwest Italy. A specific diagnostic protocol applied to a sample of 548 wild carnivores collected between January 2013 and December 2015 revealed the circulation of CDV belonging to the EU1 lineage. All isolates were carriers of amino-acid mutations defining the cluster Europe Wildlife 2006-09. A self-maintained multihost pathogen system may have developed in northwest Italy in which interspecies transmission from red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) to other noncanid species enhanced pathogen maintenance in the system.

Background: Invasive mosquito species (IMS) of the genus Aedes are a cause of increasing concern in Europe owing to their ability to vector important human viral diseases. Entomological surveillance to early detect alien mosquito and flavivirus circulation in Liguria, northwest Italy, has been carried out since 2011., Results: The invasive species Aedes koreicus was first detected in Genoa in September 2015, when a male specimen was caught near the international airport; species identity was confirmed by genetic analysis. Over the next three years, 86 more adult specimens were trapped at sites throughout the city, accounting for 0.50% of all mosquitoes and 1.04% of Aedes sp. mosquitoes trapped in Genova in the four-year period 2015-2018. So far, no other monitored sites in Liguria have revealed the presence of this species. Ovitraps at two sites became positive for the species in July-August 2017. All female Ae. koreicus pools analysed were negative in biomolecular assays for Flavivirus., Conclusions: Our findings of Ae. koreicus in Genoa constitute, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of the species in northwest Italy and in a Mediterranean port city. The species appears to be established; trapping and climatic data support survival of Ae. koreicus in the area through three consecutive winters. Monitoring of adult mosquitoes detected the species two years before its discovery with ovitraps; trapping for adult specimens appears to be a more effective tool for the early detection of IMS. The airport (located near the commercial port area) and the flower market are the most probable sites of introduction; however, the exact time and place of arrival of this IMS in Liguria remain unknown. Based on morphological and genetic data, a common origin for most of the Ae. koreicus populations established in Europe is suspected. So far, no control measures have been adopted in Genoa and the species will probably colonize an even wider area in the next few years.

Between 2015 and the beginning of 2018 (January-March), 30 cetaceans were found stranded along the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy. Necropsies were performed in 22 cases and infectious diseases resulted the most common cause of death. Three striped dolphins, showed a severe coinfection involving the monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium (Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:-). The isolates were characterized based on antimicrobial resistance, Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem-repeat Analysis (MLVA) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). All isolates demonstrated the same multidrug resistant genotype (ASSuT isolates), showed three different MLVA profiles, two of which closely related, and were identified as Sequence Type 34. Moreover, Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) analysis confirmed strong correlations between two out of the three isolates. To our knowledge, S. 1,4,[5],12:i:-, one of the most common serovars in cases of human infection and food sources worldwide, has not previously been described in marine mammals, and reports of Salmonella-associated disease in free-ranging cetaceans are rare. These results highlight the role of cetaceans as sentinel species for zoonotic and terrestrial pathogens in the marine environment, suggest a potential risk for cetaceans and public health along the North Western Italian coastline and indicate cetaceans as a novel potential reservoir for one of the most widespread Salmonella serovars.

An unusual mortality event (UME) of striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba occurred in the period July to December 2016 along the Italian Ionian coastline. We conducted a complete postmortem examination on 28 specimens and detected dolphin morbillivirus (DMV), by means of biomolecular analyses, in the target tissues of 17 animals. Unlike previous outbreaks occurring in the Mediterranean Sea in 2011 and 2013, we observed typical pathological changes suggestive of morbilliviral infection in an acute/subacute phase and immunohistochemical reactivity. The same findings were observed in 13 other specimens beached along the Italian coastline during 2016 with no temporal and geographical relationship with the ongoing epidemic outbreak. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis showed that DMV sequences detected in Italy in 2016 clustered with those identified in Portugal and Galicia (Spain), representing a novel DMV strain of Atlantic origin which entered the Mediterranean Sea and affected a naïve striped dolphin population. DMV sequences detected in the previous Mediterranean outbreaks exhibited a marked genetic relatedness and diverged from those detected in cetaceans stranded along the Galician and Portuguese coasts since 2007.

Meat products from HEV-infected reservoir animal species are capable of transmitting HEV to humans and represent a public health concern. Human HEV cases have been linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked pig liver sausages, pork, and game meats, such as wild boars and deer worldwide. Direct exposure to swine or wild game species might also represent a source of HEV transmission especially for veterinarians, hunters, or butchers. A limited amount of data is available on HEV prevalence in wild boars in Italy and no data are available for other wild game species intended for human consumption. In this study, the circulation of HEV in four different animal species hunted in north-western Italy was evaluated to gain insight into the infection levels and the genetic diversity of the virus in such animal populations. Liver samples of 372 wild boars, 30 roe deer, 47 European hares and 38 coypus were analyzed for HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR; positive samples were then sequenced and submitted to phylogenetic analysis. HEV RNA was detected in the livers of 7/372 (1.9%) wild boars tested, while no sample was positive for roe deer, European hare, and coypu. Phylogenetic analysis showed that wild boar HEV sequences belonged to HEV subtypes 3e, 3c, and 3f. Our results indicate that HEV is circulating only in wild boar among the considered game species in north-western Italy and suggest a potential zoonotic risk related to handling and/or consumption of raw or undercooked meat and products made of the liver from this species.

Questing ticks were collected during monthly dragging sessions (March-August 2011) in three provinces of the Liguria region, north-western Italy, to evaluate the species occurrence, spatial distribution and relative abundance. A total of 1,464 specimens were collected in 94 dragging sites. Ixodes ricinus was the most abundant species (81.3 % of collected ticks), followed by Haemaphysalis punctata (10.9 %), Dermacentor marginatus (5.5 %), Ixodes frontalis (1.3 %), and Rhipicephalus spp. (0.9 %). Ixodes frontalis is reported for the first time in Liguria. An aggregation of I. ricinus positive sites was observed in inland areas characterized by dense forests dominated by deciduous trees (Castanetum and Fagetum phytoclimatic zones), especially in the west of the region where the differences in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were higher between inland and coastal sites. Random-effect logistic regression was used to model the associations of NDVI and season with the probability of finding host-seeking I. ricinus nymphs [corrected]. The NDVI was a good predictor of I. ricinus nymphs abundance, and confirmed its utility in discriminating habitat suitability for this vector in north-western coastal Italy, where dry habitat conditions may limit the distribution of this species.

Nine striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba and 1 bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus stranded along the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy were necropsied between February 2011 and April 2012. Macroscopic and histological findings were observed in the hearts of all animals and included saccular aneurysms of the pulmonary trunk (n = 3), cirsoid aneurysms (n = 1), right ventricular dilation (n = 1) associated with hypoplasia of the tricuspid chordae (n = 1), valvular fibrosis (n = 3), mitral leaflet thickening (n = 1), left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 1), lymphocytic myocarditis (n =1), and Lambl's excrescences (n = 4). To our best knowledge Lambl's excrescences, aneurysm of the pulmonary trunk, and cirsoid aneurysms have not previously been described in marine mammals, and some of these findings should be taken into account as possible causes of dolphin morbidity, mortality, and stranding.

CBed bugs (Cimex lectularius) have been a common problem for humans for at least 3,500 years and in Europe their presence was endemic until the end of World War II, when infestations began to decrease. However, since the beginning of the 21st century new cases of infestations have been reported in developed countries. Many theories have been put forward to explain this change of direction, but none has been scientifically proven. The aim of this study is to provide some reports of bed bug infestations in Northern Italy (Liguria, Piedmont and Aosta valley regions) and a brief summary about their identification, clinical significance, bioecology and control. From 2008 to date, 17 bed bug infestations were identified in Northwest Italy. Knowledge about the presence and distribution of bed bugs in Italy is scanty, prior to this work only 2 studies reported the comeback of these arthropods in the Italian territory; further investigations would be necessary to better understand the current situation.

Calodium hepaticum (Bancroft, 1893) Moravec, 1982 (syn. Capillaria hepatica) is a cosmopolitan capillariid nematode, infecting mainly rodents and occasionally other mammals, including humans. Reports of C. hepaticum in canids are rare and the present one is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported case in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus) in Italy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the eggs of C. hepaticum allowed a precise description of the egg morphology, which is one of the most relevant specific characteristics of capillariid nematodes. The egg shell showed a fibrous beam-like network which differs from that of the eggs of closely related trichinelloid species. This characteristic can be useful especially in case of spurious infection, when misdiagnosis among different trichinelloids species can occur.

Morbilliviruses are recognized as biological agents highly impacting the health and conservation status of free-ranging cetaceans worldwide, as clearly exemplified by the two Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) epidemics of 1990-1992 and 2006-2008 among Mediterranean striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). After these two epidemics, morbilliviral infection (MI) cases with peculiar neurobiological features were reported in striped dolphins stranded along the Spanish coastline. Affected cetaceans showed a subacute-to-chronic, non-suppurative encephalitis, with brain lesions strongly resembling those found in human "subacute sclerosing panencephalitis" and "old dog encephalitis". Brain was the only tissue in which morbilliviral antigen and/or genome could be detected. Beside a case of morbilliviral encephalitis in a striped dolphin's calf stranded in 2009, we observed 5 additional MI cases in 2 striped dolphins, 1 bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and 2 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), all stranded in 2011 along the Italian coastline. Noteworthy, 3 of these animals (2 striped dolphins and 1 bottlenose dolphin) showed immunohistochemical (IHC) and/or biomolecular (PCR) evidence of morbilliviral antigen and/or genome exclusively in their brain, with 1 striped dolphin and 1 bottlenose dolphin also exhibiting a non-suppurative encephalitis. Furthermore, simultaneous IHC and PCR evidence of a Toxoplasma gondii coinfection was obtained in 1 fin whale. The above results are consistent with those reported in striped dolphins after the two MI epidemics of 1990-92 and 2006-2008, with evidence of morbilliviral antigen and/or genome being found exclusively in the brain tissue from affected animals., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study reports the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in the brain of three striped dolphins (Stenella ceoruleoalba) found stranded on the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy between 2007 and 2008. These animals showed a severe, subacute to chronic, non-purulent, multifocal meningo-encephalitis, with the cerebral parenchyma of two dolphins harbouring protozoan cysts and zoites immunohistochemically linked to T. gondii. Molecular, phylogenetic and mutation scanning analyses showed the occurrence of Type II and of an atypical Type II T. gondii isolates in one and two dolphins, respectively. In spite of the different molecular patterns characterizing the above T. gondii genotypes, the brain lesions observed in the three animals showed common microscopic features, with no remarkable differences among them. The role of T. gondii in causing the meningo-encephalitis is herein discussed., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study we compared a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) rapid test (Snap CLATK Canine Leishmania Antibody Test Kit, IDEXX-Snap) with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western blot (WB) for the detection of Leishmania infantum antibodies in dogs. In total sera from 234 dogs were collected: 59 positives and 51 doubtful sera (IFA 1:40-1:80) from an L. infantum endemic area and 124 negative sera from a non-endemic area were tested. To evaluate the Snap CLATK's performances on whole blood, blood in EDTA and sera from 37 dogs were tested in parallel with Snap CLATK. Snap CLATK sensitivity and specificity compared to IFA were 91.1% and 99.2%, while compared to WB were 93.4% and 98.3%, respectively. When IFA doubtful sera (titers of 1:40 or 1:80) were tested Snap CLATK, using WB as reference, sensitivity and specificity were 90.9% and 100%, respectively. Moreover, a complete concordance was observed when Snap CLATK rapid assay was carried out on whole blood or sera from 37 dogs. The Snap CLATK has demonstrated simplicity and performance and can be considered a quick and reliable alternative for the diagnosis of L. infantum infection in dogs.

We report the results of a survey to determine the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis and the presence of sand flies in northwestern Italy, where autochthonous foci of canine leishmaniasis have not been reported. Active foci of canine leishmaniasis were identified, which suggests that the disease is now also endemic in continental climate areas.

An epidemiological survey was carried out on the distribution of canine leishmaniasis in Western Liguria (Northern Italy). Blood sera from 21146 dogs collected from 1990 to 1996 were subjected to the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT). From 1990 to 1994 (16690 dogs), only monthly seroprevalences were calculated (min 14%-max 60.5%). Dog sera sampled from October 1994 to May 1996 (4456 dogs) were divided into two subgroups (I: October 1994-May 1995; II: October 1995-May 1996). Seroprevalence was 30.3% and 22.1% in these two groups, respectively. Data analysis by log-linear models revealed that serological positivity to Leishmania sp. was significantly associated with a dog's outdoor lifestyle, with a rural environment and with the male sex. Of the 218 dogs which were tested twice seroconversion rates were also higher in outdoor, rural and male dogs while negativization rates were lower in the same groups. Basic reproductive numbers (R0) were 1.53 (subgroup I) and 1.28 (subgroup II).

Hair samples were collected from wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Italy to determine the presence of keratinophilic fungi. Eleven (5%) of 211 boars had fungi: two (1%) had Trichophyton mentagrophytes, five (2%) had T. terrestre, two (1%) had Chrysosporium keratinophilum, one (0.5%) had Chrysosporium tropicum, and one (0.5%) had both C. keratinophilum and T. terrestre. These are the first recorded isolations of C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, and T. terrestre from wild boars. Based on the low prevalence of keratinophilic fungi, wild boars probably are not of special epizootological interest for dermatophytic infections.

Sera from fifty free-ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the Imperia province, Liguria, Italy, were examined for antibodies against Leishmania spp. by both immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), from January to May 1992. Nine of 50 animals (18%) had antibodies against Leishmania spp. utilizing both IFA and ELISA tests.

Muscle samples from 7,142 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 80 free-ranging hogs, 1,462 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) 90 mustelids, 15 Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota), 873 rodents and 92 insectivores were examined for Trichinella Railliet, 1895. A wild boar, a badger (Meles meles) and 30 foxes (2.1%) were found to be infected. Eleven vulpine isolates and the wild boar isolate were identified as Trichinella britovi. These results show that the wild boar has little significance as a reservoir of T. britovi in the area under study. A vulpine isolate resulted in low infectivity in experimentally-infected swine. The prevalence of trichinellosis in the vulpine population is higher in the mountains than in lowland areas and indicates the key role played by this carnivore in the epidemiology of T. britovi. Preliminary results from four field trials seem to demonstrate that differences in attitudes towards cannibalism exist between mountain and lowland foxes.