Search

Environmental samples collected in Brindisi (Italy) by a Hirst-type trap and in Lecce (Italy) by a PM10 sampler were analysed by optical microscopy and DNA-metabarcoding, respectively, to identify airborne pollen and perform an exploratory study, highlighting the benefits and limits of both sampling/detection systems. The Hirst-type trap/optical-microscopy system allowed detecting pollen on average over the full bloom season, since whole pollen grains, whose diameter vary within 10–100 μm, are required for morphological detection with optical microscopy. Conversely, pollen fragments with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm were collected in Lecce by the PM10 sampler. Pollen grains and fragments are spread worldwide by wind/atmospheric turbulences and can age in the atmosphere, but aerial dispersal, aging, and long-range transport of pollen fragments are favoured over those of whole pollen grains because of their smaller size. Twenty-four Streptophyta families were detected in Lecce throughout the sampling year, but only nine out of them were in common with the 21 pollen families identified in Brindisi. Meteorological parameters and advection patterns were rather similar at both study sites, being only 37 km apart in a beeline, but their impact on the sample taxonomic structure was different, likely for the different pollen sampling/detection systems used in the two monitoring areas.

The toxicity of water samples from water distribution plants needs to be investigated further. Indeed, studies on the pro-oxidant effects driven by tap water are very limited. In this study, the water quality, pro-oxidant effects, and potential health risks driven by exposure to groundwater samples from two water plants (sites A and B) located in Northwestern Italy were investigated in a multi-level system. Physicochemical parameters and the absence of pathogens, cyanotoxins, and endocrine active substances indicated a good water quality for both sites. The 25 metals analyzed were found under the limit of quantification or compliant with the maximum limits set by national legislation. Water samples were concentrated by the solid-phase extraction system in order to assess the aquatic toxicity on Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cell line. Levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione reductase were evaluated through the Integrated Biomarkers Response (IBRv2) index. EPC cell line was found a sensible model for assessing the antioxidant responses driven by both water concentrates. A similar antioxidant response was shown by plots and IBRv2 suggesting a muted risk for the two sampling sites.

Arsenic (As) is a global contaminant of terrestrial and aquatic environments posing concern for environmental and human health. The effects of subacute concentrations of arsenic trioxide (AsIII) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV) were examined using Crandell Rees feline kidney (CRFK), human hepatocellular carcinoma (PLC/PRF/5), and epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC). Whole monolayer with suffering cells (confluence 100%, pyknosis and refractive cells; value scale = 2) led to identification of subacute As concentrations for the three cell lines. The selected AsIII concentrations were 1.33 µM for CRFK and 33.37 µM for PLC/PRF/5 and EPC, at 48 hr time point. The selected DMAV concentrations were 0.67 mM for PLC/PRF/5, 1.33 mM for CRFK, and 2.67 mM for EPC for 48 hr. Unlike the AsIII test, the three cell lines did not exhibit marked susceptibility to DMAV-mediated toxicity. Several oxidative stress biomarker levels, directly or indirectly associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) elimination including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glyoxalase I, glyoxalase II, and total glutathione, were determined in the three cell lines at 24 and 48 hr. Antioxidant responses in metal-treated cells were significantly altered compared to controls, suggesting a perturbation of redox state. The weakening of antioxidant pathway in either healthy or tumoral cells was greater using AsIII than DMAV. Differences in level of several oxidative stress biomarkers suggest that the oxidative stress mechanism induced by AsIII is distinctly different from DMAV. Multifaceted mechanisms of action underlying ROS generation in tumor and nontumor cells versus AsIII and DMAV exposure are thus involved. Since As-mediated toxicity is quite complex, more data regarding both oxidant-enhancement and oxidant-lowering strategies may be useful to improve knowledge regarding the influence of As on human and animal cells.

L’esame parassitologico a fresco viene generalmente condotto effettuando raschiati a livello cutaneo e delle branchie o inserendo direttamente sul vetrino portaoggetto una porzione di branchia. L’esame microscopico permette di evidenziare eventuali forme parassitarie presenti nei campioni prelevati. La loro determinazione tassonomica può rappresentare un ostacolo al personale poco formato che si accinge alla visone di preparati. Questo breve manuale può rappresentare un aiuto nel riconoscimento dei principali parassiti cutaneo-branchiali presenti nei Salmonidi e nei Ciprinidi del nostro comparto geografico. Di seguito vengono evidenziati i principali parassiti che si possono riscontrare in esami parassitologici condotti sulla fauna ittica di riferimento.

L’esame anatomopatologico generalmente viene condotto su un numero relativamente elevato di soggetti sintomatici, in quanto si rende necessario osservare un quadro completo delle possibili alterazioni che si possono verificare in diversi soggetti nella popolazione in oggetto (gruppo di pesci o individui presenti in una vasca). Generalmente l’esame viene condotto dapprima osservando la superficie esterna del pesce, evidenziando tutte le anomalie presenti (eventuali abrasioni, emorragie, ulcere, sfrangia mento delle pinne, ecc.). L’apertura della cavità addominale è indispensabile per poter mettere in evidenza i visceri e poter osservare eventuali alterazioni; per avere un quadro ben visibile degli organi interni è necessario posizionare il pesce da analizzare con la testa verso sinistra; in questo modo si avrà una corretta visione della maggior parte degli organi interni nella maggioranza degli individui. Una volta posizionato il pesce si effettua una incisione con le forbici o con il bisturi partendo dalla cavità anale e procedendo cranialmente verso la camera opercolare con un taglio longitudinale. Successivamente si procede con un taglio verso la linea laterale, avendo cura di seguire la sagoma della cavità addominale; una volta raggiunto lo spazio sottostante qualche millimetro la linea laterale si curva procedendo nuovamente longitudinalmente verso la cavità opercolare, in modo da staccare il lembo laterale della muscolatura che ricopre la cavità viscerale, senza intaccare possibilmente la vescica natatoria. In questo modo si ottiene un’apertura della cavità con esposizione degli organi interni. Questo rappresenta il metodo più semplice di effettuare un esame anatomopatologico anche in condizioni disagiate come quelle che si possono riscontrare in campo. Non sempre però risulta possibile avere del materiale disponibile, come in questi casi; allora tramite le immagini riprodotte è possibile effettuare una valutazione, anche se sommaria e non sempre esaustiva del quadro osservabile. Con questa esercitazione si vuole fornire dei piccoli rudimenti nella complessità della diagnosi di malattia nel comparto ittico, dove la maggior parte dei quadri rilevabili non sono patognomici di una determinata malattia, ma che osservandoli bene e correlandoli con il grado di gravità e altre informazioni possono essere utili per esprimere un sospetto diagnostico.

Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS) are two systemic infections of several species of salmonid fish; the reporting is mandatory in accordance with Directive 67/1991 EC. In order to obtain and preserve the free status at farm level, the Italian legislation (D.L.vo 148/2008) adopted a surveillance program of all freshwater farms of salmonid fish which make repopulation in public water. Aim of this study is to provide data on the descriptive epidemiology of IHN and VHS in Piedmont Region in the years 2000-2015, which extended the surveillance to all fish farms. The diffusion of the diseases was described by year and geographical area. Moreover unvariate and multivariate analysis were used to test the potential role of a number of farm characteristics.

Il fitoplancton è costituito da organismi vegetali microscopici con scarsa capacità di movimento che vivono in sospensione nelle acque. Questi organismi svolgono negli ecosistemi acquatici il ruolo basilare di produttori primari, per questo motivo, il fitoplancton rappresenta il primo anello della catena alimentare acquatica. Tuttavia, un eccessivo suo sviluppo, sensibile all’arricchimento in nutrienti e sostanze organiche, determina uno scadimento della qualità delle acque. La dominanza dei cianobatteri all’interno delle comunità fitoplanctoniche è una caratteristica osservabile in molti ambienti lacustri. In particolari condizioni ambientali, il loro numero può diventare tuttavia eccessivo rispetto alla densità degli altri gruppi algali, dando origine a fenomeni noti con il nome di fioriture algali. La difficoltà di prevedere lo sviluppo di una determinata popolazione algale non è tuttavia ristretta ai soli cianobatteri, ma riguarda pressoché tutti i gruppi algali, dato l’elevato numero dei fattori che controllano la crescita delle alghe in ambiente pelagico e la complessità delle loro interazioni reciproche. Non tutte le specie di cianobatteri sono tossiche per l’uomo e per gli animali; quelle più comunemente associate a tossicità sono Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Microcystis, Nodularia, Oscillatoria, Planktothrix e Schizothrix. I cianobatteri producono almeno tre classi di tossine che sono state riconosciute nocive per la salute umana: neurotossine, epatotossine ed endotossine. Sebbene le endotossine siano più comunemente associate a tossicità nell’uomo, l’attenzione dei ricercatori si è da tempo focalizzata sugli effetti, potenzialmente letali, delle neuro ed epatotossine di cui i caratteristici meccanismi d’azione sono stati ben descritti in diversi studi. La presenza di cianobatteri nelle acque interne utilizzate per la pesca, per le attività di acquacoltura e per l’abbeveraggio degli animali rappresentano un problema sanitario emergente in tutto il mondo. La disponibilità di metodi di prova rapidi e accurati, nonché di strategie analitiche efficaci per caratterizzare la presenza di queste biotossine, rappresentano uno strumento essenziale per valutare la loro presenza negli ecosistemi acquatici. Per questo motivo, diversi kit immunoenzimatici ELISA sono stati sviluppati per l’analisi di matrici ambientali ed eventualmente di tessuti animali per la ricerca di microcistine, nodularine, cilindrospermopsine, anatossine e β-N-metilammino-L-alanina. La necessità di riscontrare in maniera tempestiva le cianotissine richiede la messa in pratica di un monitoraggio continuo negli ecosistemi lacustri per permettere l'adozione di misure di prevenzione necessarie a ridurre i rischi di morie di fauna selvatica ed i rischi tossicologici derivanti dal consumo di acqua e prodotti ittici contaminati: si descrivono alcuni esempi di monitoraggio effettuati nel corso del 2016 su ambienti lacustri piemontesi.

The purpose of this study was to conduct an assessment on the quality and methods for marketing of fish products sold by ethnic minimarket. Has been inspected 20 supermarkets and buyed 60 fish and shellfish samples. The neatness of the rooms were evaluated during the shopping in the markets. Products purchased in the supermarket (about three samples for each shop) were brought in Ichthypathology laboratory of State Veterinary Institute of Piedmont, Liguria and Aosta Valley, in Turin. Were conducted in the laboratory the readings of the labels. The conditions of hygiene were poor, especially in supermarket freezers. Only 16 samples were labelled in accordance with current legislation. According to the results obtained, the products 'ethnic' distributed in the supermarkets visited, may be considered a potential risk to human health.

The exposure to parasitic nematodes (Anisakidae) is usually through consumption of contaminated fish, eaten raw, undercooked, or prepared without treatment able to inactivate the larvae infectivity (eg. marinating or cold smoking). Human beings are only accidental hosts that do not allow the normal evolution of the larva. However Anisakids may affect the human health in two ways: by means of a severe intestinal immune response and by an allergic reaction to chemicals released by worms in fish flesh. The objective of our work was to assess the potential risk associated with the consumption of fish from the Ligurian Sea. The sampling was carried out in the Ligurian Sea from October 2010 to February 2013; 902 red mullets were analyzed. Nematodes of the genus Anisakis (subfamily Anisakinae) and Hysterothylacium (subfamily Raphidascarinae) were isolated. Thus, in some fish of the Mediterranean Sea, Anisakids may be a risk for the food safety.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has high prevalence and substantial socio-economic burden.Material/Methods: The study included 35 Italian Centers recruiting an overall number of 3383 adult patients with rhinitis (48% males, 52% females, mean age 29.1, range 18-45 years). For each patient, the attending physician had to fill in a standardized questionnaire, covering, in particular, some issues such as the ARIA classification of allergic rhinitis (AR), the results of skin prick test (SPT), the kind of treatment, the response to treatment, and the satisfaction with treatment.Results: Out of the 3383 patients with rhinitis, 2788 (82.4%) had AR: 311 (11.5%) had a mild intermittent, 229 (8.8%) a mild persistent, 636 (23.5%) a moderate-severe intermittent, and 1518 (56.1%) a moderate-severe persistent form. The most frequently used drugs were oral antihistamines (77.1%) and topical corticosteroids (60.8%). The response to treatment was judged as excellent in 12.2%, good in 41.3%, fair in 31.2%, poor in 14.5%, and very bad in 0.8% of subjects. The rate of treatment dissatisfaction was significantly higher in patients with moderate-to-severe AR than in patients with mild AR (p

The constant increase in allergic diseases in western countries is correlated with changes in lifestyle and with the deterioration of the air inhaled by the inhabitants because of the growing concentrations of pollutant substances present. Within a population at risk, i.e., the inhabitants of cities, a group of subjects at even higher risk was selected, whose job exposes them to automobile exhaust fumes for many hours a day. All the study subjects underwent allergological screening and spirometry. The results obtained show an overall increase of respiratory allergic diseases but no increased sensitisation to latex. It therefore seems plausible that, besides social and lifestyle changes, the deterioration of the quality of the air could be considered responsible, at least in part, for the growing numbers of allergic subjects. This study offers an opportunity to reconsider the validity of the “hygiene hypothesis” as an explanation for the increase of allergic disease in western countries, although recent reports have indicated that a sedentary lifestyle may also contribute, together with environmental degradation, to the notably increased prevalence of allergic diseases in large cities in industrialized nations.

In this study 344 fish from 3 different freshwater environments, located in north-western Italy, were subjected to cultural exams for atypical Mycobacteria. Nine strains of Mycobacteria were isolated from fish coming from River Po Basin, Como and Maggiore Lake. The most frequent species were Mycobacterium chelonae and M. gordonae.

Silvia Scurati1, Franco Frati1, Gianni Passalacqua2, Paola Puccinelli1, Cecile Hilaire1, Cristoforo Incorvaia3, Italian Study Group on SLIT Compliance 1Scientific and Medical Department, Stallergenes, Milan, Italy; 2Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Genoa; 3Allergy/Pulmonary Rehabilitation, ICP Hospital, Milan, ItalyObjectives: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a viable alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma, and is widely used in clinical practice in many European countries. The clinical efficacy of SLIT has been established in a number of clinical trials and meta-analyses. However, because SLIT is self-administered by patients without medical supervision, the degree of patient adherence with treatment is still a concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception by allergists of issues related to SLIT adherence.Methods: We performed a questionnaire-based survey of 296 Italian allergists, based on the adherence issues known from previous studies. The perception of importance of each item was assessed by a VAS scale ranging from 0 to 10.Results: Patient perception of clinical efficacy was considered the most important factor (ranked 1 by 54% of allergists), followed by the possibility of reimbursement (ranked 1 by 34%), and by the absence of side effects (ranked 1 by 21%). Patient education, regular follow-up, and ease of use of SLIT were ranked first by less than 20% of allergists.Conclusion: These findings indicate that clinical efficacy, cost, and side effects are perceived as the major issues influencing patient adherence to SLIT, and that further improvement of adherence is likely to be achieved by improving the patient information provided by prescribers.Keywords: adherence, sublingual immunotherapy, efficacy, cost, side effects

The atypical mycobacteriosis should be considered zoonotic agents, since they can penetrate through skin wounds and abrasions, causing the formation of granuloma in the skin. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the susceptibility to certain antibiotics of Mycobacterium marinum, one of the most important zoonosis agent among non-tuberculous mycobacteria. All strains were susceptible to ethanbutol, while only 6 were sensitive to rifampicin. 90% of strains were resistant to isoniazid, while 8 strains out of 10 were resistant to streptomycin.

Silurus glanis or European catfish belongs to the family Siluridae. It eat mainly fish, but also crustaceans, annelids, and insect larvae. From February 2007 to February 2009 105 samples of European catfish from the Po River were examined. Bacteriological examination was performed, the bacterium most frequently isolated was Aeromonas hydrophila. The presence of European catfish in our rivers is a threat to the indigenous populatins of fish and could alter the environmental balance, leading to a reduction in the number of species and individuals.

During 2007-2008 a survey aimed to investigate the diffusion of mycobacteria infections in Italian aquaculture was carried out. A total of 565 farmed fish, coming from 45 marine and freshwater farming systems, were examined. Mycobacterium marinum was isolated from striped bass showing symptoms and lesions referable to mycobacteriosis, and from European sea bass showing only histological lesions. Furthermore M. gordonae was isolated from 1 carp, M. fortuitum from i Siberian sturgeon and 1 rainbow trout, and Mycobacterium spp. from 2 European sea bass, always without macroscopical and microscopical lesions referable to mycobacteriosis.

Con il termine di Micobatteriosi o Tubercolosi ittica viene indicato un complesso di malattie sistemiche ad andamento cronico, sostenute da batteri acido-alcool resistenti (BAAR) appartenenti al genere Mycobacterium. Essi colpiscono numerose specie ittiche d'acqua dolce e salata, sia di allevamento che delle acque libere, sono diffusi nel suolo, nei pascoli e nelle paludi (6). I micobatteri sono germi molto resistenti agli agenti fisici e sono in grado di permanere e sopravvivere molti mesi nell’ambiente. Le Micobatteriosi atipiche sono state segnalate soprattutto in pesci d'acquario tropicali, ma anche in pesci allevati da consumo; non si conoscono specie refrattarie a questa infezione, naturale o sperimentale (1, 4, 8). Presentano un andamento enzootico e un decorso cronico. La sintomatologia dei pesci affetti da micobatteriosi appare aspecifica: si manifesta con ritardo della crescita e/o dello sviluppo sessuale, anoressia ed emaciazione, tachipnea, apatia, letargia, lepidortosi, atassia natatoria, esoftalmo, melanosi, distensione addominale. (4, 8). Sulla cute, quando coinvolta, si osservano ulcere e tumefazioni, associate a sfilacciamento delle pinne ed emorragie diffuse. In alcuni casi l'infezione può estendersi al sistema scheletrico, causando deformità. Nei soggetti colpiti si ha un progressivo indebolimento e caduta delle difese organiche, questo processo ha come esito la morte del pesce (8, 10). All'esame anatomopatologico si osservano versamenti in cavità celomatica, presenze di pseudomembrane sui visceri, e splenomegalia, noduli biancastri diffusi in milza, fegato e rene (1, 8, 10); molto frequenti sono i portatori asintomatici. Le specie di micobatteri maggiormente coinvolte nel determinismo della tubercolosi ittica sono Mycobacterium marinum, M. fortuitum e M. chelonae, ma ad esse si affiancano altre specie, quali M. abscessus, M. peregrinum, M. gordonae, M. kansasii e M. nonchromogenicum ritenute ad oggi specie patogene emergenti (8, 10). L’interesse per questa patologia nasce dal fatto che essendo considerata una “zoonosi minore”, può essere trasmessa all’uomo, rappresentando un reale rischio soprattutto per gli operatori del settore ittico. Tali microrganismi possono penetrare attraverso ferite e abrasioni cutanee provocando la formazione di granulomi a carico della cute e non sono da escludere forme linfonodali, polmonari ed ossee ad andamento molto più drammatico, soprattutto nei soggetti giovani e in quelli immunodepressi. (2, 3). Il riscontro di casi da micobatteri ittici, riguardante i proprietari di un acquario, sottolinea la necessità di far luce su una patologia di interesse ispettivo finora poco considerata, anche in virtù del fatto che il settore acquariofilo ha raggiunto una grande importanza commerciale in tutti i paesi industrializzati e, in particolar modo in Italia, dove i pesci ornamentali rappresentano gli animali da compagnia più comuni (10). Il quadro, già complesso per la concorrenza di molte specie nel determinismo della malattia, è complicato dalla alta resistenza di tali specie ai comuni farmaci anti-tubercolari. La terapia lunga e difficile nell’uomo, è, al momento, impraticabile nei pesci (1, 7, 9). In questi episodi assume, quindi, fondamentale importanza l’isolamento e la tipizzazione del micobatterio coinvolto, necessaria per ottenere un esito corretto e soprattutto con il giusto significato diagnostico. Scopo del presente lavoro è quello di evidenziare la presenza di tali patologie nei pesci ornamentali d’importazione durante il triennio preso in considerazione, confrontandoli con i dati dei monitoraggi precedenti effettuati sul territorio nazionale

During 2004-spring 2008, 21 bacterial outbreaks in farmed Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri), 3 in Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedti) and 2 in hydrid sturgeons with different mortality, were reported in Northern Italy. The bacterial infections isolated were caused by Aeromonas hydrophila (12 cases), Pseudomonas fluorescens (7 cases), A. sobria (5 cases), Plesiomonas shigelloides (1 case) and Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (1 case). In all cases, the characteristic symptoms were the presence of hemorrhagic enteritis in the terminal tract of the intestine.

Viene presentata un'ampia casistica raccolta dal 2005 al 2007 in relazioni alle principali infezioni batteriche rilevate in storioni allevati in Italia, esprimendo considerazioni sui fattori di rischio di carattere ambientale e gestionale che possono condizionare l'emergenza di malattie batteriche in allevamento.

The guidelines for the management of urticaria in adults and children have been published in outstanding position papers. By contrast, the onset of urticaria in the elderly has not yet had a clear definition. In order to approach diagnosis and treatment in a population of elderly patients, we have performed an epidemiological study on a population of elderly people observed in the Immuno Allergology Unit in Bari University Hospital. The patients underwent skin prick test for food allergy and laboratory and instrumental tests. From the data it resulted that 49% of cases have had urticaria because of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), 16% of cases were positive to food, while in 21% of cases systemic and metabolic diseases (SMDs) have been diagnosed. If we consider the young controls, urticaria for ADR was present in 48% of cases; however, in 28% it was possible to make the diagnosis of food allergy, 12% cases had a SMD. Our results show that the main cause of urticaria in the elderly is related to drug assumption because of the high number of drugs taken, followed by internal pathologies correlated to the typical immune and metabolic changes of the elderly. Furthermore, from the observation of our data it was possible to give guidelines for the treatment of urticaria in geriatric age.

The clinical efficacy of immunotherapy, either by high dose sublingual-swallow therapy (SLIT) or subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), has been demonstrated in patients with pollinosis but few studies have been carried out analysing differences in these treatments in terms of an improvement of clinical and allergic phlogosis parameters. The aim of this double-blind placebo-controlled study is to investigate the efficacy of high dose SLIT and SCIT using a purified standardized Juniperus ashei extract in a population of allergic patients monosensitized to cypress. Forty patients with cypress-allergic rhino conjunctivitis were administered therapeutic or placebo SLIT or SCIT for 12 months. Laboratory parameters were studied, namely the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) level in nasal lavage and in serum, as well as the number of eosinophils (EOS) in peripheral blood and in nasal lavage and the level of eosinophil chemotactic activity (ECA). These parameters were correlated with clinical symptoms, evaluated by means of the clinical symptoms score (CSS). After SCIT and SLIT the levels of ECP and ECA were reduced in nasal lavage. We also observed a significant reduction in the values of ECP in serum in the patients treated with SLIT. EOS were unchanged in peripheral blood, but significantly reduced in nasal lavage. These data were in accordance with the improvement of clinical symptoms, supported by the close correlation between CSS and laboratory parameters. Our data confirm a clinical improvement correlated with a decline in inflammation parameters after one year of immunotherapy, supporting the hypothesis that treatment with a major allergen of cypress is able to change the course of allergic rhinitis.

Anisakis simplex is responsible for allergic symptoms after repeated ingestion or contact with parasitized fish.To further analyze type I and IV immunologic mechanisms in a group of patients with allergic reactions to A simplex, we performed prick-by-prick testing with A simplex larvae and patch tests with live, cooked, or frozen larvae of the A simplex parasite.Thirty-eight patients underwent skin prick test and radioallergosorbent test with inhalant allergens, foods, and A simplex. Prick-by-prick tests with A simplex and patch tests with live, cooked, and frozen larvae were carried out in 10 patients with evidence of allergy to A simplex.Prick-by-prick testing yielded a positive result in 100% of cases with live larvae and in 70% with cooked and frozen larvae. Patch tests with A simplex were positive in 8 patients for live larvae, in 3 patients for frozen larvae, and in 1 patient for cooked larvae.Our data emphasize that A simplex is responsible for both immediate allergic reactions and cell-mediated (delayed) reactions, in particular in subjects with occupational exposure. In addition, our data demonstrate that not only live but also frozen and cooked larvae can induce sensitization. This observation may be explained by differences in the allergenic proteins involved, and further studies will be required to address this possibility.

To assess the increasing sensitivity to cypress, we evaluated a group of allergic subjects living in Apulia who had been referred for respiratory symptoms to the Section for Allergic and Immunological Diseases (SAID) of Bari University Hospital in the period between January and March 2006, and compared them with a group evaluated during the same months of 2003. We submitted all patients to Skin Prick Tests (SPT) and Radio-Allergo-Sorbent Tests (RAST). Our data show that the percentage of people sensitised to cypress has increased from 28.6 percent (2003) to 65.5 percent (2006). By contrast, we observed no variations in sensitisation to other substances. Since according to data furnished by the Italian Association of Areobiology (AIA), Monitoring Center of Brindisi 1, there was a variation in the quantity of pollen grains in 2006 as compared to 2003, it seems conceivable that an increase in the amount of pollen grains, together with other factors may influence the increasing sensitization, like the volume and the brittleness of the grain. In addition, other allergo-immunologic parameters are evaluated in order to better evaluate this allergic phlogosis.