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Along the coasts of Sicily, 73 striped dolphins strandings were recorded from 2013 to 2016. The specimens were collected at the Centro di Monitoraggio e Controllo per Tartarughe marine e Cetacei [Monitoring and Control Centre for Marine Turtles and Cetaceans] at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia. Subsequent necropsies were performed to determine the cause of death. The date and stranding location were recorded for each specimen. Total body length, weight, sex, and other key biometric measurements were also recorded for fresh and moderately decomposed specimens. The individuals were divided into three life stage categories on the basis of total body length: (1) newborns 191 cm.

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are known vectors of arboviruses affecting human and animal health. However, little is known about Culicoides imicola microbiota and its influence on this insect’s biology. In this study, the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on C. imicola microbiota was characterized using shotgun-metagenomic sequencing of whole-body DNA samples. Wild-caught C. imicola adult nulliparous females were sampled in two locations from Sicily, Italy. The climatic variables of temperature and soil moisture from both localities were recorded together with potential host bloodmeal sources. Shared core microbiome among C. imicola populations included Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Halomonas, Candidatus Zinderia, Propionibacterium, and Schizosaccharomyces. Specific and unique taxa were also found in C. imicola from each location, highlighting similarities and differences in microbiome composition between the two populations. DNA and protein identification showed differences in host preferences between the two populations, with Homo sapiens and Canis lupus familiaris L. being the preferred bloodmeal source in both locations. A principal component analysis showed that the combined effect of host preferences (H. sapiens) and local soil moisture factors shape the microbiome composition of wild-caught populations of C. imicola. These results contribute to characterizing the role of the microbiome in insect adaptation and its utility in predicting geographic expansion of Culicoides species with potential implications for the control of vector-borne diseases.

Ticks and the pathogens they transmit constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. Vector competence is a component of vectorial capacity and depends on genetic determinants affecting the ability of a vector to transmit a pathogen. These determinants affect traits such as tick-host-pathogen and susceptibility to pathogen infection. Therefore, the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in tick-pathogen interactions that affect vector competence is essential for the identification of molecular drivers for tick-borne diseases. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of tick-pathogen molecular interactions for bacteria, viruses, and protozoa affecting human and animal health. Additionally, the impact of tick microbiome on these interactions was considered. Results show that different pathogens evolved similar strategies such as manipulation of the immune response to infect vectors and facilitate multiplication and transmission. Furthermore, some of these strategies may be used by pathogens to infect both tick and mammalian hosts. Identification of interactions that promote tick survival, spread, and pathogen transmission provides the opportunity to disrupt these interactions and lead to a reduction in tick burden and the prevalence of tick-borne diseases. Targeting some of the similar mechanisms used by the pathogens for infection and transmission by ticks may assist in development of preventative strategies against multiple tick-borne diseases.

L’ottimizzazione delle procedure che utilizzano radiazioni ionizzanti in campo medico costituisce un elemento chiave per la sicurezza del paziente e l’esito dei trattamenti radioterapici. In particolare è fondamentale arrecare il minor danno possibile ai tessuti sani circostanti la neoplasia da trattare (Attix, 2004). La misurazione precisa della dose somministrata nei tessuti e la sua mappatura in tre dimensioni sono di fondamentale importanza in termini di riuscita e di pianificazione dei trattamenti radioterapici (Khan, 2009). In questo lavoro sono presentate le misure preliminari effettuate per testare la stabilità temporale di dosimetri gel di tipo Fricke tramite scanner pre-clinico 7T per piccoli animali. In particolare per seguire nel tempo l'evoluzione del parametro dosimetrico è stata ripetuta a vari e regolari intervalli temporali una sequenza di tipo trueFISP che permette di ottenere misure rilassometriche di T1 e T2 contemporaneamente.

β-Lactoglobulin (β-lg) is the major whey milk protein and it represents the main allergen in cow and sheep milk (1). Microbial fermentation produces some proteolytic enzymes and leads to the degradation of milk protein allergens. In this study, the results of a screening on the ability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from typical Sicilian cheeses to reduce the β-lg are shown. This screening was carried out through an indirect competitive ELISA. The lactic acid fermentation was found to be suitable for decreasing milk immunoreactivity. Twenty three strains of cheese LAB, belonging to six genera (Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus and Streptococcus), were cultured for 48h in their optimal growth medium and, after washing and re-suspension in Ringer's solution, inoculated (1% vol/vol) in UHT milk. After 24h incubation at the optimal growth temperature, all samples were diluted (1:10) in distilled water and analysed by Ridascreen ß-Lactoglobulin kit (r-biopharm-Germany) according to the manufacture's instructions. Un-inoculated UHT milk was used as control. After milk fermentation by LAB, the amount of β-lg decreased in twelve samples with an inhibition rate ranging between 21% and 96%, as compared with unfermented milk. Eleven samples did not show a significant β-lg decrease. The strains that showed a higher capacity to hydrolyze the β-lg were represented by Leuconostoc mesenteroides, followed by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (Figure 1). It is important to observe that two different strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides give different results. Since β-lg is recognized as the major milk allergen and it is known that its hydrolysis may reduce milk allergenicity (2), this study can contribute to give some help in the development of hypoallergenic milk products. Future studies will be needed to evaluate the efficacy and suitability of the selected LAB useful in the processes of cheese-making.

L’Adenovirus Canino di tipo 1 (CAV-1), appartenente al genere Mastadenovirus, famiglia Adenoviridae, è l’agente causale dell’epatite infettiva del cane (ICH). Il virus replica negli endoteli vascolari e negli epatociti, causando epatite necrotico emorragica acuta. I sintomi neurologici sono rari e sono causati da una vasculite del SNC. Negli ultimi anni, la diffusa vaccinazione ha ridotto la circolazione di CAV-1 ed i casi clinici segnalati sono diventati rari ed isolati. In questo lavoro, gli Autori descrivono un caso clinico in un cucciolo di 2 mesi, non vaccinato, con febbre, prostrazione, convulsioni, vomito, diarrea ed esito infausto in una settimana. A seguito dell’esame autoptico, sono stati prelevati campioni di vari organi (cuore, milza, polmone, rene, encefalo, fegato, intestino). Questi sono stati analizzati mediante PCR ed isolamento su colture cellulari sensibili, per la ricerca dei principali agenti virali causa di malattia nel cane: parvovirus, cimurro, CAV-1 e CAV-2, coronavirus, rotavirus. Tutti gli organi esaminati sono risultati positivi sia in PCR che all’isolamento su MDCK solo per CAV-1. Il genoma estratto è stato amplificato secondo la metodica descritta da Hu et al. (2001), in grado di discriminare CAV-1 da CAV-2. L’isolamento su MDCK ha prodotto effetto citopatico al secondo passaggio ed il virus isolato è stato identificato mediante immunofluorescenza diretta e PCR. Il presente lavoro costituisce un contributo alla esigua disponibilità bibliografica sulle infezioni da CAV-1. La vaccinazione sistematica condotta nell’ultimo decennio ha sensibilmente ridotto i casi di malattia. Infatti, gli ultimi casi risalgono al 2001 in Basilicata e Puglia dove sono stati descritti rispettivamente un caso di CAV-1 con sintomatologia classica ed un altro caratterizzato anche da sintomi neurologici. La presente indagine dimostra l’attuale circolazione di CAV-1 e la sporadica comparsa di casi clinici. La vaccinazione sistematica con CAV-2 rimane il mezzo più efficace di protezione della popolazione canina e costituisce l’unico metodo di controllo della malattia.

L’Artrite-Encefalite Virale Caprina è una malattia infettiva segnalata per la prima volta nel 1974; l’agente causale è stato isolato solamente nel 1979: si tratta di un virus della famiglia Retroviridae, genere Lentivirus. Il virus si diffonde principalmente attraverso colostro, latte (durante la mungitura) e, in minor misura, attraverso sangue, saliva, espettorato, secrezioni vaginali. La malattia può evolvere in forma subdola e tende ad essere sottostimata negli allevamenti infetti. Le forme cliniche negli animali adulti si presentano sotto forma di artrite e/o mastite, mentre negli animali giovani, nei quali l’evidenza è ancora più rara, si osserva sintomatologia clinica riferibile ad encefalite. La CAEV, la cui presenza è stata segnalata in tutti i continenti, è stata più volte diagnosticata anche in allevamenti caprini Siciliani ed attualmente rappresenta uno dei maggiori problemi dell’allevamento caprino, soprattutto nelle razze lattifere cosmopolite (Saanen, Camosciata delle Alpi) di nuova introduzione in Sicilia per i gravi danni economici che determina (riduzione della produzione lattea, fino al 25-30%; riduzione delle difese immunitarie con maggiore predisposizione a contrarre malattie; maggiori costi di gestione aziendale; minore longevità e carriera produttiva degli animali colpiti dalla malattia; disturbi nello sviluppo dei soggetti giovani). Da recenti studi di prevalenza, basati su un campione di allevamenti caprini delle provincie di Agrigento e Palermo, la percentuale di distribuzione della malattia si stima rispettivamente intorno al 60,6% e al 63,3%. Questo lavoro rappresenta la proposta operativa elaborata dall’IZS della Sicilia, in collaborazione con il centro di Referenza e le ASP competenti, allo scopo di attivare un programma di controllo ed eradicazione volontario nei confronti dell’Artrite Encefalite Caprina (CAEV) presso alcune aziende caprine sensibili al problema. Le tre aziende che hanno chiesto l’attivazione di questo piano dovrebbero, attraverso l’adozione delle misure di profilassi disposte, prima ridurre la percentuale di positività in azienda e poi puntare alla completa eradicazione. Tale obiettivo potrà essere raggiunto mediante strategie e modalità operative diverse che dovranno tenere conto delle strutture, della tipologia di allevamento e della percentuale di diffusione della malattia all’interno dell’azienda. La finalità ultima è quella di portare ad un miglioramento complessivo dell’allevamento e, soprattutto, alla tutela e conservazione del patrimonio caprino Siciliano.

In a dairy jennet farm the meat, which can be produced using the foals in excess, could be another profitable income. Equine meat is very thin and with high protein content; above all, the fatty acids are unsaturated, being a monogastric animal product. The donkey meat processed products are sold in niche market and are very appreciated by the European consumers. A study on the characteristics of the donkey salami made in Sicily was carried out using a 12 months old foal derived from Ragusano breed. Two different mixes were compared: only donkey meat (A thesis) and donkey meat plus the 10% of Nero Siciliano pig fat (AS thesis). The meat was husked of fat and nerves and mixed with 3.5 kg/q of Aromil D.S+Nisal, 1l/q of Nero D’Avola wine, 150 g/q of not crushed white pepper, and the following crushed spices: 150 g/q of black pepper, 150 g/q of white pepper and 60 g/q of garlic. The mixes were gloomed with a holed plate (Ø 8 mm). After that, the chopped fat pig in the AS mix was added. The A and AS mixes were bagged in mutton gut (Ø 24/26). The fresh salami weighed on average 205 g, and for 4 days were dried, modifying the temperature (T) from 22 to 16°C and the relative humidity (R.H.) from 60 to 75%. After that, for 30 days the products were cured at T=14°C and R.H.=78%. At the slaughtering the lived animal and the carcass weights were registered. At the salami production the weights of the bones, the meat and the other tissues of each carcass quarter were registered, while the salami weights at the beginning and at the end of the drying period and at 15 and 30 days of the curing period. In the same time samples of salami were collected for pH determination and microbiological analyses. The salami chemical composition was determined at the bagging and at the end of the curing period. The lived animal weight was 245 kg. The slaughtering, the meat, the bones and the fat yields were respectively 58, 53, 24 and 23%. During the curing period the weight decrease was on average higher in the A than in the AS salami (final value: A=55% vs AS=49%). This result could be affected by the higher water content in the muscle tissues than in the fat ones. The pH trend was for both theses on line with the values of a normal curing process, but the A thesis achieved more rapidly a pH value >6, in relation with a higher weight decrease. This result shows the possibility to reduce the curing period at

Babesia bigemina is an endemic parasite in different parts of the world, including Europe and the Americas. One of the few genes characterized in this species codifies for the apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1), a transmembrane antigen recently identified. We characterized the ama-1 gene from three Italian B. bigemina strains. Italian sequences were compared to those of the Australian strain. The results obtained confirmed that this newly described ama-1 gene is highly conserved among Italian and foreign strains, which has implications for vaccine development.