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In birds, pathogens and diseases--such as avian malaria-can have severe detrimental effects on individual fitness. Pathogen prevalence can vary across species and may differ between populations living in different localities, but screening can aid in our understanding of a disease's distribution and parasite-host interactions. Although seabirds generally exhibit low avian malaria infection patterns, blood parasites of several species and populations have never been investigated in detail. Using molecular techniques, we screened for blood parasites in two Mediterranean seabirds, the Scopoli's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea and the Mediterranean Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis. In addition, we searched for and sampled potential vector insects at each seabird colony. DNA was extracted from blood samples (or whole specimens for vector insect species), and polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess the presence of Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon, the most frequent infective protozoan genera. Our results showed no evidence of haemosporidians, either in the sampled species or in the vector insects. The low prevalence of parasites in these species could reflect the absence or rarity of the vector for transmission. Thus, extreme care must be taken when releasing individuals into the wild to avoid introducing infection into new seabird populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While SBRT to the prostate has become a valuable option as a radical treatment, limited data support its use in the postoperative setting. Here, we report the updated results of the multicentric Post-Prostatectomy Ablative Radiation Therapy (POPART) trial, investigating possible predictors of toxicities and patient-reported outcomes., Methods: Patients with PSA levels between 0.1-2.0 ng/mL after radical prostatectomy received Linac-based SBRT to the prostate bed in five fractions every other day for a total dose of 32.5 Gy (EQD2 1.5  = 74.3 Gy). Late toxicity was assessed using CTCAE v.5 scale, while EPIC-CP, ICIQ-SF, IIEF 5 questionnaires and PSA levels measured quality of life and biochemical control. Pre- and post-treatment scores were compared using a paired t -test, with MID established at > 0.5 pooled SD from the baseline. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate potential associations between specific patient/tumor/treatment factors and outcome deterioration., Results: From April 2021 to April 2023 a total of 50 pts were enrolled and treated. Median follow-up was 12.2 (3-27) months. No late ≥ G2 GI or GU toxicity was registered. Late G1 urinary and rectal toxicities occurred in 46 % and 4 % of patients, respectively. Among 47 patients completing all EPIC-CP domains, four (9 %) showed worsened QoL, and eleven (26 %) developed erectile dysfunction correlating with PTV D2% (P = 0.032). At Multivariate analysis bladder wall D10cc independently correlated with late G1 GU toxicity (P = 0.034). Median post-treatment PSA nadir was 0.04 ng/mL (0.00 - 0.84). At the last follow-up, six patients presented with biochemical failure, including two nodal relapses., Conclusions: Our findings show that post-prostatectomy SBRT did not result in increased toxicity nor a significant decline in QoL measures, thus showing that it can be safely extended to the postoperative setting. Long-term follow-up and randomized comparisons with different RT schedules are needed to validate this approach., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)