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Parasitic infections such as Strongylida and Eimeria still represent a major health problem of dairy cattle impacting their health, welfare, and productivity. In view of the scarcity of data on risk factors contributing to the spread of parasitic infections in cattle breeding, an epidemiological study in intensive dairy farms in northern Italy was planned. 495 animals (lactating and dry cows, heifers, and calves) from 19 farms were enrolled in the study. Individual fecal samples were analyzed by a quantitative copromicroscopic analysis to detect the number of Strongylida eggs or Eimeria oocysts per gram of faeces (EPG/OPG). Data concerning management, sanitary and biosecurity measures were collected using a questionnaire; a management measures score (MMS) was also calculated. The possible influence of risk factors on Strongylida and Eimeria was thus assessed by statistical analysis using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). Eimeria spp. was the most frequently detected parasitic taxon (herd and individual prevalence: 89.5% and 46.2%, respectively), followed by Strongylida (herd and individual prevalence: 63.1% and 16.6%, respectively). The presence of Strongylida resulted associated to the productive category (p-value = 0.028), with heifers and dry cows at higher risk of infection than lactating cows and calves, and to the MMS (p-value = 0.007). Higher prevalence values were recorded in farms with intermediate or low MMS compared to those with optimal MMS. As regard Eimeria infection, a greater effect of MMS on OPG was recorded in calves when compared to those recorded in heifers (OR = 0.228, p-value = 0.003) and dry cows (OR = 0.241, p-value = 0.009). Gastrointestinal parasitic infections still remain an underestimated problem in intensive dairy cattle breeding. MMS may help in the choice of strategies aimed at minimizing the impact of parasites on animal health, thus improving the productivity of the entire herd.

Local livestock breeds are pivotal to ensure sustainable agriculture and represent a real genetic resource in the context of genetic variability reduction. This study aimed at broadening the knowledge about hematological values in female Verzaschese and Camosciata delle Alpi goats (an Italian local and a cosmopolitan goat breed, respectively) and investigating factors affecting them (i.e., breed, age, season). Blood samples were collected monthly from 34 Verzaschese and 37 Camosciata delle Alpi female goats kept under the same semi-extensive farming system for a whole year. The main hematological parameters were evaluated, and descriptive as well as inferential statistical analyses were performed. Reference intervals for complete blood cell count were established and several inter-breed differences were found. In particular, most of the red blood cell parameters were higher in Verzaschese than Camosciata delle Alpi (

Viene descritta la tassonomia, morfologia, ciclo biologico, epidemiologia, sintomatologia e rilievi patologici, diagnosi, controllo e trattamento degli endo ed ectoparassiti degli animali esotici, inclusi i piccioni.

Background: Leishmania infantum is a vector-borne pathogen endemic in countries in the Mediterranean basin, including Italy. Dogs act as the primary reservoir for this parasite, but other animal species may also be infected. Low-to-moderate seroprevalence levels of infection have been reported in apparent healthy equine populations in southern Europe, reinforcing the importance of exploring those species, including horses, that act as a food source for vectors and may thus participate in the epizoological scenario of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) and zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis (ZVL). Since little is known regarding the exposure to L. infantum in horses in Italy, we assessed the seroprevalence in healthy equine populations from different CanL endemic areas. Methods: The survey was conducted on 660 apparently healthy horses distributed throughout central and northern regions of Italy between 2016 and 2019. Blood samples were collected and the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies (IgG) was investigated by the immunofluorescence antibody test. Information on the location and altitude of the stables, along with the horses’ breed, age, sex, and reproductive status was obtained by filling in a questionnaire. This was then used for statistical analysis by generalized linear models to explore risk factors associated with seroreactivity to L. infantum. Results: An average seroprevalence of 13.9% was detected for L. infantum in the equine populations investigated, with statistically significant associations between seroprevalence, geographical variables (northern vs central Italy, origin and altitude) and individual factors (i.e. age and breed morphotype). Conclusions: Our results highlight that horses are frequently exposed to L. infantum. Further prevalence surveys in horses, also using direct methods (e.g. PCR), are warranted to clarify the role of these hosts in the epidemiology of Leishmania in Italy.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].

A national survey to obtain information of helminth control practices on horses and farm management was carried out in 2014 in Italy. Data were collected using 387 face-to-face questionnaire with questions regarding type and size of farms, use of horses, grazing management, parasite control protocol, interval worming, time of treatments, number of treatments per year, anthelmintic class used, specific treatments (tapeworms and encysted cyathostomins). In tolal, data of 7,616 horses were obtained In Italy, most control protocols were strategic. Sixty eight percent of respondents administered anthelmintics at particular times of the year. With respect to worming intervals, most of them (45%) treated animals at 6 months intervals and 4% wormed horses bi-monthly. Six percent of respondents declared that they left animals untreated. With regard to the time of treatment administration, most reported that dosing was carried out independently from the season, although someone emphasized a greater attention to dosing during autumn and spring months. The mean number of treatments per year was 2.6 (range 1-12). Over half (64%) of respondents indicated that ivermectin and moxidectin or their associations (e.g plus praziquantel) were the most commonly used anthelmintics in the previous 12 months. Treatments against cyathostomin encysted larvae and tapeworms were administered by 11% and 21% of respondents, respectively. Most owners obtained information on parasite control from veterinarians (93%), in addition to specialized journals and internet forums in decreasing order of importance. This is the first national survey investigating parasite control practices and anthelmintic use in horses

sono descritti: Tassonomia morfologia, ciclo biologico , epidemiologia, sintomatologia e rilievi patologici, diagnosi, controllo e trattamento degli endo ed ectoparassiti del suino

Viene descritta la tassonomia, morfologia, ciclo biologico, epidemiologia, sintomatologia e rilievi patologici, diagnosi, controllo e trattamento degli endo ed ectoparassiti degli uccelli domestici e selvatici

Viene trattato il capitolo dell'Epidemiologia delle malattie parassitarie, suddividendo la trattazione stessa nei seguenti argomenti: 1. Aumento del numero degli stadi infettanti 2. Modificazioni della recettività degli ospiti 3. Introduzione di soggetti recettivi in un ambiente infetto 4. Introduzione del parassita in un ambiente indenne 5. Conseguenze socio-economiche delle malattie parassitarie 6. Misure di frequenza (con esempi di calcolo) Gli argomenti 5. e 6. rappresentano contributi originali dell'Autore, non presenti nell'edizione inglese

More than one century (1898-2007) of literature was collected according to a specific form. In this period 170 papers was produced. Even if the number of papers remain very low a trend of growing interest was observed. Among the different parasites the interest was pointed mainly on gastro intestinal ones (31%), followed by Ascaris suum (11%). The half of scientific production is concerning epidemiological angle, the therapeutic approach to the parasitic diseases is also treated (11%) and an interesting 14% has an educational approach consisting in reviews. The geographical distribution only partially reflects the importance of regional pig industry; Lombardy (15%), Emilia- Romagna (13%), Sicily (13%), Tuscany (10%) and Umbria (9%). Is surprising this gap of national scientific production on pig parasite considering the big effort of innovation of swine breeding that transformed in few years the ancient domestic mammal in a technological unit meat producing.

Investigations were carried out to update data on epidemiology and molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus in livestock in Italy, in the framework of a national research project during the years 2003-2006. Animals (sheep 2398; cattle 49,485; buffalos 722; pigs 484; horses 294) were sampled in various regions, namely Lombardy (sheep and cattle), Emilia-Romagna (cattle), Campania (buffalos), Abruzzo (sheep and cattle), Sicily and Sardinia (sheep, cattle, pigs, horses). Liver, lung and spleen of slaughtered animals were examined between January 2003 and December 2006 and the number and fertility of hydatid cysts were evaluated. Protoscoleces and/or germinal layers were collected from individual cysts and DNA was extracted from some samples. PCR methods were used for the identification of the main strain clusters for each sample (G1; G5; G6/G7). Fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and NADH dehydrogenase I were sequenced. Fertility and strain typing were not performed on Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna samples for technical reasons. The range of regional prevalences, the strains of E. granulosus identified were the following: sheep 0.3 % - 75.3%, G1; cattle 0.1 % - 67.1%, G1 and G3; buffalos 10%; G1 and G3; pigs 0% - 9.4%, G1 and G7; horses 0% - 2.8%, G4. The results of the surveys confirm the historical trend of cystic echinococcosis in southern and insular Italy. Highest prevalences in sheep and cattle were recorded in Sardinia and Sicily, respectively. G1 strain results highly spread in sheep and also affects sympatrically cattle, buffalo and pigs. Variants of the sheep strain cluster like G3 were also recorded in buffalo and cattle. The presence of G4 and G7, which were isolated in horses and pigs from Sardinia, respectively, should be pointed out. In February 2007, G4 strain has been identified also in a horse from Tuscany, a region of Central Italy (reported in this Congress).