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This paper is based on results obtained during the project Vienergy (Interreg Italia-Malta programme 2007-2013) and contains data on the potential energy generation of biomass residues following pruning from vineyards located within the provinces of Trapani and Palermo. Analysis of the energy potential, following microgasification tests and heat production related to the biomass, included a preliminary mapping of vineyards in the area and an assessment of the total biomass available. Vineyard mapping was carried out using remote-sensing technologies: images were acquired and analysed using Landsat satellite; spectroradiometric calibration then took place using various targets obtained from UAVs equipped with multispectral imaging cameras. Potential energy data together with the estimated available biomass quantities from the two areas allowed us to formulate an estimate of energy savings obtainable based on energy needs of the local population. Data retrieval on the grape-growing areas, the biomass and potential energy generation also enabled us to advance the GIS system in the study areas., Proceedings of the 27th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 27-30 May 2019, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 344-350

Malassezia pachydermatis is part of the normal cutaneous microbiota of most warm-blooded vertebrates and is associated with otitis externa and seborrhoeic dermatitis in dogs and cats. In this study, we evaluated the growth capacity of nine M. pachydermatis strains on Sabouraud medium in the presence of a high concentration of gentamicin. Strains of M. pachydermatis cultured on Sabouraud medium in the presence of 50 and 100 mg gentamicin ml-1 displayed different growth patterns such as growth or lack of growth. We hypothesized that this difference in growth of M. pachydermatis strains was correlated with the different genotypes of the strains. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was applied for genetic typing of M. pachydermatis isolates, derived from the external ears of house pet cats suffering from otitis externa. The M. pachydermatis strains were cultured on commercial or home-made Sabouraud medium supplemented or not with gentamicin. RAPD analysis demonstrated a genetic heterogeneity between each strain. In particular, five out of nine strains tested were able to form colonies in the presence of gentamicin. However, a correlation between M. pachydermatis genotype and growth capacity in the presence of gentamicin was not widely demonstrated.

INTRODUCTION: Nicoletella semolina is gram-negative bacterium recently described as member of the Pasteurellaceae family(1). N. semolina has been isolated from horses with respiratory disorders (2) however it is still unclear if this bacterium plays a role as potential pathogen, opportunistic or just as commensal of the normal bacteriological flora. To the best of authors’ knowledge there are no descriptions of the isolation of this bacterium in donkeys. The aim of the present report is to describe, for the first time, the isolation of N. semolina in a donkey foal from Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three 2-3-month-old crossbreed donkey carcass (A-B-C) were submitted to the necropsy. Anamnesis reported severe respiratory disorders before death. At necropsy in all foals was reported generalized pneumonia associated with purulent-catarrhal collection and emphysema diffuse; the foal A showed lesions in all lung lobes, pericardial effusion and subsequent cardiac tamponade. Samples were collected from lungs and were plated onto two Blood Agar Base and MacConkey agar SS plates, and incubated aerobically and in microaerophilia at 37°C±1°C for 72h. The plates were observed every 24h. On all isolates were performed identification using the Vitek 2 Compact system (bioMérieux). On the strain isolated from the foal A was performed the sequencing and analysis of 16S rRNA genes. PCR was performed with MicroSeq 500 rDNA PCR Kit (Life Thecnoligies). Amplification products of the 16SrRNA genes were used for cycle sequencing with MicroSeq 500 rDNA Sequencing Kit. Sequence analysis and alignment were carried out using SeqScape v.2.5 (Applied Biosystem) and NCBI/BLAST/blastn suite. RESULTS: After 24h of incubation aerobic bacterial cultures of all 3 foals (A-B-C) in Blood Agar Base yielded heavy growth of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus; at the same time point in MacConkey agar plates (foal C) was detected the co-presence of Salmonella kasenyi. After 48h of incubation in Blood Agar Base plates (foal B) was isolated Nocardia spp. Furthermore at 72h in in Blood Agar Base plates (foal A) was detected the appearance of colonies gray, rounded, waxy, nonhaemolytic, nonadherent, similar to a grain of semolina wheat (1). The organism was identified as a pleomorphic gram-negative coccobacillus, nonmotile, catalase and oxidase positive and negative for indole test. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed 99% homology with N. semolina. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The present report described in the donkey is fairly similar to that noted recently in young horses (3) where is described the isolation of N. semolina associated with Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus with respiratory disorders (2). In the donkey is still be determined whether N. semolina is a primary pathogen or a commensal which can occasionally cause disease. Further studies are required to clarify the potential pathogen of this bacterium in the donkeys. REFERENCES: 1.Kuhnert P., Korczak B., Falsen E., Straub R., Hoops A., Boerlin P., Frey J., Mutters R., 2004. Nicoletella semolina gen. nov., sp. nov., a New Member of Pasteurellaceae Isolated from Horses with Airway Disease.

To investigate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) which is a potencial risk factor of transmission between animals and humans in different types of horses (harness racing-horses, breeding mares and riding-horses) and to compare the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates. A total of 191 healthy horses, housed at different locations of the Campania Region (Italy), were included in the study. Nasal swab samples were collected from each nostril of the horses. The mecA gene was detected by a nested PCR technique. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for each isolate. MRS were isolated from nasal samples of 68/191 (35.6%; 95% CI: 28.9%-42.9%) healthy horses. All isolates were coagulasenegative with the exception of two coagulase-positive-MRS strains, identified as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, 2/83 (2.4%; 95% CI: 0.4%-9.2%). Interestingly, both coagulase-positive-MRS isolates were from harness racing-horses. These horses also presented a significant higher positivity for MRS (53.3%; 95% CI: 40.1%-66.1%) than the breeding mares and riding-horses groups. Antibiotic susceptibility testing resulted difference between isolates due to different origin except for an almost common high resistance to aminopenicillins, as ampicillin and amoxicillin. It can be concluded that harness racing-horses may act as a significant reservoir of MRS as compared to breeding mares and riding-horses.

Malassezia pachydermatis is a normal inhabitant of canine and feline skin that can spread to other pets. The outer layer or epidermis is made up primarily of keratinocytes, which are capable of releasing various factors and expressing receptors that are significantly involved in the immune regulation. Little is known about the mechanism by which M. pachydermatis overcomes the natural barrier of the skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the direct in vitro interaction between human keratinocytes and a clinical strain of live M. pachydermatis isolated as a pure culture from an otitic cat. Human keratinocytes (HaCat) were infected with M. pachydermatis to analyse the modulation of the innate immune response. Gene expression was analysed by real-time PCR. We demonstrated that M. pachydermatis invaded HaCat cells and modulated the expression of TLR2 after 24. h infection, while HBD-2, IL-1β TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were modulated both at 24 and 48. h. Thus, our results demonstrated that M. pachydermatis is able to stimulate the innate immune response in infected human keratinocytes indicating a possible role of this yeast as a human opportunistic pathogen.

To evaluate the effect of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) on in vivo performance, nutrient digestibility, fermentation characteristics and caecal microbial populations of rabbits, 144 thirty-five days old hybrid Hyla were equally divided into three groups, one of which was fed the same diet without additives (control group), one with antibiotics (colistin sulphate, 144 mg/kg; tylosin, 100 mg/kg; oxytetracyclin, 1000 mg/kg) and one with MOS (1 g/kg of diet). Mortality rate, live weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded up to 62 days of age. At 60 days nutrient digestibility was measured by acid insoluble ash method. The caecal content of 10 rabbits per group was collected at 62 days and analysed for volatile fatty acids production, ammonia content and microbial count. Rabbits from the control group had a significantly (p0.01) lower body weight at 62 days (1638.9 g vs. 1779.4 g and 1862.5 g, respectively for the control, MOS and antibiotic groups) while the antibiotic group showed a higher (p0.05) feed intake than the control group (127.9 g/day vs. 109.3 g/day). Rabbits from the MOS group had a higher apparent digestibility of cellulose (34.27% vs. 29.61% and 27.49%, respectively for the MOS, control and antibiotic groups) and, as a consequence a higher level of acetate in the caecal content (39.93 mmol/l vs. 34.21 mmol/l and 23.09 mmol/l, respectively for the MOS, control and antibiotic groups). Caecal microflora of the MOS group rabbits also had a higher fermentative activity in respect of protein source, as demonstrated by the higher productions of branched chain fatty acids. MOS and antibiotics significantly reduced the colonies of Coliformis (2.32 vs. 3.20 vs. 2.40 logCFU/g, respectively for the MOS, control and antibiotic groups, p0.01). Mannan-oligosaccharides at 1 g/kg of diet can be used as an alternative to antibiotics during the rabbit's growth period.

Within the framework of the GEOGRID research project, a semi-automatic computational chain has been implemented in order to map the time evolution of marine water quality, around Sicily island, by means of satellite images. To this aim a set of MODIS (TERRA and AQUA) multispectral images has been acquired. An automatic system to georeference and calibrate the images has been implemented. All the procedures to map clorophill-a, total suspended solids and turbidity come from the literature, whereas models parameters have been calibrated by means of in situ measurements.

Soya bean is the main protein source in poultry feed but rising prices make an alternative protein source necessary. Insects, such as the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), may be an attractive solution for hens, although little information is available on their effect on egg quality. The present study aims to fill this gap by testing the effect of 100% replacement of soya bean with H. illucens larva meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens for 21 weeks. At the end of the trial, the eggs were characterized for parameters such as weight, colour, proximate composition of albumen and yolk, and content of carotenoids, tocopherols and cholesterol. The fatty acid profile of yolks was also determined. Hens fed the insect-based diet produced eggs (HIM group) with a higher proportion of yolk than the group fed the soya bean-based diet (SBM group). HIM was associated with redder yolks (red index 5.63 v. 1.36) than SBM. HIM yolks were richer in γ-tocopherol (4.0 against 2.4 mg/kg), lutein (8.6 against 4.9 mg/kg), β-carotene (0.33 against 0.19 mg/kg) and total carotenoids (15 against 10.5 mg/kg) than SBM yolks. The fatty acid composition of HIM yolks was almost identical to that of SBM yolks. Finally, HIM yolks contained 11% less cholesterol than SBM yolks. These results suggest that H. illucens larva meal is a suitable total substitute for soya bean meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens. A sustainable alternative to the plant protein source therefore seems feasible.

Two days before kindling, 228 New Zealand White rabbit does were homogeneously divided into two groups (114 does per group) and fed the same diet. After delivery, the litters were equalized to 8 pups. From 1 to 35 days of age (weaning), the control group (CONT) did not receive any treatment while in the experimental group (LAC) the nests were sprayed with a commercial product containing lyophilized Lactobacillus plantarum dissolved in water (12 g/L). L. plantarum was sprayed on the litters (5 mL per rabbit) once a day during seven consecutive days after delivery. After one week of rest, the treatment was repeated for another week according to the same experimental protocol. Mortality rate, recorded on all the litters (912 rabbits per group) was significantly lower in the LAC group (9.9 vs 17.2%; Pin vivo performance of the 24 litters per group, and rabbits of both groups reached a similar weight at weaning (938 vs 932 g for LAC and CONT groups, respectively). Rabbits from the LAC group showed fermentative activity of caecal microflora (total volatile fatty acids 24.8 vs 14.5 mmol/L; Pvs 63.9% of total white blood cells; PL. plantarum (1.25x106 CFU/g). It might be supposed that the changes in caecal microflora can affect our results and improve the sanitary status of Lactobacillus-sprayed rabbits in the period 1-35 days of age.

[EN] The effect of three levels of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg diet) compared to dietary antibiotic supplementation (ANT, colistin sulphate 144, tylosin 100 and oxytetracycline 1000 ppm) and to a diet without MOS or medication (control group) were studied on 5 groups of rabbits (n=342 cages/group and 2 rabbits/cage) from weaning (35 d) to 60 d of age in a farm with an anamnestic history of Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy (ERE). Mortality rate was recorded daily. Thirty two cages per group were randomly chosen to record growth performance and rectal anaerobic microbial population. Live weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. At 49 d of age rectal swabs were collected with cotton swabs from 8 rabbits per group and the anaerobic microbial population was counted. Feed digestibility was determined per cage using acid insoluble ash as an internal marker, collecting faeces from 57 to 59 d of age. An episode of ERE occurred during the second and the third week of the trial. The control group showed a high mortality rate during the fattening period (78%) and was not considered for further measurements. Total mortality rate was higher (P