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Among human and animal diseases agents, parasites are those that show, with very few exceptions, an environmental resistance far superior with respect other pathogens [1]. This is due to the complex structure of the wall of their infective stages, that makes them particularly resistant to almost all physical and chemical agents. In this work, a novel technique to inactivate coccidian parasites in liquid environment has been investigated and implemented. A Petri dish filled with 20 ml of water contaminated by Eimeria spp. oocysts has been placed within a plasma reactor constituted by a lower HV exposed electrode and an upper grounded copper strip electrode covered by a ceramic slab (Fig. 1). The reactor has been supplied with sinusoidal and nanosecond-pulsed voltage waveforms varying the application time. In both cases an atmospheric pressure Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) has been ignited in the air gap above the liquid surface and in contact with it [2]. The temperature of the solution and its pH level were not significantly changed by plasma treatment. The concentration of ozone and hydrogen peroxide increase by increasing treatment time [2]. Plasma treatment efficacy has been detected considering a representative population of 100 oocysts. For both discharges, treatment efficacy has been found to be dose dependent (Fig. 2). After an energy dose treatment of about 100 kJ/l, the number of sporulated oocytes are roughly halved with respect the control sample. Results are statistically significant with a p

Over recent decades, the interest in wildlife has remarkably increased amongst veterinarians and the mouflon and its related parasitic diseases were amongst the investigated topics. In Italy, the mouflon is widespread in the Alps, central-north Apennines, and Sardinia. Population size was estimated at about 20,000 heads in 2010. However, mouflons are currently on the decrease in the Alps due to wolf predation and high hunting pressure to prevent competition with native Caprines. Veterinary parasitologists largely contributed to the understanding of pathogens and their ecological roles amongst native and introduced mouflons into Italy. Their work, including “grey” literature, was collected on a floppy disk for the first time in the 1990s. A second update appeared in the first decade of the new century. Along these lines, we also revisited and collected data concerning the last 20 years, thus creating a website (http:// www.parasitepub.altervista.org) which can be consulted virtually and universally. To create our database, we searched and classified the publications retrieved from annals of academic departments, journals, conference proceedings, university libraries and on-line data banks. Our database aims to be as up-to-date as possible and as updatable as possible. Contributions were classified according to four interpretative levels. Our search is based on the retrieval of 47 papers from 1970 to 2015. The studied mouflons originated mainly from Northern Italy (57%), followed by Central Italy (28%) and Sardinia (15%). Among parasite groups, nematodes were the most frequently studied (44% of papers) followed by arthropods (15%), protozoa (12%), trematodes and cestodes (11%), dermatophytes (7%). The analysis of ecopathological levels revealed the predominance of the first (56%) followed by the second (23%), the third (18%) and the fourth (3%). The newly created website is intended as an easy-to-use bibliographic tool to support investigation on parasites and parasitic diseases in free-ranging wildlife in Italy.

The dog was the first domesticated species [1]. With the domestication of other species and the dawn of pastoralism dogs started to be used to herd and protect livestock [2]. Pastoral context is peculiar since humans share the same environment with dogs and other domestic species. The aim of this study was to acquire information on dogs' management and welfare in pastoral environment, in order to identify any critical point for public health and to enlighten any difference in management between the following dog categories: livestock guarding dogs (LGDs), herding dogs (HDs), house dogs (PDs), truffle dogs (TDs). Data were collected by visiting 30 sheep and goat farms in the Tuscan Emilian Apennine area and interviewing the farmers. 184 dogs were included: 91LGDs, 45 HDs, 41 PDs and 7 TDs. Only 7% (13/184) were pedigree dogs. As regards LGDs, the most represented breed was the Maremma Sheepdog, while most herding dogs' breed was Lupino del Gigante, a local Italian breed not officially recognized by the Italian Kennel Club. 81% (149/184) of dogs were regularly registered, with a higher percentage for sheepdogs (89%, 121/136) than PDs (61%, 25/41) and TDs (42%, 3/7). 65% (119/184) of dogs were vaccinated, with a higher percentage for HDs (87%, 39/45) than LGDs (59%, 65/91) and PDs (63%, 26/41); 65% (119/184) were wormed and 88% (162/184) treated for ectoparasites. Neutered dogs were only the 12% of sheepdogs (17/136) and 22% of PDs (9/41); all TDs were intact. None of the dogs were subjected to mutilations such as tail docking and ear cropping. 60% of farmers (18/30) used to chain up their dogs for short periods, 2 farmers kept some dogs restrained all the time. Most farmers fed their dogs only once a day, with petfood and dry bread, but in 17/30 farms (57%) both sheepdogs and house dogs had access to afterbirths and livestock carcasses. Given the dogs' temperament, faeces were collected from the ground whenever possible. Coprological examinations were positive for Tricocephali in 12/20 (60%) farms, Cestodes in 7/20 (35%) and Ascarids in 5/20 (25%) farms. Data concerning the official registration of dogs confirm that, at present, the Italian law no. 281/1991 to prevent the stray problem is not being implemented properly. Estrus control appears to be scarcely felt byfarmers and it becomes an issue only if it compromises the sheepdogs' work. Another alarming aspect is the farmers' habit to let the dogs having free access to afterbirths and carcasses. In fact, the high prevalence of Cestodes observed in our sample, given the coexistence of all the host implicated in its biological cycle, throws up the red flag for the possible presence of Echinococcus granulosus, an important zoonotic agent. Strikingly, the prevalence of Cestodes we found in dogs is very similar to the prevalence of hydatidosis observed in adult sheep from Italian farms, which therefore has to be considered an endemic disease

INTRODUCTION. Although many studies on the frequency of endoparasites in dogs and cats in Canada have been reported (Joffe et al., 2011, Can. Vet. J. 52:1323-1328), seasonal and/or annual patterns are often not extimated, furthermore very few and aged papers have been written about owned dogs and cats in Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The frequency of endoparasitc infections from samples of cats (2,391) and dogs (15,016) submitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VHT) of the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island-Canada was determined, using univariate and multivariate analysis. Predictors of endoparasitism, such as sex, age, geographical origin and seasonality, were also investigated through the calculation of odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Overall thirteen parasite genuses were detected, cats showed a higher frequency, with this species difference being statistically significant (χ2=15.494; P

INTRODUCTION. The use of plasma for sanitization purpose is of increasing interest. Annular plasma synthetic jet actuators (PSJAs) had demonstrated their ability to produce and induced tubular flow (Neretti et al., 2017, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 50 015210, 9pp) normal to the surface where the dielectric barrier discharge is ignited. This typology of reactor enhances the transport of reactive species toward the treated samples (Taglioli et al., 2016, Plasma sources Sci. Technol., 25 06LT01-5pp.). Long life charged particles are generated within the plasma region and then can be advected together with the induced flow. In this work the effect of free charges into induced flow have been tested against Candida guilliermondii both in agar plates and in water suspension. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Eighty ml suspension of C. guiliiermondii in saline solution (0.5 Mcfarland opacity) was prepared. The CFU of untreated suspension was determined performing multiple dilution that were plated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) petri dishes that were incubated at 26°C for 48 hours. Aliquots of 100 μl of suspension were spread on the surface of 6 SDA plates (9 cm diameter); aliquots of 20 ml of suspension were put into six 9 cm plates. Agar plates were subjected to induced flow for 30 sec, 2 and 5 minutes and suspension plates for 5, 10 and 15 minutes, both with and without blocking the charges by a grounded metallic mesh. After treating, from each suspension CFU was calculated as previous described, while in the agar plates the colonies were directly counted after incubation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. The untreated yeast suspension contained 5.21 x 105 CFU/100 μl. In treated samples, the reduction of the CFU of the yeast was related to the treatment time and to presence/absence of free charges. The effect was greater on agar plate than on suspension: at the same time of treatment (5 minutes), only 1-log reduction of CFU were observed on suspension, while 4-log reduction was observed in agar plates. Additional 1-log reduction was observed when free charges have been allowed to reach the sample. On suspension, longer treatment time (15 min) was needed to obtain 2-log reduction without free charges and 4-log reduction with free charges.

Mentre molto si è fatto e si va facendo per approfondire le conoscenze sui parassiti dei cani da compagnia, ben poco conosciamo della situazione dei cani da pastore. Questa lacuna appare particolarmente grave perché sono questi ultimi che possono albergare e diffondere un parassita, Echinococcus granulosus, dal potenziale zoonotico di primaria importanza, soprattutto nel Bacino del Mediterraneo laddove l’allevamento ovi-caprino per la produzione del latte ha avuto le sue origini sin dal V° millennio a.C. Quando l’interesse economico prevale sulla Sanità Pubblica, le logiche commerciali che sottendono l’interesse per i parassiti del cane non considerano questa categoria di animali. Anche in questo campo Homo economicus prevale su H. sapiens. Non dobbiamo inoltre dimenticare che mentre si registra una notevole evoluzione tecnologica anche all’interno dell’allevamento ovi-caprino, molte aziende operano ancora a livello tradizionale e quindi sono tendenzialmente isolate dal contesto sociale e più restie ad interfacciarsi con la comunità scientifica. In queste realtà, mentre l’interesse per i parassiti degli ovini è abbastanza sviluppato in quanto soggiace a logiche economiche, quello per i parassiti del cane, che rimane un elemento essenziale nell’ambito della gestione aziendale, è del tutto trascurato, Per colmare questa lacuna abbiamo intrapreso un’indagine coprologica che non poteva prescindere da una serie di informazioni epidemiologiche ottenute con una scheda di acquisizione dati, all’uopo creata.

INTRODUCTION. The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) is the only veterinary medicine faculty in Atlantic Canada. AVC was born in 1986 and also has a state-of-the-art teaching hospital. The parasitology diagnostic laboratory started a user-friendly data system that goes from January, 2000 to November, 2017. Really few surveys are present in literature like that (Raue et al., 2011, Parasitol. Res. 116:3315–3330). MATERIALS AND METHODS. The objective of this study was to summarize the parasitology laboratory exam results. Descriptive analysis was carried out with the Stata statistical software package, version 15.1. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. A total of 35,513 samples were tested, belonging to exotic animals, wildlife, livestock and pets mostly from the eastern and Atlantic provinces of Canada. There was a mean of 1972.94 samples (525.05 SD) per year, and the range showed a minimum of 1365 and a maximum of 2954 per year. There were eight performed tests including: Baermann technique, Direct Smear, Egg counts, Sedimentation and Fecal flotation, Canine Heartworm Antigen Test, Neospora caninum Antibody Test, and Skin scraping. The kinds of specimens tested were feces, blood samples, sera and skin. The animal species represented in our study population were: dogs (19,570), bovine (4,797), cats (3,358), sheep (3,051), horses (2,312) and other (1,114), such as birds, foxes, goats, lynx, pigs and raccoons. Overall, out of 35,513 samples, 10,026 (28.2%) were positive for parasites. Protozoa were in 4068 (40.5%) of the 10,026 samples. Gastro-Intestinal Nematodes were found in 3658 samples (36%). Trichostrongyle eggs occupied approximately a third of the samples (40.9/). Cestoda were in 306 (3%) samples, of which Moniezia spp. played the greatest role (55.9%). Lungworms and Capillaridae were in 598 (6%) and 178 (2%) samples, respectively, where the most common species recovered was Crenosoma vulpis. Ascarididae were present in 803 (8%) samples, of which Toxocara spp. was the most frequent. Trematoda were found in 44 (0.43%) specimens. Mites were recovered in 28 of 97 (28.9%) skin scraping, and ten of those were identified as Demodex spp. Interesting results were 33 Alaria spp. cases, three in foxes and thirty in dogs. Also interesting was the detection of 21 cases of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dog. Increasing surveillance of this vector-borne disease agent would be important as the climate, vector range, and habitat continues to change throughout Canada.

La biodiversità intesa come varietà di organismi viventi, nelle loro diverse forme, inserite nei rispettivi ecosistemi, non deve essere subita ma apprezzata e ricercata. Il decennio 2011 – 2020 è stato dichiarato il decennio della biodiversità e nel nostro piccolo, non spiace pensare di onoralo. Le città, che assumono dimensioni sempre maggiori grazie allo sviluppo delle periferie, nei centri storici sono colonizzate da un numero sempre più elevato di specie animali che conquistano l’habitat urbano creando così importanti biocenosi che, inserite nel “nuovo ecosistema urbano”, ne determinano la biodiversità . Il fenomeno dell’inurbamento è tipico di alcune specie di mammiferi, roditori su tutti , e di uccelli e si tratta di un processo originatosi nel periodo neolitico in concomitanza con il cambiamento del modo di vivere dell’uomo che da cacciatore nomade divenne agricoltore stanziale. Il fenomeno dell’inurbamento è tipico di alcune specie di mammiferi, roditori su tutti, e di uccelli; si tratta di un processo originatosi nel periodo neolitico in concomitanza con il cambiamento del modo di vivere dell’uomo che da cacciatore, raccoglitore nomade divenne agricoltore, allevatore stanziale. Oggigiorno esso è in netto aumento ed è divenuto estremamente evidente per effetto del clima più mite, delle riserve alimentari, della disponibilità di numerosi siti di riproduzione negli edifici spesso abbandonati dall’ uomo. Considerato che l’80% dei cittadini europei vive in aree urbane, sempre più spesso si possono creare situazioni di conflittualità con gli animali che vivono in città. La conservazione della diversità biologica è importante ed avvertiamo doveroso l’impegno professionale al mantenimento dei giusti rapporti tra le popolazioni animali ed umana, nell’ottica di un miglioramento della qualità della vita in città. La biodiversità inoltre deve essere considerata come metodo di lotta ai vettori di malattie trasmissibili. La conservazione della diversità biologica è importante e ci deve impegnare al mantenimento dei giusti rapporti tra popolazioni animali ed umana, nell’ottica di un miglioramento della qualità della vita in città. La biodiversità inoltre deve essere considerata come metodo di lotta ai vettori di malattie infettive. Un animale viene percepito come “problematico” quando diventa particolarmente numeroso oppure si trova “fuori posto”. Specie simbolo di queste raccomandazioni è stato scelto il Rondone comune (Apus apus), in assoluto la specie che colonizza in grande quantità le nostre città. Questo migratore a lunga distanza è considerato “specie ombrello”, ma anche specie “bandiera”. Per “specie ombrello” si intende quella specie le cui esigenze ecologiche peculiari richiedono il mantenimento di condizioni ambientali particolari e che alcune di queste possono risultare essenziali per altre specie che vivono nei medesimi ambienti. Si indica invece per “specie bandiera”, quella carismatica, che per la sua bellezza è facilmente “vendibile come immagine”, in una società come la nostra nella quale la cura dell’immagine ha raggiunto livelli esasperati, basti ricordare il successo delle campagne di sensibilizzazione fatte usando l’immagine del Cavaliere d’Italia (Himantopus himantopus) e quella della Cicogna bianca (Ciconia ciconia), o anche il brand di una casa di borse che ha usato lo stilema di un’anatra orientale. Ora dato che questa specie è ben gradita alla massa delle persone, così, alla stessa stregua della specie ombrello, dalla sua protezione o incentivazione possono beneficiare quelle specie, che non hanno lo stesso “appeal” né del Rondone, né della Cicogna bianca o del Cavaliere d’Italia. Provate ad immaginare le nostre città senza i caroselli estivi dei vocianti rondoni. Fatta questa opportuna premessa, di seguito si individueranno le più significative specie animali che abitano un centro urbano e nello specifico gli edifici storici, dividendole in due grandi categorie: animali dannosi e/o indesiderati o pests ed animali graditi e/o utili. La gestione delle ricostruzioni a seguito di emergenze quali i terremoti del 2012 in Emilia deve per forza essere affrontata in modo multidisciplinare ed integrato. Ricostruire o ristrutturare uno stabile non è “solo” attività di tecnici quali ingegneri, architetti o geometri ma coinvolge altre professionalità che devono collaborare sia in fase progettuale che costruttiva per garantire i risultati migliori. L'obiettivo è quello di migliorare la qualità della vita di cittadini che hanno subito danni dall'evento catastrofico nonché cogliere l’occasione per alleviare e rendere più gestibili quei problemi di IUV presenti prima del sisma ed attribuibili ad errori edilizi del passato. Multidisciplinarietà vuol dire cercare di affrontare le problematiche della ricostruzione a 360 gradi, solo così i risultati potranno riflettersi anche sul futuro. Ci piace pensare che in questo ambizioso e necessario processo i Medici Veterinari e gli Ornitologi possano giocare un ruolo, seppur marginale, in grado di contribuire alla corretta gestione delle scelte urbanistiche del territorio. Con il lavoro che presentiamo abbiamo voluto affrontare le problematiche legate alla possibile presenza di animali infestanti ma nello stesso tempo anche alla convivenza con le specie gradite , perché no, necessaria al miglioramento della qualità della vita. Ci riferiamo alla biodiversità di cui tanto si parla ma di cui poco si conosce e quindi ancora meno si fa. Polemicamente ci piace sottolineare che biodiversità non è collocare un nido per pipistrelli, ma è lo sforzo per proteggere e favorire l’insediamento di specie utili, come sono anche questi simpatici mammiferi. Con questo breve excursus abbiamo cercato di analizzare quelli che sono i problemi legati agli animali la cui presenza possiamo accertare durante le attività di ripristino degli edifici del nostro territorio e che potrebbero approfittare dei nuovi edifici per insediarvisi. Le nostre considerazioni riguardano le specie più comuni (sia infestanti che gradite) con l'intento di limitare le prime e facilitare la presenza delle seconde. Cosa fare, in pratica, per prevenire o limitare la presenza di ratti, colombi, zanzare e contemporaneamente salvaguardare la presenza di rondoni ed altri? Siamo consci che non è una fase di arrivo bensì di partenza che ci deve vedere impegnati in momenti di analisi/valutazione delle situazioni che di volta in volta si devono affrontare e da cui dovranno scaturire delle soluzioni razionale, misurabili e applicabili. Non vi è dubbio che alla base vi debbano essere momenti di incontro/confronto e sintesi da cui dovranno emergere compiti e competenze per la riuscita di singoli progetti di ricostruzione/ristrutturazione sempre comunque nell'ottica della conservazione della biodiversità del territorio e della convivenza tra ambiente animali e cittadini.

Zoos are an ex-situ form of conservation were animals are breed in confined areas for recreational exhibition, educational or research and conservation purposes. Parasites and infectious diseases have become a major concern in conservation of endangered species as they can lead to mortality, dramatic population declines and even contribute to local extinction events. Some studies have showed that gastrointestinal parasites of wild animals in captivity included zoonotic species and rise public health concerns. According to Italian law (D.Lgs 73/2005), zoos housing domestic, wild and exotic animals are required to address both animal health and welfare. The last two words are suggestive for parasites control mainly in a more extensive space where many animals of different species share the same environment as in safari park. The study was carried out to know the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of captive animals at Zoo Safari Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region. Fecal samples were collected in the biennium 2014/2016. The first year were recovered 94 samples, the second one 99. The seemingly low number of samples is due to the difficulties of getting the fecal material by a well known individual subject. In fact, we considered of little interest to analyze a fecal pool, much easier to get but poorly indicative; in this safari park many animals are not confined to a specific area but are free to move throughout the park area. The totality of fecal samples were screened using classical qualitative and quantitative analyzes. The species were grouped by theriological affinity in 3 groups: poligastric (18 species) and monogastric (4 species) herbivores and carnivores (2 species). In the first year, out of 94 fecal samples examined, 70 were positive for parasitic eggs/oocysts of different species indicating an overall prevalence of 74.5%, of which 4/17 carnivores 23.5%, 54/59 (91.5%) poligastric and 12/18 (66.6%) monogastric herbivores. The second year, out of 99 samples 56 were positive with a prevalence of 56.6% for gastrointestinal parasites, 6/16 (37.5%) among carnivores, 40/65 (61.5%) ruminants and finally 10/18 (55.5%) monogastric herbivores. Parasites recovered were: coccidia; Toxascaris leonina and Parascaris equorum; gastrointestinal strongyles and Nematodirus spp.; Capillaria spp. and Trichuris spp. McMaster examination showed an aggregate distribution (high proportion of parasite is concentrated in a few host individuals) of parasitic fauna inside the area. The Chi-square test revealed a significant difference (χ2=6.05; P

Between December 2005 and November 2006, a survey on coccidiosis of wild and captive mouflons living in the Orecchiella Natural Reserve (Tuscany, Italy) was performed on faecal samples collected approximately every two months. A total of 96 samples were collected, 55 of which from wild mouflons and 41 from captive mouflons. On these faecal samples qualitative and quantitative parasitological analyses were performed; moreover, faecal cultures were made in order to identify the involved Eimeria species. Significantly higher prevalence (%) and mean intensity (mean OPG +/- SD) of coccidian infection resulted for captive mouflons (73.17% and 814.6 +/- 1297.2 OPG) comparing to wild mouflons (36.73% and 112.7 +/- 268.7 OPG). Eimeria parva, E ovinoidalis, E. bakuensis, E. ahasata, E. intricata, E. crandallis, E. granulosa, E. faurei and an Eimeria species very similar to the descriptions previously reported for E. arloingi and E. yakimoffmatschoulsky, were isolated.

A retrospective analysis of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) cases occurred between 1995 and 2007 in an area of the eastern part of the Emilia-Romagna region, was performed. Data of CanL were obtained by the voluntary reports of veterinary pratictioners and implemented by cases coming from the laboratory of serology of Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology- Bologna University. A total of 69 new cases of CanL were recorded in 10 municipalities. 37 of them must be considered autochthonous and 15 imported. An important cluster was observed in the town of Imola. Many other reports of positive dogs have been come from the same area since the historical outbreak of human visceral leishmaniosis in the 70’s. This seems to confirm the presence of an active focus of CanL. The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) allows a better understanding of the epidemiological pattern of the infection.

In recent years leishmaniasis has become a serious Public Health problem in Italy. The coexistence of infected dogs, vectors and humans, makes urban areas suitable environment for the spread of this zoonotic disease. With the purpose to improve the current system for the control of leishmaniasis in urban areas, the authors report their experiences carrying out a Health Information System (HIS) for the surveillance of the disease in the city of Messina. The HIS project is built on a dataset containing geographical data on urban environment, census tracts at parish level and data of human and canine leishmaniasis cases reported in the last years. The HIS allows the spatial representation of the disease occurrence and can be used as a novel epidemiological tool to perform area-based surveillance.