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The present study investigated the occurrence of anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes of the genus Brachyspira in laying hen flocks in Treviso province, north-eastern Italy, with respect to prevalence, spirochaete species present, disease associations and risk factors for colonization. A total of 450 faecal samples from 45 sheds on 29 laying hen farms were cultured for intestinal spirochaetes. Nineteen sheds on 12 farms contained chickens with symptoms consistent with avian intestinal spirochaetosis, including reduced egg production, wet litter and/or pasty vents. Spirochaetes were isolated from 157 (34.8%) samples from 21 (72.4%) farms, and from 32 (71.1%) sheds. From these positive samples, 189 spirochaetal isolates were speciated using three polymerase chain reaction assays and a restriction fragment polymorphism analysis of 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction products. Overall, 52 (27.5%) isolates were identified as pathogenic Brachyspira intermedia, 26 (13.8%) as pathogenic Brachyspira pilosicoli, 93 (49.7%) as non-pathogenic (Brachyspira innocens/Brachyspira murdochii), and 18 (9.6%) were unidentified. Faeces from 14 sheds (31%) on 10 farms (34.5%) contained B. intermedia and/or B. pilosicoli, and disease consistent with avian intestinal spirochaetosis was observed in nine of these sheds on seven farms. There was a significant association (P=0.042) between the presence of spirochaetes and using deep pits rather than conveyor belts for manure disposal. Sheds housing chickens >40 weeks of age were significantly more likely to contain spirochaetes (P=0.048) and pathogenic species (P=007) than sheds housing younger chickens. A significant association (P=0.02) was found between infection with pathogenic spirochaetes and reduced egg production.

Pathological findings of four cats with severe and diffuse smooth muscle hypertrophy of the small intestine (MHSI) are reported and compared to those of five cats with segmental MHSI secondary to neoplastic obstruction and four controls. Histology demonstrated a constant association between idiopathic MHSI and submucosal fibrosis and chronic lymphoplasmacytic enteritis. Morphometry (gut diameter, thickness and area of muscular layers, number and density of smooth muscle nuclei) and MIB-1-immunolabelling showed that the thickness increase was mostly due to hypertrophy, but hyperplasia was also evident. Microbiology from ileal content samples was performed in two cats with primary MHSI, and Campylobacter spp. were isolated, which were also demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure. The association of chronic enteritis with idiopathic MHSI suggests that factors released in intestinal inflammation may also act as hypertrophy stimuli for smooth muscle cells.

Helicobacter-like organisms are frequently observed in the stomach of dogs but the relationship between these microorganisms and gastric pathology has not been clearly established. Different species of helicobacters are known to be present in the canine stomach but their specific prevalence in naturally infected dogs is unknown. The aims of this study were to isolate and characterize helicobacters in canine gastric biopsies, to compare the commonly used tests for the identification of Helicobacter spp. and to determine the occurrence of these species in dogs. Twenty-three out of 25 dogs (92%) were positive for Helicobacter-like organisms in cytological screening. Culture was successful from biopsies of 5/25 dogs. The isolates were analyzed by electron microscopy, biochemical and physiological tests, whole protein analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing. Helicobacter felis was identified in four samples and Helicobacter bizzozeronii in one sample. Only the whole protein analysis in combination with electron microscopy was able to clearly discriminate the two species. Compared to the high prevalence of Helicobacter-like organisms, the occurrence of H. felis and H. bizzozeronii, was low (17 and 4%, respectively). No Flexispira rappini-like organisms or H. salomonis were detected. Electron microscopy revealed that H. bizzozeronii- like microorganisms were present in three additional biopsies where we were unable to culture any Helicobacter-like organisms. These observations indicate that in the stomach of dogs not all helicobacters are culturable. The unculturable bacteria appeared to be the prevalent ones and may represent different spiral organisms. The presence of distinct helicobacters with different characteristics can reflect different roles in the pathogenesis of canine gastric disease.

Dogs can be infected by several zoonotic Bartonella species. In Italy, the B. henselae infection has been described in cats; nevertheless, information is lacking about the circulation in canine populations. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence against B. henselae in dogs from northern Italy. A total of 381 canine sera were tested by an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test, using B. henselae type 1 (Houston 1), as antigen. Antibodies to B. henselae were detected in 23 out of 381 (6 per cent) samples tested, with antibody titres ranging from 64 to 512. Twenty-two seropositive dogs were apparently healthy, one dog showed systemic limphadenopaty and dermatitis and resulted seropositive for leishmaniosis. Nineteen seropositive animals were sporting dogs living in rural area and probably exposed to tick bites, four dogs lived indoors and no date were available about the presence of cats in their environment. Further focused investigations are needed to assess the epidemiological relevance of the B. henselae infection in dogs in Italy.

Infections caused by synthetic prostheses are relatively rare (1.5-6%) but serious complication in vascular surgery. There is no doubt that during and immediately after surgery bacterial contamination may occur. An in vitro study was carried out in the Vascutek laboratories, which revealed a high affinity between prostheses in Dacron gel and Rifampicin. This affinity, the result of an ionic bond, was demonstrated by the fact that after 5 days Rifampicin was still present on the prostheses. Encouraged by this result, an experimental study was carried out in sheep. Five sheep were operated on making a prosthetic graft in both of the common carotid arteries: on one side a Gelseal Dacron prosthesis was implanted after being soaked for 15 minutes in a solution containing 1 mg/ml Rifampicin. A Knitted Dacron prosthesis was implanted in the contralateral carotid artery, again after pretreatment with Rifampicin. Explants were made after 2, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, and the concentration of Rifampicin on the prostheses was assessed on the basis of the diameter of the inhibition area on Staphylococcus aureus cultures. The results showed that the Gelseal Dacron prostheses maintained Rifampicin concentrations with an antibacterial activity up to 72 hours; this property disappears with the Knitted Dacron prostheses after only 24 hours. These results confirm the high affinity of Gelseal Dacron and Rifampicin also in in vivo experimental models.

A mycoplasma identified as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp mycoides LC type was isolated from an outbreak of caprine pleuropneumonia and serofibrinous peritonitis. This isolate was the first to be reported in Italy. Experimentally, a rapidly fatal condition followed its inoculation into goats and sheep but inoculation of calves did not lead to clinically apparent infection. Although the organism was recovered for up to 45 days following experimental inoculation of calves, pathological changes were limited to the drainage lymph nodes except in one case where there were histological changes in the lungs.

Les auteurs font connaître l’existence d’un foyer de Trichinose humaine découvert, au mois de septembre 1975, dans la commune de Bagnolo in Piano, à proximité de Reggio Emilia. Quatre-vingt-neuf personnes furent atteintes sans qu’il y eut de décès. Après une vaste et rigoureuse enquête sur le terrain, dans les charcuteries et les boucheries, l’origine de la contamination semble pouvoir être attribuée à la consommation de viande d’un cheval provenant d’un pays d’Europe de l’Est (Pologne ou Yougoslavie)., Mantovani A., Filippini I., Saccheti A., Bergomi S., Cavrini C., Marastoni G., Balestrazzi V., Baldelli R., Battelli G., Canestri-Trotti G., Gaiardi S., Mari S., Sanguinetti V., Virgili-Fioretti D., Ambrosi M., Polidori G.-A. Observations sur un foyer de Trichinose humaine en Italie. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 129 n°2, 1976. pp. 213-222.

Eleven patients with roller injuries to the upper extremity are described. Nine were treated initially; two were referred for treatment within 3 weeks after injury. Six patients were injured by kneading machines in bakeries, two by hot dry-cleaning mangles, two by industrial rolling machines, and one by a transmission belt which acted as a roller. The tissue damage depends on (1) the space between the rollers, (2) the speed of the rollers, (3) the hardness of the rollers, (4) the temperature of the rollers, and (5) how violently the patient attempts to withdraw the entrapped part. Lesions may be closed, consisting of a compression of the soft tissues, which may result in skin necrosis, or a tearing and separation of the skin and soft tissues away from the deep fascia (more common on the dorsal surface of the hand), or destruction of skin and deep tissue because of burns. Closed injuries usually respond to conservative care, although decompression sometimes is necessary. Experience gained from treating these 11 patients indicates that the inexperienced surgeon often tries to replace distally based flaps. Such flaps usually die and predispose to deep infection. If the condition of the wound permits, primary skin grafts should be applied; but if the bed is of poor quality, skin grafting can be delayed for several days. If it is necessary to protect exposed deep structures, they should be covered with immediate pedicle flaps. It is better to use skin from an uninjured area for a free skin graft than to use the avulsed skin as a graft. Distant flaps should be used if secondary reconstruction is anticipated. In circumferential skin loss, a combination of pedicle skin and free skin grafts is better than encircling the part with a pedicle flap. The thumb and radial fingers should be preserved, but the ulnar fingers are expendible in severe injuries. By amputating parts of fingers, reconstruction often is simplified.

The morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics of 120 isolates of Malassezia (Pityrosporum) pachydermatis, isolated from chronic otitis externa in the dog, are discussed.

Faecal samples from 60 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 13 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 7 chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), 41 alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) and soils mixed with deer faeces from the Stelvio National Park were examined for Campylobacter sp. and Salmonella sp. with negative results. The same material, especially deer faeces, was a habitat highly suitable for Yersinia sp.: Y. enterocolitica (two biotypes) was isolated twice, Y. kristensenii (two serotypes) was isolated 19 times, Y. frederiksenii and Y. intermedia were isolated once. Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli were isolated from 16 specimens from wild ruminants, one from marmot and two from feeding places.

Investigations on the incidence of rabies, leptospirae, salmonellae, dermatophytes, histoplasma, trichinella and intestinal helminths in 72 foxes of the Modenese Apennines are summarized.

The authors vaccinated 152 cattle divided into three groups against rabies. The first group received the ERA strain and the second group an inactivated vaccine. The third group received the inactivated vaccine on two occasions with an interval of 60 days between the two doses. Their antibody response was surveyed with the fluorescent foci-inhibition test carried out on blood samples collected during a 10-month period. All animals developed an almost identical antibody response. However, at the sixth and tenth months, there was a higher number of seropositive animals in the groups vaccinated with the killed vaccine.

In 2005, in order to investigate the occurrence of Helicobacter pullorum in poultry, the caecal contents collected from a total of 60 animals intensively reared in Italy on 15 different farms (9 farms of broiler chicken and 6 of laying hens) were examined at the slaughterhouse. A modified Steele–McDermott membrane filter method was used. Small, greyish-white colonies of Gram-negative, gently curved, slender rod bacteria were preliminarily identified as H. pullorum by a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay based on 16S rRNA and were then subjected to an ApaLI digestion assay to distinguish H. pullorum from Helicobacter canadensis. One isolate from each farm was phenotypically characterized by biochemical methods and 1D SDS-PAGE analysis of whole cell proteins; antibiotic susceptibility was also tested. According to the PCR and PCR-RFLP results, all the animals examined were positive for H. pullorum. The 1D SDS-PAGE whole protein profile analysis showed high similarity among the 15 isolates tested. A monomodal distribution for the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) was found for ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin and tetracycline. For erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, a bimodal trend having a second peak at > 128 μg ml− 1 and 32 μg ml− 1 was found. The isolation method used in this study seems to be highly suitable for isolating H. pullorum from chicken caecal contents. Moreover, the detection of a high number of colonies phenotypically similar to H. pullorum suggests that this microorganism, when present, colonizes the caecum at high concentration.