Biomedical subjects

D Otranto

Publications and source records attributed to D Otranto.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Further evidence on the internal life cycle of Przhevalskiana silenus (Diptera, Oestridae).

Knowledge of the internal life cycle of goat warble fly infestation is scarce despite ample data available on the aetiology, epidemiology, immunodiagnosis and treatment of such infestations. This study was carried out at the slaughterhouse of Rossano Calabro (Cosenza, southern Italy) on 154 animals from 10 months to 6 years of age from May 1997 to June 1998. 1206 Przhevalskiana silenus larvae were collected during the trial period from the subcutaneous tissue of the slaughtered animals. The larval stage average size ranged from 4.7 mm, for first instar larvae (May), to 16.6 mm, for third instar larvae (February), in the first cycle of infestation. No larvae were found in March-April, coinciding with the pupation period. Small first instar larvae were found at the beginning of the second cycle of infestation (May-June). Necroscopic examinations were also carried out on internal organs and no larvae were found. The results pointed out that the internal life cycle of P. silenus is exclusively subcutaneous and there is no internal migration of the larvae.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2000

Occurrence of Thelazia lacrymalis (Nematoda, Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in native horses in Abruzzo region (central eastern Italy).

A survey on the prevalence of Thelazia spp. in Abruzzo region (Italy) in slaughtered native horses was conducted from August 29, 1997 to August 28, 1998. Both eyes from 128 eight-month to 11 year-old native animals were examined. 50 horses (39.06%) were found parasitized by Thelazia lacrymalis. 502 specimens (371 females, 88 males and 12 larvae) were collected. In the infected horses the numbers of T. lacrymalis ranged from 1 to 48, with a mean count burden of 3.92 per head (SD = 7.79). T. lacrymalis specimens were mainly in the excretory ducts of the Harderian gland, and also in the ducts of the lacrimal glands, free in the conjunctiva and behind the nictitancte. Gross examination showed a conjunctivitis, more frequently a follicular conjunctivitis, in the 58% of the infected horses.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Thelazia gulosa Railliet & Henry, 1910 and T. skrjabini Erschow, 1928 infection in southern Europe (Italy).

The occurrence of Thelazia gulosa and T. skrjabini in cattle in Italy, together with an update of the prevalence of Thelazia spp. in the southern Italy, is reported. On 764 slaughtered native cattle, fifty-five (7.2%) bovines were infected by Thelazia spp: T. rhodesi was found in 44 (80%) animals, T. gulosa was found in 19 (34.5%) cattle and only one (1.8%) cattle harboured T. skrjabini. This is the first report of T. gulosa and T. skrjabini in Southern Europe.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed1999

Serodiagnosis of goat warble fly infestation by Przhevalskiana silenus with a commercial ELISA kit.

Cross-reactivity between Hypoderma lineatum antigen and anti-Przhevalskiana silenus antibodies has been demonstrated by an ELISA technique. To evaluate the applicability of a commercial ELISA kit for the immunodiagnosis of goat warble fly infestation, different dilutions of serum and conjugate were tested, the development of antibody to P silenus in naturally infested goats was studied, and the results were compared with an ELISA technique using an antigen extracted from the first instar larvae of H lineatum. The best results were obtained with a serum dilution of 1:50; with both techniques the highest antibody concentration were recorded in October, November and December. In view of the confirmed cross-reactivity between H lineatum antigen and anti-P silenus antibodies, and the simplicity and rapidity of the assay, the commercial ELISA kit can be considered as a useful tool for the diagnosis of goat warble fly infestation.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Occurrence of Thelazia lacrymalis (Nematoda, Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in native horses in Italy.

A survey on the prevalence of Thelazia spp. in the province of Bari (Apulia region, Italy) in slaughtered native horses was conducted from June 20, 1995 to April 3, 1996. Both eyes from 409 ten-month- to 4-year-old native animals were examined. Sixty horses (14.7%) were found parasitized by Thelazia lacrymalis. Three hundred-sixty one parasite specimens (220 females, 99 males and 42 larvae) were collected with a mean count burden of 6.0-5.1 (range 1 to 20) per head. T. lacrymalis specimens were found free in the conjunctiva and behind the nictitancte, in the excretory ducts of the Harderian gland and in the ducts of the lacrimal glands. Thelazia specimens were significantly more common in horses of 3-4 years. Gross examination of all infected animals showed a follicular conjunctivitis. This is the first report of T. lacrymalis horse infection in Italy.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed1999

Ticks infesting domestic animals in Italy: current acarological studies carried out in Sardinia and Basilicata regions.

The note reviews published and unpublished data on acaralogical studies carried out by different parasitologists' groups in Sardinia and Basilicata regions. In Sardinia 72 collecting sites were investigated and a total of 4,086 ticks were collected from hosts (cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) and from soil. So far 2,413 ticks belonging to six genera have been identified: Rhipicephalus (67.2%), Haemaphysalis (24.1%), Hyalomma (2.7%), Boophilus (0.7%), Dermacentor (4.9%), Ixodes (0.3%). Host-associated ticks were collected from 50 out of 200 selected farms in Basilicata. About 4,000 tick specimens were collected and 1,794 ticks have been identified (of which 1,215 were adults, 6 larvae and 573 nymphs). The following genera were identified: Ixodes (20%), Rhipicephalus (27%), Hyalomma (31%), Haemaphysalis (18%), Dermacentor (6%). The seasonal distribution of the species identified in the two regions studies is discussed from a geographical and climatic point of view.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Hypoderma lineatum antigen and anti-Przhevalskiana silenus antibodies: cross-reactivity and antibody kinetics in naturally infested goats.

To evaluate the cross-reactivity between Hypoderma lineatum antigen and anti-Przhevalskiana silenus antibodies six protocols with different concentrations of antigen and different dilutions of sera and conjugate were applied. The highest cross-reaction between the H. lineatum antigen and the anti-P. silenus antibodies is given by 2 micrograms/ml of antigen concentration, 1:400 of serum and 1:10,000 conjugate dilution. The study on the kinetic development of antibodies in goats naturally infested by P. silenus and the natural course of infestation pointed out the existence of a good correlation between individual antibody kinetics and the natural evolution of the cycle of infestation. The highest antibody concentration may be registered from October through November, coinciding with the end of the migration fo the larvae inside the animal's body. In our condition, this period can be considered as a favorable sampling period for immunodiagnosis and immunoepidemiological studies of goat warble fly infestation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The polymerase chain reaction for the detection of defective interfering canine parvovirus particles.

The PCR assay was used to amplify a portion of the genome of virulent and vaccinal canine parvovirus strains and of a vaccinal feline panleukopenia virus strain. A DNA fragment corresponding to the gene that encodes the VP1/VP2 proteins was amplified. The size of the PCR products was 2.2 Kbp except for CPV vaccinal 17-80 strain. The PCR product of 17-80 was 1.1 Kbp leading to the hypothesis of the presence of defective particles. All the restriction enzymes digested the 2.2 Kbp amplified products giving restriction fragments of the expected size whereas Hind III, Hpa II and Pvu II did not digest the PCR fragment of 1.1 Kbp.

Animals↗