scholarly journals Endoparasite Infections of the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Central Italy

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3171
Author(s):  
Alessia Mariacher ◽  
Andrea Santini ◽  
Irene Del Lesto ◽  
Sara Tonon ◽  
Elena Cardini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Public Parks ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
Physaloptera Clausa

The European hedgehog is a synanthropic mammal, widely distributed in Europe. This species usually inhabits the edges of deciduous or mixed woods, but it is also very common in private gardens and public parks. Despite its popularity and frequency of contacts both with humans and with wild and domestic animals, few studies have examined the endoparasitic fauna of the hedgehog in Italy. In the present study, endoparasites of naturally deceased hedgehogs (n = 40) from central Italy (Latium and Tuscany regions) were investigated, along with concurrent gross and histopathological lesions. The most prevalent identified endoparasites were Crenosoma striatum (45%), Capillaria erinacei (42.5%) and Brachylaemus erinacei (22.5%), in accordance with previous reports from hedgehogs in southern Italy. In few subjects, Physaloptera clausa, Acanthocephalans and Cystoisospora rastegaeivae coccidia were also identified. The infection by the lungworm C. striatum was found to be significantly associated (p < 0.01) with bronchial hyperplasia and peribronchiolitis upon histopathological examination. Awareness of the most common parasitic infections in the hedgehog and of their effects on the health of these animals is extremely important, especially in wildlife rescue centers, where European hedgehog represents the most frequently hospitalized mammal species.

scholarly journals TWO NEW ITALIAN CEUTORHYNCHUS (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Enzo Colonnelli
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Southern France

Are described and illustrated two new Italian species of <em>Ceutorhynchus</em>. The first of them, <em>C. apenninus</em> n. sp. from central Italy, collected on the montane crucifer <em>Isatis allionii</em> P. W. Ball., is close to<em> C. peyerimhoffi</em> Hustache from Spain, Italy and Algeria, also living on Isatis. The second,<em> C. magnanoi</em> n. sp. from southern Italy is very close to the French<em> C. matthiolae</em> Hoffmann, and was collected of <em>Matthiola</em> like the species from southern France.

scholarly journals Can the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Be a Sentinel for One Health Concerns?

Biologics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69
Author(s):  
Catarina Vinhas Jota Baptista ◽  
Fernanda Seixas ◽  
José Manuel Gonzalo-Orden ◽  
Paula A. Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
One Health ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
European Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus is a cosmopolitan mammalian species broadly distributed in Europe, from natural to suburban areas. Due to its ecological role and susceptibility to distinct zoonotic agents, E. europaeus could be a suitable sentinel candidate for many global problems that negatively affect human and animal health. Hedgehogs can work as bioindicators to environmental contamination and can be hosts for multiple tickborne zoonotic agents. Thus, people who directly or indirectly make physical contact with this species are exposed to a variety of threats. Moreover, it has also been studied as an indicator for antibiotic resistance, which was already confirmed for tetracyclines. Additionally, it was also reported as a reservoir for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). More recently, hedgehogs have been recently recognised as potential reservoirs of MERS-CoV-like strains. Among other animals, this species can possibly represent an intermediate reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this review is to briefly expose the scientific attainments about hedgehog health, namely agents, diseases, and threats that significantly affect general health concerns and that contribute to achieve One Health principles.

Tick-induced blood loss leads to regenerative anaemia in the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. PFÄFFLE ◽  
T. PETNEY ◽  
M. ELGAS ◽  
J. SKUBALLA ◽  
H. TARASCHEWSKI
Keyword(s):  
Blood Loss ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Experimental Population ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
Blood Characteristics

SUMMARYAlthough there is an increasing understanding of the role of parasites in their host dynamics, accurate, quantitative estimates of parasite caused morbidity in wild animals are rare. Here, we examine the possible impact of 2 tick species (Ixodes ricinus, I. hexagonus) on the condition of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). For this, we tested for correlations between blood parameters of 36 adult hedgehogs from an experimental population enclosed in a natural habitat and their tick infestation over a period of 8 months (March–October 2007). We found correlations between the tick infestation and the concentration of red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, MCH, MCHC, thrombocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils. These results indicate that ticks can induce anaemia in the hedgehog. The peripheral blood characteristics and the erythrocyte indices characterize this anaemia as haemorrhagic and regenerative. During the course of our study the hedgehogs of our population showed below normal mortality but morbidity was found to be high resulting from the blood loss caused by the feeding activity of the ticks.

Canine Parvovirus Infections in Taiwanese Pangolins (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla)

2021 ◽  
pp. 030098582110021
Author(s):  
Yen Chi Chang ◽  
Zhi Yi Lin ◽  
Yan Xiu Lin ◽  
Kuei Hsien Lin ◽  
Fang Tse Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Canine Parvovirus ◽  
Necrotic Enteritis ◽  
Intestinal Lesions ◽  
Manis Pentadactyla ◽  
Systemic Infections

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is among the most important and highly contagious pathogens that cause enteric or systemic infections in domestic and nondomestic carnivores. However, the spillover of CPV-2 to noncarnivores is rarely mentioned. Taiwanese pangolins ( Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla) are threatened due to habitat fragmentation and prevalent animal trafficking. Interactions between Taiwanese pangolins, humans, and domestic animals have become more frequent in recent years. However, information about the susceptibility of pangolins to common infectious agents of domestic animals has been lacking. From October 2017 to June 2019, 4 pangolins that were rescued and treated in wildlife rescue centers in central and northern Taiwan presented with gastrointestinal signs. Gross and histopathological examination revealed the main pathologic changes to be necrotic enteritis with involvement of the crypts in all intestinal segments in 2 pangolins. By immunohistochemistry for CPV-2, there was positive labeling of cryptal epithelium throughout the intestine, and immunolabeling was also present in epidermal cells adjacent to a surgical amputation site, and in mononuclear cells in lymphoid tissue. The other 2 pangolins had mild enteritis without crypt involvement, and no immunolabeling was detected. The nucleic acid sequences of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons from these 4 pangolins were identical to a Chinese CPV-2c strain from domestic dogs. Quantitative PCR revealed a higher ratio of CPV-2 nucleic acid to internal control gene in the 2 pangolins with severe intestinal lesions and positive immunoreactivity. Herein, we present evidence of CPV-2 infections in pangolins.

scholarly journals Living mulch strategy for organic cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) production in central and southern Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Canali ◽  
Gabriele Campanelli ◽  
Corrado Ciaccia ◽  
Mariangela Diacono ◽  
Fabrizio Leteo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brassica Oleracea ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
F1 Hybrid ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Burr Medic ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Systems

In sustainable agricultural systems, intercropping using living mulches (LM) provides many beneficial ecosystem services. The objective of these two-year field experiments was to study the suitability of different LM options of burr medic (<em>Medicago polymorpha</em> L. var. <em>anglona</em>) for organic cauliflower (<em>Brassica oleracea</em> L.) cultivation in two sites under Mediterranean conditions. In central Italy (Experiment 1) contemporary and delayed (to crop) sowings of LM were compared with a no-cover crop treatment, contrasting two local cauliflower cultivars and a F1 Hybrid. In southern Italy (Experiment 2) the sustainability of systems combining LM (anticipated and contemporary sowing compared with no-cover) and organic fertilisation strategies was assessed. The aboveground biomasses dry weights of cauliflower crop (heads and residues), burr medic and weeds were separately determined. Results suggested that in Experiment 1 the LM was not able to smother weeds establishment and growth, as a consequence of early sowing, while cauliflower yield was reduced. Moreover, the genotypes behaviour was greatly influenced by the LM sowing times. In Experiment 2, irrespective of the agronomic practices applied, climatic conditions notably influenced cauliflower cultivation and also reduced the mean yield. Therefore, the recorded differences between the two experimental sites highlighted the need to tailor the LM strategies to the different environmental conditions.

scholarly journals A prickly problem: developing a volunteer-friendly tool for monitoring populations of a terrestrial urban mammal, the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1075-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Williams ◽  
Nittanjyot Mann ◽  
Jessica L. Neumann ◽  
Richard W. Yarnell ◽  
Philip J. Baker
Keyword(s):  
The West ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
West European

scholarly journals Integrating macroseismic intensity distributions with a probabilistic approach: an application in Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2299-2311
Author(s):  
Andrea Antonucci ◽  
Andrea Rovida ◽  
Vera D'Amico ◽  
Dario Albarello
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Probabilistic Approach ◽  
Source Characterization ◽  
Strong Earthquakes ◽  
Intensity Prediction ◽  
Macroseismic Intensities ◽  
Earthquake Effects ◽  
Available Information

Abstract. The geographic distribution of earthquake effects quantified in terms of macroseismic intensities, the so-called macroseismic field, provides basic information for several applications including source characterization of pre-instrumental earthquakes and risk analysis. Macroseismic fields of past earthquakes as inferred from historical documentation may present spatial gaps, due to the incompleteness of the available information. We present a probabilistic approach aimed at integrating incomplete intensity distributions by considering the Bayesian combination of estimates provided by intensity prediction equations (IPEs) and data documented at nearby localities, accounting for the relevant uncertainties and the discrete and ordinal nature of intensity values. The performance of the proposed methodology is tested at 28 Italian localities with long and rich seismic histories and for two well-known strong earthquakes (i.e., 1980 southern Italy and 2009 central Italy events). A possible application of the approach is also illustrated relative to a 16th-century earthquake in the northern Apennines.

scholarly journals Social contact behaviors are associated with infection status for whipworm (Trichuris sp.) in wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandi Wren ◽  
Ian S. Ray ◽  
Melissa Remis ◽  
Thomas R. Gillespie ◽  
Joseph Camp
Keyword(s):  
Direct Contact ◽  
Sickness Behavior ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Vervet Monkeys ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Social Grooming ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Chlorocebus Pygerythrus

AbstractSocial grooming in the animal kingdom is common and serves several functions, from removing ectoparasites to maintaining social bonds between conspecifics. We examined whether time spent grooming with others in a highly social mammal species was associated with infection status for gastrointestinal parasites. Of six parasites detected, one (Trichuris sp.) was associated with social grooming behaviors, but more specifically with direct physical contact with others. Individuals infected with Trichuris sp. spent significantly less time grooming conspecifics than those not infected, and time in direct contact with others was the major predictor of infection status. One model correctly predicted infection status for Trichuris sp. with a reliability of 95.17% overall when the variables used were time spent in direct contact and time spent grooming others. This decrease in time spent grooming and interacting with others is likely a sickness behavior displayed by individuals with less energy or motivation for non-essential behaviors. This study highlights the need for an understanding of a study population’s parasitic infections when attempting to interpret animal behavior.

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