scholarly journals Geographic Pattern of Sushi Product Misdescription in Italy—A Crosstalk between Citizen Science and DNA Barcoding

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 756
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Pappalardo ◽  
Alessandra Raffa ◽  
Giada Santa Calogero ◽  
Venera Ferrito
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Flying Fish ◽  
High Concern ◽  
Raw Fish ◽  
Species Substitution

The food safety of sushi and the health of consumers are currently of high concern for food safety agencies across the world due to the globally widespread consumption of these products. The microbiological and toxicological risks derived from the consumption of raw fish and seafood have been highlighted worldwide, while the practice of species substitution in sushi products has attracted the interest of researchers more than food safety agencies. In this study, samples of sushi were processed for species authentication using the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene as a DNA barcode. The approach of Citizen Science was used to obtain the sushi samples by involving people from eighteen different Italian cities (Northern, Central and Southern Italy). The results indicate that a considerable rate of species substitution exists with a percentage of misdescription ranging from 31.8% in Northern Italy to 40% in Central Italy. The species most affected by replacement was Thunnus thynnus followed by the flying fish roe substituted by eggs of Mallotus villosus. These results indicate that a standardization of fish market names should be realized at the international level and that the indication of the scientific names of species should be mandatory for all products of the seafood supply chain.

scholarly journals DNA barcoding revealing the mislabeling of fish in a highly tourist capital in Brazil

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clisten Fátima Staffen ◽  
Mari Dalva Staffen ◽  
Mariana Londero Becker ◽  
Sara Emelie Löfgren ◽  
Yara Costa Netto Muniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
The West ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Product Consumption ◽  
Raw Fish ◽  
Financial Issues

The consumption of raw fish has been increasing considerably in the West, since it has an appeal to be potentially healthier (omega 3 and 6, essential amino acids and vitamins). However this potential benefit, as well as the taste, value and even the risk of extinction is different between species of fish, constituting grounds for fraud. Through the Project "Cat by Hare", using the principles of the DNA barcode, we revealed mislabelling of fish in japanese restaurants and fishmarkets in Florianópolis, a highly tourist capital in Brazil. We sequenced the COI gene of 65 samples from fishmongers and 80 from restaurants and we diagnosed 34\% of fraud in fishmongers and 17\% in restaurants. This different percentage is related to the restaurants selling only two species (Tuna and Salmon) and one category of fish called "white fish" that can be any species that has whitish musculature. We discussed that frauds may have occurred for different reasons: to circumvent surveillance on threatened species; to sell fish with sizes smaller than allowed or species that are being highly captured as being a low captured one at any time (law of supply); to induce product consumption using species with better taste. It should be noted that some substitutions are derived from incorrect identification and are not a fraud per se, due to confusion of popular names or misunderstanding of sellers. Therefore, we suggest the implementation of a systematic regulatory program conducted by governmental agencies to reduce mislabelling to avoid further damage to the community (in health and financial issues) and fish stocks

scholarly journals DNA barcoding revealing the mislabeling of fish in a highly tourist capital in Brazil

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clisten Fátima Staffen ◽  
Mari Dalva Staffen ◽  
Mariana Londero Becker ◽  
Sara Emelie Löfgren ◽  
Yara Costa Netto Muniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
The West ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Product Consumption ◽  
Raw Fish ◽  
Financial Issues

The consumption of raw fish has been increasing considerably in the West, since it has an appeal to be potentially healthier (omega 3 and 6, essential amino acids and vitamins). However this potential benefit, as well as the taste, value and even the risk of extinction is different between species of fish, constituting grounds for fraud. Through the Project "Cat by Hare", using the principles of the DNA barcode, we revealed mislabelling of fish in japanese restaurants and fishmarkets in Florianópolis, a highly tourist capital in Brazil. We sequenced the COI gene of 65 samples from fishmongers and 80 from restaurants and we diagnosed 34\% of fraud in fishmongers and 17\% in restaurants. This different percentage is related to the restaurants selling only two species (Tuna and Salmon) and one category of fish called "white fish" that can be any species that has whitish musculature. We discussed that frauds may have occurred for different reasons: to circumvent surveillance on threatened species; to sell fish with sizes smaller than allowed or species that are being highly captured as being a low captured one at any time (law of supply); to induce product consumption using species with better taste. It should be noted that some substitutions are derived from incorrect identification and are not a fraud per se, due to confusion of popular names or misunderstanding of sellers. Therefore, we suggest the implementation of a systematic regulatory program conducted by governmental agencies to reduce mislabelling to avoid further damage to the community (in health and financial issues) and fish stocks

scholarly journals DNA barcoding reveals the mislabeling of fish in a popular tourist destination in Brazil

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e4006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clisten Fátima Staffen ◽  
Mari Dalva Staffen ◽  
Mariana Londero Becker ◽  
Sara Emelie Löfgren ◽  
Yara Costa Netto Muniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Product Consumption ◽  
Raw Fish ◽  
Financial Issues

The consumption of raw fish has increased considerably in the West, since it is said to be potentially healthier than processed fish (for containing omega 3 and 6, essential amino acids and vitamins). However this potential benefit, as well as the taste, value and even the risk of extinction are not the same for all species of fish, constituting grounds for fraud. Using the principles of the DNA barcode we revealed mislabelling of fish in Japanese restaurants and fishmarkets in Florianópolis, a popular tourist capital in Brazil. We sequenced the COI gene of 65 samples from fisheries and 80 from restaurants and diagnosed 30% of mislabeled samples in fisheries and 26% in restaurants. We discussed that frauds may have occurred for different reasons: to circumvent surveillance on threatened species; to sell fish with sizes smaller than allowed or abundant species as being a much rarer species (law of supply); to induce product consumption using species with better taste. It should be noted that some substitutions are derived from incorrect identification and are not a fraudper se; they are due to confusion of popular names or misunderstanding by the sellers. Therefore, we suggest the implementation of a systematic regulatory program conducted by governmental agencies to reduce mislabelling in order to avoid further damage to the community (in health and financial issues) and fish stocks.

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.

DNA barcodes provide evidence for the independent origin of the cultivated silkworms Samia ricini and Samia cynthia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
J.-C. Huang ◽  
X.-Y. Li ◽  
Y.-P. Li ◽  
R.-S. Zhang ◽  
D.-B. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationship ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Dna Barcodes ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Phylogenetic Framework

Samia ricini (Wm. Jones) and Samia cynthia (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) have been used as traditional sources of food as well as silk-producing insects. However, the phylogenetic relationship between the two silkworms remains to be addressed. In this study, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences corresponding to DNA barcodes from 13 Samia species were analysed, and a DNA barcode-based phylogenetic framework for these Samia species was provided. Phylogenetic analysis showed that multiple individuals of a species could be clustered together. Our analysis revealed a close relationship among Samia yayukae Paukstadt, Peigler and Paukstadt, Samia abrerai Naumann and Peigler, Samia kohlli Naumann and Peigler, Samia naessigi Naumann and Peigler, Samia naumanni Paukstadt, Peigler and Paukstadt, and Samia kalimantanensis Paukstadt and Paukstadt. The mixed clustering relationship and low Kimura-2-parameter (K2P) genetic distance (0.006) between individuals of S. ricini and Samia canningi (Hutton) indicated that the cultivated silkworm S. ricini was derived from the non-cultivated silkworm S. canningi. The remote phylogenetic relationship and high K2P genetic distance (0.039) indicated that S. ricini and S. cynthia are distinct species, thus providing solid molecular evidence that they had entirely independent origins. The relationships between S. kalimantanensis and S. naumanni and between S. cynthia and Samia wangi Naumann and Peigler, as well as the potential cryptic species within S. abrerai were also discussed. This is the first study to assess the DNA barcodes of the genus Samia, which supplements the knowledge of species identification and provides the first molecular phylogenetic framework for Samia species.

A new species of the genus Parapentacentrus Shiraki, 1930 from Yunnan, China (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Itarinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5032 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-146
Author(s):  
YI-JIAO LIU ◽  
ZHU-QING HE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Male Genitalia ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
East China ◽  
Anal Plate ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Normal University ◽  
One New Species ◽  
A New Species

The genus Parapentacentrus Shiraki, 1930 includes two species with long wings. In this paper, we report one new species, P. brevipennis He sp. nov., from Jinping, Yunnan, China. The new species have short forewings and hindwings, and have differences in the shape of supra-anal plate and male genitalia. DNA Barcode (COI gene) of this new species are provided. The type specimens are deposited in Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).  

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 An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena

2013 ◽  
pp. 39-42
Author(s):  
Lucio Brugioni ◽  
Maurizio Tognetti ◽  
Cristina Gozzi
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Clinical Tests ◽  
Opisthorchis Felineus ◽  
Specific Analysis ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
Raw Fish ◽  
Abdominal Echography

A 70-year old man (OL) was hospitalized due to fever (up to 40°C) associated with malaise and abdominal pain. Tests showed hypereosinophilic syndrome, and increased liver and inflammation indexes. Abdominal echography showed a nonhomogeneous liver and the spleen was enlarged. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple abscesses on the liver. The patient reported that he had recently gone on holiday to Lake Bolsena where he had eaten raw fish. A specialist in infectious diseases confirmed that in that area there is an infestation of Opisthorchis felineus. Analysis of blood and stool samples confirmed the presence of this parasite. The patient was treated with praziquantel with resolution of fever and improvement in clinical tests and general condition. Opisthorchis felineus is a parasite that commonly infects dogs and cats. Infection is sometimes transmitted to man and is usually related to eating raw fish. The parasite enters the liver and its eggs are found in the patient’s stool samples. Acute symptoms are: fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malaise. Hypereosinophilic syndrome and increase in liver index are typical. Chronic infection could result in cholangiocarcinoma. Presence of the parasite is confirmed through specific analysis of blood and stool. Therapy consists of praziquantel or, as second choice, abendazol. In the 20th century, there were 4 epidemics in Italy, on Lakes Trasimeno and Bolsena in Central Italy. The latest epidemic was reported in that area in summer 2012.

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 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.

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