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D Otranto

Publications and source records attributed to D Otranto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Occurrence of yeasts in cloacae of migratory birds.

Several species of yeast have been reported as pathogens in humans based on increases in immunodeficiency syndromes and as a result of immunosuppressant chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Domestic and wild birds are known to act as carriers of human pathogenic fungi. To gain additional information on the yeasts present in the cloacae of some species of migratory birds, 421 wild birds (24.39% out of 1726 birds caught in Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria) were sampled with the permission of the local judicial authority. The state of conservation of the birds (i.e. post-mortem alterations, colour of the mucosae etc.), along with their age and sex were determined. Samples were collected directly from the cloacae and cultured, and colonies were identified in each positive sample. Yeasts were isolated from 15.7% of the animals sampled, with the highest percentage found in coots (Fulica atra -58.8%) and the lowest in quails (Coturnix coturnix -1.7%). A total of 131 isolates belonging to 15 species of yeast were identified. Rhodotorula rubra was the yeast with the highest number of isolates (28.2%), followed by Cryptococcus albidus (18.4%), Candida albicans (9.2%), Trichosporon cutaneum (8.4%), Candida guilliermondii (6.1%), Candida tropicalis (6.1%) and other species. The present study represents the first survey on the occurrence of yeasts in the cloacae of migratory birds. The prevalence and species of yeasts isolated is discussed on the basis of the ecology, diet, and habitat of the birds.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of dog thelaziosis caused by Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) using a topical formulation of imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5%.

Canine thelaziosis caused by Thelazia callipaeda infects dogs, cats, foxes, rabbits, and humans resulting in conjunctivitis, pain and excessive lacrimation. T. callipaeda live in the eyes under the nictitating membrane and females release first stage larvae which are ingested by flies which act as intermediate hosts. Control of canine thelaziosis is currently based on the removal of nematodes directly from the eyes of affected dogs or on the local instillation of antiparasitic drugs. With the aim of evaluating the efficacy against T. callipaeda of an association of imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5% by spot-on formulation administered via dermal application, three groups of naturally infected animals were selected: i.e. group A (21 dogs) received a single dose of imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5% by spot-on; group B (21 dogs) received a single dose of imidacloprid 10% by spot-on and group C (20 dogs) were left untreated. The efficacy of treatments was established by eye inspection and parasite viability and vitality after 1, 5 and 9 days after animal treatments (groups A and B) and after 9 days only in untreated animals (group C). Imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5% in spot-on formulation showed to be effective with regards the control of dog thelaziosis within 5 (90.47%) to 9 (95.23%) days after treatment. Only one dog from group A presented nematodes after treatment. The presence of parasites in the eyes of dogs from groups B (imidacloprid 10%) and C confirm that the anthelmintic efficacy against T. callipaeda in animal from group A (imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5%) was most likely attributable to moxidectin 2.5%. The spot-on formulation containing imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5% is very easy to apply and helps overcome problems linked to the mechanical removal of parasites or to the restraining of the animals for the local instillation of drugs in the eyes.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2005

Analysis of genetic variability within Thelazia callipaeda (Nematoda: Thelazioidea) from Europe and Asia by sequencing and mutation scanning of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene.

This study investigated genetic variability within the 'eyeworm'Thelazia callipaeda (Nematoda: Thelazioidea) from Europe and Asia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-coupled sequencing and mutation scanning of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox 1). Eight different sequence variants of cox 1 (haplotypes) were determined for the 50 individual adult specimens of T. callipaeda (from dogs, foxes or cats from Italy, Germany and the Netherlands and from dogs from China and Korea). Nucleotide variation (0.3--2%) was detected at 23 of 649 positions in the cox 1. Six of these positions were invariable among all 37 individuals from Europe and among the 13 individuals from Asia (irrespective of host origin) but differed (five G<-->A and one C<-->T changes) between Europe and Asia. PCR-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the most variable portion (v-cox 1) of the cox 1 was validated (for a subset of samples) as a tool to rapidly screen for genetic (haplotypic) variability. The results for the SSCP analysis and sequencing were concordant, indicating that the mutation scanning approach provides a useful tool for investigating the population genetics and molecular ecology of T. callipaeda.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Nematode biology and larval development of Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in the drosophilid intermediate host in Europe and China.

Thelazia callipaeda, commonly known as the 'oriental eyeworm', has been recently reported in Italy and other European countries. The insect/s that act as intermediate hosts and details of larval development inside the vector remain unclear. In order to (1) demonstrate the species of fly that may act as vector/s for T. callipaeda in southern Italy (Site A) and China (Site B) and (2) describe the larval development of the nematode in the body of flies, 847 Phortica (Drosophilidae) flies were collected from the above two sites, each with a history of human and/or canine thelaziosis. Flies were identified as Phortica variegata (245 - site A) and Phortica okadai (602 - site B), experimentally infected by 1st-stage larvae (L1), kept at different temperatures and dissected daily until day 180 post-infection (p.i.). Dead flies from site A were subjected to specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect T. callipaeda. To demonstrate the role of Phortica as vectors of T. callipaeda, 3rd-stage larvae (L3) recovered from the proboscis of flies were deposited onto the cornea of the eyes of dogs and rabbits. Following dissection, 3 (2.9%) of P. variegata in site A were found to be infected by L3 in the proboscis on days +14, +21 and +53 p.i., compared with 26 (18.4%) of Phortica flies recorded as being positive by PCR. Sequences from positive PCR products were 99% identical to sequences of the corresponding species available in GenBank (AY207464). At site B, 106 (17.6%) of 602 dissected P. okadai were found to be infected by T. callipaeda larvae (different stages) and in total 62 L3 were recovered from the proboscis of 34 (5.6%) flies. The shortest time in which L3 were found was at day +14, +17, +19, and +50 p.i. respectively, depending on the environmental temperatures. Of 30 flies overwintered for 6 months, 6 L3 were detected at day +180 p.i. in 3 flies (10%). The biology of larval development was reconstructed on the basis of the dissection of 602 P. okadai-infected flies and the morphology of larval stages in the insect body described. The present work provides evidence that P. variegata and P. okadai act as vectors for T. callipaeda in southern Europe and in China, respectively. The phenomenon of overwintering is described here for the first time for T. callipaeda and discussed. Finally, the relationship between T. callipaeda and its fly vector is considered in light of disease prophylaxis and to model its dissemination into habitats and environments favourable to Phortica flies.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Morphological variability and genetic identity in Rhinoestrus spp. causing horse nasal myiasis.

Larvae of Rhinoestrus purpureus (Brauer) and Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus Gan (Diptera: Oestridae) cause nasal myiases of equids. During a recent epidemiological survey in southern Italy some morphological and taxonomical doubts arose concerning the identification of Rhinoestrus third stage larvae on the basis of the features of the posterior spiracles and the distribution of dorsal spines on the third segment. Four different morphotypes were retrieved: R. usbekistanicus-like, R. purpureus-like and two morphotypes with shared features. The genes encoding for the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and for the ribosomal subunits 16S and 28S of the four morphotypes of Rhinoestrus were investigated to determine whether they belonged to a single taxon or they displayed genetic differences indicative of more than one species. The three genes showed a very low level of sequence variation (COI 0-0.43%, 16S 0-1.45%, 28S 0-0.23%) falling within the intraspecific ranges previously described for Oestridae species. Finally, the peritreme features and the spinulation of the third segment of the four morphotypes examined could not be used to differentiate the two species.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Musca domestica is not a vector of Thelazia callipaeda in experimental or natural conditions.

Thelazia callipaeda Railliet and Henry (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), commonly called oriental eyeworm for its widespread presence in the Far East, has been recently found to affect dogs, cats and foxes in northern and southern Italy. Although the biology of T. callipaeda in the definitive hosts has been recently investigated, many doubts still remain about its biology in insect vectors. It has been suggested that more than one species of Diptera, namely Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae) and Amiota okadai Maca (Diptera: Drosophilidae), may be involved in the transmission of T. callipaeda in China. The aim of the work described here was to verify the role of M. domestica as a vector of T. callipaeda both in experimental and natural conditions. A total of 310 m. domestica (Group 1) were put in a cage and allowed to feed for 14 days around the eyes of a dog naturally infected by T. callipaeda. Ten flies were collected daily for 14 days. A total of 149 houseflies (Group 2) were fed with T. callipaeda first stage larvae (L1) and dissected at 1, 2 and 7 days post-infection. From June to August 2003, flies were netted (Group 3) in two different sites every 10 days both from the environment and directly from the periocular region of dogs affected by thelaziosis. Musca flies were examined for eyeworms by dissection and visual inspection of house flies (Groups 1 and 2) and using a molecular approach (Groups 1-3) via a specific amplification of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequence of T. callipaeda. On the whole, 180 pools of M. domestica flies were processed molecularly and all the experimentally infected flies (Groups 1 and 2) were found to be negative both at the visual dissection and at the molecular assay. Similarly, the 234 M. domestica collected from Group 3 were negative for T. callipaeda. The results clearly suggest that M. domestica is unlikely to act as a vector of T. callipaeda in southern Europe, in contrast with a single previous report.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Hypoderma sinense: solving a century-old enigma.

Among the species of Hypoderma (Diptera: Oestridae) that have been described and named over the last three centuries, Hypoderma sinense Pleske has been the subject of several scientific discussions. Hypoderma sinense was described by T. Pleske in 1926 on the basis of only three females collected by the Russian explorer P. K. Kozlov nearly 25 years earlier during a scientific expedition to China (1900-1901). This species was examined by the foremost oestrid authorities and synonomized with H. lineatum. Recently a unique, unidentified species of Hypoderma was observed to infect cattle and yaks in China. Molecular and morphological observations confirmed the unique nature of the third-stage larvae. This data initiated a debate within the scientific community regarding the proper name of this species, in particular with reference to previous taxonomical discussion on the validity of H. sinense. The present work provides a historical overview of the Russian scientific expeditions that collected the specimens and of the explorers and the entomologists who contributed to the description of H. sinense. The morphological examination of the original type material of H. sinense and the comparison with females of H. lineatum indicated that the H. sinense lectotype, deposited at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, was within the range of variation of H. lineatum. Comparisons of the cox1 (688 bp) sequence obtained from the leg of a paralectotype of H. sinense with those of H. bovis (Linneaus), H. lineatum (De Villers) and of a sixth valid species of Hypoderma identified as "H. sinense" available in GenBank revealed differences of 9.7%, 7.2% and 0.3%, respectively. On the basis of these results, we concluded that the nominal species H. sinense should be treated as valid.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Biology of Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) eyeworms in naturally infected definitive hosts.

Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) eyeworm causes ocular infection in carnivores and humans in the Far East; this infection has been recently reported also in Europe--northern and southern Italy--in dogs, cats and foxes. The natural vector/s of T. callipaeda is/are unknown and the development of the nematode in its definitive hosts is limited to an experimental trial on dogs. To contribute new insights into the development of T. callipaeda in the definitive host in field conditions, eyeworms were collected from naturally infected dogs from an area with a high prevalence of infection (up to 60.14%) in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, from January 2002 to December 2003. Conjunctival secretions were also collected and examined for the presence of immature stages. The presence of blastomerized eggs throughout the period--except for the months from May to November--indicates a seasonality in the reproductive activity of T. callipaeda, coinciding with the presence/absence of the vector. In fact, 1st-stage larvae were found in the lachrymal secretions of dogs in summer (June--July 2002 and 2003), ready to be ingested by flies feeding about the eyes. The evidence of 4th-stage larvae in March 2002 and April, July and October 2003 may be accounted for by the presence of flies that act as intermediate hosts of T. callipaeda from early spring to early autumn. The presence of immature stages in October indicates an overlapping generation of nematodes and a 2nd cycle of vector infection. This basic knowledge of the development of T. callipaeda will hopefully help future epidemiological studies to identify the intermediate hosts and define the likely risk for vectors in field conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Semi-nested PCR for the specific detection of Habronema microstoma or Habronema muscae DNA in horse faeces.

Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae (Spirurida: Habronematidae) are parasitic nematodes which infect the stomach and/or skin of equids. The accurate diagnosis of gastric habronemosis is central to studying its epidemiology, but data on its distribution and prevalence are lacking, mainly due to the limitations of clinical and coprological diagnosis in live horses. To overcome this constraint, a two-step, semi-nested PCR-based assay was validated (utilizing genetic markers in the nuclear ribosomal DNA) for the specific amplification of H. microstoma or H. muscae DNA from the faeces from horses (n = 46) whose gastrointestinal parasite status had been determined at autopsy and whose faeces were examined previously using a conventional parasitological approach. Of these horses examined at autopsy, some harboured adults of either H. microstoma (n= 19) or H. muscae (n =4), and others (n = 7) harboured both species. Most of them were also infected with other parasites, including strongylid nematodes (subfamilies Cyathostominae and Strongylinae), bots and/or cestodes; there was no evidence of metazoan parasites in 2 horses. Larvated spirurid eggs were detected in the faeces of 1 of the 30 horses (3.3 %) shown to be infected with Habronema at autopsy. For this set of 46 samples, the PCR assay achieved a diagnostic specificity of 100 % and a sensitivity of approximately 97 % (being able to specifically detect as little as approximately 0.02 fg of Habronema DNA). The specificity of the assay was also tested using a panel of control DNA samples representing horse, the gastric spirurid Draschia megastoma and 26 other species of parasites from the alimentary tract of the horse. H. microstoma, H. muscae and D. megastoma could be readily differentiated from one another based on the sizes of their specific amplicons in the PCR. The results of this study showed that the performance of the PCR for the diagnosis of gastric habronemosis was similar to that of autopsy but substantially better than the traditional coprological examination procedure used. The ability to specifically diagnose gastric habronemosis in equids should have important implications for investigating the epidemiology and ecology of H. microstoma and H. muscae.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Cross-sectional survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in sheep from an area of the southern Italian Apennines.

A cross-sectional survey of ticks was conducted on 197 ovine farms with animals pasturing in an area (3971 km2) of the southern Italian Apennines. The farms were selected to be uniformly distributed throughout the study area using Geographical Information System (GIS). Ticks were collected from 309 (31.4%) out of the 985 sheep sampled, belonging to 92 (46.7%) out of the 197 farms included in the study. The following tick species were found (farm prevalence): Dermacentor marginatus (37.6%), Haemaphysalis punctata (29.4%), H. sulcata (2.5%), H. parva (2.0%). H. inermis (0.5%), Ixodes gibbosus (2.0%), I. ricinus (0.5%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus group (1.0%), and R. bursa (0.5%). A point distribution map (PDM) was drawn by GIS in order to display the distribution of each tick genus in the study area. The general trends of the PDM show that Dermacentor marginatus and Haemaphysalis spp. were widely and homogeneously spread throughout the study area, whereas Rhipicephalus spp. and Ixodes spp. were present only in a few concentrated zones of the study area in accordance to their biological and ecological characteristics.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The epidemiology of canine and feline dermatophytoses in southern Italy.

A total of 424 animals (268 dogs and 156 cats) with skin lesions (alopecia and peripheral scaling) were examined from January 1999 to December 2002. Of the 424 samples examined, 99 (23.3%) yielded a positive culture and, in particular, 20.5% of the dog samples and 28.2% of the cat samples. Microsporum canis was the most common dermatophyte isolated from dogs and cats (77.7%), followed by geophilic dermatophyte species (M. gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre). Young dogs and cats, especially those younger than 1 year, showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of M. canis infection than older animals. No statistically significant association was found between infection and sex in cats, while male dogs were more affected by dermatophytes. Among breeds, Yorkshire terriers showed the highest positivity (50%) caused mainly by M. canis (46.6%), while no differences were noticed for cats. A significantly higher prevalence of positive samples was registered in summer and in autumn for cats. The presence of dermatophytes was not associated with itching. The diagnostic value of Wood's lamp fluorescence and microscopic examination proved to be scarce compared with fungal cultures as only 45.5% of the 77 samples that tested positive for M. canis at the cultural examination was positive under Wood's lamp florescence and 53.2% at microscopic examination.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Association between phospholipase production by Malassezia pachydermatis and skin lesions.

An evaluation was made of the phospholipase activities of Malassezia pachydermatis strains isolated from healthy dogs versus those from dogs with dermatitis and otitis. A high percentage of strains of M. pachydermatis obtained from lesion sites (93.9%) produced phospholipase, compared to the strains obtained from healthy skin of the same dog with localized lesions (41.4%) and healthy dogs (10.6%).

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Rapid immunochromatographic test for serodiagnosis of canine leishmaniasis.

An rK39 immunochromatographic test and immunofluorescent-antibody test (IFAT) for serodiagnosis of canine leishmaniasis were evaluated. The two tests showed correlation for all but one of the sera obtained from 68 dogs confirmed as leishmaniasis cases and 40 dogs (22 healthy dogs and 18 dogs with other diseases) from areas where the disease is not endemic. Specificity was 100% for both tests, while sensitivity was 97% for the rapid test and 99% for IFAT.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

A third species of Hypoderma (Diptera: Oestridae) affecting cattle and yaks in China: molecular and morphological evidence.

Cattle and yak hypodermosis in China is caused by Hypoderma bovis and H. lineatum, with a prevalence reaching up to 98-100% of the animals and maximum intensities exceeding 400 warbles for each animal. A third species, H. sinense, is also considered by Chinese researchers to affect livestock. The molecular characterization of the most variable region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene and of the ribosomal 28S gene has been performed for the third-stage larvae collected from cattle and yaks in China and identified (on the basis of the spinulation on the ventral side of the 10th segment) as H. bovis, H. lineatum, and H. sinense. Amplicons were digested with the HinfI and BfaI restriction enzymes, which provided diagnostic profiles to simultaneously differentiate the 3 Hypoderma species. Third-stage larvae of H. sinense were also examined by scanning electron microscopy, which revealed proper morphological characteristics different from those of H. bovis and H. lineatum. The molecular and morphological evidence herein reported support the existence of a third species of Hypoderma affecting cattle and yaks in China, and the results provide new tools for unequivocal identification of this species and present key components for the evaluation of its endogenous cycle and pathogenicity in animals and humans.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Myiasis caused by Oestridae: serological and molecular diagnosis].

Myiasis-causing Oestridae (bot flies) infect several animal species world-wide, from palaearctic to subtropical/tropical areas. Oestrids affect livestock production causing abortion, reduced milk production, losses in weight and fertility, poor hide quality and an impairment of the host's immune system. In the last few years much research has been carried out on the immunology of these infestations, in order to acquire efficient and reliable diagnostic serological tools; the genome of the different species of Oestridae has been studied to further their molecular identification, taxonomy and phylogenesis. The immunodiagnostic methods for many myiasis causing Oestrids have proven to be a viable alternative to the clinical parasitological examination or the post-mortem examination. Numerous serological tests have been developed for the diagnosis of bovine hypodermosis caused by Hypoderma bovis and Hypoderma lineatum, and ELISAs using larval hypodermin C as the antigen are currently used on serum, individual and pooled milk samples to detect the presence of circulating anti-Hypoderma antibodies. In Italy the best period to sample the animals is November-January, since it is in this period that the antibody kinetics of the animals reaches a peak. Recently the efficacy of the ELISA test on pasteurized milk samples has been demonstrated, allowing the diagnosis of bovine hypodermosis also in areas where there is no information on the presence of the disease and the sampling of the animals is laborious. The cross-reactivity between Przhevalskiana silenus antigens and anti-Hypoderma antibodies led to assessing the usefulness of a simple and cost-effective ELISA for the diagnosis of goat warble fly infection. In particular, it has been demonstrated that infected goats display an antibody peak in November-December in blood and milk, thus making this period suitable for sampling. Although no extensive data is available on the immunology of sheep and goat oestrosis caused by Oestrus ovis, the efficacy of ELISA has been demonstrated by correlating serological results with clinical post-mortem examinations. No immunological techniques are currently used to diagnose gasterophilosis of equids and only one study reports the efficacy of ELISA for detecting anti-Gasterophilus antibodies in infected equids. Several studies have been conducted into the molecular characterization of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)--in particular of the gene encoding for the cytochrome oxidase I (COI)--for many free-living and parasitic arthropods for diagnostic, taxonomic and phylogenetic purposes. As regards Oestridae causing myiasis, the first study features a PCR-RFLP assay of the most common Italian species (i.e. H. bovis, H. lineatum, Gasterophilus intestinalis, P. silenus, O. ovis), which showed clear genetic differences among the genera examined, but no inter-specific variation between the two species of Hypoderma considered. The molecular characterization of the most variable region of the COI gene (encoding for the region from E4 to the terminal COOH) was able to clearly differentiate H. bovis and H. lineatum. The E4-COOH region of the COI gene has been characterized for 18 oestrid species and from a taxonomical point of view, molecular data confirm the morphological classification, with the examined species divided into four subfamilies. New insights have also been gained on the molecular differentiation of the most common species of Hypoderma (i.e. H. bovis, H. lineatum, Hypoderma actaeon, Hypoderma diana and Hypoderma tarandi) and, in particular, the restriction enzyme BfaI, provides a diagnostic profile that can be used to simultaneously differentiate all the species examined. The characterization of the E4-COOH COI gene and the hypervariable region of the gene encoding for the ribosomal Isu revealed the identity of Hypoderma sinense as a new species, infecting cattle and yaks in China. Finally, the molecular analysis of the same mitochondrial and ribosomal regions showed that P. silenus, Przhevalskiana aegagri and Przhevalskiana crossii are morphotypes of the same species.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Ecology of Thelazia spp. in cattle and their vectors in Italy].

The genus Thelazia (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) includes a cosmopolitan group of eyeworm spirurids responsible for ocular infections in domestic and wild animals and transmitted by different species of muscids. Bovine thelaziosis is caused by Thelazia rhodesi Desmarest 1828, Thelazia gulosa Railliet & Henry 1910, and Thelazia skrjabini Erschow 1928, which occur in many countries; T. gulosa and T. skrjabini have been reported mainly in the New World, while T. rhodesi is particularly common in the Old World. In Italy, T. rhodesi was reported in southern regions a long time ago and, recently, T. gulosa and T. skrjabini have been identified in autochthonous cattle first in Apulia and then in Sardinia. Thirteen species of Musca are listed as intermediate hosts of eyeworms, but only Musca autumnalis and Musca larvipara have been demonstrated to act as vectors of Thelazia in the ex-URSS, North America, ex-Czechoslovakia and more recently in Sweden. In Italy, after the reports of T. gulosa and T. skrjabini in southern regions, the intermediate hosts of bovine eyeworms were initially only suspected as the predominant secretophagous Muscidae collected from the periocular region of cattle with thelaziosis were the face flies, M. autumnalis and M. larvipara, followed by Musca osiris, Musca tempestiva and Musca domestica. The well-known constraints in the identification of immature eyeworms to species by fly dissection and also the time-consuming techniques used constitute important obstacles to epidemiological field studies (i.e. vector identification and/or role, prevalence and pattern of infection in flies, etc.). Molecular studies have recently permitted to further investigations into this area. A PCR-RFLP analysis of the ribosomal ITS-1 sequence was developed to differentiate the 3 species of Thelazia (i.e. T. gulosa, T. rhodesi and T. skrjabini) found in Italy, then a molecular epidemiological survey has recently been carried out in field conditions throughout five seasons of fly activity and has identified the role of M. autumnalis, M. larvipara, M. osiris and M. domestica as vectors of T. gulosa and of M. autumnalis and M. larvipara of T. rhodesi. Moreover, M. osiris was described, for the first time, to act as a vector of T. gulosa and M. larvipara of T. gulosa and T. rhodesi. The mean prevalence in the fly population examined was found to be 2.86%. The molecular techniques have opened new perspectives for further research on the ecology and epidemiology not only of Thelazia in cattle but also of other autochthonous species of Thelazia which have been also recorded in Italy, such as Thelazia callipaeda, which is responsible for human and canid ocular infection and Thelazia lacrymalis, the horse eyeworm whose epidemiological molecular studies are in progress.

Animals↗