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Biomedical subjects

M T Manfredi

Publications and source records attributed to M T Manfredi.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Effect of seasonality on abomasal helminth community in alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex).

Abomasal helminths of 81 adult female ibex (Capra ibex ibex) from Piz Albris colony (CH) culled monthly from December 1989 to May 1991 were analyzed. Subjects were divided into six quarterly groups (I: December 1989-February 1990; II: March-May 1990; III: June-August 1990; IV: September-November 1990; V: December 1990-February 1991; VI: March-May 1991) in order to investigate the seasonal fluctuation of helminth community parameters (abundance, richness, sex-ratio, Berger-Parker dominance index, importance index, overall association between species by Schluter's variance test). All parameters showed considerable seasonality. Abundance was highest in group III, while richness was highest and Berger-Parker index lowest in group IV. Overall associations between species were positive in winter-spring groups and negative in summer-autumn. The importance index of the two dominant species (Teladorsagia circumcincta and Marshallagia marshalli) showed a symmetrical and opposite seasonal development. A significant negative correlation (Spearman r = -.30; p < .01) has been demonstrated between the Berger-Parker dominance index and factor scores descriptive of age and weight of the subjects. These results suggest that seasonal factors determine the community composition while host control can act as a filter maintaining a stable community structure.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1999

Tick species infesting ruminants in Italy: ecological and bio-climatic factors affecting the different regional distribution.

The distribution of tick species able to infest ruminants in Italy is briefly reviewed on the basis of published records and new data obtained in several surveys carried out mainly in northern Italy. The most frequent and abundant tick species found on ruminants throughout Italy are Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor marginatus, the first gradually replacing its association with sheep by the association with wild ruminants. Rhipicephalus bursa was mainly found on cattle while R. turanicus, which is considered one of the most sheep-associated species, was found only on wild boar. Haemaphysalis punctata, H. sulcata and H. parva are the other tick species quite frequently found on small ruminants when they are reared on pastures mainly in central-southern Italy. However, the land exploitation of these last decades has dramatically reduced the diversity of Italian environment and significantly modified the distribution and the abundance of ticks causing a heavy spread of the tick species characterized by a strong adaptability such as I. ricinus and R. sanguineus. If this trend continues, it is possible to hypothesise that few "resistant" tick species will gradually replace most of the others. This hypothesis seems to be confirmed by the high percentage observed for I. ricinus (57.4%) and R. sanguineus (35.73%) out of 8,712 specimens collected from several different hosts and from the environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Parasites of Italian sea turtles. II. Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta [Linnaeus, 1758]).

Eleven out of fourteen sea turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coast of the Adriatic sea (Mediterranean sea) were found infected with helminths. Seven trematode species (Rhytidodes gelatinosus, Orchidasma amphiorchis, Enodiotrema megachondrus. Pachypsolus irroratus, Pleurogonius trigonocephalus, Calicodes anthos, Plesiochorus cymbiformis) and one nematode (Sulcascaris sulcata) were found. S. sulcata was the most frequent species in the stomach and R. gelatinosus in the intestine. These species were also the most abundant. The redescriptions of C. anthos (Braun, 1899) and P. trigonocephalus (Rudolphi, 1809) Looss, 1901 are included. The accuracy of Braun's original description is questioned because it refers to specimens studied in dorsal view.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Phagicola longa (Heterophyidae) in dogs from Chile: morphological findings and taxonomical problems.

Trematodes found in the intestines of dogs from Chillan, VIII region of Chile, were studied. The species identified was Phagicola longa, a fluke of the Heterophyidae family, parasites of fish-eating birds or mammals in several countries. P. longa is very similar to P. arnaldoi, a species described in dogs from South America. The number of vitelline follicles and the distribution of cuticular spines are the only distinctive features for the two species. However, many authors report the same number of vitelline follicles for P. arnaldoi and P. longa. Furthermore, the distribution of cuticular spines is very similar. P. longa has a small area devoid of spines when compared to P. arnaldoi but a wide variability of this generic character in the Heterophyidae was observed. As previously reported, P. arnaldoi could be a recent synonym of P. longa, which is the only species of Phagicola that can be found in South American dogs. This is in agreement with the study of metacercariae found in Mugilidae, the intermediate hosts of Phagicola, from American waters in which P. longa is the only species found. The authors emphasize the finding of this trematode in dogs, since it could possibly cause also human infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A survey to identify the important macroparasites of rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) in Trentino, Italy.

A preliminary survey of the intestinal helminth community of rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) was undertaken in the Italian province of Trentino where the host population exhibits cyclic fluctuations in abundance. Six helminth species were recorded from 38 rock partridge intestines collected during the hunting season between October and November 1994. Nematoda were the most prevalent (53%) with lower prevalence of Trematoda (11%) and Cestoda (8%). Ascaridia compar (Schrank, 1790) and Heterakis tenuicauda Linstow, 1883, were identified as the component species (each with prevalence > 10%) in the helminth intestinal community of rock partridge in Trentino. Both of these species exhibit an aggregated distribution.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Parasites in Italian sea turtles. I. The leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea (Linnaeus, 1766).

Three species of trematodes (Digenea) were collected from a leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) stranded on the coast of Lampedusa (Sicily Channel, Mediterranean Sea, Italy). One, Enodiotrema carettae, was found in the liver and two, Enodiotrema instar and Pyelosomum renicapite, in the intestine. E. carettae and E. instar are new host findings, E. carettae is a geographic novelty as well. A description of E. instar, previously reported and described by Looss (1902), is included.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Pattern of abomasal helminths in fallow deer farming in Umbria (central Italy).

Five helminth species were seen in the abomasa of 29 farmed fallow deer. Spiculopteragia asymmetrica was most common in both prevalence (96.6%) and abundance (166.2). Ostertagia drozdzi, Ostertagia arctica and Spiculopteragia quadrispiculata were also recovered with high prevalence (79.3-93.1%); Trichostrongylus axei was sporadic (3.4%). Yearlings had worm counts of 496-1480, adult males of 168-1720 and females of 18-2008. For nine of 13 deer, the faecal egg counts were negative and post-mortem examinations were positive, with 18-1140 worms per deer. The results are discussed in relation to helminth population, its epidemiological significance and management strategies.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1992

Aprocta matronensis in crows (Corvus corone corone) from northern Italy.

Aprocta matronensis (Nematoda, Spirurida) has been found in the orbital cavities of carrion crows. Hooded crows and crows from the hybrid crow zone in the studied areas were not infected. The parasite population showed the typical morphology described for this species. This is the first record of A. matronensis in crows in Italy and in Corvus corone corone. Some hypotheses about the distribution of the parasites in crow populations are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Field trials of the anthelmintic efficacy of nitroscanate and mebendazole in dogs.

The efficacies of nitroscanate and mebendazole against nematodes and Dipylidium caninum were compared by the examination of the faeces of 155 dogs. In unweaned puppies nitroscanate acted significantly faster and was significantly more effective than mebendazole against Toxocara canis. In adult dogs, both drugs had a low efficacy against Trichuris vulpis but a similarly good efficacy against other nematodes, with a tendency for nitroscanate to be more effective in reducing the prevalence of Ancylostoma caninum. Nitroscanate reduced the prevalence of D caninum infections considerably more than mebendazole.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Protostrongylus pulmonalis from hares (Lepus europaeus) in Italy.

Protostrongylus (Pulmostrongylus) pulmonalis from Lepus europaeus in Italy (Alto Adige) was studied. Most of the parasite population showed the typical morphology described for this species. Variations observed in the morphological features of gubernaculum, antero-lateral ray and telamon are considered to lie within the range of variability of the species. This is the first record of Protostrongylus (Pul.) pulmonalis in hares in Italy.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Morphological variations in nematode parasites after a radioactive fall out: preliminary results.

Preliminary results from a survey of abomasal parasites of wild ruminant Rupicapra rupicapra are reported. The study was carried out after the fall out of radioactive contamination from the nuclear accident at Chernobyl (May 1986) and showed the high prevalence of teratologic forms in representatives of Ostertaginae (3.1% of the entire population of male worms).

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗
PubMed1985

Gastrointestinal nematode infections in wild ruminants Rupicapra rupicapra and Dama dama: influence of density and cohabitation with domestic ruminants.

The distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes in different populations of wild ruminants has been studied with regard to density of the animals and the presence of domestic ruminants in the habitat. The degree of parasite overdispersion among the hosts has been examined in the hypothesis of a negative binomial model of distribution. The results show that the density has a greater weight than cohabitation with domestic ruminants, in destabilizing the host-parasite relationship.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Gastrointestinal helminths of wild ruminants: observations on the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.) in the Val Belviso reserve].

The results obtained in a survey on the gastrointestinal helminths of 32 chamois of the Riserva of Valbelviso on the Alpi Orobie are reported. All the animals were infested: the species identified with more frequence were O. circumcinta, M. marshalli, N. filicollis. Of great significance was the diffusion of N. filicollis, compared with other species of this genus, typical of the wild ruminants; Oe. radiatum, never previously observed in chamois, was also found. These results show that the promiscuity of wild and domestic ruminants in the pasture could interfere with the natural focality of the respective gastrointestinal nematodes.

Animals↗