Assessment of the chemical and genetic variability among accessions of Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr., an alpine plant with anthelmintic properties.

Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr, is a perennial alpine plant and a member of the Asteraceae family, typically found at altitudes above 1000 meters in the Italian Alps. Although previously utilized primarily as a local delicacy, recent studies have revealed strong antiparasitic activity through in vitro experiments. In Europe, numerous chemical drugs employed to combat nematodes - helminths that infest the digestive tract of livestock - are banned due to their environmental harm or show only reduced efficiency because of the development of resistance. Consequently, there is a growing demand for new alternative anthelmintic treatments in agricultural practices. Specialized metabolites found in the extracts of C. alpina could offer a sustainable and biological alternative to chemical drugs, specifically for nematode control. For this purpose, a unique germplasm collection originating from eight distinct natural populations in the Italian Alps was analyzed for its chemical diversity using state-of-the-art targeted LC-MS/MS spectrometry, including quantification based on multiple reaction monitoring. The predominant metabolites identified from the species were the caffeic acid derivatives chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, and 3. 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, the sesquiterpene lactone derivative 8-O-acetyl-15-ß-D-glucopyranosyl lactucin and the flavone glycosides, apigenin-7-O-glucoside and luteolin-7-O-glucoside, alongside their precursors apigenin and luteolin, respectively. Additionally, the genetic diversity of eighty individual plants within the germplasm collection was evaluated using ten DNA molecular markers (Simple Sequence Repeats), successfully transferred from two closely related species (Cichorium intybus and Tanacetum parthenium). This investigation unveiled a significant range of genetic diversity within the examined populations, resulting in the establishment of three distinct genetic groups. The findings were further correlated with the original ecological environment and local climate conditions spanning a biennial period, indicating substantial variations among the different accessions and the intricate interplay between genetic background and environmental factors. These results could serve as a basis for future domestication of the species through plant breeding programs ensuring product quality, but also facilitating the cultivation of C. alpina in more diverse geographic regions.

Associated risk factors for skin alterations in dairy cattle kept on small scale mountain farms.

The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for skin alterations at herd and cow level on dairy farms with different housing systems in South Tyrol (Northern Italy). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 204 farms (111 free stalls and 93 tie stalls) from March to October 2019 assessing the level of animal welfare using resource-based and animal-based indicators. A total number of 1,891 dairy cows were evaluated, of which 43.5% were reared in tie stalls and 56.5% in free stalls. A logistic regression model identified the herd and cow level risks factors for neck and leg skin alterations in the two different systems. There was a higher prevalence for skin lesions on the neck (Odd Ratio (OR) = 2.36) and hock (OR = 2.82) for tie stalls. Irrespective of the housing system the soft-based stall mattresses had a lower prevalence for knee and hock lesions of 0.48 and 0.54, respectively, compared to wood base stalls for both knee (OR = 2.19) and hock (OR = 2.47) consecutively. The prevalence of skin alterations on the knee (OR = 0.42) and hock (OR = 0.33) decreased by the presence of sawdust as bedding material. Similarly, straw (OR = 0.61) and lime-straw-water bedding (OR = 0.59) reduced the prevalence for skin alterations on the hock. Access to pasture reduced the prevalence of skin alterations on the neck (OR = 0.34), the knee (OR = 0.77), and on the hock (OR = 0.46) regardless of the housing system. In conclusion, the assessment of risk factors of different skin alterations in different housing systems can contribute to the improvement of overall animal welfare in traditional small scale mountain dairy systems.

In vitro evaluation of the effects of methanolic plant extracts on the embryonation rate of Ascaridia galli eggs.

The present study aims to find efficient alternatives to synthetic anthelmintics among ethno-veterinary herbs. Ascaridia galli eggs isolated from the worm uterus were exposed in vitro to methanolic extracts (ME) of nine plant species such as Achillea millefolium (AM), Artemisia absinthium (AA), Artemisia vulgaris (AV), Cicerbita alpina (CA), Cichorium intybus (CI), Inula helenium (IH), Origanum vulgare (OV), Tanacetum vulgare (TV), Tanacetum parthenium (TP). Flubendazole (FL), 0.5% formalin with dimethylsulfoxide and Petri dishes without the addition of reagents were used as positive, negative and untreated control respectively. The effects of the different ME at concentrations 0.500, 0.325, 0.200 mg/ml were assessed on the embryonic development (ED) of the eggs in duplicate. Logit analysis was used to calculate EC50 values. A generalized linear mixed model, having plant species and concentration as fixed effect and day as repeated measure, was used to determine differences in ED. Estimated EC50 was the lowest for FL at 0.11 mg/ml. CA and TV followed with 0.27 mg/ml and 0.32 mg/ml. ED for FL was significantly lower (25%) than that of CA (47%). The analysis showed 0.5 mg/ml of the ME of CA and TV significantly affected the ED at 35% and 42% inhibitions respectively. The ED for all ME showed similar pattern i.e., relatively higher efficacy in the first experimental week compared to the rest of the experimental period. The effect from all multicomponent extracts is time and dose dependent. The plants have promising results in inhibiting ED, contributing to the identification of alternative anthelmintic treatments.

Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep raised under mountain farming conditions in Northern Italy.

Anthelmintic resistance (AR) in sheep raised under mountain farming conditions in South Tyrol (Northern Italy) was assessed on eight farms (n=99 animals). A faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test was done after routine anthelmintic treatments. Furthermore, on 27 farms (n=306 animals), a FECR test was conducted after oral formulations of a macrocyclic lactone (ML), benzimidazole (BZ) (partly in combination with salicylanilide (SA)) or a combination of imidazothiazole and SA were applied under controlled conditions on the same farm. Following routine treatments, three of five ML-treated flocks showed an adequate efficacy, while the other two reached a FECR of only around 75 per cent. A wide range of gastrointestinal nematode genera were identified in one flock following the treatment. From the three BZ-treated flocks, only one showed an adequate FECR, both other farms reached 68 per cent and 84 per cent, respectively. Under controlled conditions, FECR ranged between 77 per cent and 81 per cent indicating AR for all the applied anthelmintics. Trichostrongylus species, Teladorsagia species and Haemonchus species were identified after ML treatment, Teladorsagia species after BZ treatment and Trichostrongylus species and Haemonchus species after combined BZ and SA application. Taking into consideration that underdosing might have affected results of the routine treatments, a high prevalence of AR was found in sheep under mountain farming conditions.

Does feeding frequency during lactation affect sows' body condition, reproduction and production performance?

The present study investigated whether a three-times compared to two-times feeding frequency during lactation affects sows' body condition, reproductive performance as well as growth performance of the piglets . In a commercial farm, eight groups (8-10 animals) with a total number of 68 sows were included in the study. During lactation, four groups received feed two times (treatment 2DF) and four groups three times daily (treatment 3DF). Within treatments, sows were classified into young (<2 parities) and old (≥3 parities). Body condition score (BCS), shoulder lesions, return to estrus rate and piglet's growth performance were recorded. The 3DF sows had a higher (p < 0.05) feed intake and less shoulder lesions (p < 0.05) than 2DF animals. Return to estrus rate in the 3DF treatment was 0% for young and 29% for old sows. In the 2DF treatment return to estrus rate was 20% for young and 5% for old sows. In conclusion, three-times versus two-times daily feeding frequency during lactation increased feed intake and had a positive effect on sows' BCS and the frequency of shoulder lesions, while it also reduced incidents of return to estrus rate in young sows.