Cutaneous myiasis in cats and dogs: Cases, predisposing conditions and risk factors.

Two cases of cutaneous myiasis diagnosed in 2018 in Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy) were reported. The first one, described in a domestic cat Felis silvestris catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae) and caused by Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae), was the first one of this type ever reported in Italy in cats. The second one was described in a domestic dog Canis lupus familiaris L. (Carnivora: Canidae) and caused by Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and was unusual because it occurred in absence of lesions. An extensive literature search on cutaneous myiasis in these two domestic animal species was performed in order to draw attention to predisposing conditions and risk factors.

Urogenital myiasis caused by Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in a domestic rabbit in Italy.

The report describes a case of urogenital myiasis in a domestic rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus L. (Lagomorpha: Leporidae) caused by Lucilia sericata (Meigen; Diptera: Calliphoridae) in region Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy). The case, occurring in June 2018, is the first one involving L. sericata as an agent of myiasis in a domestic rabbit in Italy. Species identification was based on morphological investigations of males through identification keys. The rabbit developed the urogenital myiasis as a consequence of chronic enteritis causing an accumulation of faeces in the perianal and perineal region.

Myiasis in domestic cats: a global review.

Myiasis is an infestation caused by larvae of Diptera in humans and other vertebrates. In domestic cats, Felis silvestris catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), four dipteran families have been reported as agents of obligatory and facultative myiasis: Oestridae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae. Among agents of obligatory myiasis, the most frequent genus is Cuterebra Clark (Oestridae) and the most frequent species is Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Calliphoridae). Among the agents of facultative myiasis, the most frequent species is Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Calliphoridae). A survey of myiasis in cats reported in literature shows that the cases are distributed worldwide and linked to the geographical range of the dipteran species. Factors favouring the occurrence of myiasis in cats are prowling in infested areas, poor hygiene conditions due to diseases and/or neglect, and wounds inflicted during territorial or reproductive competition. The aim of the review is to provide an extended survey of literature on myiasis in cats, as general information and possible development of guidelines for veterinarians, entomologists and other researchers interested in the field.

Ultrastructural characterization of sensilla and microtrichia on the antenna of female Haematopota pandazisi (Diptera: Tabanidae).

The haematophagous females of the cleg fly Haematopota pandazisi (Kröber) (Diptera: Tabanidae) are a common pest in areas inhabited by wild and domestic ungulates in southern Europe, North Africa and Anatolia. A morphological investigation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out for the first time on the antennae of females of H. pandazisi, with special attention to the type and distribution of sensilla and microtrichia. The typical brachyceran antenna is divided into three regions: the scape, the pedicel and the flagellum, which is the longest of the three and is composed of four flagellomeres. The scape and pedicel are characterized by only one type of microtrichium and chaetic sensillum, whereas five types of microtrichia and sensilla were identified on the flagellum and classified according to shape and distribution. The sensilla are of the chaetic, clavate, basiconic, trichoid and coeloconic types; the latter with either a basiconic or grooved peg inside. The results obtained in this study were compared to those found in other species in the family Tabanidae and other Diptera, with special attention to haematophagous species.

VDR, RANKL and OPG polymorphisms as possible predisposing cofactors of postmenopausal osteoporosis: explorative study in Italian population.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO) has a strong genetic component. Presently, the published evidence on the association between the main single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kb ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) and bone mass density (BMD) are scarce, mostly considering Italian population. This study sought to determine whether OPG (rs2073618), RANKL (rs9525641) and the VDR (rs2228570) SNPs were associated with BMD in a sample of 139 North-Italian postmenopausal women. The allelic distribution of rs9525641 in women with PO or osteopenia (OP + OPE group) differed from controls (p < 0.05), suggesting that this allele might confer a greater susceptibility to bone resorption. Concerning rs2228570, CC genotype was associated with OP + OPE women, with a worst total hip BMD. Notably, the combined genotype RANK (CT)-VDR (TT) was significantly associated to spine BMD (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this pilot study showed that rs9525641 and rs2228570 polymorphisms might contribute, separately or in combination, in determining BMD phenotype in selected postmenopausal populations.

Quantitative Determination of Fusarium proliferatum Concentration in Intact Garlic Cloves Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

Fusarium proliferatum is considered to be a pathogen of many economically important plants, including garlic. The objective of this research was to apply near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to rapidly determine fungal concentration in intact garlic cloves, avoiding the laborious and time-consuming procedures of traditional assays. Preventive detection of infection before seeding is of great interest for farmers, because it could avoid serious losses of yield during harvesting and storage. Spectra were collected on 95 garlic cloves, divided in five classes of infection (from 1-healthy to 5-very highly infected) in the range of fungal concentration 0.34-7231.15 ppb. Calibration and cross validation models were developed with partial least squares regression (PLSR) on pretreated spectra (standard normal variate, SNV, and derivatives), providing good accuracy in prediction, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.829 and 0.774, respectively, a standard error of calibration (SEC) of 615.17 ppb, and a standard error of cross validation (SECV) of 717.41 ppb. The calibration model was then used to predict fungal concentration in unknown samples, peeled and unpeeled. The results showed that NIRS could be used as a reliable tool to directly detect and quantify F. proliferatum infection in peeled intact garlic cloves, but the presence of the external peel strongly affected the prediction reliability.

Surnames in Honduras: A study of the population of Honduras through isonymy.

In this work, we investigated surname distribution in 4,348,021 Honduran electors with the aim of detecting population structure through the study of isonymy in three administrative levels: the whole nation, the 18 departments, and the 298 municipalities. For each administrative level, we studied the surname effective number, α, the total inbreeding, FIT , the random inbreeding, FST , and the local inbreeding, FIS . Principal components analysis, multidimensional scaling, and cluster analysis were performed on Lasker's distance matrix to detect the direction of surname diffusion and for a graphic representation of the surname relationship between different locations. The values of FIT , FST , and FIS display a variation of random inbreeding between the administrative levels in the Honduras population, which is attributed to the "Prefecture effect." Multivariate analyses of department data identified two main clusters, one south-western and the second north-eastern, with the Bay Islands and the eastern Gracias a Dios out of the main clusters. The results suggest that currently the population structure of this country is the result of the joint action of short-range directional migration and drift, with drift dominating over migration, and that population diffusion may have taken place mainly in the NW-SE direction.

Surnames in Albania: a study of the population of Albania through isonymy.

In order to describe the isonymic structure of Albania, the distribution of 3,068,447 surnames was studied in the 12 prefectures and their administrative subdivisions: the 36 districts and 321 communes. The number of different surnames found was 37,184. Effective surname number for the entire country was 1327, the average for prefectures was 653.3 ± 84.3, for districts 365.9 ± 42.0 and for communes 122.6 ± 8.7. These values display a variation of inbreeding between administrative levels in the Albanian population, which can be attributed to the previously published "Prefecture effect". Matrices of isonymic distances between units within administrative levels were tested for correlation with geographic distances. The correlations were highest for prefectures (r = 0.71 ± 0.06 for Euclidean distance) and lowest for communes (r = 0.37 ± 0.011 for Nei's distance). The multivariate analyses (Principal component analysis and Multidimensional Scaling) of prefectures identify three main clusters, one toward the North, the second in Central Albania, and the third in the South. This pattern is consistent with important subclusters from districts and communes, which point out that the country may have been colonised by diffusion of groups in the North-South direction, and from Macedonia in the East, over a pre-existing Illiryan population.

A study of the population of Paraguay through isonymy.

In order to describe the isonymic structure of Paraguay, the distribution of 4,843,868 surnames of 2,882,163 persons was studied in the 18 departments and 237 districts of the nation. The correlations between isonymic and geographic distances for departments were r = 0.713 ± 0.052 for Euclidean distance, 0.597 ± 0.074 for Nei's and 0.582 ± 0.076 for Lasker's, and for districts r = 0.320 ± 0.007, 0.235 ± 0.009 and 0.422 ± 0.008, respectively. Average α was 151 for the entire country, 140.6 ± 6.5 for departments and 108.2 ± 2.7 for districts. The geographical distribution of districts'α is compatible with the settlement of subsequent groups of migrants moving from South towards the Centre and North of Paraguay. The geographical analysis of the first three components of Lasker's isonymy distance matrix is in agreement with such a process. The prevalence of Spanish-Amerindian ethnic groups and the relative absence of indigenous surnames (absence due mainly to the forced surname change of 1848) is in agreement with the diffusion of Spanish speaking males over a low-density area populated by indigenous groups. The present distribution of Y-markers and mt-markers in the available studies in most Latin American populations is compatible with this process.

Surnames in Bolivia: a study of the population of Bolivia through isonymy.

In Bolivia, the Hispanic dual surname system is used. To describe the isonymic structure of Bolivia, the surname distribution of 12,139,448 persons registered in the 2006 census data was studied in 9 districts and 112 provinces of the nation, for a total of 23,244,064 surnames. The number of different surnames found was 174,922. Matrices of isonymic distances between the administrative units (districts and provinces) were constructed and tested for correlation with geographic distance. In the 112 provinces, isonymic distances were correlated with geographic distance (r = 0.545 ± 0.011 for Euclidean, 0.501 ± 0.012 for Nei's, and 0.556 ± 0.010 for Lasker's distance). The multiple regression of the surname effective number (α), equivalent to the allele effective number in a genetic system, was nonsignificant on latitude and longitude; however, it was highly significant and negative on altitude (r = -0.72). Because the Andes extend from north to south in west-central Bolivia, random inbreeding was lowest in the eastern districts, and highest in mountainous western Bolivia. Average α for the provinces was 122 ± 2; for the districts, it was 216 ± 29, and for the whole of Bolivia it was 213. The geographical distribution of α in the provinces is compatible with the settlement of subsequent groups of migrants moving from east and north toward the center and south of Bolivia. The relative frequency of indigenous surnames is correlated positively with altitude. This suggests that the country was populated by recent low-density demic diffusion over a low-density indigenous population. This may have been a common phenomenon in the immigration to tropical South America.

Role of IL-6, TNF-A and LT-A variants in the modulation of the clinical expression of plaque-induced gingivitis.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to assess the association of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-A) and lymphotoxin alpha (LT-A) gene polymorphisms with the clinical parameters of gingivitis in a large experimental gingivitis trial and with each of two subgroups, "high responder" (HR, n=24) and "low responder" (LR, n=24), with distinct susceptibility to gingivitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-six systemically and periodontally healthy non-smokers, 46 males (mean age: 23.9+/-1.7) and 50 females (mean age: 23.3+/-1.6), were included in a randomized split-mouth localized 21-day experimental gingivitis trial. Plaque index, gingival index, gingival crevicular fluid volume and angulated bleeding score were recorded. HR and LR subgroups were characterized by substantially different severities of gingival inflammation despite a similar plaque accumulation rate. All subjects were genetically characterized for IL-6(-174), IL-6(-597), TNF-A(-308) and LT-A(+252) polymorphisms. RESULTS: None of the variants analysed, either as single polymorphisms or as a combined genotype, was associated with the clinical parameters in the overall population. For the polymorphisms studied, genotypic distributions in HR and LR subjects were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest an absence of association between IL-6, TNF-A and LT-A polymorphisms and subject-based clinical behaviour of the gingiva in response to de novo plaque accumulation.

Paleolithic Y-haplogroup heritage predominates in a Cretan highland plateau.

The island of Crete, credited by some historical scholars as a central crucible of western civilization, has been under continuous archeological investigation since the second half of the nineteenth century. In the present work, the geographic stratification of the contemporary Cretan Y-chromosome gene pool was assessed by high-resolution haplotyping to investigate the potential imprints of past colonization episodes and the population substructure. In addition to analyzing the possible geographic origins of Y-chromosome lineages in relatively accessible areas of the island, this study includes samples from the isolated interior of the Lasithi Plateau--a mountain plain located in eastern Crete. The potential significance of the results from the latter region is underscored by the possibility that this region was used as a Minoan refugium. Comparisons of Y-haplogroup frequencies among three Cretan populations as well as with published data from additional Mediterranean locations revealed significant differences in the frequency distributions of Y-chromosome haplogroups within the island. The most outstanding differences were observed in haplogroups J2 and R1, with the predominance of haplogroup R lineages in the Lasithi Plateau and of haplogroup J lineages in the more accessible regions of the island. Y-STR-based analyses demonstrated the close affinity that R1a1 chromosomes from the Lasithi Plateau shared with those from the Balkans, but not with those from lowland eastern Crete. In contrast, Cretan R1b microsatellite-defined haplotypes displayed more resemblance to those from Northeast Italy than to those from Turkey and the Balkans.

Surnames in Western Europe: a comparison of the subcontinental populations through isonymy.

We studied the isonymic structure of Western Europe using the distributions of 26.2 million surnames in 8 countries, 125 regions and 2094 towns of the Subcontinent. We found that, for the whole of Western Europe, Nei's distance was correlated with geographic distance (r=0.610+/-0.009). It was observed that at long geographic distances the isonymyc distance stays below linearity and tends to become asymptotic, and this was attributed to long distance migration. A dendrogram of the125 regions was built and the clusters identified by the dendrogram are almost exactly coincident with the nations of the Subcontinent. Random inbreeding calculated from isonymy, F(ST), was highest in Spanish regions, and lowest in France. The geographical distribution of alpha in 2094 towns, high in the Center and East of the Subcontinent and lower in Spain, is compatible with the settlement of subsequent waves of migrants moving from the West and from the South toward the centre of the Continent. The present surname structure of Western Europe is strictly linked to local languages.

Modulation of clinical expression of plaque-induced gingivitis: interleukin-1 gene cluster polymorphisms.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to determine the association of interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene polymorphisms with clinical parameters of gingivitis in a large experimental gingivitis trial and with each of two subgroups, high responders (HR) and low responders (LR), with distinct susceptibility to gingivitis. METHODS: Ninety-six systemically and periodontally healthy non-smokers, 46 males (mean age: 23.9+/-1.7) and 50 females (mean age: 23.3+/-1.6) were included in a randomized, split-mouth, localized 21-day experimental gingivitis trial. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival crevicular fluid volume (GCF), and angulated bleeding score (AngBS) were recorded. Two subgroups were defined from the total study population (HR, LR) characterized by substantially different severity of gingival inflammation despite similar plaque accumulation rate. The study population was typed for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1A+4845), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1B+3953, IL-1B-511), and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN, intron 2 variable number tandem repeats) gene polymorphisms. Gene variants were analyzed by amplifying the polymorphic region using polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction-enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Neither IL-1A+4845, IL-1B+3953, or the combined (IL-1A+4845 x 2 - IL-1B+3953 x 2) genotype was associated with clinical parameters in the overall population. IL-1RN was significantly associated with test quadrant PI (P= 0.046), GCF (P= 0.05), and GI (P= 0.018). The genotype distribution in HR and LR subjects was significantly different for IL-1RN (P= 0.045) and for IL-1B-511 (P= 0.023). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest an association between IL-1RN polymorphism and subject-based clinical behavior of the gingiva in response to de novo plaque accumulation, as well as a possible association between IL-1B-511 polymorphism and gingivitis susceptibility.