Proposal for a veterinary presidium to support public authority in responding to catastrophic events in the Italian context.

The ultimate goal of any disaster response, or a natural or a man­made event, is to get the best outcome for the highest number of people. From a veterinary point of view, the best outcome includes either the protection of animals (conventional and unconventional pets) or the safeguarding the wholesomeness of food supplies in the "One Health" perspective. The evolution of the Italian veterinary role in disaster management has changed across the last 35 years and has grown with the awareness that animals and human beings share the same vulnerability to disasters. The University of Teramo, following its experiences in different disaster scenarios, proposes a veterinary presidium to support Public Authority in responding to catastrophic events in the Italian context, in order to rescue small, large and unconventional animals. The proposed veterinary presidium is made up of 3 skilled people certified to react to different population needs. Indeed we propose different teams to rescue small, large or non­conventional animal, trained to work together in a stress situation and under coordination of the Civil Protection Function 2. This presidium with its 3 different skilled teams under the supervision of the advanced veterinary medical center (AVMC) and by reporting to it will provide the best competences based on the needs of the population and the authorities, in view of the "One Health" perspective.

Cyathostomin faecal egg counts in horse farms from Central Italy.

Cyathostomins,  or  'small  strongyles',  are  the  most  important  equine  helminths  because  of their  worldwide  distribution,  spread  of  anthelmintic­resistant  populations,  and  pathogenic impact.  The  so­called  'selective  treatment'  of  those  animals  exceeding  a  certain  faecal  egg  count  (FEC)  has  recently  been  proposed  to  implement  cyathostomin  control  programmes.  The present study evaluated the extent of egg shedding in 475 horses living in 12 farms from 3 regions of Italy. All examined farms and 224 horses (47.6%) were positive for cyathostomins. 138 horses (28.8%) scored positive for cyathostomin FECs with a range of eggs­per­gram of faeces (epg) values of 50­2,150. Further 86 horses (18.1%) were positive only under qualitative microscopy (i.e. < 50 epg). Of the animals with a FEC > 50 epg, 81 (17%) and 57 (12%) showed values  of  50­200  and  >  200  epg,  respectively.  The  findings  from  this  study  demonstrated  a reduced presence of high­shedding horses compared to results obtained in previous years in  the  same  study  areas,  despite  overlapping  climate  features  in  the  previous  5  years.  A  continuing  monitoring  of  epidemiological  and  biological  features  of  horse  cyathostomin infection  is  crucial  for  planning  intervention  programmes  aimed  to  maintaining  animal health and preserving the efficacy of parasiticides.

Evaluation of the cardiac toxicity of N-methyl-glucamine antimoniate in dogs with naturally occurring leishmaniasis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiotoxic effects of pentavalent antimonial compounds in dogs with leishmaniasis. Twenty-eight dogs with clinical disease due to natural infection with Leishmania infantum were treated with 75 mg/kg meglumine antimoniate SC every 12h for 60 days. Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were determined and routine and 24h ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring was performed before the onset (T0) and at the end of treatment (T60). No abnormalities were found in routine and 24h electrocardiographic tracings before and after treatment. No statistical difference was found between serum cTnI concentrations or corrected QT intervals at T0 and T60. There was no evidence of laboratory or electrocardiographic features of cardiac toxicity in dogs with leishmaniasis treated with a therapeutic dose of meglumine antimoniate for 60 days.