Isolation and characterization of Malassezia spp. in healthy swine of different breeds.

Malassezia spp. genus is represented by several lipophilic yeasts, normally present on the skin of many warm-blooded vertebrates, including man. Swine are one of the less investigated animal species. The aim of the present work was to study the occurrence of Malassezia spp. in the external ear canal of 408 healthy swine of different breeds, under different breeding conditions. For this purpose N. 185 free-ranging wild boars, N. 107 large size pigs and 116 Cinta Senese breed were selected. Animals were of both genders, with age ranging from 8 months to 4 years. The subjects were culturally and molecularly checked for Malassezia spp. Ninety-two out of 408 animals scored positive for Malassezia yeasts (22.5%). Malassezia pachydermatis, Malassezia sympodialis and Malassezia furfur were recognized. M. pachydermatis was the sole species isolated from wild boars (12.9%), Cinta Senese (20.7%) and juvenile large size pigs (13.6%); 88% of large size breeds adult subjects scored positive for M. sympodialis (63.6%) and M. furfur (22.7%), respectively. The study focus on scarcely investigated epidemiological aspects of Malassezia spp. in this animal species.

Association of Eosinophilic fasciitis and epileptic seizure.

Visceral involvement in eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a well known but rare event. With regard to neurological manifestations, both carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy have been described. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman with EF who had a major motor seizure. This association might not be fortuitous and be related to the known neurotoxin of eosinophils.

[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a patient with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia]. / Sclerosi laterale amiotrofica in un paziente con macroglobulinemia di Waldenstrom.

Although a peripheral neuropathy is the best known neurological complication of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM), the association of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or other Motor Neuron Diseases (MND) with monoclonal gammopathies is described. We report the case of a male patient (41 years old) with WM and ALS. Whether monoclonal gammopathies play a role in the pathogenesis of MND is unclear but is la possible that patients might have antibodies against motor neurons. In our reported case neurologic symptoms were the first and the most important manifestations of the underlying hemopathy and despite plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive treatment ALS syndrome progressed. The neurologic disease worsened despite the improvement of WM.

[Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in a population of drug addicts and their heterosexual partners]. / Prevalenza della infezione da virus C della epatite in una popolazione di tossicodipendenti e dei loro partner eterosessuali.

This study reports data concerning the prevalence of anti HCV in a population of 166 drug addicts and 25 partners (14 drug addicts and 11 with no history of substance abuse) of subjects proven anti HCV positive. The study was carried out in order to evaluate the importance of the haematic and sexual modes of transmission of HCV. The results obtained showed a prevalence of HCV infection in drug addicts with substantial statistic significance when compared with the prevalence in a population of donors. There is no evidence of statistically significant differences in prevalence between non-addicted partners and blood donors or between addicted partners and the general population of drug addicts. From these comparisons it is clear that haematic contact is an important source of contagion, whereas sexual contact appears to be of minor importance.