The Experts below are selected from a list of 159 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Fernando Alba-hurtado - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

C. Cuenca-verde - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Antonio Varcasia - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Αcute visceral cysticercosis caused by Taenia Hydatigena in lambs: ultrasonographic findings
    Parasites & Vectors, 2020
    Co-Authors: Andrea Corda, Antonio Varcasia, Giorgia Dessì, Silvia Carta, Claudia Tamponi, Giampietro Sedda, Mauro Scala, Barbara Marchi, Francesco Salis, Antonio Scala
    Abstract:

    Background Cysticercosis caused by cysticercus tenuicollis is a metacestode infection that affects several species of ungulates. It is caused by the larval stage of Taenia Hydatigena , an intestinal tapeworm in dogs and wild canids. In the intermediate host, the mature cysticerci are usually found in the omentum, mesentery, and peritoneum, and less frequently in the pleura and pericardium. The migrating larvae can be found mostly in the liver parenchyma causing traumatic hepatitis in young animals. Most infections are chronic and asymptomatic, and are diagnosed at the abattoir. The acute form of infection is unusual in sheep and reports of death in lambs are rare. Methods In March 2018, fifteen female lambs presented anorexia, weakness, lethargy, and death secondary to acute visceral cysticercosis. Twelve of them underwent hepatic ultrasonography. Examinations were performed on standing or left lateral recumbent animals. Results Livers of affected animals presented rounded margins and a thickened, irregular and hyperechoic surface. Hepatic parenchyma appeared to be wholly or partially affected by lesions characterized by heterogeneous areas crossed by numerous, irregular, anechoic tracts ranging from 1 to 2 cm in length and 0.1 to 0.2 cm in width. Superficial and intraparenchymal cystic structures were also visualized. The presence of lesions was confirmed by anatomopathological examination, and T. Hydatigena cysticerci was identified by morphological and molecular characterization of isolates. Conclusions Our results highlighted that hepatic ultrasonography is effective for an intra-vitam diagnosis of acute cysticercosis in lambs.

  • Taenia Hydatigena cysticercosis in wild boar sus scrofa from southern italy an epidemiological and molecular survey
    Parasitology, 2020
    Co-Authors: Giovanni Sgroi, Antonio Varcasia, Francesco Buono, Belgees Boufana, Nicola Dalessio, Paolo Varuzza, Maria Grazia Amoroso, Domenico Otranto, Alessandro Fioretti, Vincenzo Veneziano
    Abstract:

    Taenia Hydatigena cysticercosis is a widespread parasitic disease of wild and domestic animals. In Europe, the increase in wild boar population may potentially contribute to the spread of this parasitic infection. To determine the occurrence of cysticerci (metacestodes) in wild boar population from southern Italy, carcasses were inspected during three hunting seasons (2016-2018). Out of 3363 wild boar examined, 229 (6.8%) harboured cysticerci with 188 (82.1%) infected by a single cyst, vs 41 (17.9%) boars having more than one. Most of the positive animals (187; 81.7%) showed cysts on the liver, whereas a multiple localization of cysticerci was reported in 10 (4.4%) wild boar. The total number of cysts retrieved from positive animals was 301 (average 1.3). Molecular analysis revealed the occurrence of a common haplotype (Hap 8) shared between wild boar and domestic animals. Our findings suggest the presence of a T. Hydatigena semi-domestic life cycle in which wild boar may play an important role, due to a large number of offal available to hunting dogs, wolves and foxes during hunting seasons. Hunters may be players in the management of wildlife species to control and prevent the circulation of parasitic diseases.

  • Massive Taenia Hydatigena Cysticercosis in a Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Italy
    Acta Parasitologica, 2019
    Co-Authors: Giovanni Sgroi, Antonio Varcasia, Giorgia Dessì, Nicola D’alessio, Laura Pacifico, Francesco Buono, Benedetto Neola, Giovanna Fusco, Mario Santoro, Valerio Toscano
    Abstract:

    Purpose Taenia Hydatigena cysticercosis, due to Cysticercus tenuicollis , is a parasitic disease infecting domestic and wild animals worldwide causing economic and productive losses. Nonetheless, little attention has been paid to the role of the wild ungulates in the epidemiology of this disease. In the last years, the increasing population of wild boars in Europe has raised the attention of researchers on their role in the spreading of several infections, including those caused by cestodes. Herein, we report the description of a massive infection due to T. Hydatigena cysticercosis in a wild boar from southern Italy. Methods An adult female boar was examined during the hunting season 2018 within the regional project “ Piano Emergenza Cinghiali in Campania ”. A complete necropsy was performed on the boar carcass and all viscera were examined to determine number and location of the cysts. Morphological and molecular analyses of the cysts were performed to confirm the C. tenuicollis identity. Results The boar examined has revealed an impressive massive infection with 265 cysts. Measurements of the large and small larval hooks showed a mean of length as 200.3 µm and 136.8 µm, respectively. Molecular analysis of Cox 1 and ND1 mitochondrial genes confirmed the C. tenuicollis identity. Conclusions Our findings suggest that wild boar could be involved in the epidemiology of T. Hydatigena , due to the significant amount of boar raw offal available to definitive hosts (i.e., hunting dogs, foxes and wolves), during the hunting seasons.

  • A preliminary investigation into the genetic variation and population structure of Taenia Hydatigena from Sardinia, Italy.
    Veterinary parasitology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Belgees Boufana, Antonio Scala, Anna Paola Pipia, Giorgia Dessì, Samia Lahmar, Steve Pointing, Philip S Craig, Antonella Zidda, Antonio Varcasia
    Abstract:

    Cysticercosis caused by the metacestode stage of Taenia Hydatigena is endemic in Sardinia. Information on the genetic variation of this parasite is important for epidemiological studies and implementation of control programs. Using two mitochondrial genes, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) we investigated the genetic variation and population structure of Cysticercus tenuicollis from Sardinian intermediate hosts and compared it to that from other hosts from various geographical regions. The parsimony cox1 network analysis indicated the existence of a common lineage for T. Hydatigena and the overall diversity and neutrality indices indicated demographic expansion. Using the cox1 sequences, low pairwise fixation index (Fst) values were recorded for Sardinian, Iranian and Palestinian sheep C. tenuicollis which suggested the absence of genetic differentiation. Using the ND1 sequences, C. tenuicollis from Sardinian sheep appeared to be differentiated from those of goat and pig origin. In addition, goat C. tenuicollis were genetically different from adult T. Hydatigena as indicated by the statistically significant Fst value. Our results are consistent with biochemical and morphological studies that suggest the existence of variants of T. Hydatigena.

  • Acute visceral cysticercosis by Taenia Hydatigena in lambs and treatment with praziquantel.
    Journal of helminthology, 2014
    Co-Authors: Antonio Scala, Giovanni Urrai, Antonio Varcasia, Paola Sandra Nicolussi, Maurizio Mulas, Lucia Goddi, Anna Paola Pipia, G. Sanna, Marco Genchi, Ennio Bandino
    Abstract:

    (Received 19 May 2014; Accepted 13 July 2014)AbstractAn acute outbreak of Taenia Hydatigena cysticercosis, causing mortality in 5 of21 (23.8%) female lambs, is reported. Gross post-mortem examinations andhistology showed Cysticercus tenuicollis as the cause of death. Biochemicalparameters in infected lambs confirmed severe hepatitis. Praziquantel, givenonce at 15mg/kg body weight (bw), was administered and a dramaticimprovement in the clinical condition and biochemical parameters was observedup to 30 days following treatment.Introduction

M.a. Muñoz-guzmán - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Antonio Scala - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Αcute visceral cysticercosis caused by Taenia Hydatigena in lambs: ultrasonographic findings
    Parasites & Vectors, 2020
    Co-Authors: Andrea Corda, Antonio Varcasia, Giorgia Dessì, Silvia Carta, Claudia Tamponi, Giampietro Sedda, Mauro Scala, Barbara Marchi, Francesco Salis, Antonio Scala
    Abstract:

    Background Cysticercosis caused by cysticercus tenuicollis is a metacestode infection that affects several species of ungulates. It is caused by the larval stage of Taenia Hydatigena , an intestinal tapeworm in dogs and wild canids. In the intermediate host, the mature cysticerci are usually found in the omentum, mesentery, and peritoneum, and less frequently in the pleura and pericardium. The migrating larvae can be found mostly in the liver parenchyma causing traumatic hepatitis in young animals. Most infections are chronic and asymptomatic, and are diagnosed at the abattoir. The acute form of infection is unusual in sheep and reports of death in lambs are rare. Methods In March 2018, fifteen female lambs presented anorexia, weakness, lethargy, and death secondary to acute visceral cysticercosis. Twelve of them underwent hepatic ultrasonography. Examinations were performed on standing or left lateral recumbent animals. Results Livers of affected animals presented rounded margins and a thickened, irregular and hyperechoic surface. Hepatic parenchyma appeared to be wholly or partially affected by lesions characterized by heterogeneous areas crossed by numerous, irregular, anechoic tracts ranging from 1 to 2 cm in length and 0.1 to 0.2 cm in width. Superficial and intraparenchymal cystic structures were also visualized. The presence of lesions was confirmed by anatomopathological examination, and T. Hydatigena cysticerci was identified by morphological and molecular characterization of isolates. Conclusions Our results highlighted that hepatic ultrasonography is effective for an intra-vitam diagnosis of acute cysticercosis in lambs.

  • A preliminary investigation into the genetic variation and population structure of Taenia Hydatigena from Sardinia, Italy.
    Veterinary parasitology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Belgees Boufana, Antonio Scala, Anna Paola Pipia, Giorgia Dessì, Samia Lahmar, Steve Pointing, Philip S Craig, Antonella Zidda, Antonio Varcasia
    Abstract:

    Cysticercosis caused by the metacestode stage of Taenia Hydatigena is endemic in Sardinia. Information on the genetic variation of this parasite is important for epidemiological studies and implementation of control programs. Using two mitochondrial genes, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) we investigated the genetic variation and population structure of Cysticercus tenuicollis from Sardinian intermediate hosts and compared it to that from other hosts from various geographical regions. The parsimony cox1 network analysis indicated the existence of a common lineage for T. Hydatigena and the overall diversity and neutrality indices indicated demographic expansion. Using the cox1 sequences, low pairwise fixation index (Fst) values were recorded for Sardinian, Iranian and Palestinian sheep C. tenuicollis which suggested the absence of genetic differentiation. Using the ND1 sequences, C. tenuicollis from Sardinian sheep appeared to be differentiated from those of goat and pig origin. In addition, goat C. tenuicollis were genetically different from adult T. Hydatigena as indicated by the statistically significant Fst value. Our results are consistent with biochemical and morphological studies that suggest the existence of variants of T. Hydatigena.

  • Acute visceral cysticercosis by Taenia Hydatigena in lambs and treatment with praziquantel.
    Journal of helminthology, 2014
    Co-Authors: Antonio Scala, Giovanni Urrai, Antonio Varcasia, Paola Sandra Nicolussi, Maurizio Mulas, Lucia Goddi, Anna Paola Pipia, G. Sanna, Marco Genchi, Ennio Bandino
    Abstract:

    (Received 19 May 2014; Accepted 13 July 2014)AbstractAn acute outbreak of Taenia Hydatigena cysticercosis, causing mortality in 5 of21 (23.8%) female lambs, is reported. Gross post-mortem examinations andhistology showed Cysticercus tenuicollis as the cause of death. Biochemicalparameters in infected lambs confirmed severe hepatitis. Praziquantel, givenonce at 15mg/kg body weight (bw), was administered and a dramaticimprovement in the clinical condition and biochemical parameters was observedup to 30 days following treatment.Introduction