A5032495826- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Leptospirosis research and findings
- Malaria Research and Control
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
- Bartonella species infections research
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Healthcare and Venom Research
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
- Inflammasome and immune disorders
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Galectins and Cancer Biology
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Fibroblast Growth Factor Research
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia
2015-2025
University of Naples Federico II
2020
University of Palermo
2010-2019
University of Messina
2015
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
2012
Centre for Environment Education
2012
University of Nottingham
2012
John Radcliffe Hospital
2012
Bats, as members of the order Chiroptera, are vital to ecosystems and serve reservoirs for numerous microorganisms, some which can cause zoonotic diseases. Human interactions with bats increasing due habitat alterations, making it essential understand their microbiota, particularly potential pathogens. This study aimed evaluate excretion bacteria protozoa in insectivorous from four caves provinces Ragusa, Catania, Syracuse (Sicily, Southern Italy) using molecular biology tests agents,...
Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) are obligate bloodsucking insects, which parasitize birds and mammals, distributed throughout the world. Several species have been implicated in pathogen transmission. This study aimed to monitor red foxes fleas isolated from them Palermo Ragusa provinces of Sicily, Italy, as these organisms potential reservoirs vectors pathogens. Thirteen (Vulpes vulpes) 110 were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detect DNA pathogens Ehrlichia canis, Babesia microti,...
Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito species that can maintain and transmit several arboviruses causing disease in humans. Understanding the determinants of its ecology population dynamics to predict abundance was main objective this study. Adult mosquitoes were captured weekly between 2009 2016 with BG sentinel traps baited BG-Lure outdoors at a collection site within urban area Palermo (southern Italy). In parallel, 2012 2016, we monitored uninterrupted Ae. four additional sites nearby...
Despite the use of chemical acaricides, tick infestations continue to affect animal health and production worldwide. Tick vaccines have been proposed as a cost-effective environmentally friendly alternative for control. Vaccination with candidate protective antigen, Subolesin (SUB), has shown experimentally be effective in controlling vector pathogen infection. Furthermore, Escherichia coli membranes containing chimeric antigen composed SUB fused Anaplasma marginale Major Surface Protein 1a...
In rural parts of Africa, dogs live in close association with humans and livestock, roam freely, usually do not receive prophylactic measures. Thus, they are a source infectious disease for wildlife such as protected carnivores. 2011, an epidemiological study was carried out around three conservation areas Uganda to detect the presence determine prevalence vector-borne pathogens associated ticks evaluate risk that these pose wildlife. Serum samples (n = 105), blood smears 43) preserved on...
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of public health concern. Its prevalence in stray animals the South Italy unknown. This study aimed to investigate Leptospira spp. 1009 animals. Out them, 749 were alive animals, including 358 dogs (316 from Palermo and 42 Ragusa) 391 cats (359 32 Ragusa), 260 corpses (216 44 cats) randomly collected Sicily. Dogs underwent serological screening by Microscopic Agglutination Test molecular investigation Real-Time PCR targeting lipL32. Corpses subjected PCR....
Rickettsiae (family Rickettsiaceae, order Rickettsiales) are obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by arthropod vectors. Several Rickettsia species causing vector-borne rickettsioses belong to the spotted fever group (SFG). Traditionally, conorii has been considered as main etiologic agent of Mediterranean fever. However, molecular characterization rickettsiae allowed identifying other involved in region. In this study, 42 ticks collected from humans were subjected morphological...
Rickettsia felis, the agent of flea-borne spotted fever, has a cosmopolitan distribution. Its pathogenic role in humans been demonstrated through molecular and serologic tests several cases. The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is considered main reservoir biological vector. aim this study was to assess presence occurrence R. felis fleas collected from dogs cats various sites Palermo (Sicily). Between August October 2012, 134 were 42 animals: 37 13 97 29 cats. Two species identified: 132...
The aim of this study was to investigate the presence rickettsial pathogens in ticks from Central Italy. A total 113 hailed Latium and Tuscany regions were identified tested by PCR detect gltA, ompA, ompB genes Rickettsia. Positive amplicons sequenced at species level. Ticks analyzed individually or pools. percentage positivity for SFG rickettsiae 12.4%, expressed as minimum infection rate (MIR) assuming that one tick positive each pool. Rickettsia aeschlimannii detected Hyalomma marginatum,...
Bovine leptospirosis is an infectious zoonotic disease causing reproductive problems and economic losses in livestock. This work reports, for the first time Sicily (South Italy), outbreak of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona that occurred cattle farms within Nebrodi Park was mainly characterized by full-term abortion. Blood urine samples were collected at different points from animals six (Farms A–F) sharing same grazing area. Research antibodies against pathogenic species serum...
<title>Abstract</title> <italic>Hyalomma marginatum</italic> is a hard tick vector of various pathogens, including Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus, recently detected in French specimens. This species has wide distribution from North Africa to Eastern Europe and only been considered established Southern France. These changes led us explore the genetic structure populations Mediterranean basin attempt infer origin populations. We used two mitochondrial markers (12S rRNA Cytochrome...
Background. Mosquitoes are a family of the order Diptera. Throughout world, there two groups able to suck human blood and transmit diseases: anophelines culicines comprise several genera such as Culex, Aedes communis (Ac). Previous study has demostrated significant relationship between Ac sensitization either extract or single bee venom components suggesting "bee-mosquito syndrome" occurrence. The aim was identify bands cross reactivity extracts Mosquito Bee venom, with IgE positive sera....
Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are known vectors arboviruses affecting human and animal health. However, little is about imicola microbiota its influence on this insect's biology. In study, impact biotic abiotic factors C. was characterized using shotgun-metagenomic sequencing whole-body DNA samples. Wild-caught adult nulliparous females were sampled in two locations from Sicily, Italy. The climatic variables temperature soil moisture both localities recorded together with potential...
Rickettsia species are an important cause of emerging infectious diseases in people and animals, rickettsiosis is one the oldest known vector-borne diseases. Laboratory diagnosis complex time-consuming. This study was aimed at developing two quantitative real-time PCRs targeting ompB ompA genes for detection, respectively, spp. R. conorii DNA. Primers were designed following analysis gene sequences. The assays optimized using SYBR Green TaqMan methods tested sensitivity specificity. allowed...