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Cardoso IR, de Lima CS, dos Reis RB, Pinto ACA, Pissinatti T, Kugelmeier T, Neto SFDC, da Silva FA, Santos HLC. Occurrence of Free-Living Amoebae in Non-Human Primate Gut. Trop Med Infect Dis 2024; 9:108. [PMID: 38787041 PMCID: PMC11125615 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed9050108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome reflects health and predicts possible disease in hosts. A holistic view of this community is needed, focusing on identifying species and dissecting how species interact with their host and each other, regardless of whether their presence is beneficial, inconsequential, or detrimental. The distribution of gut-associated eukaryotes within and across non-human primates is likely driven by host behavior and ecology. To ascertain the existence of free-living amoebae (FLA) in the gut of wild and captive non-human primates, 101 stool samples were collected and submitted to culture-dependent microscopy examination and DNA sequencing. Free-living amoebae were detected in 45.4% (46/101) of fecal samples analyzed, and their morphological characteristics matched those of Acanthamoeba spp., Vermamoeba spp., heterolobosean amoeboflagellates and fan-shaped amoebae of the family Vannellidae. Sequence analysis of the PCR products revealed that the suspected amoebae are highly homologous (99% identity and 100% query coverage) with Acanthamoeba T4 genotype and Vermamoeba vermiformis amoebae. The results showed a great diversity of amoebae in the non-human primate's microbiome, which may pose a potential risk to the health of NHPs. To our knowledge, this is the first report of free-living amoebae in non-human primates that are naturally infected. However, it is unknown whether gut-borne amoebae exploit a viable ecological niche or are simply transient residents in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Rodrigues Cardoso
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (I.R.C.); (C.S.d.L.); (R.B.d.R.)
| | - Clezia Siqueira de Lima
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (I.R.C.); (C.S.d.L.); (R.B.d.R.)
- Instituto de Saúde de Nova Friburgo, da Universidade Federal Fluminense, Nova Friburgo 28625-650, Brazil
| | - Rhagner Bonono dos Reis
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (I.R.C.); (C.S.d.L.); (R.B.d.R.)
| | - Ana Cristina Araujo Pinto
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biomodelos/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 26382-462, Brazil; (A.C.A.P.); (T.P.); (T.K.); (F.A.d.S.)
| | - Thalita Pissinatti
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biomodelos/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 26382-462, Brazil; (A.C.A.P.); (T.P.); (T.K.); (F.A.d.S.)
| | - Tatiana Kugelmeier
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biomodelos/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 26382-462, Brazil; (A.C.A.P.); (T.P.); (T.K.); (F.A.d.S.)
| | | | - Fabio Alves da Silva
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biomodelos/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 26382-462, Brazil; (A.C.A.P.); (T.P.); (T.K.); (F.A.d.S.)
| | - Helena Lúcia Carneiro Santos
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (I.R.C.); (C.S.d.L.); (R.B.d.R.)
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Wang L, Mai Y, Li S, Shu L, Fang J. Efficient inactivation of amoeba spores and their intraspore bacteria by solar/chlorine: Kinetics and mechanisms. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120288. [PMID: 37419027 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Amoebae are widespread in water and serve as environment vectors for pathogens, which may threaten public health. This study evaluated the inactivation of amoeba spores and their intraspore bacteria by solar/chlorine. Dictyostelium discoideum and Burkholderia agricolaris B1qs70 were selected as model amoebae and intraspore bacteria, respectively. Compared to solar irradiation and chlorine, solar/chlorine enhanced the inactivation of amoeba spores and intraspore bacteria, with 5.1 and 5.2-log reduction at 20 min, respectively. The enhancement was similar in real drinking water by solar/chlorine under natural sunlight. However, the spore inactivation decreased to 2.97-log by 20 min solar/chlorine under oxygen-free condition, indicating that ozone played a crucial role in the spore inactivation, as also confirmed by the scavenging test using tert‑butanol to scavenge the ground-state atomic oxygen (O(3P)) as a ozone precursor. Moreover, solar/chlorine induced the shape destruction and structural collapse of amoeba spores by scanning electron microscopy. As for intraspore bacteria, their inactivation was likely ascribed to endogenous reactive oxygen species. As pH increased from 5.0 to 9.0, the inactivation of amoeba spores decreased, whereas that of intraspore bacteria was similar at pH 5.0 and 6.5 during solar/chlorine treatment. This study first reports the efficient inactivation of amoeba spores and their intraspore pathogenic bacteria by solar/chlorine in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275 China
| | - Yingwen Mai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275 China
| | - Shenzhou Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275 China
| | - Longfei Shu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275 China.
| | - Jingyun Fang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275 China.
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Ashbolt NJ. Conceptual model to inform Legionella-amoebae control, including the roles of extracellular vesicles in engineered water system infections. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1200478. [PMID: 37274310 PMCID: PMC10232903 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1200478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs or exosomes) are well described for bacterial pathogens associated with our gastrointestinal system, and more recently as a novel mechanism for environmental persistence, dissemination and infection for human enteric viruses. However, the roles played by EVs in the ancient arms race that continues between amoebae and one of their prey, Legionella pneumophila, is poorly understood. At best we know of intracellular vesicles of amoebae containing a mix of bacterial prey species, which also provides an enhanced niche for bacteriophage infection/spread. Free-living amoeba-associated pathogens have recently been recognized to have enhanced resistance to disinfection and environmental stressors, adding to previously understood (but for relatively few species of) bacteria sequestered within amoebal cysts. However, the focus of the current work is to review the likely impacts of large numbers of respiratory-sized EVs containing numerous L. pneumophila cells studied in pure and biofilm systems with mixed prey species. These encapsulated pathogens are orders of magnitude more resistant to disinfection than free cells, and our engineered systems with residual disinfectants could promote evolution of resistance (including AMR), enhanced virulence and EV release. All these are key features for evolution within a dead-end human pathogen post lung infection. Traditional single-hit pathogen infection models used to estimate the probability of infection/disease and critical environmental concentrations via quantitative microbial risk assessments may also need to change. In short, recognizing that EV-packaged cells are highly virulent units for transmission of legionellae, which may also modulate/avoid human host immune responses. Key data gaps are raised and a previous conceptual model expanded upon to clarify where biofilm EVs could play a role promoting risk as well as inform a more wholistic management program to proactively control legionellosis.
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Current Perspectives on Viable but Non-Culturable Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria: A Review. Foods 2023; 12:foods12061179. [PMID: 36981106 PMCID: PMC10048424 DOI: 10.3390/foods12061179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Foodborne diseases caused by foodborne pathogens pose risks to food safety. Effective detection and efficient inactivation of pathogenic bacteria has always been a research hotspot in the field of food safety. Complicating these goals, bacteria can be induced to adopt a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state under adverse external environmental stresses. When in the VBNC state, pathogens cannot form visible colonies during traditional culture but remain metabolically active and toxic. The resulting false negative results in growth-related assays can jeopardize food safety. This review summarizes the latest research on VBNC foodborne pathogens, including induction conditions, detection methods, mechanism of VBNC formation, and possible control strategies. It is hoped that this review can provide ideas and methods for future research on VBNC foodborne pathogenic bacteria.
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Taghipour T, Rasti S, Saba M, Delavari M, Moosavi GA, Hooshyar H, Eslamirad Z. Molecular detection and genotype identification of Acanthamoeba species from bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with pulmonary symptoms suspected of cancer. J Parasit Dis 2022; 46:1028-1035. [PMID: 36457768 PMCID: PMC9606164 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01524-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba spp. are the most common free-living amoeba worldwide, inducing life-threatening diseases such as Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis, pulmonary infection, and amoebic keratitis. This study aimed to identify the FLA and Acanthamoeba genotypes in patients with pulmonary symptoms suspected of cancer in Kashan's hospitals, Kashan, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 97 bronchoalveolar lavage samples of patients with respiratory symptoms suspected of lung cancer, who were admitted to the Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan from 2019 to 2020. The samples were cultured onto 1.5% non-nutrient agar enriched with killed Escherichia coli and examined for the presence of FLA. Following amoeba isolation and DNA extraction, Acanthamoeba spp. were determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction using JDP1 and JDP2 primers, which amplified a 490 bp fragment from the 18 S rDNA gene. Eighteen Acanthamoeba isolates were sequenced, and the genotypes were identified. The prevalence of FLA and Acanthamoeba and the relationship between symptoms and demographic variables were analyzed with SPSS Software version 16. The prevalence rates of FLA and Acanthamoeba in the BAL samples was 86.6% and 73.2%, respectively. All Acanthamoeba isolates belonged to the T4 genotype. The most symptoms among Acanthamoeba-positive patients were dyspnea and cough; however, their difference was not statistically significant. The findings indicated the high prevalence of FLA and Acanthamoeba in BAL in the population suspected of cancer in Kashan. Since the T4 genotype is a pathogenic genotype of Acanthamoeba, training health and improving sanitation levels would help to prevent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayebeh Taghipour
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Sima Rasti
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mohammadali Saba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Delavari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Gholam Abbas Moosavi
- Department of Statistics and Public Health, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hossein Hooshyar
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Zahra Eslamirad
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
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Inamasu Y, Ogawa M, Saito M, Harada M, Fukuda K. Helicobacter pylori results in lysis and death after exposure to water. Helicobacter 2022; 27:e12921. [PMID: 36089840 DOI: 10.1111/hel.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori has a high infection rate, and it is possible that more than half of the world's population is infected. The route of transmission of H. pylori has not been completely elucidated yet. The coccoid form of H. pylori is generally considered to be in a VBNC (viable but nonculturable) state, and this form in the environment is thought to play an important role in infection and transmission, but its stability and survivability are still unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS In order to promote its changing to coccoid form, the spiral form of H. pylori grown in a culture medium was exposed to sterile distilled water, and we investigated the bacterial cell number and the morphological changes by using fluorescence staining methods and electron microscopic observation. We also examined the dynamics of its growth ability by measuring the colony forming unit on an agar-plate medium. RESULTS After exposure to sterile distilled water, the H. pylori spiral form rapidly lost its growth ability at 37°C. One day after exposure, approximately 95% of the spiral form disappeared and the proportion of the coccoid form increased. The total number of bacteria also decreased to less than half and continued to decrease over time. Epi-microscopic and electron microscopic observations revealed that deformation of bacterial cells, collapse, and leaking out of cell contents were promoted in exposure to sterile distilled water. CONCLUSION Helicobacter pylori quickly begins to transform into the coccoid form after exposure to sterile distilled water, rapidly loses its growth ability, and then lyses and dies. Water-exposure is lethal for H. pylori and it is unlikely to survive in the VBNC state in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Inamasu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.,Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Midori Ogawa
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Mitsumasa Saito
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masaru Harada
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Fukuda
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
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Montalbano Di Filippo M, Boni A, Chiani P, Marra M, Carollo M, Cristofari L, Minelli F, Knijn A, Morabito S. Exploring the nature of interaction between shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and free-living amoeba - Acanthamoeba sp. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:926127. [PMID: 36159652 PMCID: PMC9504058 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.926127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely distributed protozoa in nature, known to cause severe eye infections and central nervous system disorders. There is growing attention to the potential role that these protozoa could act as reservoirs of pathogenic bacteria and, consequently, to the possibility that, the persistence and spread of the latter may be facilitated, by exploiting internalization into amoebae. Shiga toxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli (STEC) are zoonotic agents capable of causing serious diseases, such as hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Cattle represent the main natural reservoir of STEC, which are frequently found also in other domestic and wild ruminants, often without causing any evident symptoms of disease. The aspects related to the ecology of STEC strains in animal reservoirs and the environment are poorly known, including the persistence of these microorganisms within niches unfavorable to survival, such as soils or waters. In this study we investigated the interaction between STEC strains of serotype O157: H7 with different virulence gene profiles, and a genus of a wild free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba sp. Our results confirm the ability of STEC strains to survive up to 20 days within a wild Acanthamoeba sp., in a quiescent state persisting in a non-cultivable form, until they reactivate following some stimulus of an unknown nature. Furthermore, our findings show that during their internalization, the E. coli O157 kept the set of the main virulence genes intact, preserving their pathogenetic potential. These observations suggest that the internalization in free-living amoebae may represent a means for STEC to resist in environments with non-permissive growth conditions. Moreover, by staying within the protozoa, STEC could escape their detection in the vehicles of infections and resist to the treatments used for the disinfection of the livestock environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Montalbano Di Filippo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Margherita Montalbano Di Filippo,
| | - Arianna Boni
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Chiani
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Marra
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Carollo
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Cristofari
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Minelli
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Arnold Knijn
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Morabito
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Henriquez FL, Mooney R, Bandel T, Giammarini E, Zeroual M, Fiori PL, Margarita V, Rappelli P, Dessì D. Paradigms of Protist/Bacteria Symbioses Affecting Human Health: Acanthamoeba species and Trichomonas vaginalis. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:616213. [PMID: 33488560 PMCID: PMC7817646 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.616213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ever since the publication of the seminal paper by Lynn Margulis in 1967 proposing the theory of the endosymbiotic origin of organelles, the study of the symbiotic relationships between unicellular eukaryotes and prokaryotes has received ever-growing attention by microbiologists and evolutionists alike. While the evolutionary significance of the endosymbiotic associations within protists has emerged and is intensively studied, the impact of these relationships on human health has been seldom taken into account. Microbial endosymbioses involving human eukaryotic pathogens are not common, and the sexually transmitted obligate parasite Trichomonas vaginalis and the free-living opportunistic pathogen Acanthamoeba represent two unique cases in this regard, to date. The reasons of this peculiarity for T. vaginalis and Acanthamoeba may be due to their lifestyles, characterized by bacteria-rich environments. However, this characteristic does not fully explain the reason why no bacterial endosymbiont has yet been detected in unicellular eukaryotic human pathogens other than in T. vaginalis and Acanthamoeba, albeit sparse and poorly investigated examples of morphological identification of bacteria-like microorganisms associated with Giardia and Entamoeba were reported in the past. In this review article we will present the body of experimental evidences revealing the profound effects of these examples of protist/bacteria symbiosis on the pathogenesis of the microbial species involved, and ultimately their impact on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona L Henriquez
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of West Scotland, Paisley, United Kingdom
| | - Ronnie Mooney
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of West Scotland, Paisley, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Bandel
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of West Scotland, Paisley, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Giammarini
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of West Scotland, Paisley, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammed Zeroual
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of West Scotland, Paisley, United Kingdom.,Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Fiori
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Mediterrenean Center for Disease Control, Sassari, Italy
| | - Valentina Margarita
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Paola Rappelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Mediterrenean Center for Disease Control, Sassari, Italy
| | - Daniele Dessì
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Mediterrenean Center for Disease Control, Sassari, Italy
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