Control of tick infestations and pathogen prevalence in cattle and sheep farms vaccinated with the recombinant Subolesin-Major Surface Protein 1a chimeric antigen

BACKGROUND

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 and environmentally friendly alternative for tick control. Vaccination with the candidate tick protective antigen, Subolesin (SUB), has been shown experimentally to be effective in controlling vector infestations and pathogen infection. Furthermore, Escherichia coli membranes containing the chimeric antigen composed of SUB fused to Anaplasma marginale Major Surface Protein 1a (MSP1a) (SUB-MSP1a) were produced using a simple low-cost process and proved to be effective for the control of cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and R. annulatus infestations in pen trials. In this research, field trials were conducted to characterize the effect of vaccination with SUB-MSP1a on tick infestations and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in a randomized controlled prospective study.

METHODS

Two cattle and two sheep farms with similar geographical locations and production characteristics were randomly assigned to control and vaccinated groups. Ticks were collected, counted, weighed and classified and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens at the DNA and serological levels were followed for one year prior to and 9 months after vaccination.

RESULTS

Both cattle and sheep developed antibodies against SUB in response to vaccination. The main effect of the vaccine in cattle was the 8-fold reduction in the percent of infested animals while vaccination in sheep reduced tick infestations by 63%. Female tick weight was 32-55% lower in ticks collected from both vaccinated cattle and sheep when compared to controls. The seroprevalence of Babesia bigemina was lower by 30% in vaccinated cattle, suggesting a possible role for the vaccine in decreasing the prevalence of this tick-borne pathogen. The effect of the vaccine in reducing the frequency of one A. marginale msp4 genotype probably reflected the reduction in the prevalence of a tick-transmitted strain as a result of the reduction in the percent of tick-infested cattle.

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide evidence of the dual effect of a SUB-based vaccine for controlling tick infestations and pathogen infection/transmission and provide additional support for the use of the SUB-MSP1a vaccine for tick control in cattle and sheep.

A Geographical Information System Based Approach for Integrated Strategies of Tick Surveillance and Control in the Peri-Urban Natural Reserve of Monte Pellegrino (Palermo, Southern Italy)

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are bloodsucking arthropods involved in pathogen transmission in animals and humans. Tick activity depends on various ecological factors such as vegetation, hosts, and temperature. The aim of this study was to analyse the spatial/temporal distribution of ticks in six sites within a peri-urban area of Palermo (Natural Reserve of Monte Pellegrino) and correlate it with field data using Geographical Information System (GIS) data. A total of 3092 ticks were gathered via dragging method from June 2012 to May 2014. The species collected were: Ixodes ventalloi (46.09%), Hyalomma lusitanicum (19.99%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (17.34%), Rhipicephalus pusillus (16.11%), Haemaphisalis sulcata (0.36%), Dermacentor marginatus (0.10%), and Rhipicephalus turanicus (0.03%). GIS analysis revealed environmental characteristics of each site, and abundance of each tick species was analysed in relation to time (monthly trend) and space (site-specific abundance). A relevant presence of I. ventalloi in site 2 and H. lusitanicum in site 5 was observed, suggesting the possible exposure of animals and humans to tick-borne pathogens. Our study shows the importance of surveillance of ticks in peri-urban areas and the useful implementation of GIS analysis in vector ecology; studies on temporal and spatial distribution of ticks correlated to GIS-based ecological analysis represent an integrated strategy for decision support in public health.

Potential tolerability of ancient grains in non-celiac wheat sensitivity patients: A preliminary evaluation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A wheat-free diet (WFD) represents the elective treatment for Non-celiac Wheat Sensitivity (NCWS) patients. Preliminary reports have shown a possible better tolerability of ancient grains in these subjects. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the frequency of consumption of ancient grains and its correlation with clinical manifestations in NCWS patients.

METHODS

223 NCWS patients were recruited, and their consumption of ancient grains was monitored. Participants were first administered a modified version of the Pavia/Biagi questionnaire to investigate their adherence to "modern WFD." The appearance/exacerbation of symptoms after ingestion of ancient grains was then assessed with WHO toxicity grading scale.

RESULTS

50.2% of the recruited patients reported consuming ancient grains before NCWS diagnosis; the diagnostic delay in this group was significantly higher than in non-consumers [median (range) 72 (6-612) vs. 60 months (3-684), P = 0.03] and these patients reported lower frequency of constipation (P = 0.04). Of the 107 patients with optimal adherence to modern WFD, 14 reported eating ancient wheat after NCWS diagnosis. Among them, 5 reported milder symptoms than those caused by modern wheat intake and 3 had an excellent tolerability without symptoms. Timilia/Tumminia variety was the most frequently used ancient grain.

CONCLUSIONS

NCWS patients who consume ancient grains may receive a late diagnosis due to the possible clinical benefit (tolerability) obtained with these grains. Even after diagnosis, 10% of the patients still consumed ancient grains and had mild or no symptoms. Further studies are required to define the pathophysiological mechanism behind their putative greater tolerability.

Anemia in non-celiac wheat sensitivity: Prevalence and associated clinical and laboratory features

BACKGROUND

Patients suffering from non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS) frequently report extra-intestinal symptoms, such as anemia.

AIMS

We investigated the prevalence and associated clinical features of anemia in NCWS patients.

METHODS

Data from 244 NCWS patients, diagnosed by double-blind placebo-controlled wheat challenge, were retrospectively reviewed and compared with 2 control groups (celiac disease (CD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)). Furthermore, 31 NCWS anemic patients were prospectively re-evaluated after at least 12 months on the "strict" wheat-free diet (WFD).

RESULTS

Anemia prevalence in NCWS patients was 34.8% (mean hemoglobin 10.4 ± 1.4 g/dl), significantly higher than in IBS (17.4%, P = 0.03), but not in CD ones. The NCWS group, on the whole, had sideropenic-like features with low serum iron and altered iron deposits. Both anemia prevalence and sideropenic-like features were more evident in CD than in NCWS patients, whereas only a few IBS subjects showed such features. Significant differences were found in anemic vs non-anemic NCWS patients as regards to female sex, diagnostic delay, poly/hypermenorrhea, iron deficiency, and higher TSH values. A long-term WFD significantly reduced anemia and improved iron metabolism.

CONCLUSION

Microcytic/hypochromic anemia and altered iron metabolism occur frequently in NCWS and can be treated with a long-term strict WFD. NCWS should be included in differential diagnosis of anemic patients with "functional gastrointestinal troubles".

Anemia in Celiac Disease: Prevalence, Associated Clinical and Laboratory Features, and Persistence after Gluten-Free Diet

Anemia is considered to be the most frequent extra-intestinal manifestation of Celiac Disease (CD). We assessed frequency, severity, morphologic features, and pathogenic factors of anemia in patients of the Sicilian Regional Network of Celiac Disease and attempted to identify putative pre-diet factors influencing anemia persistence. We retrospectively analyzed CD patients admitted to three centers between 2016-2020. 159 patients entered the study (129 females). More than half (54.7%) had mild-moderate, hypochromic and microcytic anemia, associated with below normal total serum iron and ferritin, indicative of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). One year after diagnosis, 134 patients were following 'strict' GFD. Hypochromic and microcytic anemia persisted in 46% of subjects who were anemic at diagnosis. Patients with persistent anemia had at diagnosis a higher prevalence of female gender (p = 0.02), lower body mass index (BMI, p = 0.01), higher prevalence of poly/hypermenorrhea (p = 0.02) and atopy (p = 0.04), and lower ferritin levels (p = 0.05) than the whole group of non-anemic ones. IDA is found in more than 50% of CD patients at diagnosis; nevertheless, in a lot of women IDA is not corrected by 'strict' GFD. Low BMI and poly/hypermenorrhea at diagnosis characterize this subgroup, suggesting that IDA might be due to iron loss rather than malabsorption, or to their coexistence/overlap.

Welfare and stress assessment of tourism carriage horses under real working conditions in Sicily

Animal welfare has become an increasingly important concern regarding equids working as carriage animals. In the present study, the changes in the markers of stress and inflammatory responses as a result of the work performed by tourism carriage horses under real working conditions in Sicily (Italy) were investigated. Twenty-two Standardbreds performed a normal working day in the carriage tourism business during the months of May, June and July 2022, consisting of one day of work for each month. Blood samples were collected in the stables at rest before the tour route (Pre; 07.00 AM) and within 10 min after the end of the workday (Post; 05.00 PM). Haematological parameters, serum concentration of cortisol, total proteins together with the globulin fractions were investigated before and after the carriage work. Environmental temperature, relative humidity and temperature humidity index (THI) were also assessed. The direct erythrocyte indices increased after work compared to rest condition (P < 0.05). The values of cortisol, total proteins and globulins were not affected by carriage work (P > 0.05), while, higher cortisol, total proteins, α1- and α2-globulins values were observed in July compared to May and June (P < 0.05). These changes are probably due to the increase in THI values which showed mild stress in June and high stress in July. This study suggests that the tourism carriage horses herein investigated have adapted to their work activity, however, avoiding working horses during the hottest hours of the day in the summer months is advocated.

Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters in Caretta caretta Sea Turtles

The Caretta caretta is the only known sea turtle that nests along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it is threatened by human activities. The aim of this work was to analyze biochemical parameters in different age groups of C. caretta subjects recovered at the Centro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio e Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Sicily. Biometric parameters were recorded for each subject. Peripheral blood was collected and centrifuged, and 18 biochemical parameters were analyzed. Glucose and total proteins showed lower values in juvenile turtles than in sub-adult and adult subjects. Since blood biochemical parameters can be influenced by several factors (age, sex, infectious disease, or trauma), we evaluated differences in the values of some parameters between the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons of adult turtles whose sex and cause of stranding could be determined. Despite the small number of subjects, it would seem that, in adult turtles, the values of ALP, γ-GT, Fe, and LDH are higher during the reproductive season. These biochemical variations showed important differences in the parameters, underlining their importance in assessing the health status of turtles and better understanding their physiology during different stages of their lives.