The First Report of (Crustacea: Copepoda) Infesting Stranded in Malta: Morphological and Genetic Analyses.

Here, we document the stranding of a striped dolphin (Meyen, 1833) (Mammalia: Delphinidae), which was found dead in Maltese waters in July 2020. The stranded dolphin exhibited a severe infestation of the mesoparasitic copepod, Koren and Danielssen, 1877 (Copepoda: Pennelidae). Parasites of this genus represent the largest known mesoparasites to infest cetaceans.

A pan-cetacean MHC amplicon sequencing panel developed and evaluated in combination with genome assemblies.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a highly polymorphic gene family that is crucial in immunity, and its diversity can be effectively used as a fitness marker for populations. Despite this, MHC remains poorly characterised in non-model species (e.g.

Probiotics in Infancy and Childhood for Food Allergy Prevention and Treatment.

Food allergy represents a failure of oral tolerance mechanisms to dietary antigens. Over the past few years, food allergies have become a growing public health problem worldwide. Gut microbiota is believed to have a significant impact on oral tolerance to food antigens and in initiation and maintenance of food allergies.

Conservation Genetics of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, , from the Central Mediterranean: An Insight into the Species' Reproductive Behaviour in Maltese Waters.

Loggerhead sea turtle, (Linnaeus, 1758), nestlings were investigated through specimens found dead either after hatching or unhatched ( = 120) from eight nests around the Maltese islands (Central Mediterranean). Molecular genetics was used to conduct maternity and paternity tests of the collected specimens utilizing expanded mitochondrial DNA sequences from the control region (858 bp) and 25 microsatellite loci (12 dinucleotide loci and 13 tetranucleotide loci). Mitochondrial data produced two haplotypes, CC-A2.

Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Vitamin D (VD) is a pro-hormone that has long been known as a key regulator of calcium homeostasis and bone health in both children and adults. In recent years, studies have shown that VD may exert many extra-skeletal functions, mainly through a relevant modulation of the innate and adaptive immune system. This has suggested that VD could play a fundamental role in conditioning development, clinical course, and treatment of several autoimmune disorders, including celiac disease (CD) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).

Management of Breast Abscess during Breastfeeding.

(1) Background: Breast abscess (BA) is a condition leading in the majority of cases to breastfeeding interruption. Abscesses are commonly treated with antibiotics, needle aspiration or incision and drainage (I&D), but there is still no consensus on the optimal treatment. Since there are no well-defined clinical guidelines for abscess management, we conducted a retrospective, observational study with the aim of assessing ultrasound (US)-guided management of BA without surgery, regardless of the BA size.

The first complete mitochondrial genomes for Serranus papilionaceus and Serranus scriba, and their phylogenetic position within Serranidae.

Background: Butterfly-winged comber, Serranus papilionaceus Valenciennes, 1832, was recently resurrected and so it is no longer considered as a junior synonym of the Painted comber, Serranus scriba (Linneus, 1758). This calls for a more comprehensive phylogenetic assessment using mitochondria DNA genomes to better understand the relationship and delineate these two species.

Methods And Results: Next-generation Sequencing was applied to sequence the genome of these two Serranus species.

The importance of the patient's perspective in function-sparing parotid surgery for benign neoplasms: clinical reappraisal.

Objective: Function-sparing surgery is the cornerstone for the treatment of benign parotid neoplasms. We assessed the incidences and determinants of the main postoperative complications, reappraising their influence on the patient's quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Patients who underwent parotid surgery for benign neoplasms were reviewed (2016-2019).

Characterization of the complete mitogenome of Haifa grouper, (Perciformes: Serranidae), and its phylogenetic position within Epinephelini.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Haifa grouper, (Ben-Tuvia, 1953), has been obtained, through Illumina next-generation sequencing, and annotated. This mitogenome was found to be 16,525 bp long and to contain 37 genes, a control region, and the L-strand replication origin. The overall base composition of the complete mitogenome for this species was found to be 28.

Resurrection of the Butterfly-winged Comber, Valenciennes, 1832 (Teleostei, Serranidae) and its phylogenetic position within genus .

The family Serranidae is represented by 92 genera and 579 valid species, with the genus Cuvier, 1816, containing 30 species. In this study, specimens of Butterfly-winged Comber, Valenciennes, 1832, were collected from the Canary Islands and compared morphologically and genetically to Painted Comber, (Linnaeus, 1758), from the Mediterranean Sea. Morphological differences, especially in the colour banding pattern, were corroborated by genetic differences in mitochondrial (COI and ND2) and nuclear (Rhod and PTR) markers.

The complete mitogenome of the Critically Endangered smalltooth sand tiger shark, (Lamniformes: Odontaspididae).

Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome for the smalltooth sand tiger shark, (Risso, 1810). The circular mitochondrial genome was found to be 16,682 bp in length and contains 37 genes, a control region and the replication origin of the L-strand (O). The base composition of this mitogenome is 32.

Characterization and comparison of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two stingrays, Dasyatis pastinaca and Dasyatis tortonesei (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from the Mediterranean Sea.

This work represents the complete mitochondrial genomes of two stingrays, Dasyatis pastinaca and Dasyatis tortonesei, from the Mediterranean Sea. The mitogenomes of these two species were obtained through whole generation sequencing and annotated. These mitogenomes were found to be 17,713 bp and 17,630 bp respectively and each contained 37 genes, that is 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, a control region and the origin of L-strand replication (O).

Assessing cetacean surveys throughout the Mediterranean Sea: a gap analysis in environmental space.

Heterogeneous data collection in the marine environment has led to large gaps in our knowledge of marine species distributions. To fill these gaps, models calibrated on existing data may be used to predict species distributions in unsampled areas, given that available data are sufficiently representative. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of mapping cetacean densities across the entire Mediterranean Sea using models calibrated on available survey data and various environmental covariates.

A molecular approach towards taxonomic identification of elasmobranch species from Maltese fisheries landings.

The mitochondrial genome, through the application of DNA barcoding, provides a powerful tool for identifying species even when specimens are either incomplete or belong to species that exhibit cryptic diversity. In fisheries management accurate identification of whole or part of the specimens landed is a fundamental requirement for the conservation of species affected directly or indirectly by the fisheries activities. In this study cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequences were used to genetically distinguish 36 elasmobranch species collected from Maltese (Central Mediterranean) commercial fisheries landings.

Non-perforated peptic ulcer disease: multidetector CT findings, complications, and differential diagnosis.

Unlabelled: Despite availability of effective therapies, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) remains a major global disease, resulting from a combination of persistent Helicobacter pylori infection and widespread use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Albeit endoscopy definitely represents the mainstay diagnostic technique, patients presenting to emergency departments with unexplained abdominal pain generally undergo multidetector CT as an initial investigation. Although superficial ulcers generally remain inconspicuous, careful multiplanar CT interpretation may allow to detect deep ulcers, secondary mural and extraluminal signs of peptic gastroduodenitis, thereby allowing timely endoscopic verification and appropriate treatment.

Population genetics of the deep-sea bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus, revealing spatial genetic heterogeneity.

Hexanchus griseus is a globally distributed deep-water shark species. It inhabits tropical and temperate waters throughout the world, including the Mediterranean Sea where it is by-caught by small-scale fisheries in the region. In this study, we analysed the genetic variation of H.

Population Structure, Genetic Diversity, Effective Population Size, Demographic History and Regional Connectivity Patterns of the Endangered Dusky Grouper, Epinephelus marginatus (Teleostei: Serranidae), within Malta's Fisheries Management Zone.

The objective of this study is to describe the genetic population structure and demographic history of the endangered marine fish, Epinephelus marginatus, within Malta's Fisheries Management Zone for the purpose of localised conservation planning. Epinephelus marginatus is a long-lived, sedentary, reef-associated protogynous hermaphrodite with high commercial and recreational value that is at risk of extinction throughout its global distribution. Based on global trends, population substructuring and gaps in local knowledge this has led to an increased interest in evaluation of local stock.