New polymorphisms of Vkork1 gene related to anticoagulant resistance of rats and mice in Italy.

Background: Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are a very effective tool to control rodent pest populations. Nevertheless, AR resistance has been documented worldwide. ARs block the cycle of vitamin K, leading to the death of the animal by internal bleeding: mutations in Vkorc1 gene can cause resistance.

Fleas of dog and cat: species, biology and flea-borne diseases.

Ectoparasitic insects play a major role in veterinary medicine. Fleas infest man and animals and are the most frequent external parasites of companion animals worldwide. Some species are known to be vectors of zoonotic pathogens.

Detection of uncommon G3P[3] rotavirus A (RVA) strain in rat possessing a human RVA-like VP6 and a novel NSP2 genotype.

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. RVAs infect not only humans but also a wide range of mammals including rats, which represent a reservoir of several other zoonotic pathogens. Due to the segmented nature of the RVA genome, animal RVA strains can easily adapt to the human host by reassortment with co-infecting human viruses.