Publications by authors named "Simona Gabrielli"

Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on five species of Phortica flies in Europe and the Middle East, particularly Phortica variegata and Phortica okadai, known as vectors for the zoonotic eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda, in a region near Rome, Italy.
  • Over three years (2018-2020), researchers collected and identified nearly 5,600 flies, revealing a dominance of Phortica variegata, which was found to be infected with T. callipaeda, while Phortica oldenbergi showed differing behavior in fruit traps.
  • Environmental factors like temperature, wind speed, and pressure influenced the population dynamics of these species, with the study being the first to explore these ecological interactions
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Human babesiosis is an emerging zoonotic disease; diffused especially in some regions of the United States, it has been less frequently observed in other continents, including Europe. Serological surveys suggest that babesiosis could be more frequent than expected in European countries, representing an emerging health-issue and a possible harm, especially in immunocompromised populations. Only one case of human babesiosis has been reported in Italy and data about the diffusion of the pathogen in this country are scant.

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Maternal parasitemia and placental parasite load were examined in mother-newborn pairs to determine their effect on the congenital transmission of . Parasitemia was qualitatively assessed in mothers and newborns by the microhematocrit test; parasite load was determined in the placental tissues of transmitting and non-transmitting mothers by the detection of DNA and by histology. Compared to transmitter mothers, the frequency and prevalence of parasitemia were found to be increased in non-transmitter mothers; however, the frequency and prevalence of parasite load were higher among the transmitter mothers than among their non-transmitter counterparts.

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  • - Dirofilaria repens is a growing vector-borne pathogen affecting both humans and dogs, with increasing cases in Italy, highlighting its emerging zoonotic threats.
  • - The study analyzed the genetic identity and variability of D. repens isolates from humans and dogs in Central Italy through mitochondrial DNA sequencing, revealing a close genetic relationship among the samples.
  • - The findings, which identified new haplotypes and polymorphisms, enhance knowledge of the epidemiology and spread of this zoonotic parasite across Europe.
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We report a case of Dirofilaria repens infection causing microfilaremia in a patient from Serbia. Serum samples tested positive for D. repens IgG by ELISA.

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  • There's an ongoing debate about the causes of background seismic activity and deformations in areas that haven't experienced large earthquakes, known as seismic gaps.
  • This study utilizes seismic scattering and absorption tomography to analyze data from a recent seismic event in the Mt. Pollino region of Southern Italy, aiming to identify sources of geophysical unrest.
  • The findings reveal how fluid content and geological structures influence seismic activities, highlighting that eastward migration of pressurized fluids is obstructed by various geological barriers, which contributes to localized seismicity.
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Laboratory workers are exposed to the risk of acquiring infections due to the manipulation of infectious materials. The biological hazard for researchers is seven times higher when compared with hospital and public health laboratory workers. Despite the implementation of standardized practices to control infections, multiple cases of Laboratory Associated Infections (LAIs) usually go unreported.

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The Bolivian Chaco is a semiarid region with a low population density, situated in the southeast part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Here, despite the improvements of the last 15 years, poverty remains high in rural areas, where social vulnerability is widespread. The Guaraní ethnic group often lives in isolated communities with a low standard of hygiene and sanitation.

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Background: Chagas disease represents a major public health concern in several Latin American countries, including Bolivia.

Methods: We present a longitudinal serosurvey for Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies among a cohort of 120 school-age children from rural communities in the Bolivian Chaco at three time points between 2017 and 2019. Serum samples extracted from dry blood spots collected on filter paper were tested for T.

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Dirofilariosis and leishmaniosis are severe parasitic diseases in dogs, and their causative agents can also be pathogenic to humans. In this study, we conducted a multicentric survey in the regions of Serbia and North Macedonia with the goal to establish an epidemiological scenario of dirofilariosis and leishmaniosis in the territory of Central Balkan. Using molecular analyses, a total of 535 dogs from Northern Serbia (NS), Southern Serbia (SS) and North Macedonia (NM) were screened for the presence of spp.

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Despite the "migrants and COVID-19" topic has been neglected since felt marginal concerning other aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it represents a relevant public health issue in the European countries. This report describes COVID-19 containment strategies adopted in a large Italian reception center hosting recently arrived asylum-seeker migrants. Risk assessment and prevention measures adopted were described.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dirofilaria spp. nematodes are parasites that can infect humans, leading to mild to severe infections, most commonly seen in Europe as subcutaneous or ocular forms.
  • A study reported 46 new cases from 2015 to May 2021 on the Balkan Peninsula, detailing various infection types and aiming to update the knowledge on this parasitic disease.
  • The findings highlight the potential for misdiagnosis as tumors and emphasize the need for better awareness among healthcare professionals and collaboration between medical and veterinary fields to improve diagnosis and treatment.
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Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic in the Mediterranean basin with most of the infected human patients remaining asymptomatic. Recently, the saurian-associated Leishmania tarentolae was detected in human blood donors and in sheltered dogs. The circulation of L.

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is a common intestinal protist distributed worldwide, infecting humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals. It exhibits an extensive genetic diversity and, so far, 25 distinct small subunit ribosomal RNA ( rRNA) lineages termed subtypes (STs)) have been characterized; among them, 12 have thus far been reported in humans. The aims of the present study were to detect and genetically characterize sp.

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Dirofilariosis by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens is endemic in dogs from countries of the Mediterranean basin. Both species may infect humans, with most of the infected patients remaining asymptomatic. Based on the recent description of the southernmost hyperendemic European focus of heartworm disease in dogs from the Pelagie archipelagos, we performed a serological and molecular survey in human population of that area.

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We performed a cross-sectional parasitological survey to assess the prevalence of protozoa and helminth infection among 275 school-age children (SAC) living in rural and peri-urban areas located in different ecological zones of the Department of La Paz, Bolivia. Public health activities for the control of STH, based on the biannual administration of mebendazole to preschool and school children are implemented at national level since 1986. We found an overall prevalence of 82.

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(1) Dirofilariosis is a vector-borne parasitic disease mainly in domestic and wild carnivores caused by () , which is endemic in many countries of the Old World, and , which has a worldwide distribution. In recent years, an increase in the number of human cases has been reported, suggesting that dirofilariosis is an emergent zoonosis. Here, we describe further cases (N = 8), observed in Central Italy during the years 2018-2019.

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Transplanted patients are particularly exposed to a major risk of infectious diseases due to prolonged immunosuppressive treatment. Over the last decade, the growing migration flows and the transplant tourism have led to increasing infections caused by geographically restricted organisms. Malaria is an unusual event in organ transplant recipients than can be acquired primarily or reactivation following immunosuppression, by transfusion of blood products or through the transplanted organ.

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The Italian wolf population in human-modified landscapes has increased greatly in the last few decades. Anthropisation increases the risk of transmission of many zoonotic infections and in this context, control of taeniid cestode species needs to be addressed from a One Health perspective. Predator-prey interactions are at the root of taeniid cestode transmission, and the wolf plays a key role in the maintenance and transmission of taeniids.

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This study describes two different manifestations of Dirofilaria repens infection in sibling dogs with microfilaremia. Dog 1, asymptomatic, harbored a gravid female of D. repens on the parietal layer of tunica vaginalis of one testicle and showed a marked circulating eosinophilia (3.

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The only species currently known to inhabit the fibers of skeletal and cardiac muscles in horses are , and . We describe herein the invasion of myofibers in a horse by , a sheep-specific species with low virulence in the original host. A hunter gelding was referred to a veterinary surgeon in Newmarket (UK).

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Autochthonous human and canine strongyloidiasis is reported in Europe but is unclear whether the transmission of infection still occurs. We report a previously unpublished human case in an Italian teen and perform a systematic review of literature on autochthonous human and canine strongyloidiasis in Europe to investigate the current dynamic of transmission. Overall, 109 papers published after 1987 were included and one previously unpublished Italian case was added.

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