Pentastomida is a subclass of parasitic arthropods, related to crustaceans, which develop in the respiratory tract of vertebrates (i.e., fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). Within this group of parasites, Raillietiella spp. adults develop in the lungs of lizards, snakes and toads, whereas larval stages in insects (e.g., cockroaches), which are intermediate hosts. Lizards were captured under the frame of a study on reptile zoonotic parasites. Feces of the collected animals were examined and pentastomids were diagnosed in Tarentola mauritanica geckoes (1.2%; 3/259) from Linosa island. Adult forms of Railietiella hemidactyli pentastomids were morphologically characterized and molecularly identified through 18S rDNA amplification and sequencing. Positive animals had adult forms of R. hemidactyli pentastomids in the lungs as well as embryonated eggs in feces. Raillietiella was herein identified for the first time in synanthropic geckoes in a confined population of one of the southernmost islands of Italy, representing the first report of this zoonotic pentastomid in synanthropic and invasive reptiles in Europe. Further studies should focus on the prevalence of pentastomids on synanthropic reptiles in other Italian regions to assess the zoonotic risk of infection and to warn veterinarians and physicians about the risk they may represent for several species of hosts, including dogs, cats and humans.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106316 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Novel method to investigate thermal exchange rates in small, terrestrial ectotherms: A proof-of-concept on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica.
PLoS One
December 2024
CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Vila do Conde, Portugal.
Thermoregulating ectotherms may resort to different external heat sources to modulate their body temperature through an array of behavioural and physiological adaptations which modulate heat exchange with the environment and its distribution across the animal's body. Even small-bodied animals are capable of fine control over such rates and the subsequent re-allocation of heat across the body. Such thermal exchanges with the environment usually happen through two non-mutually exclusive modes: heliothermy (radiant heat gain from the sun) or thigmothermy (heat gained or lost via conduction).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSaurian-associated Leishmania tarentolae in dogs: Infectivity and immunogenicity evaluation in the canine model.
PLoS Pathog
October 2024
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy.
Article Synopsis
- In areas where canine leishmaniosis is common, the non-pathogenic Leishmania tarentolae coexists with the harmful Leishmania infantum, raising questions about their interactions and potential immune responses in dogs.
- The study involved infecting twelve beagle dogs with L. tarentolae to measure antibody production, immunity duration, cytokine response, and any pathogenic effects, monitoring them over 206 days.
- Findings showed that L. tarentolae is non-pathogenic, with detectable DNA for up to three months post-infection, and suggests its potential use as a protective measure or treatment against harmful Leishmania species in dogs and possibly humans.
Ontogeny of the autopodial skeleton of the gecko Tarentola (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae).
Zoology (Jena)
May 2024
Museum of Natural History, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław,, Sienkiewicza 21, Wrocław 50-335, Poland.
Squamates exhibit evident diversity in their limb morphology. Gekkotans are a particularly diverse group in this respect. The appearance of toepads in gekkotans usually cooccurs with the reduction or loss of claws.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColonization routes uncovered in a widely introduced Mediterranean gecko, Tarentola mauritanica.
Sci Rep
October 2023
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF), Passeig de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
In this study, we aimed to understand the contemporary and ancient colonization routes of the Moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica, using simple sequence repeats. By analyzing the genetic diversity of populations in different regions, we found that Morocco is the genetic diversity hotspot for the species, followed by the Iberian Peninsula. However, historical gene flow estimates identified the Iberian Peninsula, not Morocco, as the primary contributor of colonizing individuals, along with continental Italy to a lesser extent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSquamata reptiles as a potential source of helminth infections when preyed on by companion animals.
Parasit Vectors
July 2023
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
Background: Squamate reptiles cohabiting with companion animals may represent a source of helminth infections, especially through predation by dogs and cats with an outdoor lifestyle.
Methods: In order to assess the role of reptiles as intermediate/paratenic hosts of trophically transmitted helminths, synanthropic reptiles (n = 245) captured from different ecological settings (i.e.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!