Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is caused by protozoans of the genus Leishmania and characterized by a broad spectrum of clinical signs in dogs. Early diagnosis is of great importance in order to perform an appropriate therapy and to prevent progression towards severe disease. The aim of this study was to compare a point-of-care molecular technique, i.e., the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), with a real-time polymerase chain reaction (Rt-PCR), and three serological techniques, i.e., immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and a rapid SNAP Leishmania test, to develop an integrated approach for the diagnosis of CanL. Sixty dogs were chosen after physical examination and collection of blood and sera samples, fine-needle aspiration of lymph nodes, and conjunctival swabs were performed. Lymphadenopathy (82.3%), as well as clinicopathological alterations of total proteins (70.6%), were the most frequent signs. Forty-one (68.3%) samples resulted positive at least to one technique. IFAT resulted in the best serological diagnostic method (specificity = 100%, sensitivity = 97.2%), detecting a higher number of positive samples than those revealed by other techniques. Among the samples used for molecular analysis, fine-needle aspiration of lymph nodes was revealed as the best sample source. LAMP showed a substantial agreement (κ = 0.80; p <0.0001) with Rt-PCR; therefore, it could be promising for the rapid diagnosis of CanL. Nevertheless, further studies should be performed to confirm these findings.

The aim of this study was to determine the total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), phenolic composition, and in vitro antioxidant activity of olive leaf extract of five cultivars (Caiazzana, Frantoio, Leccino, Ortice, and Coratina) from the Campania Region (Italy) during three harvest-times (March, June, and November). Different microwave powers, treatment-times, and three solvents (methanol, ethanol, and water) in different proportions were tested. Our results show that the TPC is not affected by the different MAE conditions but by the cultivar and the harvest-time. Instead, the TFC content also depends on the solvent used; with EtOH:H 2 O (70:30) and MetOH:H 2 O (80:20) giving higher yields than H 2 O alone. The Caiazzana and Coratina cultivars harvested in March showed the highest TPC compared with other cultivars, and they were also particularly rich in oleuropein. These cultivars showed the highest antioxidant activity, as indicated by the DPPH and hemolysis tests. In conclusion, cultivar and harvest time influence the polyphenol and flavonoid content of the olive leaf.

In this study the morphology, the conventional glycohistochemistry and the ultrastructure of adult rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stomach is reported. For this purpose, stomach belonging to 10 adult female rainbow trout, weighting ~ 500 ± 20 gr and 32 ± 2.50 cm long, were collected and processed. Oncorhynchus mykiss has a siphonal stomach, with a J letter shape, showing a descending portion (cardiac region), an ascendant one (pyloric region), connected through the most represented middle portion (fundic region). Morphologically gastric wall shows an overlay of four typical vertebrate tunicae: mucosa, sub-mucosa, muscularis and serosa. Tunica mucosa, lacking of muscularis mucosae, is raised into longitudinal folds. The tunica propria submucosa is of considerable thickness and receives the bodies of many gastric glands whose lumen is lined with oxyntopeptic cells. Nervous cells, organized in ganglion, that can be compared to Mammals plexus submucosus, are noted. Glycohistochemistry was performed by staining with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5, AB pH 1 and AB-PAS. Histochemical analysis revealed a consistent presence of glycoconjugates produced by epithelial lining and gastric pit cells. Ultrastructural studies, performed at scanning electron microscopy, showed a mucosa that rises in folds with a geometrically well-defined shape and an abundance of gastric pits in the fundic region. Taken together our results integrate the anatomical description of rainbow trout stomach and will be helpful for future studies related to digestive physiology, development of appropriate feeding strategies and gastric disease control of this teleostean species.

Infected dogs are considered the main domestic animal reservoirs for Leishmania infantum parasite. Infectiousness to competent phlebotomine vectors has been associated with many factors, the main being the severity of the disease exhibited by infected dogs. This study examines the relationship between different clinical parameters and the infectiousness to colonized Phlebotomus perniciosus sand flies having a blood meal on dogs. Data obtained in the present study come from an untreated group of Leishmania sick dogs submitted to xenodiagnosis for the evaluation of a spot on insecticide solution. Seventeen dogs were diagnosed as affected by leishmaniasis through clinical examination, immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) serology, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The disease severity (clinical score) was staged by using a numeric value derived from eight clinical and parasitological parameters. Xenodiagnosis was performed on caged dogs exposed for 1.5 h to sand-fly bites. The following parameters related to sand flies were examined: blood feeding (% of blood engorged females), promastigote detection (% of promastigote-positive sand flies), promastigote burden, and the promastigote stage maturation (potential transmissibility rate). Statistical relationship between the clinical score and entomological parameters was investigated, as well as the possible correlation between each clinical and laboratory parameters and sand fly infection/infectivity. The severity of clinical score may influence the blood feeding by, and the probability of promastigote detection in, sand flies; skin lesions seem to be the main factor that influences the rate of blood feeding. Promastigote burden is related to IFAT titer, skin lesions, and clinical score. All entomological parameters are strongly related among them. This study confirms that both P. perniciosus infection and infectivity are influenced by a dog's clinical condition.

The use of natural compounds as feed additive is also increasing in farm animals, thanks to the beneficial effect on both animals and consumers health. Here, we questioned whether natural extracts, such as red orange and lemon extract (RLE) rich in flavanones, anthocyanins, and other polyphenols, used as feed additives could display an effect on the neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the gastro–entero–pancreatic tract of goat kids. NPY is one of the most abundant neuropeptides in mammals, known for its orexigenic role although it is involved in many central and peripheral functions. We carried out immunohistochemical analyses on samples of abomasum, duodenum and pancreas collected from two experimental groups: one fed with standard diet and one with standard diet + RLE. For the first time we document NPY distribution in the abomasum, duodenum and pancreas of goats and observe the highest number of NPY positive cells in neuroendocrine cells of duodenum. Remarkably, upon RLE feed supplementation, NPY immunoreactive cells increased significantly in abomasal epithelium and pancreatic islets but not in duodenum, likely due to pH variation of abomasum and duodenum. Our observations represent a baseline for future studies on the interaction between neuropeptides and polyphenols, used as feed additive.