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Villanueva-Saz S, Martínez M, Rueda P, Pérez MD, Lacasta D, Marteles D, Ruíz H, Gonzalez A, Verde MT, Pardo J, Arias M, Peña-Fresneda N, Fernández A, Trotta M. Serological exposure to influenza A in cats from an area with wild birds positive for avian influenza. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:324-330. [PMID: 37872888 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Influenza A is an emerging zoonotic virus with worldwide distribution. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted to assess influenza A exposure in stray cats in regions with positive cases of wild birds. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-influenza A antibodies in feral cats from a region in Spain with cases of positive wild birds. A cross-sectional study of stray cats (n = 183) was conducted between March 2022 and March 2023. The presence of antibodies against the influenza A virus was tested using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit adapted for this study and confirmed by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against the haemagglutinin H5. During sample collection, none of the cats exhibited clinical signs of illness. Four of the 183 animals tested showed anti-influenza A antibodies by ELISA, and the seroprevalence of influenza A was 2.19% (95% confidence interval 0.85%-5.48%). Due to the low number of positive cases detected, it appears that cats did not have an important epidemiological role in influenza A transmission during this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mariví Martínez
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo Rueda
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Dolores Pérez
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Diana Marteles
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Héctor Ruíz
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Gonzalez
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Teresa Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Julián Pardo
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Pediatrics, Radiology and Public Health, Zaragoza University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maykel Arias
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Fernández
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Michele Trotta
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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Vasarri MV, Fernicola F, Arienti F, Carli A, Colciago E, Locatelli A, Trotta M, Procopio A, Zammarchi L, Ornaghi S. Indirect impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on incidence of maternal primary cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2024. [PMID: 38619337 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Public health interventions promoted during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to control viral spread have impacted the occurrence of other communicable disease. Yet no studies have focused on perinatal infections with the potential for neonatal sequelae, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii (TG). Here we investigate whether incidence rates of maternal primary CMV and TG infection in pregnancy were affected by the implementation of pandemic-related public health measures. METHODS A retrospective study including all pregnant women with confirmed primary CMV or TG infection in pregnancy, managed between 2018 and 2021 at two university centers. The incidence rate was calculated as the number of CMV and TG infections per 100 consultations with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Data were compared between pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020 and 2021) years. The Newcombe Wilson with Continuity Correction method was employed to compare incidence rates. RESULTS The study population included 215 maternal primary CMV and 192 TG infections. Rate of maternal primary CMV infection decreased in 2021 compared with 2018-2019 (4.49% vs 6.40%, attributable risk [AR] 1.92, P = 0.019). By contrast, the rate of TG infection substantially increased in 2020 (6.95% vs 4.61%, AR 2.34, P = 0.006). Close contact with cats was more common among patients with TG infection in 2020 and 2021 than among pre-pandemic TG-infected women (26.3% and 24.4% vs 13.3%, P = 0.013). CONCLUSION Pandemic-related public health interventions and associated behavioral and lifestyle changes exerted a divergent effect on the incidence of primary CMV and TG infection in pregnancy, likely due to modulation of exposure to risk factors for these infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Viola Vasarri
- Department of Obstetrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Federica Fernicola
- Department of Obstetrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Francesca Arienti
- Department of Obstetrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Anna Carli
- Department of Obstetrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Anna Locatelli
- Department of Obstetrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Tuscany Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Angelica Procopio
- School of Human Health Sciences, Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Tuscany Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Ornaghi
- Department of Obstetrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy
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Villanueva-Saz S, Martínez MV, Alsina S, Fernández A, Gómez Á, Verde M, Ruiz H, Lacasta D, Alnassan AA, Trotta M, Yzuel A, Marteles D. First report on natural infection by Dirofilaria repens in a cat in Spain: case report and literature review of feline subcutaneous dirofilariosis in Europe. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1195-1201. [PMID: 37919542 PMCID: PMC10998798 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10250-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Dirofilaria repens is an endemic mosquito-borne pathogen widely spread throughout Europe and other non-Europen regions. Infection by D. repens has been reported in dogs, although little is known about the occurrence and epidemiological features of this nematode in cats. During the surgical procedure within the framework of a trap, neuter and release sterilization program, two female filarial nematodes with spontaneous movement were removed from the internal part of the spermatic cord from asymptomatic stray cat in Spain (Grao de Castellón, Castellon de la Plana, province of Spain). Moreover, the presence of microfilariae was detected by using three different methods, including direct blood smear technique, the microhematocrit tube test, and Knott´s modified test. PCR performed from the nematodes extracted from the spermatic cord and from microfilariae in EDTA-blood sample tested both positive for D. repens. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates the presence of D. repens in cats in Spain. In this sense, a review of the current scientific status of feline subcutaneous dirofilariosis in Europe was also performed. Future investigations should analyze the epidemiological role of cats in D. repens infection including the prevalence of infection. Veterinarians working in endemic areas should be aware of this infection in cats and their susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain.
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - María Victoria Martínez
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro Clínico Veterinario Teruel, Teruel, Spain
| | - Sandra Alsina
- Clinica Veterinaria Bitxets, Grao de Castellón, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Álex Gómez
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Maite Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Héctor Ruiz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alaa Aldin Alnassan
- Department of Parasitology, Veterinary medicine laboratory IDEXX, Kornwestheim, Germany
| | - Michele Trotta
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
| | - Andrés Yzuel
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
| | - Diana Marteles
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
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Villanueva-Saz S, Lebrero ME, Solsona A, Ramos JJ, de Arcaute MR, Ruíz H, Pérez MD, Bello JM, Verde M, Ortín A, Marteles D, Fernández A, Gómez A, Trotta M, Lacasta D. Presence of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies in sheep (Ovis aries) in Spain. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:615-621. [PMID: 37819486 PMCID: PMC10811003 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10221-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Sandflies are the primary transmission vector for Leishmania spp parasite in endemic regions. The role of other animals, different from the dog, is under discussion in the leishmaniosis endemic countries. A limited number of reports have been published on the possible role of livestock in European countries for Leishmania maintenance and diffusion. The aim of the present study was to perform a serosurvey on sheep in areas of Spain that are endemic for zoonotic leishmaniosis and establish the possible role of sheep regarding Leishmania infantum infection in endemic areas. Three hundred and two serum samples were obtained from sheep and were evaluated for serological survey to detect L. infantum by using the in-house ELISA technique. Twenty-eight out of the 302 samples included in this study, were positive for L. infantum antibodies (9.27%). In the present study, a significant association was found between adult age and seropositivity (p = 0.006) and female gender and seropositivity (p = 0.02). This association has not been previously described in other European studies related to L. infantum infection in sheep. Our study reveals that domestic sheep in a European Mediterranean country are exposed to L. infantum. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates the presence of seropositive sheep in different regions of Spain for the first time. Further epidemiological studies focus on evaluating the rural cycle of this parasite to know if livestock could act as a potential reservoir are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain.
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - María Eugenia Lebrero
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alba Solsona
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Juan José Ramos
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Ruíz de Arcaute
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Héctor Ruíz
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María D Pérez
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Maite Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Aurora Ortín
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Diana Marteles
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alex Gómez
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Michele Trotta
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
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5
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Giner J, Lebrero ME, Trotta M, Rueda P, Vilalta L, Verde M, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Pardo J, Lacasta D, Santiago L, Arias M, Peña-Fresneda N, Montesinos A, Pérez MD, Fernández A, Villanueva-Saz S. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in household domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) in Spain, 2019-2023. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:533-540. [PMID: 37548874 PMCID: PMC10811151 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10190-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causal agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans that emerged in late 2019. This virus is able to infect humans and different animal species. Among pets, cats and ferrets are more susceptible to be infected by the SARS-CoV-2. Epidemiological studies are an important tool to provide information under natural conditions of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus. In comparison to cats, limited epidemiological studies have been performed in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) reporting the presence of antibodies in this species. This study analysed the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 432 cliend-owned ferrets from different geographical areas of Spain during the different waves of COVID-19 outbreaks from December 2019 to May 2023 (42 months). For this purpose, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA) using the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike antigen and confirmed by serum virus neutralization assay. Eighteen of the 432 ferrets included were seroreactive by the in-house ELISA (4.17%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.65-6.49). In this sense, the wave of COVID-19 with the higher number of seropositive ferrets occurred during the seventh wave when the different Omicron subvariants were the dominant virus variants. Our results suggest that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in domestic ferrets in natural conditions is low. Further research is need to evaluate the potential risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to pets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobo Giner
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Eugenia Lebrero
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Michele Trotta
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo Rueda
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Maite Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Edificio I+D, Campus Rio Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon I+D Foundation (ARAID), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Julián Pardo
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Microbiology, Pediatrics, Radiology and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Llipsy Santiago
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maykel Arias
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Andrés Montesinos
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Univerisdad Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Hospital Veterinario de Animales Exoticos Los Suaces, Madrid, Spain
| | - María D Pérez
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Production and Sciences of the Food, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
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6
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Sgroi G, D'Alessio N, Varcasia A, Degli Uberti B, Fani C, Trotta M, Fusco G, Doi K, Veneziano V. Morphometric, histopathological and molecular findings of Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus infection in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from continental Italy. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 104:102110. [PMID: 38070400 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Although Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus is a neglected acanthocephalan of suids occasionally responsible for severe infections in humans, the spread of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations in Europe could promote the circulation. Herein, we report the first morphometric, histological and molecular characterization of a severe M. hirudinaceus infection in a boar from continental Italy. The boar's intestine displayed granulomatous enteritis due to 24 helminths (14 females, 10 males), identified as adults of M. hirudinaceus by a combined morphometric/molecular approach. The phylogenetic analysis of the cox1 gene revealed a close relationship of the M. hirudinaceus sequence type found herein with those from Hungary and insular Italy. The high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity of M. hirudinaceus specimens would suggest its rapid demographic expansion in the Mediterranean basin. More research is needed to assess the presence of M. hirudinaceus in susceptible beetle species and the role of boars in the epidemiology of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Sgroi
- Department of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici 80055, Italy.
| | - Nicola D'Alessio
- Department of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici 80055, Italy; Wildlife Observatory of the Campania region, Naples 80133, Italy
| | - Antonio Varcasia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Barbara Degli Uberti
- Department of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici 80055, Italy
| | | | | | - Giovanna Fusco
- Department of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici 80055, Italy
| | - Kandai Doi
- Department of Wildlife Biology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba 305-8687, Japan
| | - Vincenzo Veneziano
- Wildlife Observatory of the Campania region, Naples 80133, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80137, Italy
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7
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Vivarelli E, Matucci A, Lucenteforte E, Bormioli S, Virgili G, Trotta M, Spinicci M, Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L, Peris A, Pieralli F, Lavorini F, Fontanari P, Morettini A, Nozzoli C, Poggesi L, Rossi O, Annunziato F, Almerigogna F, Vultaggio A. Effectiveness of tocilizumab in hospitalized moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients: a real-life study. Panminerva Med 2023; 65:473-478. [PMID: 35274908 DOI: 10.23736/s0031-0808.21.04523-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess the clinical effectiveness of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in moderate-to-severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients and factors associated with clinical response. METHODS Five hundred eight inpatients with moderate-to-severe SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled. TCZ effect in addition to standard medical therapy was evaluated in terms of death during hospital stay. Unadjusted and adjusted risk of mortality for TCZ treated patients versus TCZ untreated ones was estimated using robust Cox regression model. We considered the combination of TCZ and ICU as time-dependent exposure and created a model using duplication method to assess the TCZ effect in very severe COVID-19 patients. RESULTS TCZ reduced death during hospital stay in the unadjusted model (HR 0.54, 95%CI 0.33-0.88) and also in the adjusted model, although with loss of statistical significance (HR 0.72, 0.43-1.20). Better effectiveness was observed in patients with low SpO2/FiO2 ratio (HR 0.35, 0.21-0.61 vs. 1.61, 0.54-4.82, P<0.05), and, without statistical significance, in patients with high CRP (HR 0.51, 0.30-0.87 vs. 0.41, 0.12-1.37, P=NS) and high IL-6 (HR 0.49, 0.29-0.82 vs. 1.00, 0.28-3.55, P=NS). TCZ was effective in patients not admitted to ICU, both in the unadjusted (HR 0.33, 0.14-0.74) and in the adjusted (HR 0.39, 0.17-0.91) model but no benefit was observed in critical ICU-admitted patients both in the unadjusted (HR 0.66, 0.37-1.15) and in the adjusted model (HR 0.95, 0.54-1.68). CONCLUSIONS Our real-life study suggests clinical efficacy of TCZ in moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients but not in end-stage disease. Thus, to enhance TCZ effectiveness, patients should be selected before grave compromise of clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Matucci
- Unit of Immunoallergology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Ersilia Lucenteforte
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Susanna Bormioli
- Unit of Immunoallergology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Gianni Virgili
- Department of Ophthalmology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Spinicci
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Adriano Peris
- Intensive Care Unit, Regional ECMO Referral Center, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Pieralli
- Intermediate Care Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Federico Lavorini
- Pneumology and Intensive Care Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Fontanari
- Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Nozzoli
- Internal Medicine Unit1, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Loredana Poggesi
- Internal Medicine Unit3, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Oliviero Rossi
- Unit of Immunoallergology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Annunziato
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Flow Cytometry Diagnostic Center, and Immunotherapy (CDCI), Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Almerigogna
- Unit of Immunoallergology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
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8
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Toti MS, Zammarchi L, Pasquini L, Campolmi I, Modi G, Borchi B, Bartoloni A, Trotta M, Galli L, Bernardini R. Asymptomatic CMV infection at birth following maternal primary infection despite valacyclovir treatment and a subsequent negative amniocentesis. Case report. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2023; 291:128-130. [PMID: 37871349 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Valacyclovir is currently the only pharmacological intervention demonstrated to reduce the risk of vertical CMV congenital infection within a randomized clinical trial in case of primary infection during pregnancy. So far, no data are available on the prognosis of children with congenital CMV infection diagnosed at birth after a negative amniocentesis whose mother were treated with valacyclovir during pregnancy, therefore it is essential to carry out a rigorous neurocognitive follow-up in these children in order to investigate the potential clinical consequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stefania Toti
- Pediatric and Neonatology Unit, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Empoli, Florence, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Tuscany Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Florence, Italy.
| | - Lucia Pasquini
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy.
| | - Irene Campolmi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Tuscany Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Florence, Italy.
| | - Giulia Modi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Tuscany Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Florence, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy.
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Tuscany Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Florence, Italy.
| | - Luisa Galli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
| | - Roberto Bernardini
- Pediatric and Neonatology Unit, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Empoli, Florence, Italy.
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9
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Villanueva-Saz S, Martínez M, Nijhof AM, Gerst B, Gentil M, Müller E, Fernández A, González A, Yusuf MSM, Greco G, Verde M, Sgroi G, Lacasta D, Marteles D, Trotta M, Schäfer I. Molecular survey on vector-borne pathogens in clinically healthy stray cats in Zaragoza (Spain). Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:428. [PMID: 37986028 PMCID: PMC10662132 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06046-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Europe, feline vector-borne infections are gaining importance because of the changing climate, expanding habitats of potential vectors and expanding pathogen reservoirs. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in stray cats in Zaragoza, Spain, and to investigate potential risk factors for infection, including feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). METHODS Blood samples from stray cats presented to the veterinary faculty in Zaragoza between February 2020 and 2022 were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Bartonella henselae, Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia spp., haemotropic Mycoplasma spp., Hepatozoon spp., Leishmania infantum, piroplasms and microfilariae at the LABOKLIN laboratory. The cats were also tested for FeLV and FIV by PCR. RESULTS Nearly half of the cats (158/332, 47.6%) were positive for at least one VBP. Hepatozoon spp. were detected in 25.6%, haemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in 22.9%, B. henselae in 9.3% and L. infantum in 2.1% of the cats. Male sex had a statistically significant association with test results for haemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (odds ratio 1.38 [1.21;1.57]); regionality with Hepatozoon spp., B. henseale and FIV; and seasonality with Hepatozoon spp., haemotropic Mycoplasma spp., L. infantum and FeLV (P ≤ 0.05 each). A strong positive correlation was reported for the amount of rainfall and the number of cats that tested positive for Hepatozoon spp. (ρ = 753, P = 0.05). None of the cats tested positive for A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, E. canis, Rickettsia spp., piroplasms, or microfilariae. Co-infections with multiple VBPs were detected in 56 out of 332 cats (16.9%). Thirty-one of the 332 cats included in the study (9.3%) tested positive for FeLV (6.9%) and for FIV (3.6%). In 20/31 cats (64.5%) that tested positive for FeLV/FIV, coinfections with VBP were detected (P = 0.048, OR 2.15 [0.99; 4.64]). CONCLUSIONS VBPs were frequently detected in stray cats in Zaragoza. In particular, regionality and seasonality had a statistically significant association with PCR results for most VBPs included in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Immunology Laboratory, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‑IA2 (Universidad de Saragossa‑CITA), Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Marivi Martínez
- Immunology Laboratory, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ard M Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bastian Gerst
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michaela Gentil
- LABOKLIN GmbH and Co. KG, Steubenstraße 4, 97688, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Müller
- LABOKLIN GmbH and Co. KG, Steubenstraße 4, 97688, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Immunology Laboratory, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana González
- Hospital Veterinario Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mohamed Sh Mohamud Yusuf
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70010, Valenzano, Metropolitan City of Bari, Italy
| | - Grazia Greco
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70010, Valenzano, Metropolitan City of Bari, Italy
| | - Maite Verde
- Immunology Laboratory, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‑IA2 (Universidad de Saragossa‑CITA), Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Giovanni Sgroi
- Department of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylatic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, 80055, Naples, Italy
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Immunology Laboratory, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‑IA2 (Universidad de Saragossa‑CITA), Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Diana Marteles
- Immunology Laboratory, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón‑IA2 (Universidad de Saragossa‑CITA), Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Michele Trotta
- Immunology Laboratory, Zaragoza Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ingo Schäfer
- LABOKLIN GmbH and Co. KG, Steubenstraße 4, 97688, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
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10
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Gharekhani J, Rafaat Mohammed R, Heidari R, Hajipour N, Trotta M, Villanueva-Saz S. Assessment of Neospora caninum infection in bulls using serological and molecular techniques. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 46:100940. [PMID: 37935541 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is a significant cause of abortion and economic losses in cattle worldwide. The main aim of the present work was to detect the prevalence of N. caninum infection in bulls in Hamedan (Iran) using serology and molecular techniques. All blood samples (n = 792) were screened for detecting the antibodies to N. caninum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then seropositive animals were rechecked using the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Also, blood, epididymis, and spinal cord samples were collected from animals for molecular analysis using nested PCR. In serology, using ELISA, 3.91% of animals were seropositive for N. caninum. Additionally, true prevalence based on the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA was calculated 1.25% (95% CI: 0.48-2.02%). Neospora-infection in animals, calculated as the number of bulls seropositive and/or one sample positive to nested PCR, was 3.40%; and 19 bulls tested positive by both serology and molecular diagnostic methods. The overlaps between ELISA and molecular results were observed in 74.19% of whole blood samples, 80.64% of the epididymis, and 87.09% of the spinal cord. Using ELISA, the seroprevalence of N. caninum was detected 1.8% in ≤2 and 5.45% in >2 years old group of animals (p = 0.009, PR = 3.1). In addition, the seropositivity in Holstein and native breed animals was calculated 6.57% and 2.93%, respectively (p = 0.019, PR = 2.3). Seven sequences with 94.9-99.3% similarity were detected in multiple alignments of positive PCR products. Our work was the first comprehensive evaluation of Neospora-infection/neosporosis in Iranian bulls. We detected a low prevalence of infection in animals compared to previous reports. The ELISA is a sensitive serological technique for detecting the highest number of positive bulls in the present investigation and, the nested PCR is a reliable technique to identify Neospora-DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal Gharekhani
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Iranian Veterinary Organization, Hamedan, Iran.
| | - Rebin Rafaat Mohammed
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran; Director of the Central Clinical Laboratory of Sulaimani, Iraq
| | - Reza Heidari
- Medical Biotechnology Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Cancer Screening and Epidemiology, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasser Hajipour
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Michele Trotta
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
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11
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Zammarchi L, Tomasoni LR, Liuzzi G, Simonazzi G, Dionisi C, Mazzarelli LL, Seidenari A, Maruotti GM, Ornaghi S, Castelli F, Abbate I, Bordi L, Mazzotta S, Fusco P, Torti C, Calò Carducci FI, Baccini M, Modi G, Galli L, Lilleri D, Furione M, Zavattoni M, Ricciardi A, Arossa A, Vimercati A, Lovatti S, Salomè S, Raimondi F, Sarno L, Sforza A, Fichera A, Caforio L, Trotta M, Lazzarotto T. Treatment with valacyclovir during pregnancy for prevention of congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a real-life multicenter Italian observational study. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:101101. [PMID: 37516151 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Valacyclovir is the only treatment demonstrated to be effective for the prevention of vertical transmission of cytomegalovirus within a clinical randomized, placebo-controlled trial and has been reimbursed by the Italian National Health System since December 2020. OBJECTIVE This study reported the results of a real-life Italian multicenter observational study on cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy evaluating the effect of the introduction of valacyclovir in the clinical practice for the prevention of vertical transmission of cytomegalovirus. STUDY DESIGN The outcomes of women who received valacyclovir treatment and their fetuses or newborns were compared with those of a retrospective cohort observed between 2010 and 2020 who did not receive the antiviral treatment. The inclusion criterion was the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus primary infection occurring in the periconceptional period or up to 24 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was the transmission by the time of amniocentesis. The secondary outcomes were termination of pregnancy, transmission at birth, symptomatic infection at birth, and a composite outcome (termination of pregnancy or transmission at birth). RESULTS A total of 447 pregnant women from 10 centers were enrolled, 205 women treated with valacyclovir (called the valacyclovir group, including 1 twin pregnancy) and 242 women not treated with valacyclovir (called the no-valacyclovir group, including 2 twin pregnancies). Valacyclovir treatment was significantly associated with a reduction of the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection by the time of amniocentesis (weighted odds ratio, 0.39; 90% confidence interval, 0.22-0.68; P=.005; relative reduction of 61%), termination of pregnancy (weighted odds ratio, 0.36; 90% confidence interval, 0.17-0.75; P=.0021; relative reduction of 64%), symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection at birth (weighted odds ratio, 0.17; 90% confidence interval, 0.06-0.49; P=.006; relative reduction of 83%). The treatment had no significant effect on the rate of diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection at birth (weighted odds ratio, 0.85; 90% confidence interval, 0.57-1.26; P=.500), but the composite outcome (termination of pregnancy or diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection at birth) occurred more frequently in the no-valacyclovir group (weighted odds ratio, 0.62; 90% confidence interval, 0.44-0.88; P=.024). Of note, the only symptomatic newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus infection in the valacyclovir group (n=3) were among those with positive amniocentesis. Moreover, 19 women (9.3%) reported an adverse reaction to valacyclovir treatment, classified as mild in 17 cases and moderate in 2 cases. Lastly, 4 women (1.9%) presented renal toxicity with a slight increase in creatinine level, which was reversible after treatment suspension. CONCLUSION Our real-life data confirm that valacyclovir significantly reduces the rate of congenital cytomegalovirus diagnosis at the time of amniocentesis with a good tolerability profile and show that the treatment is associated with a reduction of termination of pregnancy and symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy (Dr Zammarchi and Dr Modi); Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy (Dr Zammarchi and Dr Trotta); Tuscany Regional Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Florence, Italy (Dr Zammarchi and Dr Trotta).
| | - Lina Rachele Tomasoni
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy (Dr Tomasoni, Dr Lovatti, and Dr Sforza)
| | - Giuseppina Liuzzi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy (Dr Liuzzi, Dr Abbate, Dr Bordi, and Dr Mazzotta)
| | - Giuliana Simonazzi
- Obstetric Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Simonazzi, Dr Dionisi, and Dr Seidenari); Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Simonazzi, Dr Dionisi, Dr Seidenari, and Dr Lazzarotto)
| | - Camilla Dionisi
- Obstetric Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Simonazzi, Dr Dionisi, and Dr Seidenari); Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Simonazzi, Dr Dionisi, Dr Seidenari, and Dr Lazzarotto)
| | - Laura Letizia Mazzarelli
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy (Dr Mazzarelli and Dr Maruotti)
| | - Anna Seidenari
- Obstetric Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Simonazzi, Dr Dionisi, and Dr Seidenari); Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Simonazzi, Dr Dionisi, Dr Seidenari, and Dr Lazzarotto)
| | - Giuseppe Maria Maruotti
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy (Dr Mazzarelli and Dr Maruotti)
| | - Sara Ornaghi
- Department of Obstetrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy (Dr Ornaghi); University of Milano-Bicocca School of Medicine and Surgery, Monza, Italy (Dr Ornaghi)
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy (Dr Castelli)
| | - Isabella Abbate
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy (Dr Liuzzi, Dr Abbate, Dr Bordi, and Dr Mazzotta)
| | - Licia Bordi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy (Dr Liuzzi, Dr Abbate, Dr Bordi, and Dr Mazzotta)
| | - Stefania Mazzotta
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy (Dr Liuzzi, Dr Abbate, Dr Bordi, and Dr Mazzotta)
| | - Paolo Fusco
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy (Dr Fusco and Dr Torti)
| | - Carlo Torti
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy (Dr Fusco and Dr Torti)
| | | | - Michela Baccini
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications "G. Parenti," University of Florence, Florence, Italy (Dr Baccini)
| | - Giulia Modi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy (Dr Zammarchi and Dr Modi)
| | - Luisa Galli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy (Dr Galli); Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy (Dr Galli)
| | - Daniele Lilleri
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy (Dr Lilleri, Dr Furione, and Dr Zavattoni)
| | - Milena Furione
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy (Dr Lilleri, Dr Furione, and Dr Zavattoni)
| | - Maurizio Zavattoni
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy (Dr Lilleri, Dr Furione, and Dr Zavattoni)
| | - Alessandra Ricciardi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy (Dr Ricciardi)
| | - Alessia Arossa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy (Dr Arossa)
| | - Antonella Vimercati
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy (Dr Vimercati)
| | - Sofia Lovatti
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy (Dr Tomasoni, Dr Lovatti, and Dr Sforza)
| | - Serena Salomè
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy (Dr Salomè and Dr Raimondi, and Dr Sarno)
| | - Francesco Raimondi
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy (Dr Salomè and Dr Raimondi, and Dr Sarno)
| | - Laura Sarno
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy (Dr Salomè and Dr Raimondi, and Dr Sarno)
| | - Anita Sforza
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy (Dr Tomasoni, Dr Lovatti, and Dr Sforza)
| | - Anna Fichera
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy (Dr Fichera)
| | - Leonardo Caforio
- Fetal and Perinatal Medicine and Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy (Dr Caforio)
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy (Dr Zammarchi and Dr Trotta); Tuscany Regional Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Florence, Italy (Dr Zammarchi and Dr Trotta)
| | - Tiziana Lazzarotto
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Simonazzi, Dr Dionisi, Dr Seidenari, and Dr Lazzarotto); Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Dr Lazzarotto)
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12
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Barbiero A, Mazzi M, Mantella A, Trotta M, Rossolini GM, Antonelli A, Bordonaro P, Colao MG, Speciale AR, Di Benedetto T, Di Tommaso M, Mantengoli E, Petraglia F, Galli L, Pezzati M, Dani C, Caldes Pinilla MJ, Berni C, Dannaoui B, Albajar Viñas P, Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L. A Questionnaire Integrated with the Digital Medical Record Improved the Coverage of a Control Program for Congenital Chagas Disease in Tuscany, Italy. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010154. [PMID: 36677446 PMCID: PMC9866674 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The leading route of Chagas disease transmission in nonendemic countries is congenital. However, policies concerning screening, prevention, and management of congenital Chagas disease are rare in these settings. Since 2012, serological screening for Chagas disease should be provided for pregnant women at risk in Tuscany, Italy according to a Regional resolution. Due to difficulties in the implementation, in November 2019, a checklist aimed at identifying pregnant women at risk for Chagas disease was introduced in digital clinical records at Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the "Chagas checklist", data about the number of deliveries by women at risk and their screening coverage between 2012 and June 2022 were collected. Out of 1348 deliveries by women at risk, 626 (47%) Trypanosoma cruzi serology tests were performed during the study period. The annual screening coverage increased from an average of 40.3% between 2012 and 2019 to 75.7% between 2020 and June 2022, underlining the big impact of the checklist. Four Chagas disease serological tests out of 626 (0.6%) resulted positive, corresponding to 2 affected women. No cases of congenital transmission occurred. The study showed that a simple digital tool led to a tangible improvement in the coverage of the screening program; its application in a setting where digital charts are available will contribute to the control and elimination of congenital Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Barbiero
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Martina Mazzi
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Antonia Mantella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Tuscany Regional Referral Center for Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Tuscany Regional Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Antonelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Patrizia Bordonaro
- Hospital General Laboratory, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Colao
- Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Rosa Speciale
- Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Tullio Di Benedetto
- Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Mantengoli
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Felice Petraglia
- Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Luisa Galli
- Department of Health Sciences University of Florence, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Division, Anna Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Pezzati
- Pediatric Unit, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, AUSL Toscana Centro, Via Antella, 58, Bagno a Ripoli, 50012 Florence, Italy
| | - Carlo Dani
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria José Caldes Pinilla
- Tuscany Regional Center for Global Health, Anna Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Berni
- Citizenship Rights and Social Cohesion Directorate, Tuscany Region, Via Camillo Cavour, 2, 50122 Florence, Italy
| | - Bassam Dannaoui
- Technological Innovation in Clinical-Assistance Activities Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Pedro Albajar Viñas
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Tuscany Regional Referral Center for Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Tuscany Regional Referral Center for Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Tuscany Regional Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence:
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13
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Maurer L, Kang H, Smyers M, Klei L, Cheng J, Trotta M, Hu D, Ekambaram P, Murai M, Nikolovska-Coleska Z, Chen B, Lucas P, McAllister-Lucas L. BLOCKING THE BCL10-MALT1 INTERACTION IN DIFFUSE LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA. Leuk Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s0145-2126(22)00224-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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14
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Cheng J, Smyers M, Trotta M, Carleton N, Maurer L, Lucas P, McAllister-Lucas L. GRK2, AN INHIBITOR OF MALT1-DEPEDENT ONCOGENIC SIGNALING, IS DOWNREGULATED BY microRNA IN ABC-DLBCL. Leuk Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s0145-2126(22)00270-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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15
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Manciulli T, Modi G, Campolmi I, Borchi B, Trotta M, Spinicci M, Lagi F, Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L. Treatment with anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies in pregnant and postpartum women: first experiences in Florence, Italy. Infection 2022; 50:1139-1145. [PMID: 35257291 PMCID: PMC8900641 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01777-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Pregnant and postpartum women are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are now widely used in high-income countries to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 outpatients at risk for developing severe disease. Very few data are available on the use of mAbs in special populations, including pregnant and postpartum women. Here we present our early experience with mAbs in these two populations. Methods Electronic records of pregnant and postpartum women treated with mAbs at Careggi University Hospital, Florence, were retrieved. Relevant data were extracted (age, presence of risk factors for COVID-19, oxygen support, mAb type, gestational age, and pregnancy status). When available, outcomes at 28 days after administration were also included. Results From March 1st to September 30th 2021, eight pregnant and two postpartum women have been treated with mAbs at our center. The median age was 31 years (IQR 30–33.5, range 29–38), median gestational age was 24 weeks. Seven patients had additional risk factors. According to the Italian disposition, all patients received casirivimab/imdevimab, with five receiving a 2.4 mg dose and five receiving a 8 g dose. Eight patients improved. One developed myocarditis, considered a COVID-19 complication. Another required a transient increase of low flow oxygen support before improving and being discharged. At a 28 days follow-up, all patients were clinically recovered. We did not observe mAbs related adverse events. Conclusion Although preliminary data should be interpreted with caution, it is remarkable how mAbs were well tolerated by pregnant women with COVID-19. Further data on mAbs in this special population should be collected but the use of mAbs in pregnant and postpartum patients should be considered. Even thus oral antivirals are becoming available, they are not recommended in pregnant and postpartum women. This population may specifically benefit from treatment with last generation mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Manciulli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Largo Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, 3, 50134, Florence, FI, Italy
| | - Giulia Modi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Largo Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, 3, 50134, Florence, FI, Italy
| | - Irene Campolmi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Spinicci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Largo Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, 3, 50134, Florence, FI, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Largo Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, 3, 50134, Florence, FI, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Largo Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, 3, 50134, Florence, FI, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Largo Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, 3, 50134, Florence, FI, Italy.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
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16
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Silvestri S, Rampacci E, Stefanetti V, Trotta M, Fani C, Levorato L, Brachelente C, Passamonti F. Immunofluorescence Targeting PBP2a Protein: A New Potential Methicillin Resistance Screening Test. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:740934. [PMID: 34917668 PMCID: PMC8669817 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.740934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The indiscriminate use of first-line drugs contributed to the spread of resistant bacteria, a major concern for both human and veterinary medicine. Methicillin resistance is acquired through the mecA gene, which encodes for the PBP2a protein and lends the resistance to β-lactams. Verifying the correspondence between gene harboring and protein expression and accelerating methicillin resistance diagnosis is critical to improve the management of antimicrobial administration and to reduce the spread of drug resistances. We tested the applicability of immunofluorescence targeting PBP2a protein to identify a new potential methicillin resistance screening test, ancillary to conventional culture methods. We collected 26 clinical Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (SP) isolates: 25 from canine pyoderma and 1 from dermatitis in a dog owner. SP is one of the most important etiological agents in canine pyoderma and can harbor the mecA gene. We performed PCR for mecA gene detection, broth microdilution (BMD) for phenotypic methicillin resistance, and immunofluorescence targeting PBP2a protein. Compared to the PCR as the gold standard, immunofluorescence showed an apparent prevalence of 34.6% vs. a true prevalence of 53.8%, with 100% specificity, 64.3% sensitivity, and 80.8% diagnostic accuracy. PBP2a expression showed isolate-dependent variability: in some isolates, most of the bacterial cells showed an intense and clearly membranous pattern, while in others only a few of them could be detected. Performing the assay in duplicate improved the diagnostic accuracy. Since the mecA gene is shared among the members of the Staphylococcus genus, the test can be applied to identify methicillin resistance independently from the staphylococcal species, both in human and animal samples. Being a rapid and easy method and providing the unique possibility to study the expression of PBP2a by directly visualizing the morphology, it could represent a new interesting tool for both research and diagnostics. To accelerate methicillin resistance diagnosis, it would be worth further testing of its performance on cytological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisa Rampacci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Lucia Levorato
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Brachelente
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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17
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Trotta M, Trotta A, Spataro E, Giache S, Borchi B, Zammarchi L, Campolmi I, Galli L, Pasquini L. Primary toxoplasmosis acquired during early pregnancy: Is it currently overestimated? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021; 267:285-289. [PMID: 34839251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Toxoplasmosis acquired in early pregnancy is a potentially severe complication for the fetus. Evaluating the risk of transplacental infection in pregnant women accessing the Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy during the last 20 years with suspected or confirmed toxoplasmosis acquired in early pregnancy was the aim of the study. STUDY DESIGN We retrospectively enrolled all pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis for toxoplasmosis acquired in the first 16 gestational weeks in the period 1999-2019, comparing patients with certain acute infection (seroconversion occurred in pregnancy, CAIP) with those with suspected acute infection (IgG positive with low/intermediate IgG avidity index, SAIP). RESULTS 237 patients were enrolled, 187 (78.9%) with SAIP and 50 (21.1%) with CAIP. Specific IgM was detected in 47.5% and 76.7% (p-value 0.001), and the mean IgG avidity index was 22.7% and 7.1% (p-value < 0.001) in the SAIP and in the CAIP group, respectively. The mean delay from diagnosis to antibiotic initiation was 14.6 in SAIP and 11 days in CAIP group. Toxoplasma DNA was detected in the amniotic fluid in one case in a patient with CAIP. Excluding 24 newborns with not available data, prevalence of congenital infection was 0.47% [1/213 (95% CI 0.08%-2.61%)], 0% [0/178 (95% CI 0%-2.11%)] in SAIP and 2.8% [1/35 (95% CI 0.51%-14.53%)] in CAIP group. CONCLUSIONS Toxoplasmosis acquired in early pregnancy has a low risk of fetal infection. Actively discussing case-by-case amniocentesis indication with patients, especially when a recent toxoplasmosis is not properly confirmed, is desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Trotta
- School of Human Health Sciences, Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisa Spataro
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Department for Women and Children Health, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Susanna Giache
- Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy.
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Irene Campolmi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy
| | - Luisa Galli
- Department of Health Sciences University of Florence, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Division, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
| | - Lucia Pasquini
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Department for Women and Children Health, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy.
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18
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Spinicci M, Zammarchi L, Gramiccia M, Di Muccio T, Bartolozzi D, Corsi P, Trotta M, Bartoloni A. Effective meglumine antimoniate intralesional therapy for Chiclero's ulcer refractory to systemic liposomal amphotericin B. J Travel Med 2021; 28:5904797. [PMID: 32918547 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Spinicci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marina Gramiccia
- Unit of Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Trentina Di Muccio
- Unit of Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Bartolozzi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Corsi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
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19
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Piccica M, Lagi F, Trotta M, Spinicci M, Zammarchi L, Bartoloni A. High-dose steroids for the treatment of severe COVID-19. Intern Emerg Med 2021; 16:1395-1399. [PMID: 33856664 PMCID: PMC8047517 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-021-02707-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Piccica
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, SOD Malattie Infettive eTropicali, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, SOD Malattie Infettive eTropicali, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Spinicci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, SOD Malattie Infettive eTropicali, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, SOD Malattie Infettive eTropicali, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, SOD Malattie Infettive eTropicali, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
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20
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Locatello LG, Trotta B, Bruno C, Trotta M, Maggiore G, Rasero L, Caini S, Gallo O. Systemic steroids may enhance recovery from loss of smell and taste in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients: an observational study. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2021; 11:1689-1693. [PMID: 34132052 PMCID: PMC8427029 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Benedetta Trotta
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Bruno
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Laura Rasero
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Saverio Caini
- Cancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Oreste Gallo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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21
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Zammarchi L, Lazzarotto T, Di Tommaso M, Tomasoni L, Pasquini L, Galli L, Simonazzi G, Castelli F, Borchi B, Campolmi I, Ornaghi S, Bartoloni A, Andreoni M, Pagano I, Petraglia S, Ramenghi L, Clerici P, Tavio M, Trotta M. Valacyclovir for prevention and treatment of fetal CMV infection: inclusion in the Law 648/96 list and launch of the Italian multicentre observational prospective study "MEGAL-ITALI". Infez Med 2021; 29:299-303. [PMID: 34061801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italia; SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italia; Centro di Riferimento per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza della Toscana, Firenze, Italia
| | - Tiziana Lazzarotto
- Laboratorio di Virologia, UO di Microbiologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Sperimentale e Diagnostica, IRCCS Policlinico Sant'Orsola, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Sezione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italia
| | - Lina Tomasoni
- Dipartimento Universitario di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Università degli Studi di Brescia e ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italia
| | - Lucia Pasquini
- Unità di Medicina Fetale, Dipartimento per la Salute della Donna e del Bambino, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italia
| | - Luisa Galli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute Università di Firenze, Divisione Malattie Infettive Pediatriche, Ospedale Universitario Pediatrico Anna Meyer, Firenze, Italia
| | - Giuliana Simonazzi
- Divisione di Ostetricia e Medicina Prenatale, Dipartimento di Scienze Medico Chirurgiche, Policlinico Sant'Orsola, Bologna, Italia
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Dipartimento Universitario di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Università degli Studi di Brescia e ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italia
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italia; Centro di Riferimento per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza della Toscana, Firenze, Italia
| | - Irene Campolmi
- SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italia; Centro di Riferimento per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza della Toscana, Firenze, Italia
| | - Sara Ornaghi
- Dipartimento di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Scuola di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Milano-Bicocca - Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italia
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italia; SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italia
| | - Massimo Andreoni
- Clinica di Malattie Infettive, Università Tor Vergata, Roma, Italia
| | | | | | - Luca Ramenghi
- UOC Patologia Neonatale, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini e Università di Genova, Genova
| | - Pierangelo Clerici
- Unità di Microbiologia, ASST Ovest Milanese, Ospedale di Legnano, Legnano, Italia
| | - Marcello Tavio
- Unità di Malattie Infettive Emergenti e Immunosoppresse, Dipartimento di Gastroenterologia e Trapianti, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italia
| | - Michele Trotta
- SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italia; Centro di Riferimento per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza della Toscana, Firenze, Italia
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22
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Gallo O, Peris A, Trotta M, Orlando P, Maggiore G, Cilona M, Trovati M, Locatello LG. Epidemiological analysis of a COVID-19 outbreak associated with an infected surgeon. Epidemiol Infect 2021; 149:e77. [PMID: 33762038 PMCID: PMC8042382 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268821000650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of the novel COronaVIrus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) in a hospital setting is a priority. A COVID-19-infected surgeon performed surgical activities before being tested. An exposure risk classification was applied to the identified exposed subjects and high- and medium-risk contacts underwent active symptom monitoring for 14 days at home. All healthcare professionals (HCPs) were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of the quarantine and serological tests were performed. Three household contacts and 20 HCPs were identified as high- or medium-risk contacts and underwent a 14-day quarantine. Fourteen HCPs and 19 patients were instead classified as low risk. All the contacts remained asymptomatic and all HCPs tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. About 25-28 days after their last exposure, HCPs underwent serological testing and two of them had positive IgM but negative confirmatory swabs. In a low COVID-19 burden area, the in-hospital transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from an infectious doctor did not occur and, despite multiple and frequent contacts, a hospital outbreak was avoided. This may be linked to the adoption of specific recommendations and to the use of standard personal protective equipment by HCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oreste Gallo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Adriano Peris
- Department of Emergency, Intensive Care Unit and Regional ECMO Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
| | - Pietro Orlando
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Maggiore
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Cilona
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Trovati
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Giovanni Locatello
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134Florence, Italy
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23
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Locatello LG, Bruno C, Maggiore G, Cilona M, Orlando P, Fancello G, Piccica M, Vellere I, Lagi F, Trotta M, Gallo O. The prognostic role of IL-10 in non-severe COVID-19 with chemosensory dysfunction. Cytokine 2021; 141:155456. [PMID: 33561690 PMCID: PMC7952472 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction (OD/GD) are now recognized as typical symptoms of COVID-19 infection. However, their pathogenesis remains unclear and no clear prognostic factors have been identified. We have analyzed a cohort of mild/moderate hospitalized patients to identify possible clinical or immunological predictors of recovery from OD/GD. Methods Clinical and biological parameters were reviewed along with associated comorbidities. Chemosensory Complaint Score was administered on admission and 30 days after the first negative swab. Unpaired Wilcoxon and chi-squared tests were used to compare the variables in the patients who recovered versus those who did not. Results From a cohort of 119 hospitalized patients, 43 (36%) reported OD/GD on admission. 60.6% had a full recovery from OD and 69.2% from GD. Only the concentration of IL-10 on admission emerged as significantly associated with recovery of taste (p = 0.041) while allergic respiratory disease was more prevalent in the group who did not recover from OD (p = 0.049) and GD (p = 0.007). Conclusion These findings suggest that COVID-19 associated OD/GD is an inflammatory-mediated condition and that clinical and immunological parameters could predict the evolution of these symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Giovanni Locatello
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy.
| | - Chiara Bruno
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Maggiore
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Cilona
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Pietro Orlando
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fancello
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Piccica
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Iacopo Vellere
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Oreste Gallo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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24
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Modi G, Borchi B, Giaché S, Campolmi I, Trotta M, Di Tommaso M, Strambi N, Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L. Emerging Infectious Diseases in Pregnant Women in a Non-Endemic Area: Almost One Out of Four Is at Risk. Pathogens 2021; 10:56. [PMID: 33435140 PMCID: PMC7827164 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the results of a targeted testing strategy for five emerging infectious diseases (Chagas disease, human T-lymphotropic virus 1 infection, malaria, schistosomiasis, and Zika virus infection) in pregnant women accessing an Italian referral centre for infectious diseases in pregnancy for unrelated reasons. The strategy is based on a quick five-question questionnaire which allows the identification of pregnant women at risk who should be tested for a specific disease. One hundred and three (24%) out of 429 pregnant women evaluated in a 20 month period were at risk for at least one emerging infectious disease. Three (2.9%, all from sub-Saharan Africa) out of 103 at-risk women resulted in being affected (one case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, two cases of schistosomiasis) and were appropriately managed. Prevalence of emerging infectious disease was particularly high in pregnant women from Africa (three out of 25 pregnant women tested, 12%). The proposed strategy could be used by health care professionals managing pregnant women in non-endemic setting, to identify those at risk for one of the five infection which could benefit for a targeted test and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Modi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (G.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.G.); (I.C.); (M.T.)
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Susanna Giaché
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.G.); (I.C.); (M.T.)
| | - Irene Campolmi
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.G.); (I.C.); (M.T.)
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.G.); (I.C.); (M.T.)
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Branch, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (M.D.T.); (N.S.)
| | - Noemi Strambi
- Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Branch, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (M.D.T.); (N.S.)
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (G.M.); (A.B.)
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (G.M.); (A.B.)
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.G.); (I.C.); (M.T.)
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
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25
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Zammarchi L, Angheben A, Galli L, Dani C, Di Tommaso M, Petraglia F, Aliani FB, Trotta M, Spinicci M, Albajar Viñas P, Bartoloni A. Ongoing mother-to-child transmission of Chagas disease in Italy: 2014-18 estimates. J Travel Med 2021; 28:5935387. [PMID: 33094338 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy.,Referral Center for Tropical Diseases of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy.,Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Andrea Angheben
- Department of Infectious -Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria Hospital, viale Luigi Rizzardi 4, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - Luisa Galli
- Department of Health Sciences University of Florence, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Division, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Carlo Dani
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Felice Petraglia
- Biomedical, Sperimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Filomena Bruna Aliani
- School of Human Health Sciences, Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy.,Referral Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Michele Spinicci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Pedro Albajar Viñas
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy.,Referral Center for Tropical Diseases of Tuscany, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
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26
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Zammarchi L, Lazzarotto T, Andreoni M, Giaché S, Campolmi I, Pasquini L, Di Tommaso M, Simonazzi G, Tomasoni LR, Castelli F, Galli L, Borchi B, Clerici P, Bartoloni A, Tavio M, Trotta M. Valacyclovir for cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy: additional evidences, additional questions. Clin Microbiol Infect 2020; 27:644-645. [PMID: 32950710 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy.
| | - Tiziana Lazzarotto
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Specialized, Experimental, and Diagnostic Medicine, Polyclinic St. Orsola, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo Andreoni
- Clinical Infectious Diseases, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Giaché
- Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy
| | - Irene Campolmi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Pasquini
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Department for Women and Children Health, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Branch, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuliana Simonazzi
- Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences, Polyclinic St. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lina Rachele Tomasoni
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy; UNESCO Chair "Training and Empowering Human Resources for Health Development in Resource-limited Countries, University of Brescia", Italy
| | - Luisa Galli
- Department of Health Sciences University of Florence, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Division, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Clerici
- Microbiology Unit, ASST-Ovest Milanese, Legnano Hospital, Legnano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marcello Tavio
- Unit of Emerging and Immunosuppressed Infectious Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy; Referral Centre for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy of Tuscany, Florence, Italy
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27
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Mazzoni A, Salvati L, Maggi L, Capone M, Vanni A, Spinicci M, Mencarini J, Caporale R, Peruzzi B, Antonelli A, Trotta M, Zammarchi L, Ciani L, Gori L, Lazzeri C, Matucci A, Vultaggio A, Rossi O, Almerigogna F, Parronchi P, Fontanari P, Lavorini F, Peris A, Rossolini GM, Bartoloni A, Romagnani S, Liotta F, Annunziato F, Cosmi L. Impaired immune cell cytotoxicity in severe COVID-19 is IL-6 dependent. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:4694-4703. [PMID: 32463803 DOI: 10.1172/jci138554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 351] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDCoronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Antiviral immune response is crucial to achieve pathogen clearance; however, in some patients an excessive and aberrant host immune response can lead to an acute respiratory distress syndrome. The comprehension of the mechanisms that regulate pathogen elimination, immunity, and pathology is essential to better characterize disease progression and widen the spectrum of therapeutic options.METHODSWe performed a flow cytometric characterization of immune cell subsets from 30 patients with COVID-19 and correlated these data with clinical outcomes.RESULTSPatients with COVID-19 showed decreased numbers of circulating T, B, and NK cells and exhibited a skewing of CD8+ T cells toward a terminally differentiated/senescent phenotype. In agreement, CD4+ T and CD8+ T, but also NK cells, displayed reduced antiviral cytokine production capability. Moreover, a reduced cytotoxic potential was identified in patients with COVID-19, particularly in those who required intensive care. The latter group of patients also showed increased serum IL-6 levels that inversely correlated to the frequency of granzyme A-expressing NK cells. Off-label treatment with tocilizumab restored the cytotoxic potential of NK cells.CONCLUSIONThe association between IL-6 serum levels and the impairment of cytotoxic activity suggests the possibility that targeting this cytokine may restore antiviral mechanisms.FUNDINGThis study was supported by funds from the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine of University of Florence (the ex-60% fund and the "Excellence Departments 2018-2022 Project") derived from Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Italy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Mazzoni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Salvati
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Maggi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Manuela Capone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Vanni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Spinicci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit
| | - Jessica Mencarini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit
| | | | | | - Alberto Antonelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit
| | - Luca Ciani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Gori
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Lazzeri
- Intensive Care Unit and Regional Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Referral Centre
| | | | | | | | - Fabio Almerigogna
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Immunoallergology Unit
| | - Paola Parronchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit
| | | | - Federico Lavorini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Pneumology and Intensive Care Unit, and
| | - Adriano Peris
- Intensive Care Unit and Regional Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Referral Centre
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit
| | - Sergio Romagnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Liotta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit
| | - Francesco Annunziato
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Flow Cytometry Diagnostic Center and Immunotherapy (CDCI)
| | - Lorenzo Cosmi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit
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28
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Vultaggio A, Vivarelli E, Virgili G, Lucenteforte E, Bartoloni A, Nozzoli C, Morettini A, Berni A, Malandrino D, Rossi O, Nencini F, Pieralli F, Peris A, Lagi F, Scocchera G, Spinicci M, Trotta M, Mazzetti M, Parronchi P, Cosmi L, Liotta F, Fontanari P, Mazzoni A, Salvati L, Maggi E, Annunziato F, Almerigogna F, Matucci A. Prompt Predicting of Early Clinical Deterioration of Moderate-to-Severe COVID-19 Patients: Usefulness of a Combined Score Using IL-6 in a Preliminary Study. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020; 8:2575-2581.e2. [PMID: 32565226 PMCID: PMC7303032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The early identification of patients at risk of clinical deterioration is of interest considering the timeline of COVID-19 after the onset of symptoms. OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of testing serum IL-6 and other serological and clinical biomarkers, to predict a short-term negative clinical course of patients with noncritical COVID-19. METHODS A total of 208 patients with noncritical COVID-19 pneumonia at admission were consecutively enrolled. Clinical and laboratory findings obtained on admission were analyzed by using survival analysis and stepwise logistic regression for variable selection. Three-day worsening as outcome in a logistic model to generate a prognostic score was used. RESULTS Clinical worsening occurred in 63 patients (16 = died; 39 = transferred to intensive care unit; 8 worsening of respiratory failure). Forty-five of them worsened within 3 days after admission. The risk of clinical worsening was progressively enhanced along with increasing quartiles of IL-6 levels. Multivariate analysis showed that IL-6 (P = .005), C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = .003), and SaO2/FiO2 (P = .014) were the best predictors for clinical deterioration in the first 3 days after admission. The combined score yielded an area under the curve = 0.88 (95% confidence interval: 0.83-0.93). A nomogram predicting the probability of 3-day worsening was generated. The score also showed good performance for 7-day and 14- or 21-day worsening and in predicting death occurring during all the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Combining IL-6, CRP, and SaO2/FiO2 in a score may help clinicians to identify on admission those patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk for a further 3-day clinical deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gianni Virgili
- Department of Ophthalmology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Ersilia Lucenteforte
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Carlo Nozzoli
- Internal Medicine Unit 1, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Berni
- Internal Medicine Unit 3, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Danilo Malandrino
- Internal Medicine Unit 3, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Oliviero Rossi
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Nencini
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Pieralli
- Intermediate Care Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Adriano Peris
- Intensive Care Unit and Regional ECMO Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Scocchera
- Internal Medicine Unit 2, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Spinicci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marcello Mazzetti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Parronchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cosmi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Liotta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Fontanari
- Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Mazzoni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Flow Cytometric Diagnostic Centre and Immunotherapy (CDCI), Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Salvati
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Immunology and Cell Therapy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Maggi
- Translational Immunology Unit, Immunology Area, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Annunziato
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Flow Cytometric Diagnostic Centre and Immunotherapy (CDCI), Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Almerigogna
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Matucci
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
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29
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Locatello LG, Maggiore G, Bruno C, Trotta M, Gallo O. An Integrated Care Strategy for the Follow-up of Patients With COVID-19-Associated Chemosensory Dysfunction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020; 164:294-296. [PMID: 32806993 DOI: 10.1177/0194599820950716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The proportion of patients with residual olfactory and gustatory dysfunction after COVID-19 is increasing, and practical health care strategies need to be developed to manage this novel situation in otolaryngology services worldwide. Starting from our experience in a large Italian hospital, we estimated that >1500 people will complain of some form of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in the future months in our region. We want to share our logistical and clinical integrated pathway that is aimed to screen and refer each patient to the most appropriate level of care in order to optimize resources and avoid overwhelming the available clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chiara Bruno
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Oreste Gallo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
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30
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Giaché S, Trotta M, Borchi B, Zammarchi L. Regarding "Safety and varicella outcomes after varicella zoster immune globulin administration in pregnancy". Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020; 223:300-301. [PMID: 32088194 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Giaché
- Centro di Riferimento per la Regione Toscana per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Centro di Riferimento per la Regione Toscana per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Centro di Riferimento per la Regione Toscana per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Centro di Riferimento per la Regione Toscana per le Malattie Infettive in Gravidanza, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
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Gallo O, Trotta M, Orlando P, Maggiore G, Bicci E, Locatello LG. SARS-CoV-2 in upper and lower airway samples of a laryngectomized patient: New insights and many lessons. Oral Oncol 2020. [PMID: 32527570 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.10484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
• We report the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the nasopharyngeal swab of a laryngectomee. • Viral nasal priming might modulate the systemic inflammatory response. • Smoking exposure is a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and multiple malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oreste Gallo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy.
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Pietro Orlando
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Maggiore
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Eleonora Bicci
- Department of Radiology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Giovanni Locatello
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
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Giner J, Villanueva-Saz S, Alcover MM, Riera C, Fisa R, Basurco A, Yzuel A, Trotta M, Fani C, Verde MT, Fernández A. Treatment and follow-up of a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) with clinical leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020; 21:100423. [PMID: 32862910 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania infantum infection including treatment and follow up in domestic animals other than dogs and cats has not been described at this moment. This article describes the anti-Leishmania treatment and follow-up of a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) with leishmaniosis. A combined therapeutic protocol established for the patient, not yet approved for ferrets, was a combination of meglumine antimoniate plus allopurinol. A follow-up was established monthly during the first year in order to monitor the health condition of the patient. Six months after commencing allopurinol therapy, xanthine crystalluria was observed in urine sediment with no other urine alterations detected by urine analysis. The ferret worsened progressively with diarrhoea and weight loss after cohabiting with another ferret diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium parvum was isolated in faecal samples from the patient detected by three different methods including Ziehl-Neelsen staining, a qualitative test to detection of C. parvum antigens and finally a specific molecular analysis to characterize the species. To the best of the authors´ knowledge, this is the first report providing information about anti-Leishmania protocol therapy used and follow-up in a domestic ferret with clinical leishmaniosis. Veterinarians practicing in endemic areas should be aware of this infection in ferrets at risk and their susceptibility especially when immunosuppressive conditions are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobo Giner
- Menescalia Veterinary Clinic, Ismael Merlo Actor, 5, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - María Magdalena Alcover
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Riera
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Fisa
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asier Basurco
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Andrés Yzuel
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Michele Trotta
- CD Vet Laboratorio Analisi Veterinarie, Via Ernesto Monaci, 21, 00161 Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Fani
- CD Vet Laboratorio Analisi Veterinarie, Via Ernesto Monaci, 21, 00161 Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - María Teresa Verde
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
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Gallo O, Locatello LG, Orlando P, Martelli F, Piccica M, Lagi F, Trotta M. Cancer population may be paradoxically protected from severe manifestations of COVID-19. J Infect 2020; 81:e156-e158. [PMID: 32534002 PMCID: PMC7286269 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oreste Gallo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Giovanni Locatello
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Pietro Orlando
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Federica Martelli
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Piccica
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy.
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Cito G, Coccia M, Fucci R, Picone R, Cocci A, Russo G, Rizzello F, Trotta M, Badolato L, Basile V, Micelli E, Criscuoli L, Serni S, Carini M, Natali A. P-02-62 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Infected Men in Serodiscordant Couples: Impact on the Reproductive Outcomes. J Sex Med 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.04.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Bruno C, Locatello LG, Cilona M, Fancello G, Vultaggio A, Maltagliati L, Rossi O, Vivarelli E, Almerigogna F, Piccica M, Lagi F, Maggiore G, Matucci A, Trotta M, Gallo O. Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms in Relation to COVID-19. Allergy Rhinol (Providence) 2020; 11:2152656720968804. [PMID: 33282450 PMCID: PMC7683838 DOI: 10.1177/2152656720968804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bruno
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cilona
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fancello
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Maltagliati
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Oliviero Rossi
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Almerigogna
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Piccica
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Matucci
- Immunoallergology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Oreste Gallo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
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Cito G, Coccia ME, Fucci R, Picone R, Cocci A, Sessa M, Sessa F, Rizzello F, Micelli E, Trotta M, Badolato L, Campi R, Criscuoli L, Serni S, Carini M, Natali A. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seropositive Men in Serodiscordant Couples: Effects on the Assisted Reproductive Outcomes. World J Mens Health 2019; 39:99-106. [PMID: 32009315 PMCID: PMC7752521 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.190121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in men of serodiscordant couples on the reproductive outcomes. Materials and Methods A total of 134 infertile couples were included in this retrospective single-center cohort study. Sixty-six couples had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-seropositive men and seronegative partners, while 68 couples were controls with both seronegative men and women. Overall, 134 fresh in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatments were performed. As the main outcome measures, on the day of the fresh IVF/ICSI cycle, we assessed seminal parameters Before and after sperm preparation techniques. Two-pronuclear (2PN) fertilization, 1-2-3PN fertilization, cleavage, miscarriage, pregnancy and live birth rates were collected. Results No significant differences were found between groups in terms of oocytes retrieved, oocytes injected and embryos obtained (p=0.64, p=0.97, and p=0.40, respectively). The 2PN fertilization rate (FR) was comparable among groups (p=0.51). The 1-2-3PN FR was significantly lower in the HBsAg group than in the control group (66.6% vs. 69.7%, respectively). The clinical pregnancy per cycle, implantation, miscarriage and live birth rate were comparable between the HBsAg group and the control group. The median sperm concentration/ml and total sperm count, measured at baseline and after sperm preparation, was comparable between groups (p>0.05). There was a trend toward significant lower progressive motility (35.0% vs. 55.0%; p<0.05) in the HBsAg group at baseline and after sperm preparation (p<0.05). Conclusions HBV infected men have the same chance to became father, compared to seronegative patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmartin Cito
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Maria Elisabetta Coccia
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Rossella Fucci
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Rita Picone
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Cocci
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maurizio Sessa
- Campania Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology Regional Centre, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Rizzello
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Micelli
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, St. Claire Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, Infectious Disease Unit, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Badolato
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Riccardo Campi
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Luciana Criscuoli
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sergio Serni
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Carini
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Natali
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Giachè S, Borchi B, Zammarchi L, Colao MG, Ciccone N, Sterrantino G, Rossolini GM, Bartoloni A, Trotta M. Hand, foot, and mouth disease in pregnancy: 7 years Tuscan experience and literature review. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 34:1494-1500. [PMID: 31291796 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1638898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluation of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) diagnostic strategies in pregnancy and the risk of HFMD-related fetopathy. STUDY DESIGN Pregnant women consecutively evaluated between 2010 and 2016 at the Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy for HFMD were enrolled. A descriptive analysis of infected patients/newborns data and literature review were carried out. RESULT Of the 128 women evaluated, 52 (41%) were symptomatic: 32 (61.5%) developed HFM vesicles, 12 (23%) palmoplantar vesicles, and 8 (15.5%) oral aphthae. Serological positivity and direct Enterovirus detection on blood and vesicle were obtained in 1.9% (1/52), 9.1% (1/11), and 68.7% (11/16), respectively. Three miscarriage and few cases of fetal/neonatal anomalies were reported. CONCLUSION HFMD diagnosis is primarily a clinical diagnosis. Direct viral detection is more sensitive than serology. Considering our series and literature review, data on embryo-fetal-neonatal outcomes are not conclusive. Although the role of EV as causative agents of congenital defects remains uncertain, the described cases of unfavorable outcome impose prudence and monitoring of pregnant women with HFMD throughout the gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Giachè
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Colao
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Nunziata Ciccone
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Gaetana Sterrantino
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
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Cito G, Coccia ME, Fucci R, Picone R, Cocci A, Russo GI, Rizzello F, Trotta M, Badolato L, Basile V, Criscuoli L, Serni S, Carini M, Natali A. Influence of male human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the reproductive outcomes in serodiscordant couples: a case-control study. Andrology 2019; 7:852-858. [PMID: 30993859 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nowadays, serodiscordant couples (SDCs) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected men have the chance to conceive safely, giving birth with a minimum risk of cross-infection. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of male HIV and HCV infection on the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes in SDCs, with HIV or HCV seropositive men and negative partners. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of 153 couples: 24 in Group 1 (HIV-seropositive men), 60 in Group 2 (HCV-seropositive men) and 69 in Group 3 (controls). Sperm-washing procedure was performed using a three-step system. Fresh ICSI cycles were carried out in HIV SDCs, HCV SDCs and controls. Seminal parameters, fertilization rate (FR), cleavage rate (CR), pregnancy rate per cycle (PR/C), miscarriage rate, implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate were evaluated. RESULTS All the seropositive men have undetectable viral loads at the time of insemination, and both partners were free from co-morbid infections. The median number of embryos transferred was 2.0 (IQR 1.0-3.0), with no differences among groups. FR was significantly reduced in HIV and HCV SDCs compared to the controls (66%, 61% and 75%, respectively; p < 0.01). CR was similar between groups (p = 0.3). IR was 12.1%, 11.1% and 14.1%, respectively, in the three groups (p = 0.30). PR/C was 21.7%, 17.6% and 20.2% in HIV, HCV and controls, respectively. Live birth rate per cycle was 17.4%, 15.7% and 15.9%, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancies per cycle, as well as miscarriages and live births (p = 0.30; 0.30; 0.60, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The sperm-washing technique with ICSI may generate a promising way to improve pregnancy outcomes and to reduce the risk of viral transmission in these couples. In this setting, we can correctly counsel HIV- and HCV-infected men of SDCs with regard to the likelihood of father their own biological child.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Cito
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - M E Coccia
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - R Fucci
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - R Picone
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A Cocci
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - G I Russo
- Department of Urology, Vittorio Emanuele Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - F Rizzello
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - M Trotta
- Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, Infectious Disease Unit, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - L Badolato
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - V Basile
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - L Criscuoli
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - S Serni
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - M Carini
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A Natali
- Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Masini G, Maggio L, Marchi L, Cavalli I, Ledda C, Trotta M, Pasquini L. Isolated fetal echogenic bowel in a retrospective cohort: The role of infection screening. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018; 231:136-141. [PMID: 30388607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fetal echogenic bowel (FEB) is an ultrasonographic marker of fetal infection. We aimed to determine the utility of infection screening when FEB is isolated. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective observational study of isolated FEB cases between 2006-2014. Infection screening included toxoplasmosis, rubella, syphilis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus and parvovirus B19. Fetal karyotyping, screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) and follow-up scans were also offered, according to international standards. Incidence of infection and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS 148 patients with 154 fetuses were included. 4.7% of mothers developed acute infection: four patients developed CMV infection (2.7%, 95% CI 1.1-6.9%), in two fetuses infection was confirmed with amniocentesis and pregnancies were terminated; Parvovirus B19 infection was detected in 2 patients (1.4%, 95% CI 0.4-5.0) and confirmed in one fetus, which developed anemia; there was one toxoplasmosis maternal infection (0.7%, 95% CI 0.1-3.8%) treated with spyramicin, whose fetus was not infected. Percentage of chromosomal/genetic abnormalities was 3.2%, CF 1.3%, intra-amniotic bleeding 1.3%, FGR 34% and other ultrasonographic abnormalities at follow-up scans 18%. CONCLUSIONS The association between isolated FEB and fetal infection is uncommon (1.9% in our population). CMV maternal infection screening is supported by our findings, whereas screening for other infections needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Masini
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Luana Maggio
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Marchi
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Iolanda Cavalli
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Ledda
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, Infectious Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Pasquini
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
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Lagi F, Kiros ST, Campolmi I, Giachè S, Rogasi PG, Mazzetti M, Bartalesi F, Trotta M, Nizzoli P, Bartoloni A, Sterrantino G. Continuum of care among HIV-1 positive patients in a single center in Italy (2007-2017). Patient Prefer Adherence 2018; 12:2545-2551. [PMID: 30555224 PMCID: PMC6280894 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s180736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to determine rates of retention in care, viral suppression, and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and identify risk factors for loss to follow-up (FU) in an adult cohort from a tertiary teaching hospital in Florence, Italy. METHODS We included all newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients aged >18 years who were linked to our clinic from July 2007 to December 2015. On July 31, 2017, we evaluated the proportion of patients retained in care, on ART, and having HIV RNA <50 copies/mL. We assessed predictors of loss to FU through univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS We included 423 patients. By July 2017, 23 (5.5%) patients died, 25 (5.9%) moved to a different center, and 64 (15.1%) were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 311 patients (73.5%), 96.5% were on ART and 95% had HIV RNA <50 copies/mL. After adjustment for sex, age at diagnosis, origin, and risk of transmission, our results showed a lower retention rate in those not on ART at the end of the follow-up (adjusted HR [aHR]: 10.33, 95% CI 5.80-18.40, P<0.001), non-Italians (aHR: 1.69, 95% CI: 0.99-2.89, P=0.054) and <35 years old (aHR: 1.85; 95% CI 1.04-3.30, P=0.037). CONCLUSION In our hospital in Florence, we found a gap in retention in care among foreigners, people <35 years old, and those who were not in treatment at the end of the follow-up. The results of this study may help to identify opportunities for appropriate future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Lagi
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Seble Tekle Kiros
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Irene Campolmi
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Susanna Giachè
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Pier Giorgio Rogasi
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy,
| | - Marcello Mazzetti
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy,
| | - Filippo Bartalesi
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy,
| | - Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy,
| | - Patrizia Nizzoli
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, USL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy,
| | - Gaetana Sterrantino
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy,
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Volpicella M, Leoni C, Manzari C, Chiara M, Picardi E, Piancone E, Italiano F, D'Erchia A, Trotta M, Horner DS, Pesole G, Ceci LR. Transcriptomic analysis of nickel exposure in Sphingobium sp. ba1 cells using RNA-seq. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8262. [PMID: 28811613 PMCID: PMC5557971 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08934-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nickel acts as cofactor for a number of enzymes of many bacteria species. Its homeostasis is ensured by proteins working as ion efflux or accumulation systems. These mechanisms are also generally adopted to counteract life-threatening high extra-cellular Ni2+ concentrations. Little is known regarding nickel tolerance in the genus Sphingobium. We studied the response of the novel Sphingobium sp. ba1 strain, able to adapt to high Ni2+ concentrations. Differential gene expression in cells cultured in 10 mM Ni2+, investigated by RNA-seq analysis, identified 118 differentially expressed genes. Among the 90 up-regulated genes, a cluster including genes coding for nickel and other metal ion efflux systems (similar to either cnrCBA, nccCBA or cznABC) and for a NreB-like permease was found. Comparative analyses among thirty genomes of Sphingobium species show that this cluster is conserved only in two cases, while in the other genomes it is partially present or even absent. The differential expression of genes encoding proteins which could also work as Ni2+-accumulators (HupE/UreJ-like protein, NreA and components of TonB-associated transport and copper-homeostasis systems) was also detected. The identification of Sphingobium sp. ba1 strain adaptive mechanisms to nickel ions, can foster its possible use for biodegradation of poly-aromatic compounds in metal-rich environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Volpicella
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - C Leoni
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - C Manzari
- IBIOM-CNR, Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Bari, Italy
| | - M Chiara
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - E Picardi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.,IBIOM-CNR, Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Bari, Italy
| | - E Piancone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - F Italiano
- IPCF-CNR, Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, Bari, Italy
| | - A D'Erchia
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.,IBIOM-CNR, Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Bari, Italy
| | - M Trotta
- IPCF-CNR, Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, Bari, Italy
| | - D S Horner
- IBIOM-CNR, Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Bari, Italy.,Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - G Pesole
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.,IBIOM-CNR, Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Bari, Italy
| | - L R Ceci
- IBIOM-CNR, Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Bari, Italy.
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Trotta M, Borchi B, Zammarchi L, Sterrantino G, Brogi M, Kiros ST, Lorini C, Bonaccorsi G, Colao MG, Bartoloni A. Immunoglobulin M indirect-fluorescent antibody test for the diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy in the avidity era: A 14-year experience at the Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Florence, Italy. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2016; 42:1699-1703. [PMID: 27762467 DOI: 10.1111/jog.13144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate immunoglobulin M indirect-fluorescent antibody test (IgM IFAT) for the diagnosis of acute or chronic Toxoplasma infection in pregnancy. METHODS Pregnant women with suspected acute toxoplasmosis referred to the Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy during the period 1998-2012 were retrospectively enrolled. All women were tested with a panel of serological tests, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG avidity and IgM IFAT. On the basis of anamnestic, clinical, and serological criteria, pregnant women were classified into three groups: recently infected (RI), latently infected (LI), and doubtful latently infected (DLI). Patients classified as DLI were excluded from the analysis. The association between IgM IFAT (positive or negative) and the diagnosis of infection (acute or chronic) was assessed. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the IgM IFAT were calculated. RESULTS A total of 810 pregnant women were enrolled in the study: 302 in the RI group and 508 in the LI group. Fifty-two women classified as DLI were excluded. IgM IFAT was positive in 172 out of 302 (56.9%) pregnant women in the RI group and in 29 out of 508 (5.7%) in the LI group. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of IgM IFAT in predicting RI was 85.6% and 78.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION IgM IFAT has reasonable sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing recent infection and, mostly in case of borderline avidity test, could be considered as a further aid for an accurate diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Trotta
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Beatrice Borchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Infectious Diseases Clinic, Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gaetana Sterrantino
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michela Brogi
- Infectious Diseases Clinic, Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Seble Tekle Kiros
- Infectious Diseases Clinic, Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Lorini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Bonaccorsi
- Health Services Research Unit, Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Colao
- Microbiology & Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Infectious Diseases Clinic, Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Venturi G, Zammarchi L, Fortuna C, Remoli ME, Benedetti E, Fiorentini C, Trotta M, Rizzo C, Mantella A, Rezza G, Bartoloni A. Authors' reply: diagnostic challenges to be considered regarding Zika virus in the context of the presence of the vector Aedes albopictus in Europe. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:30163. [PMID: 26988337 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.10.30163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulietta Venturi
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediate Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Venturi G, Zammarchi L, Fortuna C, Remoli ME, Benedetti E, Fiorentini C, Trotta M, Rizzo C, Mantella A, Rezza G, Bartoloni A. An autochthonous case of Zika due to possible sexual transmission, Florence, Italy, 2014. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:30148. [PMID: 26939607 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.8.30148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We report a case of Zika virus infection imported in Florence, Italy ex-Thailand, leading to a secondary autochthonous case, probably through sexual transmission. The two cases occurred in May 2014 but were retrospectively diagnosed in 2016 on the basis of serological tests (plaque reduction neutralisation) performed on stored serum samples. Our report provides further evidence that sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulietta Venturi
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediate Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Zammarchi L, Antonelli A, Bartolini L, Pecile P, Trotta M, Rogasi PG, Santini MG, Dilaghi B, Grifoni S, Rossolini GM, Bartoloni A. Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever with Meningeal Involvement in an Immigrant from Somalia to Italy, October 2015. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:352-5. [PMID: 26938933 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Borrelia recurrentis, transmitted by Pediculus humanus humanus, is the etiological agent of louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF). Currently the main focus of endemicity of LBRF is localized in East African countries. From July 2015 to October 2015, 36 cases of LBRF have been diagnosed in Europe in immigrants from the Horn of Africa. Here we report a case of LBRF with meningitis diagnosed in Florence, Italy, in an immigrant arrived from Somalia. CASE STUDY In October 2015, a 19-year-old Somali male presented to the emergency department of the Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy, with a 3-day history of high fever. The patient had disembarked in Sicily 10 days before admission after a long migration trip from his country of origin. On clinical examination, neck stiffness was found. Main laboratory findings were thrombocytopenia, increased procalcitonin, and increased polymorphonucleates in the cerebrospinal fluid. Suspecting a possible meningitis, the patient was treated with ceftriaxone, pending results of laboratory testing for malaria, and developed severe hypotension that was treated with fluid resuscitation and hydrocortisone. Hemoscopic testing revealed the presence of spirochetes and no malaria parasites. The patient rapidly improved with doxycycline for 7 days and ceftriaxone for 11 days, then was lost to follow-up. Total DNA from blood was extracted, and amplification and sequencing with universal 16S rDNA primers D88 and E94 revealed a 100% identity with B. recurrentis A1. CONCLUSIONS LBRF is a rare but emerging infectious disease among vulnerable displaced immigrants from the Horn of Africa. Since immigrants from endemic areas can carry the vector with them, the infection should be suspected even in subjects with compatible clinical features living in the same place where new arrival immigrants are hosted. Healthcare providers should be aware of this condition to implement adequate diagnostic, therapeutic, and public health measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Zammarchi
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Antonelli
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,3 Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Siena , Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Bartolini
- 4 SOD Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pecile
- 4 SOD Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- 2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Pier Giorgio Rogasi
- 2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | | | - Beatrice Dilaghi
- 6 Dipartimento di Medicina d'Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Grifoni
- 6 Dipartimento di Medicina d'Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,3 Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Siena , Siena, Italy .,4 SOD Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy .,7 I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi , Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
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Chatzipetrou M, Milano F, Giotta L, Chirizzi D, Trotta M, Massaouti M, Guascito M, Zergioti I. Functionalization of gold screen printed electrodes with bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers by laser printing technology for mediatorless herbicide biosensing. Electrochem commun 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2016.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Armas F, Furlanello T, Camperio C, Trotta M, Novari G, Marianelli C. Molecular characterization and drug susceptibility profile of a Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium isolate from a dog with disseminated infection. J Med Microbiol 2016; 65:278-285. [PMID: 26758809 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) infections have been described in many mammalian species, including humans and pets. We isolated and molecularly typed the causative agent of a rare case of disseminated mycobacteriosis in a dog. We identified the pathogen as M. avium subspecies avium by sequencing the partial genes gyrB and rpsA. Considering the zoonotic potential of this infection, and in an attempt to ensure the most effective treatment for the animal, we also determined the drug susceptibility profile of the isolate to the most common drugs used to treat MAC disease in humans. The pathogen was tested in vitro against the macrolide clarithromycin, as well as against amikacin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, ethambutol and linezolid, by the resazurin microdilution assay. It was found to be sensitive to all tested drugs apart from ethambutol. Despite the fact that the pathogen was sensitive to the therapies administered, the dog's overall clinical status worsened and the animal died shortly after antimicrobial susceptibility results became available. Nucleotide sequencing of the embB gene, the target gene most commonly associated with ethambutol resistance, showed new missense mutations when compared to sequences available in public databases. In conclusion, we molecularly identified the MAC pathogen and determined its drug susceptibility profile in a relatively short period of time (7 days). We also characterized new genetic mutations likely to have been involved in the observed ethambutol resistance. Our results confirmed the usefulness of both the gyrB and the rpsA genes as biomarkers for an accurate identification and differentiation of MAC pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Armas
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Camperio
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Cinzia Marianelli
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Solano-Gallego L, Caprì A, Pennisi MG, Caldin M, Furlanello T, Trotta M. Acute febrile illness is associated with Rickettsia spp infection in dogs. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:216. [PMID: 25886403 PMCID: PMC4407383 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0824-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsia conorii is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and causes Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) in humans. Although dogs are considered the natural host of the vector, the clinical and epidemiological significance of R. conorii infection in dogs remains unclear. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether Rickettsia infection causes febrile illness in dogs living in areas endemic for human MSF. METHODS Dogs from southern Italy with acute fever (n = 99) were compared with case-control dogs with normal body temperatures (n = 72). Serology and real-time PCR were performed for Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/A. platys and Leishmania infantum. Conventional PCR was performed for Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Acute and convalescent antibodies to R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were determined. RESULTS The seroprevalence rates at first visit for R. conorii, E. canis, A. phagocytophilum and L. infantum were 44.8%, 48.5%, 37.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The seroconversion rates for R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were 20.7%, 14.3% and 8.8%, respectively. The molecular positive rates at first visit for Rickettsia spp., E. canis, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, L. infantum, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. were 1.8%, 4.1%, 0%, 2.3%, 11.1%, 2.3% and 0.6%, respectively. Positive PCR for E. canis (7%), Rickettsia spp. (3%), Babesia spp. (4.0%) and Hepatozoon spp. (1.0%) were found only in febrile dogs. The DNA sequences obtained from Rickettsia and Babesia PCRs positive samples were 100% identical to the R. conorii and Babesia vogeli sequences in GenBank®, respectively. Febrile illness was statistically associated with acute and convalescent positive R. conorii antibodies, seroconversion to R. conorii, E. canis positive PCR, and positivity to any tick pathogen PCRs. Fourteen febrile dogs (31.8%) were diagnosed with Rickettsia spp. infection based on seroconversion and/or PCR while only six afebrile dogs (12.5%) seroconverted (P = 0.0248). The most common clinical findings of dogs with Rickettsia infection diagnosed by seroconversion and/or PCR were fever, myalgia, lameness, elevation of C-reactive protein, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates acute febrile illness associated with Rickettsia infection in dogs living in endemic areas of human MSF based on seroconversion alone or in combination with PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Solano-Gallego
- Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola, 08193, , Barcelona, Spain. .,Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, United Kingdom.
| | - Alessandra Caprì
- Clinica Veterinaria Camagna, Reggio, Calabria, Italy. .,Dip.to di Scienze Veterinarie, Polo Universitario Annunziata, Messina, Italy.
| | | | - Marco Caldin
- Laboratorio Veterinario San Marco, Padova, Italy.
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Tangorra RR, Operamolla A, Milano F, Omar OH, Henrard J, Comparelli R, Italiano F, Agostiano A, De Leo V, Marotta R, Falqui A, Farinola GM, Trotta M. Assembly of a photosynthetic reaction center with ABA tri-block polymersomes: highlights on protein localization. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5pp00189g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The micelle-to-vesicle transition technique was used to reconstitute the integral membrane protein photosynthetic reaction center (RC) and the position of the RC in the polymersome vesicle was investigated.
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Carli E, Trotta M, Bianchi E, Furlanello T, Caldin M, Pietrobelli M, Solano-Gallego L. Cytauxzoon sp. Infection in Two Free Ranging Young Cats: Clinicopathological Findings, Therapy and Follow Up. TurkiyeParazitolDerg 2014; 38:185-9. [DOI: 10.5152/tpd.2014.3540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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