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Insects could be potential nutritional sources both for humans and animals. Among these, Hermetia illucens, with good amount of chitin and proteins, represents a suitable diet replacement for laying hens. Little is known about insect diet effects on the microbial ecology of the gastrointestinal tract and bacterial metabolites production. In this study we investigated the effect of H. illucens larvae meal administration on cecal microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production in laying hens. 16S rDNA sequencing showed strong differences between cecal microbiota of soybean (SD) and insect diet (ID) groups both in type and relative abundance (unweighted and weighted beta diversity) of microbial species. In particular, Bacteroides plebeius, Elusimicrobium minutum, Alkaliphilus transvaalensis, Christensenella minuta, Vallitalea guaymasensis and Flavonifractor plautii represented the principal contributors of changes in gut microbiota composition of ID group (FDR p-values

International audience; no abstract

A growing body of data supports the hypothesis that probiotics can exert psychotropic effects. Recently, it has been demonstrated that in mice the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus impacts behavior and produces neuroactive substances such as GABA and serotonin, which act on the brain-gut axis. We tested the effects of L. rhamnosus on behavioural and swimming performance in zebrafish (Danio rerio), a well known model organism in translational neuroscience and behavioural research. Adult zebrafish were treated for 28 days with L. rhamnosus, and parameters were measured weekly. Spontaneous activity of fish was evaluated with a video-tracker software, while maximal swimming performance was individually evaluated in a swimming tunnel. Compared with control fishes, treated animals displayed an increase in growth rate and mean spontaneous swimming speed, as well as a change in the shoaling behavior. On the other end, no effect was observed in the maximal swimming speed in a sprint swimming protocol.

A total of 170 birds of prey admitted to two Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centers of Italy were examined. Birds were subdivided in diurnal (n=15) and nocturnal (n=7) species, sampled by cloacal swabs and examined for Campylobacter spp. by cultural and molecular methods. Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 43 out of the 170 (25.3%) birds of prey examined. Among these, 43/43 (100%) were identiied as C. jejuni and 10/43 (23.3%) were identiied as C. coli recovered from mixed infections. Diurnal birds of prey showed a signicantly higher prevalence value (P = 0.0006) for Campylobacter spp. than nocturnal birds of prey.

Forty common swifts (Apus apus), synanthropic birds living in an urban environment closely with humans and other animals, were hospitalized in the public veterinary hospital of the Regional Reference Center of Urban Veterinary Hygiene located in Naples, Campania Region, Italy. Each bird was sampled for bacteriological analyses. Out of 40 common swifts examined, eight were found positive for Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis although no sign of salmonellosis (e.g. diarrhoea) was shown. Our results suggest this avian species as a novel potential reservoir for one of most important Salmonella serovars.

This study reports the results of a survey aimed at investigating the spatial distribution of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella spp. from urban pigeons (Columba livia) of the coastal area of the Campania region (southern Italy). A geographical information system (GIS) of the Campania region was constructed utilizing as datalayers the administrative boundaries (at provincial and municipal levels) of the coastal area of the region. As a result, this territory was divided in 60 municipalities, the centroid of each municipality was identified and among all those present into the GIS database municipalities involved by waste crisis (n = 23) and municipalities without waste crisis (n = 37) were identified. Thirty pigeons closest to the centroid in each municipality were trapped and sampled by cloacal swabs for a total of 1,800 pigeons. Samples were analyzed by cultural, PCR and serotyping methods in order to isolate and to identify Campylobacter spp., E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. Data regarding waste crisis (presence/absence) were analysed by univariate (Pearson’s chi-square test for independence) statistical analysis, using each bacteria’s (C. jejuni , E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp.) status (positive/negative) as dependent variables. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 48.3% (870/1800), 7.8% (141/1800), and 0.9% (16/1800) for C. jejuni, E. coli O157, and S. Typhimurium, respectively. Pigeons sampled in the municipalities with the waste emergency showed a prevalence of infection significantly higher than that seen in pigeons sampled in the municipalities without the waste emergency. These findings clearly showed that urban pigeons in the coastal area of the Campania region may constitute an environmental reservoir of pathogens representing thus a source of infection for other birds, livestock and humans.

Salmonella spp. and oxyurids are among the most prevalent bacterial and parasitic agents in reptiles. These organisms are routinely isolated in healthy tortoises, although heavy infections may cause significant pathology. Tortoises are considered a common source of reptileassociated salmonellosis, an important zoonosis reported worldwide. A survey of the prevalence of almonella spp. and oxyurids in 53 tortoises was conducted in southern Italy and a possible correlation between the two pathogens was therefore investigated. Salmonella spp. and oxyurids were detected with a prevalence of 49.1 and 81.1%, respectively. A significant positive correlation between Salmonella spp. and oxyurids was demonstrated. However, confounding factors related to husbandry could have been involved in determining this correlation. Our results suggest that caution should be exercised in translocation, husbandry, and human contact with tortoises and other exotic pets. Further studies on the epidemiology, molecular characterization and pathogenesis of Salmonella and oxyurids are needed to assess the actual impact of these organisms, as single or associated infections, on tortoises and on other exotic pets.

La corizza infettiva è una malattia acuta sostenuta da Avibacterium paragallinarum che colpisce l’apparato respiratorio dei polli. Si manifesta con secrezioni nasali abbondanti, edema facciale e congiuntivite. Per prevenire l'infezione sarebbe necessario evitare di mescolare animali di età diversa separando i gruppi nuovi dai vecchi, controllare l’areazione degli ambienti, eliminare gli animali che hanno superato la malattia perché rimangono portatori e quindi potenziali diffusori di infezione. La diagnosi può essere effettuata attraverso esami di laboratorio su animali malati o morti. La vaccinazione può risultare necessaria solo negli allevamenti industriali.

AIM: To evaluate the presence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in stray cats in southern Italy. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen animals were trapped in two different environments (urban area, harbour area) of the city of Naples. From each cat, rectal swabs were collected. The samples were processed in order to detect thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. by culture methods. The positive samples were then confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 19/113 (16.8%) stray cats, whereas Campylobacter coli was not isolated. The cat data (age, environment and sex) were analysed by two statistical analyses using the C. jejuni status (positive/negative) as a dependent variable. As regards statistical regression model results, age and environment were risk factors for C. jejuni positivity. In particular, cats older than 1 year had a significantly higher risk of being positive for C. jejuni than cats aged up to 1 year (OR = 10.440; P = 0.000). Moreover, cats living in the harbour area had a significantly higher risk to be a carrier of C. jejuni than cats living in urban area (OR = 17.911; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present survey confirm stray cats as potential carriers of C. jejuni. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first study on the prevalence of C. jejuni in stray cats in Europe.