Review
Veterinary Sciences
Carlos Landaeta-Aqueveque, Lucila Moreno Salas, AnaLia Henriquez, Maria C. de la Fuente, Daniel Gonzalez-Acuna
Summary: Invasive rodent populations pose a threat to biodiversity and public health due to the transmission of parasites and zoonotic diseases. The study found that parasites circulate freely between native and introduced rodents, with generalist parasites being more easily shared. Most zoonotic parasites were reported in invasive rodents, highlighting the importance of monitoring these populations for public health concerns.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Saskya Van Nouhuys, David C. Harris, Ann E. Hajek
Summary: Parasitic nematodes and hymenopteran parasitoids are introduced and used to control invasive Eurasian Sirex noctilio woodwasps. In North America, the native parasitoids have expanded their host ranges to attack this invader. The distribution and interactions between S. noctilio, natural enemies, and native parasitoids were investigated. S. noctilio were strongly aggregated, with high parasitism by the invasive nematode and the most abundant native parasitoid. There is little evidence for direct competition between nematodes and parasitoids but negative association between native parasitoids suggests competition with the most abundant native parasitoid.
Article
Ecology
Fangfang Huang, Qiaoqiao Huang, Xianhua Gan, Weiqiang Zhang, Yuedong Guo, Yuhui Huang
Summary: The study found that as conspecific abundance increased and heterospecific abundance decreased, Mikania micrantha increased intraspecific competition tolerance and intra- vs. interspecific competitive ability, but decreased interspecific competition tolerance. The soil biota has a significant impact on the evolution of competitive ability of invasive plants.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Andreas M. Waser, Jeffrey Knol, Rob Dekker, David W. Thieltges
Summary: The invasion of Pacific oysters did not significantly impact the infection rate of P. ciliata in mussels, suggesting little spillback effects. Instead, the invasive oysters themselves may be affected by acquiring native P. ciliata infections, which warrants further research.
JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Geoffrey R. Smith
Summary: Species that arrive earlier may consume a limited resource, leaving fewer resources for later-arriving species, resulting in competitive effects even if they are temporally separated. A predator's presence may influence legacy effects by affecting the behavior or survivorship of the early species. This study examined whether the presence of nonnative Western Mosquitofish mediated legacy effects in the interaction between temporally separated American Toads and Bullfrogs.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Callum D. Martin, Michelle T. Fountain, Mark J. F. Brown
Summary: Commercially-reared bumblebee colonies can acquire parasites from wild bees, leading to potential risks of parasite spill-back to wild bee populations. More research is needed to assess the extent of this threat, and seasonal management and treatment of commercial colonies may help mitigate the risks of parasite spill-back.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Mathematics
Sze-Bi Hsu, I-Fang Sun
Summary: This paper investigates a mathematical model of two host species competing for a limited resource mediated by parasites. The model suggests that species 1 is a superior competitor in the absence of parasites, and the competitive outcome is determined by the contact rate of the superior competitor in the presence of parasites. By analyzing the conditions for the existence of various equilibria and conducting stability analysis, two bifurcation diagrams are presented for further understanding.
TAMKANG JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Francesca Santicchia, Lucas Armand Wauters, Claudia Tranquillo, Federica Villa, Ben Dantzer, Rupert Palme, Damiano Preatoni, Adriano Martinoli
Summary: Free-living animals use physiological and behavioural responses to cope with environmental stressors. These responses are integrated within a coping style, which may change when exposed to human-induced rapid environmental change. This study found that an invasive alien species disrupts the behavioural syndrome of a native species, but does not influence its coping style.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Claudia Tranquillo, Lucas Armand Wauters, Francesca Santicchia, Damiano Preatoni, Adriano Martinoli
Summary: This study investigated the morphological differences and personality trait differences of Eurasian red squirrels in different habitats. The results showed that squirrels living in the marginal habitat were smaller and lighter, and they were more active, explorative, and social than squirrels in other habitats. However, the squirrels in the marginal habitat showed less behavioral plasticity.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Matteo Tonni, Claudia Romeo, Nicoletta Formenti, Maria Beatrice Boniotti, Flavia Guarneri, Livio Colosio, Simone Andreoni, Federico Scali, Giovanni Loris Alborali
Summary: The efficacy and reliability of a monitoring plan for PRRS based on PF sampling in Italian swine production system were assessed. The two methods agreed in discriminating between herds with stable and unstable PRRSV circulation, but showed slight discrepancy in classifying high- and low-prevalence herds within unstable herds.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Clara Tattoni, Marco Galaverni, Antonio Pollutri, Damiano G. Preatoni, Adriano Martinoli, Jorge E. Arana
Summary: The unequal distribution of costs and benefits of living with wildlife is a cause of human-carnivore conflicts. The Apennine brown bear, endemic to central Italy, has both ecological value and the ability to attract nature-seeking tourists. The economic value of this flagship species as a destination image was calculated using the Advertising Value Equivalent of the bears' appearances in national media, which greatly exceeded the reimbursements the park received for managing the bear. This cultural value evaluation can help highlight the economic benefits provided by the bear and contribute to discussions with managers and stakeholders.
HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Flavia Guarneri, Cristina Bertasio, Claudia Romeo, Nicoletta Formenti, Federico Scali, Giovanni Parisio, Sabrina Canziani, Chiara Boifava, Federica Guadagno, Maria Beatrice Boniotti, Giovanni Loris Alborali
Summary: The emergence of colistin resistance, including mobile colistin resistance gene mcr, is a growing concern due to its last-resort status in treating severe gram-negative bacterial infections. The isolation of an mcr-9-positive E. coli from a piglet in Italy, the first of its kind in the country, revealed the presence of multiple resistance genes on an IncHI2 plasmid. Interestingly, despite being phenotypically resistant to six antimicrobial classes, the isolate remained susceptible to colistin, possibly due to unfavorable genetic background for mcr-9 expression. These findings underscore the importance of a comprehensive approach to understand antimicrobial resistance, including phenotypical testing, targeted PCR, WGS-based techniques, and information on antimicrobial usage.
Review
Ecology
Lucas A. Wauters, Peter W. W. Lurz, Francesca Santicchia, Claudia Romeo, Nicola Ferrari, Adriano Martinoli, John Gurnell
Summary: The eastern gray squirrel has been listed as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species by the IUCN. In Europe, its introduction has resulted in the extinction of native Eurasian red squirrels in the areas it has colonized. This replacement of native species by an alien competitor is a clear example of the devastating effects of biological invasions on native fauna.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Stefano Comazzi, Sharon Guanziroli, Alessia Giordano, Nicoletta Formenti, Tiziana Trogu, Luca Corlatti, Camilla Luzzago, Nicola Ferrari
Summary: Collection of blood from jugular vein or intrathoracic cavity is commonly used for sampling dead wildlife, but it often introduces preanalytical biases. Cavernous sinus of dura mater is proposed as an alternative site for blood withdrawal, but its usability for biochemistry is unclear. This study compares metabolic profiles from cavernous sinus and jugular vein blood in red deer to assess the feasibility of cavernous sinus for metabolic profiling. The results show that the samples from cavernous sinus have a lower hemolysis rate and a higher percentage of samples suitable for biochemistry compared to jugular vein. There are statistical differences in some metabolic parameters between the two sites, and caution should be taken when interpreting the results.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudia Romeo, Joel Filipe, Lucas A. Wauters, Stefano Comazzi, Federica Riva, Nicola Ferrari
Summary: Based on the EICA hypothesis, reduced investment in immunity after parasite loss may explain the success of invasive alien species. By investigating parasite load and immune responses of Eastern gray squirrels, we found that individuals at the invasion front dampened their inflammatory response and increased their investment in acquired immunity, suggesting a shift in immune strategies along the invasion wave.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Claudia Romeo, Giovanni Parisio, Federico Scali, Matteo Tonni, Giovanni Santucci, Antonio M. Maisano, Ilaria Barbieri, M. Beatrice Boniotti, Tomasz Stadejek, G. Loris Alborali
Summary: PRRS is a major disease in pigs worldwide, causing significant economic losses. The high mutation rate and low cross-protection between strains make it difficult to control. This study in Italian pig nurseries demonstrates that strict biosecurity measures are crucial in limiting the spread of PRRSV and minimizing losses.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Claudia Tranquillo, Lucas A. Wauters, Francesca Santicchia, Mattia Panzeri, Damiano Preatoni, Adriano Martinoli, Francesco Bisi
Summary: In an urban environment, both native and invasive tree squirrels showed changes in body size and body mass. The invasive grey squirrels were slightly larger in urban areas compared to other regions, while both species were heavier in urban sites than in rural areas.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sergio Ghidini, Federico Scali, Claudia Romeo, Federica Guadagno, Antonio Marco Maisano, Silvio De Luca, Maria Olga Varra, Mauro Conter, Adriana Ianieri, Emanuela Zanardi, Giovanni Loris Alborali
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of gastric lesions in heavy pigs in Italy, and found a high incidence of ulcers, which were associated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Matteo Nava, Luca Corlatti, Nicoletta Formenti, Tiziana Trogu, Luca Pedrotti, Alessandro Gugiatti, Paolo Lanfranchi, Camilla Luzzago, Nicola Ferrari
Summary: Parasites can alter host behavior to increase their survival and transmission. This study found that infection with Toxoplasma gondii was associated with an increased risk of being culled in red deer, especially in females, individuals with moderate-good body condition, and areas with higher human presence. These findings suggest that T. gondii may play a role in the risk behavior of large herbivores.