Adults of Clinostomum spp. are digenetic trematodes found in fish-eating birds, reptiles and occasionally mammals, including humans. Freshwater snails serve as first intermediate hosts and many fish species and amphibians as second intermediate hosts. To date, amphibian hosts of Clinostomum metacercariae include members of urodele and anuran families in North America, but no data are available on infections of European amphibians, including newts. In this study, we characterize infections of Clinostomum complanatum metacercariae in four smooth (Lissotriton vulgaris) and 18 Italian crested newts (Triturus carnifex) from an artificial pond located in a protected area in Tuscany, Italy. Parasites were surgically removed from the infected newts and identified both morphologically and using sequences of a mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase I, and the ribosomal markers, internal transcribed spacers. This is the first record of C. complanatum in European newts and, more generally, in amphibians in Europe.

Salamandrina perspicillata is an endemic Italian salamander in which morphological sexual dimorphism is weak and sexes are almost indistinguishable in live specimens. We here report on a simple method for sexing these salamanders in the field on the basis of cloacal morphology and we present new data on the sexual dimorphism in this species. Nine morphological characters were used to assess the amount of sexual dimorphism using a multivariate approach (MANCOVA: Wilks' λ = 0.248, P < 0.001). Sexes differed significantly in both size (females are larger than males) and shape (females have proportionally longer distance between extremities, males have longer cloacal slit and wider head). The observed pattern of sexual dimorphism is discussed in an evolutionary context. Difference between sexes in the proportion of the V-shaped patch on the head was also tested. Finally, we also report the first preliminary data on the sex ratio of a S. perspicillata population in the wild.

Sexual dichromatism in animals is usually associated with mating displays and is linked to strong sexual selection. Among amphibians, it has mostly been reported in anurans and only in a few caudates. Here, we investigated sexual dichromatism in the only two extant species of the genus Salamandrina, testing for its possible role in intraspecific communication during the mating rituals of these terrestrially mating salamanders. In both S. terdigitata and S. perspicillata, we highlighted that males have more conspicuous ventral colourations, yet this is limited to the throat region, namely featuring rounder, larger and brighter gular white patches than females. We also described a new mating ritual behaviour performed by male S. perspicillata, that is, a stereotyped throat hyperextension, that enhances the visibility of the dimorphic colouration of the gular region of males, presumably representing a visual cue directed to females. We thereby discuss the potential role of sexual dichromatism in sexual selection and the evolutionary history of the genus Salamandrina.

OBJECTIVE To characterize epidemiological, clinical, radiographic, and echocardiographic features of cardiac diseases in guinea pigs examined at a referral exotics center. ANIMALS 80 guinea pigs. PROCEDURES Medical records of guinea pigs that had echocardiography performed between June 2010 and January 2021 were reviewed. RESULTS The percentage of guinea pig patients with cardiovascular disease was 2.8%. Clinical signs included dyspnea (46/80), lethargy (18/80), and anorexia (10/80). The most common physical examination finding was heart murmur (10/80). Radiographic abnormalities included subjective cardiomegaly (37/67), pleural effusion (21/67), and increased lung opacity (40/67). Median (range) vertebral heart score on right lateral (48/67) and ventrodorsal (39/67) projections was 9.0 vertebrae (6.6 to 13.2 vertebrae) and 10.8 vertebrae (7.9 to 13.2 vertebrae), respectively. The most common echocardiographic diagnosis was cardiomyopathy (30/80), categorized as restrictive (11/30), hypertrophic (10/30), or dilated (9/10). Other cardiac diseases included cor pulmonale (21/80), pericardial effusion (18/80), congenital heart disease (6/80), acquired valvular disease (3/80), and cardiovascular mass (2/80). Congestive heart failure was present in 36 of 80. Median survival time from diagnosis was 2.5 months (95% CI, 1.1 to 6.2 months). Animals that died from heart disease had a significantly shorter survival time than those that died from a noncardiac disease (P = .02). CLINICAL RELEVANCE On radiographs, cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, and alveolar or interstitial lung pattern should be considered as indications for echocardiography in guinea pigs. Cardiomyopathy (restrictive, hypertrophic, or dilated), cor pulmonale, and pericardial effusion were the most common echocardiographic diagnoses. Further studies on diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in guinea pigs are needed.