Investigations were conducted on a case of generalized dermatitis in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), purchased as a pet. Clinical examination revealed restlessness, agitation, itching and scratching, large alopecic areas, skin congestion and thin whitish scabs. Five skin lesions were scraped and the samples were collected for laboratory tests. Microscopy revealed the presence of the mite Caparinia tripilis (Acari: Psoroptidae). A dermatophyte belonging to Microsporum genus was also isolated by culture on specific media. Selamectin spot-on and enilconazole washes were used for treatment, resulting in skin healing and spines growing. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Caparinia tripilis dermatitis in a hedgehog in Romania.

Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) infection is one of the main causes of diarrhea in calves. The current study assessed the role of blood biomarkers (acute-phase proteins (APPs), procalcitonin, neopterin, cytokines, and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of calves naturally infected with C. parvum. Fifty-seven calves, aged from 10 to 45 days, were detected positive for C. parvum and were allotted into the diseased group; twenty healthy calves were selected as a control group. Serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, cytokines, neopterin, procalcitonin, and stress biomarkers were tested in the diseased and healthy groups. The serum levels of APPs, cytokines, neopterin, procalcitonin, and malondialdehyde increased, whereas antioxidant levels were significantly decreased in diseased calves compared to the healthy group. Moreover, all examined biomarkers were significantly altered towards normal values in infected calves following different treatment protocols. All biomarkers examined were highly effective in discriminating between C. parvum-infected calves and healthy individuals. Furthermore, the area under the curve (AUC) showed that all tested parameters had a higher degree of prognostic accuracy in predicting the treatment response of calves naturally infected with C. parvum. Our data suggest the usefulness of the examined biomarkers in the immune pathogenesis of the C. parvum infection in calves, contributing to diagnosis and treatment efficacy.

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Investigations of four roe deer corpses were carried out from May until October 2014, in the Veterinary Forensic Laboratory and in the Parasitic Diseases Clinic, in the Iasi Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The roe deer were harvested by shooting during the trophy hunting season. The clinical examination of the shot specimens revealed the presence of a highly consistent number of extremely mobile apterous insects, spread on the face, head, neck, lateral body parts, abdominal regions, inguinal, perianal and, finally, all over the body. The corpses presented weakening, anemia and cutaneous modification conditions. Several dozen insects were prelevated in a glass recipient and preserved in 70º alcoholic solution in order to identify the ectoparasite species. The morphological characteristics included insects in the Diptera order, Hippoboscidae family, Lipoptena cervi species. These are highly hematophagous insects that by severe weakening are affecting the game health and trophy quality. Histological investigations of the skin revealed some inflammatory reactions caused by ectoparasite Lipoptena cervi. Lipoptena cervi was identified for the first time in Iasi County, Romania.Keywords: roe deer, Lipoptena cervi, SEM , histopathology, Iasi county RESUMO As investigações de quatro cadáveres de veados foram realizadas desde maio até outubro de 2014, no Laboratório Forense de Veterinária e na Clínica de Doenças

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