Many volatile oils are known to possess antifungal properties and are potentially applicable as antimycotic agents. By studying the efficacy of essential oils against different pathogenic mycetes, we have evaluated the in-vitro inhibiting activity of some essential oils and their main constituents against a strain of Candida albicans. Sixteen commercial essential oils and forty-two pure constituents (alcohols, aldehydes, ketons, phenols and hydrocarbons), were tested by using a semisolid agar antifungal susceptibility (SAAS) method. Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analyses of the oils tested were performed. The essential oils of Origanum vulgare, Satureja montana, Mentha piperita, Cinnamomum verum, Cymbopogon flexuosus showed maximum inhibitory activity (MIC = 500 ppm) after 7 days. According to the results of the examination of pure constituents, beta-phellandrene proved to be the most interesting component among cyclic monoterpenic hydrocarbons as it showed a strong activity (MIC = 50 ppm). The most active of phenols was carvacrol (MIC 100 ppm). The open-chain alcohol 1-decanol was the most active of alcohols at 50 ppm. Finally, among aldehydes, a strong activity was shown by trans-cynnamaldehyde (MIC 50 ppm).

Babesia and Theileria species were investigated in wild ungulates of Northern and Central Italy. Of 355 blood samples examined, 108 (30.4%) were positive to molecular diagnostics (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] with specific primers and sequencing). The sequence analysis showed that the roe deer is a susceptible host for several piroplasms belonging both to Babesia (31%) and Theileria (14.2%) species, whereas fallow deer and wild boar harbor only Theileria species (49% and 2.6%, respectively). Strains related to B. divergens are highly present (28.3%) in the roe deer, which, however, also harbors Babesia MO1 type and Babesia microti-like organisms. Babesia EU1 type is described for the first time in a roe deer in Italy. The finding in roe deer of Babesia species involved in human babesiosis is of concern for public health, mainly because ecological changes in progress cause the increase of both the deer species and the vector tick populations.

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Saprolegnia parasitica Coker is the main agent of saprolegniosis, one of the most important causes of economic losses in the fish farming industry, affecting all developmental stages. In this work the activity of some essential oils are compared with the activity of their isolated chemical constituents (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, and hydrocarbons) to evaluate molecular classes active against S. parasitica. This suggests potential new products to use against saprolegniosis. Sixteen commercial essential oils and 37 pure constituents were tested against a strain of Saprolegnia parasitica from cutaneous lesions of Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, using a continuously agitated broth technique that allows both the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLC) to be evaluated. It was possible to evaluate the efficacy of each essential oil against S. parasitica in relation to its specific composition and the efficacy of its main constituents. Carvacrol (MIC of 50 ppm and a MLC of 100 ppm) and pcymene (MIC and MLC = 200 ppm) are the main constituents of Origanum vulgare L. and Thymus vulgaris L. (MIC = 100 ppm, MLC = 200 ppm) and are the primarly responsible for the efficacy of these two essential oils against S. parasitica. The structure of the constituents was also evaluated in relation to their activities against S. parasitica. Besides monoterpenic aromatic compounds, the acyclic mono-and sesquiterpenic primary alcohols and aldehydes seem to be the most active compounds. The open chain alcohol 1-decanol [CH 3 -(CH 2 ) 8 -CH 2 -OH] proved to be the most active agent with a MLC = 50 ppm.

After centuries of massive decline, the recovery of the wolf (Canis lupus italicus) in Italy is a typical conservation success story. To learn more about the possible role of parasites in the wolves' individual and population health and conservation we used non-invasive molecular approaches on fecal samples to identify individual wolves, pack membership, and the taeniids present, some of which are zoonotic. A total of 130 specimens belonging to 54 wolves from eight packs were collected and examined. Taeniid eggs were isolated using a sieving/flotation technique, and the species level was identified by PCR (gene target: 12S rRNA and nad1). Taeniid prevalence was 40.7% for Taenia hydatigena, 22.2% for T. krabbei, 1.8% for T. polyachanta and 5.5% for Echinococcus granulosus. The prevalence of E. granulosus is discussed. Our results show that the taeniid fauna found in wolves from the Foreste Casentinesi National Park is comparable to that described for other domestic and wild Italian canids and provides insights into the wolves’ diet and their relationship with the environment.