Anaplasmosis, babesiosis and theileriosis are the major tick-borne diseases in cattle (TBDs). TBDs are widespread in tropical and temperate regions and are responsible for important economic losses in those areas. In this last part of the review on TBDs of cattle we report the translation of a work of the authors about an epidemiological investigation conducted on 1,500 cattle in three regions of southern Italy in order to assess the presence and prevalence of various pathogens responsible for these diseases and an appendix with additional data on the detection of Theileria bicornis, Theileria sp. Buffalo, Babesia rossi and Ehrlichia spp. Omatjenne, never reported before in Italy.

Tick-borne diseases are widespread in tropical and temperate regions and are responsible for important economic losses in those areas. In order to assess the presence and prevalence of various pathogens in southern Italy, we retrospectively analyzed cattle blood samples collected for a previous study in 2000 using reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization. The study had been carried out in three regions of southern Italy on 1,500 randomly selected and apparently healthy adult cattle. RLB showed that 43.7% of the cattle were positive for nine different species of hemoparasites with either a single infection or a mixed infection. Theileria buffeli was the most common species found, being present in 27.3% of the animals, followed by Anaplasma marginale in 18.1%, Anaplasma centrale in 13.8%, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma bovis in 4.2%, Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 1.7%, Babesia bovis in 1.6%, Babesia major in 0.2% and Babesia divergens in 0.1%. Complete blood counts showed different degrees of anemia in 363 animals (24.2%) and of these, 169 were RLB-positive for at least one pathogen. Among the ticks that were collected from the cattle, the following species were identified: Rhipicephalus bursa, Ixodes ricinus, Hyalomma marginatum, Boophilus annulatus, Dermacentor marginatus and Haemaphysalis (sulcata, parva, inermis and punctata). The results obtained confirmed the spread of endemic tick-borne pathogens in the regions studied.

The present study aims to identify short peptide sequences characterized by a low level of similarity to the canine proteome, and responsible for autoimmune response that characterizes canine pemphigus foliaceous (cPF). As already demonstrated by several authors, in the human model of pemphigus foliaceous and pemphigus vulgaris short peptide sequences from the two antigens of PF and PV (Dsg1 and Dsg3 respectively) with low similarity to the host proteome (mouse and human), are endowed with a high epitopic power (Kanduc, 2009; Kanduc, 2008; Lucchese et al., 2006; Angelini et al.,2006). Five sera from dogs affected by PF were tested with Dot‐blot Immunoassay to evaluate the presence of autoantibodies against two peptides with low similarity to the dog proteome (Canfa, Canis Familiaris): Dsg1_CANFA49‐60 and Dsg3_CANFA48‐59. Two peptides with high similarity to the dog proteome were employed as negative controls : Dsg3_CANFA189‐203 and Dsg3_CANFA372‐379. The same peptide platform was used to test sera from healthy dogs. All the dogs with PF showed antibody reactivity to the low similarity peptide Dsg3_CANFA48‐59. No positivity was detected against the low similarity peptide Dsg1_CANFA49‐60 and the two high‐similarity peptides Dsg3_CANFA189‐203 and Dsg3_CANFA372‐379. No sera belonging to healthy dogs has recognized the two peptide sequences with low similarity neither the two high‐similarity peptides. The data presented in this study should be interpreted as preliminary results of a larger research project which is still in progress. In fact, thanks to the collaboration of many dermatologists throughout the country we are expanding our study to obtain a statistically significant number of samples. However, to date, we report the evidence that circulating antibodies present in the sera of dogs with PF recognize the Dsg3_CANFA48‐59 low similarity peptide sequence. Further studies need to confirm our data and give us a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of the PF.