Marcello Sala

Publications of Marcello Sala

• Feline injection-site sarcoma: Recurrence, tumour grading and surgical margin status evaluated using the three-dimensional histological technique.

  Authors: Chiara Giudice, Damiano Stefanello, Marcello Sala, Matteo Cantatore, Fulvia Russo, Stefano Romussi, Olga Travetti, Mauro Di Giancamillo, Valeria Grieco

  Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997). 10/2009;

  The three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised felineThe three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised feline injection-site sarcoma specimens. The predictive value of the histological margin status and tumour grading on local recurrence was investigated. In 32/48 cases, the margins were non-infiltrated, whilst in the remaining 16 cases, they were infiltrated. Overall, 6/32 (19%) tumours with non-infiltrated margins and 11/16 (69%) with infiltrated margins recurred. Tumours with infiltrated margins recurred about 10 times more frequently compared to tumours with non-infiltrated margins (P=0.0011). No statistically significant correlation was observed between grading and recurrence. The assessment of margin status using the 3D histology technique showed a good predictivity for post-surgical tumour recurrence. Extensive application of the 3D histology technique is recommended to standardise the evaluation of histological margins and to allow comparison between results from different laboratories.

• Abomasal nematode community in an alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) population before and after a die-off.

  Authors: Carlo V Citterio, Chiara Caslini, Franco Milani, Marcello Sala, Nicola Ferrari, Paolo Lanfranchi

  The Journal of parasitology. 11/2006; 92(5):918-27.

  Abomasa of 185 chamois shot during 5 consecutive hunting seasons were collected as part of a health monitoring program in an alpine area of Italy and examined for nematodes. The data were obtainedAbomasa of 185 chamois shot during 5 consecutive hunting seasons were collected as part of a health monitoring program in an alpine area of Italy and examined for nematodes. The data were obtained during both the preceding period and that following a severe die-off caused by a pneumonia outbreak. Prevalence, mean abundance, mean intensity, and Thul Importance index were consistently high, in particular for Haemonchus contortus, having a low host specificity and high pathogenic potential. Species typical of cervids were also consistently detected. The abomasal nematode community showed an isolationist structure, suggesting its composition was primarily determined by external factors such as interspecific interaction among host species and environmental conditions. The effect of different factors (host sex, sampling site, and time) on nematode counts and aggregation were analyzed and discussed considering the peculiarities of the study site and the chamois population crash. In the light of parallel results for health monitoring, abomasal parasitism could represent a predisposing factor for the observed die-off.

• Host specificity of abomasal nematodes in free ranging alpine ruminants

  Authors: Enrico Zaffaroni, Maria Teresa Manfredi, Carlo Citterio, Marcello Sala, Giuliana Piccolo, Paolo Lanfranchi

  Veterinary Parasitology.

  Abomasums from 641 alpine wild ruminants representing five different species (Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Rupicapra rupicapra, Capra ibex, Ovis musimon) and from 19 domestic sheep (OvisAbomasums from 641 alpine wild ruminants representing five different species (Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Rupicapra rupicapra, Capra ibex, Ovis musimon) and from 19 domestic sheep (Ovis aries) from alpine areas were examined in order to investigate the host-specificity of abomasal helminths. Nine out of 20 helminth species were found in at least five different host species. A discriminant analysis was able to significantly discriminate the hosts on the basis of their helminth community composition with the exception of O. musimon and O. aries. Based on the correlation between each variable represented by helminth species with the most explanatory discriminant axis, it was possible to classify helminths into specialists and generalists. Specialists are represented by the dominant species in a community of an host species or family while generalists appear in the communities of many different hosts as intermediate species. Due to the pathogenic potential of some of these generalist species (i.e. Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei) and their ability to adapt easily to the conditions found in several different hosts, they appear to be the most important from a sanitary point of view.

• Feline injection-site sarcoma: Recurrence, tumour grading and surgical margin status evaluated using the three-dimensional histological technique

  Authors: Chiara Giudice, Damiano Stefanello, Marcello Sala, Matteo Cantatore, Fulvia Russo, Stefano Romussi, Olga Travetti, Mauro Di Giancamillo, Valeria Grieco

  The Veterinary Journal.

  The three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised felineThe three-dimensional histology technique is used in human medicine for the evaluation of complete lateral and deep surgical margins. In this study, the technique was applied to 48 excised feline injection-site sarcoma specimens. The predictive value of the histological margin status and tumour grading on local recurrence was investigated. In 32/48 cases, the margins were non-infiltrated, whilst in the remaining 16 cases, they were infiltrated. Overall, 6/32 (19%) tumours with non-infiltrated margins and 11/16 (69%) with infiltrated margins recurred. Tumours with infiltrated margins recurred about 10 times more frequently compared to tumours with non-infiltrated margins (P = 0.0011). No statistically significant correlation was observed between grading and recurrence. The assessment of margin status using the 3D histology technique showed a good predictivity for post-surgical tumour recurrence. Extensive application of the 3D histology technique is recommended to standardise the evaluation of histological margins and to allow comparison between results from different laboratories.