Diverse parasitism in buffalo milk farms of Italy

The present review is aimed at reporting up-to-date information on the diverse parasitism (caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropoda) in buffalo milk farm from central and southern Italy where most Italian water buffaloes are bred. These studies, performed over the last decade, have been conducted using geographical information systems in order to plan the sampling protocols and to analyze and display the results. The progressive transformation of farms (intensive breeding techniques and constant supplies of concentrated and/or stored forages), together with the regular use of anthelmintic treatments, contributed to the decrease in helminth infections and to the concurrent spread in protozoa (Eimeria, Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Neospora) and arthropoda (lice and mange mites). It is noteworthy also the presence of larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus, a zoonotic helminth.