Veterinaria Italiana (Journal)
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A Newcastle disease live virus vaccine is safe and efficacious at various storage conditions.
Get PDFPure, potent and efficacious vaccines could help in the control of Newcastle disease (ND). The present study was designed to evaluate the thermo-stability of a live-attenuated ND virus vaccine containing the Mukteswar strain and to genetically characterize the seed virus. Moreover, the presence of extraneous agents (Fowl adenovirus, Mycoplasma, Salmonella Pullorum, and Salmonella Gallinarum) was assessed using polymerase chain reactions (PCR) optimized for detection in a panel. The vaccine was evaluated for its potency and efficacy after storage at 4°C, 25°C and 37°C for 36, 48, 96 and 144 hours. A total of 100 commercial broiler chickens were randomly divided into six groups and immunized with the vaccine stored at specified temperatures for the given times. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-vaccination, sera were separated and antibody titers were assessed using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Reverse-transcription PCR targeting the F gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and subsequent sequence analysis confirmed the presence of NDV in the vaccine seed (deposited to GenBank Acc. Nos. MK310260 and MK310261). Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close resemblance of the vaccine virus with other Avian Avulaviruses (NDV class II Genotype III viruses and more specifically with NDV Mukteswar vaccine strains), yet it was distinct from NDV class II Pakistani field isolates, which grouped into genotype XIII.2.1. The PCR testing confirmed that the vaccine was free from extraneous agents. The present study’s findings propose an alternative rapid PCR-based method to evaluate the purity of NDV live vaccines. Together these data suggest that the tested vaccine is pure, potent and efficacious, yet continuous maintenance of the cold chain for vaccine storage is recommended to maintain its potency and efficacy
Comprehensive genetic analysis of the first near-complete genome of bovine coronavirus and partial genome of bovine rotavirus in Türkiye through metagenomics
Get PDFObtaining the complete or near-complete genome sequence of pathogens is becoming increasingly crucial for epidemiology, virology, clinical science and practice. This study aimed to detect viruses and conduct genetic characterization of genomes using metagenomics in order to identify the viral agents responsible for a calf's diarrhoea. The findings showed that bovine coronavirus (BCoV) and bovine rotavirus (BRV) are the primary viral agents responsible for the calf's diarrhoea. The current study successfully obtained the first-ever near-complete genome sequence of a bovine coronavirus (BCoV) from Türkiye. The G+C content was 36.31% and the genetic analysis revealed that the Turkish BCoV strain is closely related to respiratory BCoV strains from France and Ireland, with high nucleotide sequence and amino acid identity and similarity. In the present study, analysis of the S protein of the Turkish BCoV strain revealed the presence of 13 amino acid insertions, one of which was found to be shared with the French respiratory BCoV. The study also identified a BRV strain through metagenomic analysis and detected multiple mutations within the structural and non-structural proteins of the BRV strain, suggesting that the BRV Kirikkale strain may serve as an ancestor for reassortants with interspecies transmission, especially involving rotaviruses that infect rabbits and giraffes
Toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in some animal-originated food products marketed in Turkey: presence and Public Health concerns
Get PDFThis study aimed to detect the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in some animal source food (ASF) including emulsified meat products (sausage and salami), dry fermented meat product (soudjouk), semi dry meat product (pastrami) and raw chicken meat. Sixty six (38.8%) of 170 samples were found to be positive for S. aureus. It was determined that S. aureus was found in 17 (56.6%) salami, 27 (54%) raw chicken meat, 9 (30%) soudjouk, 9 (30%) pastrami, 4 (13.3%) sausage samples. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) were identified in 5 out of 66 (7.5 %) isolates food matrices including 3 (4.5%) SEA, 2 (3.03%) SEC. The sea and sec genes were detected in 3 (4.5%) of 66 isolates. The results of this study highlight the need to provide suitable control strategies concerning production, sales, and storage to prevent the spread of enterotoxigenic S. aureus isolates in ASF. The key contribution of this study is its revelation of the presence of S. aureus in animal products sold in Turkish local markets, highlighting the potential public health risks associated with animal foods
Serological and molecular study on caprine brucellosis in Puducherry (India) and its public health significance
Get PDFCaprine brucellosis due to Brucella melitensis is an important zoonotic disease. The present study was carried out to address the lack of a comprehensive study on the status of caprine brucellosis in Puducherry, India using serological and molecular tests in goats and to assess the seroprevalence in human risk groups of the aforementioned region to ascertain the public health significance of the disease. Seroprevalence in 120 goats was found to be zero, 3.33% and 18.33% by Rose Bengal agglutination Test (RBT), Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT) and Immunoglobulin G Indirect Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbant Assay (IgG iELISA) respectively. Of the 120 goat genital swabs screened, while conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected genus specific 16S rRNA and Brucella melitensis specific omp2 genes in 17.50% and 5.00% of samples respectively, the OMP31TaqMan® real time PCR with a positive detection of 40.00% was both the most sensitive and specific for detection of Brucella melitensis. The study provides insight into the optimization of diagnostic tests following cluster wise sampling for brucellosis in goats. The strain of Brucella melitensis in Puducherry was found to be Biovar 3 based upon suggestive results of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of omp2 gene product. Seroprevalence by IgG iELISA was 33.33 % in 30 samples from human subjects. Serological evidence of caprine brucellosis in goats and human subjects and molecular detection of Brucella melitensis in Puducherry, India warrants regular screening, surveillance and reporting of disease in goats and human risk groups
SPREAD: Spatiotemporal Pathogen Relationships and Epidemiological Analysis Dashboard
Get PDFIn the scope of public health, the rapid identification and control of infectious disease outbreaks are a paramount concern. Traditional surveillance methods often face challenges in effectively combining genetic, geographical, and temporal data, which is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of disease transmission dynamics. Addressing this critical need, the Spatiotemporal Phylogenomic Research and Epidemiological Analysis Dashboard (SPREAD) emerges as an innovative standalone web-based application. SPREAD integrates several modules for detailed genomic relationships, pinpointing genetically close pathogens, and spatial mapping, providing in-depth views of how diseases spread across populations and territories, with significant advantage to manage both bacteria and viruses based on allele and variant calling, respectively. Designed for broad accessibility, SPREAD operates seamlessly within web browsers, eliminating the need for sophisticated IT infrastructure and facilitating its use across various public health contexts. Its intuitive interface ensures that users can effortlessly navigate complex datasets, facilitating widespread access to advanced surveillance capabilities. Through its initial deployments, SPREAD has proven instrumental in quickly identifying transmission clusters, significantly aiding in the formulation of prompt and targeted public health responses. Through the integration of state-of-the-art technology with a focus on user-centered design, SPREAD offers a promising solution that highlights the potential of digital health innovations
A Spatial Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (SMCDA) to map the risk of avian influenza in Lazio and Toscana (central Italy)
Get PDFAvian influenza (AI) is a global concern, affecting wild and domestic bird populations worldwide. Environmental conditions facilitating the presence of wild birds and a consistent domestic bird population contribute to the introduction and spread of AI within a territory. This study focuses on the identification of major risk areas for AI in the Lazio and Toscana Regions of central Italy using Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (SMCDA). Through the integration of eleven risk factors regarding domestic bird farms and facilities, wild birds density, water bodies, and roads network, a suitability map for AI introduction and spread was generated. The findings reveal that approximately 30% of Lazio and 20% of Toscana are at high risk for AI introduction and spread. Notably, the implementation of rigorous biosecurity measures in intensive poultry industries has significantly prevented the occurrence of AI outbreaks, even in areas considered at risk. The study emphasizes the importance of informed decision-making in AI risk management, highlighting the potential applications of the SMCDA in prioritizing surveillance efforts and planning control programs. Furthermore, it underscores the need for continuous data updating and comprehensive preventive strategies to address the complex dynamics of AI transmission and safeguard both poultry and human health
Survey on husbandry and cheese manufacturing practices in small ruminants’ farmhouse dairies in Central Italy
Get PDFFarmhouse cheeses made from raw ovine or caprine milk are very popular among the consumers not only in Italy but also overseas because of their unique organoleptic properties. These cheeses are usually manufactured, according to traditional methods, in small rudimental facilities adjacent to the farm where the achievement of satisfactory hygienic standards can be challenging. However, the lack of systematic data about farm management and the cheese manufacturing processes hampers the conduction of specific risk assessment studies. In order to fill the knowledge gaps, we collected relevant data, through a questionnaire – based survey, from 125 small ruminants’ farmhouse dairies spread in Lazio. Results showed that 1.1% of registered farms process their own milk for the production of raw milk cheeses. Hand milking is still applied in almost half of them and most products are subject to a short ‑ to ‑ medium ripening period which might not be sufficient to reduce eventual pathogen load. Products are mainly sold directly to consumers on the farm premises. Our results suggest the need to support these artisan cheese producers in order to improve the production standards without altering the traditional cheesemaking practices. The reported data are also useful for specific risk assessment studies.I formaggi a latte crudo ovino o caprino sono molto apprezzati dai consumatori non solo in Italia ma anche all'estero per le loro proprietà organolettiche uniche. Questi formaggi sono solitamente prodotti, secondo metodi tradizionali, in piccole strutture rudimentali adiacenti all'allevamento dove il raggiungimento di standard igienici soddisfacenti può essere impegnativo. Tuttavia, la mancanza di dati sistematici sulla gestione dell'azienda agricola e sui processi di produzione del formaggio ostacola la conduzione di studi specifici di valutazione del rischio. Al fine di colmare le lacune, è stata condotta un’ indagine conoscitiva su 125 caseifici aziendali sparsi nel Lazio attraverso la somministrazione de due questionari che hanno permesso di raccogliere dati rilevanti sulle modalità di conduzione dell’allevamento e della produzione casearia. I risultati hanno mostrato che l'1,1 % delle aziende registrate trasforma il proprio latte per la produzione di formaggi a latte crudo. La mungitura manuale è ancora applicata in quasi la metà di essi e la maggior parte dei prodotti è sottoposta a un periodo di stagionatura da breve a medio che potrebbe non essere sufficiente a ridurre l'eventuale carica di agenti patogeni. I prodotti sono venduti principalmente direttamente ai consumatori nei locali dell'azienda agricola. I nostri risultati suggeriscono la necessità di supportare questi produttori artigianali per migliorare gli standard di produzione senza alterare però le pratiche casearie tradizionali. I dati riportati sono utili anche per studi specifici di valutazione del rischio
Study of the proviral load levels and mRNA expression of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and somatic milk cells in cattle with different BLV infection profiles
Get PDFThe retrovirus bovine leukemia virus (BLV) might produce abnormal immune function, associated with susceptibility to developing other infectious diseases, including mastitis. This study aimed to determine the proviral load and cytokines gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) and milk somatic cells (SC) in BLV-infected and non-infected cattle. Of 27 BLV-infected cows in PBMC, 17 (62.96%) had a high proviral load (HPL), and 10 (37.04%) had a low proviral load (LPL). All SC samples had low proviral load (LPL-SC). Higher IFN-γ and IL-10 expression, and lower IL-12 and IL-6 expression, were found in PBMC from BLV-infected compared to BLV non-infected cattle. Moreover, higher IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-6 expression, and lower IL-10 expression were observed in cattle with LPL-PBMC compared to HPL-PBMC. In milk samples, lower IFN-γ and higher IL-12 mRNA expression were observed in LPL-SC compared to BLV non-infected cattle in SC. IL-10 and IL-6 expression mRNA was significantly lower in LPL-SC than in SC from BLV non-infected cattle. This study shows that milk SC maintains lower proviral load levels than PBMC. This first report on Th1 and Th2 cytokines expression levels in SC may be relevant to future control strategies for BLV infection, mastitis, and udder health management
Pneumorrhachis in a cat: case study and a literature review
Get PDFA three‑year‑old domestic shorthair cat was referred for treatment of pelvic limb paralysis. Imaging examinations revealed air in the spinal canal (pneumorrhachis). A right‑sided hemilaminectomy was performed to decompress the spinal cord, which led to full resolution of the symptoms within four weeks after the procedure. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous pneumorrhachis in a cat. As there are no treatment standards, we would like to add to their creation. The available literature on pneumorrhachis has also been reviewed
Mon 31 Guida alla gestione integrata dei roditori sinantropici Mus domesticus, Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus
No full textI roditori sono presenti in tutto il mondo, con la sola eccezione del continente Antartico, dove occupano una grande varietà di nicchie ecologiche. Esistono 2552 specie di roditori. Un numero ridotto di queste specie, dette sinantropiche, condivide gli spazi di vita dell’uomo, grazie alla disponibilità di cibo e di ricoveri.
Nella guida saranno presi in considerazione i roditori sinantropici considerati nocivi (conosciute quindi come pest species), presenti nelle aree urbane e periurbane italiane (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus e Mus domesticus). Un breve cenno sarà fatto ad altri piccoli roditori diffusi in Italia appartenenti alla superfamiglia Muroidea, al fine di rendere possibile una veloce identificazione e differenziazione dai primi.
Tra le particolarità comuni a tutti i roditori la dentatura rappresenta uno degli aspetti peculiari. Tra le caratteristiche principali vi sono:
l’assenza dei canini e di alcuni denti iugali con diastema tra incisivi e molari che consente di serrare le labbra dietro gli incisivi durante il rosicchiamento di materiali non commestibili;
la presenza di due paia di incisivi, uno per arcata. Ciò li differenzia dai lagomorfi, che presentano due paia di incisivi nell’arcata superiore e un paio in quella inferiore;
la crescita continua degli incisivi che si protrae per tutta la vita e che determina la necessità di eroderne continuamente il profilo tramite il rosicchiamento in modo da conservarne la corretta funzionalità.
Altre caratteristiche distintive sono:
presenza di masseteri superficiali ed esterni particolarmente sviluppati;
odorato molto sensibile che consente loro di individuare le fonti di cibo a notevoli distanze, di individuare la presenza di urina dei predatori e di captare i feromoni che regolano le relazioni intraspecifiche;
udito che permette di cogliere ultrasuoni (vedi capitolo Mezzi fisici);
presenza di vibrisse e peli tattili molto sensibili che favoriscono il comportamento tigmotattico (la tendenza a muoversi sempre a diretto contatto con gli oggetti);
senso del gusto molto sviluppato.
I roditori sinantropici hanno il più alto tasso di mutazioni tra i mammiferi e ciò, associato ad una attitudine riproduttiva molto alta, caratterizzata da un elevato numero di nati per anno, può portare ad un veloce adattamento a nuove condizioni.
Tali caratteristiche anatomiche associate alle capacità adattative permettono ai roditori sinantropici una diffusione molto estesa negli ambienti utilizzati dall’uomo. La loro presenza può essere causa di gravi problemi tra i quali danni a edifici e strutture, imbrattamenti fecali, contaminazione di alimenti, riduzione di riserve di cibo, ecc. Frequenti sono i danni dovuti al rosicchiamento della guaina isolante esterna dei fili elettrici che possono causare cortocircuiti e incendi. A ciò si aggiungano i rischi sanitari, rappresentati dalla possibilità di trasmissione di malattie infettive, e le enormi spese sostenute dalle amministrazioni e dai privati per il controllo di queste popolazioni