1,721,035 research outputs found
Risk of Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) introduction and spread in CCHF-free countries in southern and Western Europe: A semi-quantitative risk assessment
Full text linkCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne viral zoonotic disease caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). The disease is usually asymptomatic in domestic and wild animals, both of which may act as reservoirs of the virus. CCHF is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. During the last decade, the emergence or re-emergence of CCHF was described in several countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with an increasing risk of extension into new areas. Given the public health importance, this study undertakes a semi-quantitative risk assessment to analyse the likelihood of entry and exposure of CCHFV into 9 CCHF-free countries in Southern and Western Europe. Based on a framework outlining the probability of the virus entry and exposure, the risk estimates were assessed for each individual country. The risk assessment was performed using information from public databases and the available scientific literature. The likelihood of entry was conducted considering 3 main pathways: infected tick vectors, wildlife and livestock. The likelihood of exposure was assessed considering the probability of survival of the infected ticks once introduced in CCHF-free countries (depending on abiotic and biotic factors), and the exposure of resident uninfected susceptible ticks to infected imported wildlife and livestock. The risk estimates (combined CCHFV introduction and exposure) were low for the majority of the countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia and Switzerland) and medium for France and Italy, if accounting only for animal health consequences. Considering the public health consequences only, the risks were rated low for all the countries, except for Italy where it was assessed to be medium
Crimean–Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in animals: Global characterization and evolution from 2006 to 2019
Full text linkThis study describes the global distribution and temporal evolution of Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) during the period 2006–2019, using the information officially reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) by the National Veterinary Services of 210 countries. Eight per cent (CI 95% 4–12) of the countries reported the disease as present at least once during the study period, whereas 82% (CI 95% 77–87) as absent. Information on CCHF status lacked for 10% (CI 95% 6–13) of the countries. The majority of the countries (46%, CI 95% 39–53) never declared CCHF as notifiable, whereas only 27% (CI 95% 21–33) reported the disease as notifiable during the large majority (≥76%) of the study period. The percentage of countries that routinely applied some CCHF control measures were as following: 14% (CI 95% 9–18) passive surveillance, 3% (CI 95% 0.9–5) active surveillance and 1% (CI 95% -0.2–3) control of vector. The time series analysis indicates a significant decreasing trend in the percentage of countries reporting no information, whereas the percentage of countries applying disease control measures significantly increase. This finding may reflect the increased awareness on the importance of the disease and the increased efforts to monitor virus circulation in animals through the application of surveillance programmes. Out of 25 countries reporting cases in humans since 2006, only 12 report cases in animals, pointing out the lack of surveillance capacity in animal populations for some countries. The paucity of CCHF notifications in animals may also reflect the difficulty in identifying the infection due to absent or mild clinical signs. Given that the implementation of surveillance programmes by the Veterinary Services is an essential tool for monitoring the virus circulation and prevent its further spread, National Veterinary Services should keep monitoring and reporting information on CCHF, and at the same time, they should improve the quality and accuracy of the information provided
A systematic review and meta-analysis of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in wild boars
Full text linkThis systematic review and meta-analysis summarize the available information on Hepatitis E virus (HEV) -specific antibody seroprevalence and HEV RNA prevalence in wild boar, one of the most abundant game species worldwide. A literature search (CAB Abstracts, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus) was performed to find relevant peer-reviewed works published during the period 1990–2020. A random-effect model was carried out to calculate the pooled HEV-specific antibody seroprevalence and HEV RNA prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals, and I2 statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity of the data. Values by subgroups were compared according to the geographical area, age class (≤ 12 months old and > 12 months old), and sample type (bile, faeces, liver, meat/muscle, serum). Sixty-nine publications were selected, with the majority of the studies from Southern Europe (n = 27). The pooled HEV-specific antibody seroprevalence in wild boar was 28% (CI95% 23–34) and the HEV RNA prevalence 8% (CI95% 6–10). The analysis highlighted a significant heterogeneity among the estimates from the included studies (I2 = 98% and I2 = 95% for HEV-specific antibody seroprevalence and viral prevalence respectively). The moderator analysis indicated a statistically significant difference (p-value = 0.03) for the HEV RNA prevalence according to the sample type, with the highest value in bile (17%, CI95% 9–27), followed by liver (10%, CI95% 7–14), serum (7%, CI95% 4–10), faeces (5%, CI95% 2–9), and meat/muscle (3%, CI95% 0.04–10). Finally, the HEV RNA prevalence in Europe (8.7, CI95% 6.7–11) was significantly (p-value = 0.04) higher than in Asia (4, CI95% 0.6–8). The analysis highlights the important role of wild boar in the epidemiology of HEV
Ricerche sulla presenza di virus influenzali e relativi anticorpi in cavalli importati dall'estero a scopo di macellazione
No full textSeroprevalence of coxiella burnetii in dairy cattle and buffalo from southern italy
Full text linkA cross-sectional survey was carried out in dairy cattle and buffalo herds from the Southern Italy to detect antibodies against Coxiella burnetii. From 2014 to 2018, 402 herds were monitored and 50 mL of bulk-tank milk (BTM) per farm was analyzed by indirect ELISA. Blood samples of animals from positive farms were also taken and analyzed with the same ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence was 35% [95% Confidence interval (CI):30-39] at herd level and 13% (95%CI:13-14) at animal level. Herd province seroprevalences ranged from 17% to 75%. The provinces of Matera (71%, 95%CI:38-105) and Agrigento (75%, 95%CI:51-100) showed the highest percentage of infected farms. These results describe the widespread distribution of C. burnetii in livestock from Southern Italy, highlighting the need to implement a monitoring program for Q fever
Inactivated vaccine induces protection against Mycoplasma agalactiae in sheep
No full textThe efficacy of an inactivated oil-emulsion vaccine against Mycoplasma agalactiae was evaluated by an experimental infection of sheep. The vaccinated sheep developed high levels of antibodies and, following challenge, they did not develop any clinical signs of disease and the mycoplasmas were not detected, either by isolation trials or PCR assays carried out both on nasal swabs and milk specimens. The unvaccinated-challenged sheep showed typical signs of M. agalactiae infection and bacterial shedding. The results obtained indicate a good efficacy of the vaccine in eliciting protection against M. agalactiae infection
Infezione da caprine herpesvirus 1 e mortalità neonatale in capretti. Large animals review
No full textPersistent pestivirus infection in sheep in Apulia (Southern Italy)
No full textA study in a flock of 100 sheep was carried out to detect animals persistently infected with Border Disease Virus (BDV). From buffy coats of animals without neutralizing antipestivirus antibodies, 6 non cytopathic pestiviruses were isolated in cell cultures. Using 3 monoclonal antibodies, the 6 viruses were initially characterized as BDV strains
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