39 research outputs found
Detection of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups O157 and O26 in the cecal content and lymphatic tissue of cattle at slaughter in Italy
No full textVerocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) has emerged as a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe and
potentially fatal illnesses, such as hemorrhagic colitis or the hemolytic uremic syndrome. In this study, 182 cattle at slaughter
(119 dairy cows and 63 feedlot cattle) were randomly selected and tested for the presence of VTEC serogroups O26, O103,
O111, O145, and O157 in their cecal content and lymphatic tissue (tonsils or mesenteric lymph nodes). A total of 364 samples
were evaluated with an immunomagnetic separation technique followed by slide agglutination. Presumptive VTEC O26, O103,
O111, O145, and O157 isolates were tested by Vero cell assay for verocytotoxin production and by multiplex PCR assay for
the detection of vtx1, vtx2, eae, and E-hlyA genes. VTEC O157 was detected in 6 (3.3%) of 182 animals, and VTEC O26 was
detected in 1 (0.5%) of 182 animals. No VTEC O103, VTEC O111, or VTEC O145 isolates were found in cattle feces, but
one VTEC O91:H vtx2
, eae, E-hlyA strain nonspecifically cross-reacted with the VTEC O103 type. The prevalence of
VTEC O157 in the lymphatic tissue of cattle was 1.1% in both tonsils (1 of 93 samples) and mesenteric lymph nodes (1 of
89 samples). Lymphatic tissue contamination was observed only in VTEC O157 intestinal carriers; two (33.3%) of six fecal
carriers were simultaneously VTEC O157 lymphatic carriers. This finding suggests that VTEC O157 contamination of meat
does not necessarily come from feces or the environment. No other VTEC serogroups were detected in the lymphatic tissue of slaughtered cattle
Impiego della tecnica di immunofluorescenza diretta nella diagnosi di influenza suina: comparazione con l’isolamento del virus.
No full textIs there a relation between genetic or social groups of mallard ducks and the circulation of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses?
No full textWe investigated the circulation dynamics of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) reservoir in Italy. In particular, we evaluated the temporal distribution of virologic findings by combining virus isolation data with a new population genetic-based study approach. Thus, during 11 consecutive sampling periods (wintering periods between 1993/94 and 2003/04), categorised into 40 sampling sub-periods, cloacal swab samples were collected from 996 wild and 16 captive-reared mallards, to be screened by RT-PCR before attempting influenza A virus isolation in embryonated eggs. Forty-eight LPAIVs were isolated from wild mallards and antigenically characterised by haemagglutination-inhibition and neuraminidase-inhibition assays. When considering LPAIV antigenic subtypes in which more than one mallard tested virus isolation positive (H1N1, n. 22; H2N3, n. 2; H5N3, n. 2; H6N5, n. 3; H6N8, n. 2; H7N3, n. 3; H11N6, n. 5), at least two birds infected with a specific HN subtype clustered within one same sampling sub-period. In the context of the novel population genetic approach, total DNA was extracted from a subset of 16 captive-reared and 65 wild ducks (2000/01 and 2001/02 sampling periods) to assess genetic diversity by amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) markers. Analyses of AFLP results showed that captive-reared mallards clustered together, whereas two main independent clusters characterised the distribution pattern of most wild mallards. Within this subset of samples, nearly identical H7N3 LPAIV strains were isolated from two wild mallards belonging to the same genetic cluster. Blood sera were also collected from the above subset of mallards and examined for antibodies to the homologous H7N3 virus strain. Four out of six wild mallards testing H7N3-seropositive by haemagglutination-inhibition assay (2001/02 period) belonged to the genetic cluster including H7N3 virus shedding ducks. Overall, our data raise the possibility of an enhanced transmission and circulation of LPAIVs in genetic or social groups of wild mallards, gathered in flocks possibly related by parentage and/or geographic origin
T.F.P.I. - Test Fonetico per la Prima Infanzia: Extension of the normative sample and study of the acquisition of the phonetic and phonological system in Italian monolingual children
No full textreservedIl progetto di tesi si focalizza sul tema dell’acquisizione del sistema fonetico-fonologico in bambini monolingui italiani, attraverso la presentazione del Test Fonetico per la Prima Infanzia (T.F.P.I., Zmarich, Bonichini, Motterle e Bonifacio, non pubblicato). Tale strumento permette di descrivere l’ordine cronologico e sequenziale con cui vengono acquisiti i foni dell’italiano presso bambini monolingui e inoltre permette di valutare le competenze fonetiche e fonologiche dei soggetti.
Il progetto di tesi ha previsto la somministrazione del Test Fonetico a un campione di soggetti reclutati nel territorio di Padova tramite la Scuola dell’Infanzia con nido integrato “Giovanni XXIII” (Albignasego, PD). In questo modo, è stato possibile ampliare il campione normativo del TFPI
Virological Surveillance of Influenza Virus Type A, B, C, D in Italy
No full textBackground
Influenza A, B, C and D (IAV, IBV, ICV, IDV) viruses are genus of Orthomixoviridae family that can cause influenza in humans and animal. IAVs infect humans, mammal and avian species. IBV is considered a common seasonal human pathogen but can also infect pigs and seals , while ICV causes mild infection in humans. ICV has been isolated once from swine in China. IDV was first identified in 2011 in pigs with influenza-like illness but later researchers have found that IDV is widespread and fairly common in cattle IDV zoonotic role is under investigation.
AIM: To investigate the circulation of IAV, IBV, ICV, IDV in cattle, swine and human in Italy.
Methods
Since 2015 onwards we performed a virological screening by real-time RT-PCR for influenza viruses on respiratory samples collected in Northern Italy from cattle (IBV, ICV, IDV) and swine (IAV, IBV, ICV, IDV) ). Full genomes of IAVs and IDVs were sequenced.
Human samples collected during the InfluNet programme (annual active surveillance of IAV and IBV in humans), were examined for ICV and IDV by Real-time RT-PCR.
Results
Swine: we examined 856 herds and found 34% positive for IAV and 1.75% for IDV. IBV and ICV were not detected
Cattle: we examined 888 herds and found 7.6% positive for IDV. IBV and ICV were not detected
Humans: IAV or IBV were detected in 46.9% of the samples examined in the InfluNet programme in the Italian Area considered. We examined 1491 respiratory samples, IAV/ IBV negative, and we detected ICV in 0.7% of the examined cases. IDV was not detected.
Genetic analysis of IDV from swine and cattle confirmed the circulation of viruses clustering with D/swine/Oklahoma/1334/2011 while the genetic analysis of IAVs from swine showed a more complicated situation with the circulation of multiple reassortant genotypes (H1N1,H1N2,H3N2).
Conclusions
The study showed cattle the most susceptible species to IDV infection whilst it was confirmed that IAV circulates with high prevalence among pigs. The high genotypic variability of Italian swine IAVs has undergone further growth. Circulation of ICV or IBV in cattle or swine was not demonstrated. The study did not prove IDV circulates among humans while ICV was detected only in 0.7% of respiratory illness. Despite a high positivity for IAV and IBV in humans, introduction of genes from human influenza viruses to animal species was limited to H1N1pdm 09 derived viruses detected in swine population
Historic Costume Simulation and its Application
No full textThis study highlights the potential of new technology as a means to provide new possibility for costumes in fragile condition to be utilised. The aim of this study is to create accurate digital duplicates of costumes from historical sources, and to explore the possibility of developing them as an exhibitory and educational method applying 3D apparel CAD and new media. To achieve this, three attributes for qualities of effective digital costumes were suggested: faithful reproduction, virtual fabrication, and interactive and stereographic appreciation. Based on these qualities, digital costumes and a PC application were produced and evaluated
Defect pair formation in fluorine and nitrogen codoped TiO<sub>2</sub>
No full textTitanium oxide is intensively investigated because of its high chemical stability and its photocatalytic properties, nevertheless, the large band gap limits its activity to a small portion of the solar spectrum. Nitrogen and fluorine codoping is an efficient defect engineering strategy to increase the photocatalytic activity of titanium oxide. In the present study, we apply density functional theory to investigate the interaction of nitrogen with fluorine and the formation of defect pairs. We show that in fluorine and nitrogen codoped titanium oxide the FiNi, FONi and FiNTi defects can form. Their impact on the electronic structure of titanium oxide is discussed. Publisher Statement: This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. The following article appeared in Kordatos, A, Kelaidis, N & Chroneos, A 2017, 'Defect pair formation in fluorine and nitrogen codoped TiO2' Journal of Applied Physics, vol 123, 161510 and may be found at https://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.500002
Epidemiological survey of swine influenza A virus in the wild boar population of two Italian provinces
No full textContinued Evolution of H1N1 and H3N2 Influenza Viruses in Pigs in Italy
No full textAbstractSwine influenza viruses possessing avian genes were first detected in Europe in 1979 (Scholtisseket al.,1983,Virology,129, 521–523) and continue to circulate in pigs in that region of the world. To characterize the molecular epidemiology of swine influenza viruses currently circulating in Europe, we used dot-blot hybridization and sequence analysis to determine the origin of the genes encoding the nonsurface proteins (“internal” genes) of 10 H1N1 and 11 H3N2 swine influenza viruses isolated in Italy between 1992 and 1995. All of the 126 genes examined were of avian origin; thus the currently circulating H3N2 strains which possess A/Port Chalmers/1/73-like surface glycoproteins appear to be descendants of the reassortant human–avian viruses that emerged between 1983 and 1985 in Italy. Sequence analysis of matrix (M), nonstructural, and nucleoprotein genes, as well as phylogenetic analysis of M gene showed that the H1N1 and H3N2 viruses from the pigs were closely related to recent isolates of the avian-like swine H1N1 influenza strain currently circulating in northern Europe and were distinguishable from the genes of viruses isolated from European swine in 1979. To evaluate the frequency of transmission of swine H1N1 and H3N2 viruses to man, we tested 123 human sera for hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against avian and mammalian H1N1 and H3N2 virus strains. Our findings indicate that swine influenza viruses possessing A/Port Chalmers/1/73-like hemagglutinin may have transmitted to approximately 20% of young persons under 20 years of age who had contact with pigs. Thus, H3N2 swine viruses, possibly possessing avian-derived internal genes, may be entering humans more often than was previously thought. We strongly recommend that pigs be regularly monitored as a potential early warning system for detection of future pandemic strains
