Droplet Digital RT-PCR (dd RT-PCR) Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Honey Bees and Honey Collected in Apiaries across the Campania Region.

Coronaviruses (CoVs), a subfamily of Orthocoronavirinae, are viruses that sometimes present a zoonotic character. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the recent outbreak of COVID-19, which, since its outbreak in 2019, has caused about 774,593,066 confirmed cases and 7,028,881 deaths. Aereosols are the main route of transmission among people; however, viral droplets can contaminate surfaces and fomites as well as particulate matter (PM) in suspensions of natural and human origin.

Exploring the nature of interaction between shiga toxin producing (STEC) and free-living amoeba - sp.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely distributed protozoa in nature, known to cause severe eye infections and central nervous system disorders. There is growing attention to the potential role that these protozoa could act as reservoirs of pathogenic bacteria and, consequently, to the possibility that, the persistence and spread of the latter may be facilitated, by exploiting internalization into amoebae. Shiga toxin-producing strains of (STEC) are zoonotic agents capable of causing serious diseases, such as hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

The role of staff and contaminated environmental surfaces in spreading of norovirus infection in a long-term health care facility in Italy.

Some residents and people from the staff of a geriatric health care facility in Teramo province, developed acute gastroenteritis from March 8th to March 21st 2017. A prompt epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify the etiological agent, the trace back the potential ways of transmission and control the infection. Information on the outbreak was collected through an epidemiological questionnaire.

Serologic Evidence of Occupational Exposure to Avian Influenza Viruses at the Wildfowl/Poultry/Human Interface.

Ecological interactions between wild aquatic birds and outdoor-housed poultry can enhance spillover events of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) from wild reservoirs to domestic birds, thus increasing the related zoonotic risk to occupationally exposed workers. To assess serological evidence of AIV infection in workers operating in Northern Italy at the wildfowl/poultry interface or directly exposed to wildfowl, serum samples were collected between April 2005 and November 2006 from 57 bird-exposed workers (BEWs) and from 7 unexposed controls (Cs), planning three sample collections from each individual. Concurrently, AIV surveillance of 3587 reared birds identified 4 AIVs belonging to H10N7, H4N6 and H2N2 subtypes while serological analysis by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay showed recent infections caused by H1, H2, H4, H6, H10, H11, H12, and H13 subtypes.

Bacteriophage Therapy to Reduce Colonization of in Broiler Chickens before Slaughter.

Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported gastrointestinal disease in humans. is the main cause of the infection, and bacterial colonization in broiler chickens is widespread and difficult to prevent, leading to high risk of occurrence in broiler meat. Phage therapy represents an alternative strategy to control in poultry.

Characterization and In Vitro Efficacy against of a Newly Isolated Bacteriophage, ɸIZSAM-1.

is a bacterial pathogen responsible of listeriosis, a disease that in humans is often related to the contamination of ready-to-eat foods. Phages are candidate biodecontaminants of pathogenic bacteria thanks to their ability to lyse prokaryotes while being safe for eukaryotic cells. In this study, ɸIZSAM-1 was isolated from the drain-waters of an Italian blue cheese plant and showed lytic activity against antimicrobial resistant strains.

Tracing Back the Evolutionary Route of Enteroinvasive (EIEC) and Through the Example of the Highly Pathogenic O96:H19 EIEC Clone.

Enteroinvasive (EIEC) cause intestinal illness through the same pathogenic mechanism used by spp. The latter species can be typed through genomic and phenotypic methods used for and have been proposed for reclassification within species. Recently the first appearance of a highly pathogenic EIEC O96:H19 was described in Europe as the causative agent of two large outbreaks that occurred in Italy and in the United Kingdom.

Serologic and Virologic Evidence of Influenza A Viruses in Wild Boars ( Sus scrofa) from Two Different Locations in Italy.

Swine influenza viruses (SIVs) have been repeatedly demonstrated to circulate in wild boar ( Sus scrofa) populations, whereas no evidence of exposure to avian influenza viruses (AIVs) has been described in wild boar. To better understand how different environments may influence the ecology of influenza A viruses (IAVs) in wild suid populations, we examined biologic samples of wild boars from two study areas represented by an upland (UL) and a wetland (WL) in northern and central Italy, respectively. Serum samples were collected from 388 wild boars sampled in the UL, whereas both a serum sample and a nasal swab were obtained from each of 35 wild boars sampled in the WL.

Correction to: Detection and full genome characterization of two beta CoV viruses related to Middle East respiratory syndrome from bats in Italy.

After Publication of the article [1], it has been brought to our attention that an author's name has been spelt incorrectly. The correct spelling should be "Massimo Ciccozzi", but it was previously included as "Massimo Cicozzi". The original version has now been revised to reflect this.

Genetic characterization and evolution of H1N1pdm09 after circulation in a swine farm.

Following the emergence of the A(H1N1)pdm09 in humans, this novel influenza virus was reverse transmitted from infected people to swine population worldwide. In this study we investigated the molecular evolution of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus identified in pigs reared in a single herd. Nasal swabs taken from pigs showing respiratory distress were tested for influenza type A and A(H1N1)pdm09 by real-time RT-PCR assays.

Evidence of cross-reactive immunity to 2009 pandemic influenza A virus in workers seropositive to swine H1N1 influenza viruses circulating in Italy.

Background: Pigs play a key epidemiologic role in the ecology of influenza A viruses (IAVs) emerging from animal hosts and transmitted to humans. Between 2008 and 2010, we investigated the health risk of occupational exposure to swine influenza viruses (SIVs) in Italy, during the emergence and spread of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic (H1N1pdm) virus.

Methodology/principal Findings: Serum samples from 123 swine workers (SWs) and 379 control subjects (Cs), not exposed to pig herds, were tested by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay against selected SIVs belonging to H1N1 (swH1N1), H1N2 (swH1N2) and H3N2 (swH3N2) subtypes circulating in the study area.

Novel H1N2 swine influenza reassortant strain in pigs derived from the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus.

Swine influenza monitoring programs have been in place in Italy since the 1990 s and from 2009 testing for the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus (H1N1pdm) was also performed on all the swine samples positive for type A influenza. This paper reports the isolation and genomic characterization of a novel H1N2 swine influenza reassortant strain from pigs in Italy that was derived from the H1N1pdm virus. In May 2010, mild respiratory symptoms were observed in around 10% of the pigs raised on a fattening farm in Italy.

Mutational resistance pattern of HIV type 1 in CD14+ monocytes, CD4+ T cells, and plasma from treated patients.

It is necessary to understand the molecular nature of the virus population that persists in cellular reservoirs. To achieve this we planned to characterize the patterns of resistance of HIV-1 in CD14(+) monocytes, CD4(+) T cells, and plasma. Blood samples were collected from 42 patients treated for HIV: 32 were in virological failure and in 10 viremia was undetectable.

Thymidine kinase and deoxycytidine kinase in HIV-infected children.

It has been demonstrated that HIV infection may affect the levels of thymidine kinase (TK) and deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV infected adults. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of HIV infection and/or antiretroviral therapy on the activity of the above enzymes in HIV-infected children. The results showed that an inter-individual variability in TK and dCK activities does exist in both HIV infected and uninfected children.

Expression levels of MDR1, MRP1, MRP4, and MRP5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV infected patients failing antiretroviral therapy.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the mRNA expression of four relevant ABC-transporter genes [MDR1 (P-glycoprotein; Pgp), MRP1, MRP4, and MRP5] in HIV-positive individuals failing treatment and analyze the association between the levels of their expression and viral load, CD4 cell count, and therapeutic history. Ninety-eight HIV-positive samples and 20 samples from healthy donors were analyzed, retrospectively. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV1-positive individuals were collected at the time of virological failure.