High-Pressure Processing of Different Tissue Homogenates from Pigs Challenged with the African Swine Fever Virus.

African swine fever (ASF) is a disease that is a growing threat to the global swine industry. Regulations and restrictions are placed on swine movement to limit the spread of the virus. However, these are costly and time-consuming.

Complete Genome of African Swine Fever Virus Genotype II in Central Italy.

We report here the whole-genome sequence of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype II, strain 20355/RM/2022_Italy, identified in a wild boar in the city of Rome (Lazio region, Italy) in April 2022.

Involvement of the MGF 110-11L Gene in the African Swine Fever Replication and Virulence.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal hemorrhagic viral disease that causes extensive economic and animal welfare losses in the Eurasian pig () population. To date, no effective and safe vaccines have been marketed against ASF. A starting point for vaccine development is using naturally occurring attenuated strains as a vaccine base.

Expression of a recombinant ASFV P30 protein and production of monoclonal antibodies.

Background: African Swine Fever (ASF) is an infectious disease that affects domestic pig and wild boar populations. The ASF Virus (ASFV) has a genome characterized by a very complex DNA (170-193 kb) that encodes for more than 200 different proteins. Among these, the highly immunogenic phosphoprotein p30 plays a fundamental role in the induction of specific antibodies.

Molecular Characterization of the First African Swine Fever Virus Genotype II Strains Identified from Mainland Italy, 2022.

African swine fever (ASF) is responsible for important socio-economic effects in the global pig industry, especially for countries with large-scale piggery sectors. In January 2022, the African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype II was identified in a wild boar population in mainland Italy (Piedmont region). This study describes the molecular characterization, by Sanger and next-generation sequencing (NGS), of the first index case 632/AL/2022 and of another isolate (2802/AL/2022) reported in the same month, in close proximity to the first, following multiple ASF outbreaks.

Serological Cross-Reactivity Between and in a gB-ELISA: A Case Report in Italy.

In this study, we demonstrated for the first time in Italy, the serological cross-reactivity between (BoHV-2) and (BoHV-1). Five months after arriving at a performance test station in Central Italy, a 6-month-old calf, which was part of a group of 57 animals, tested positive for BoHV-1 in a commercial gB-ELISA test. It was immediately transferred to the quarantine unit and subjected to clinical observation and serological and virological investigations.

Assessment of Multicolor Flow Cytometry Panels to Study Leukocyte Subset Alterations in Water Buffalo () During BVDV Acute Infection.

The identification of cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that recognize orthologous leukocyte differentiation molecules (LDM) in buffaloes has overcome a major impediment limiting research on the immune response to pathogens and development of vaccines. As reported, two pilot trials were conducted to accomplish two objectives: (1) demonstrate that multiparameter flow cytometry can be conducted equally well in buffalo with mAbs directly and indirectly labeled with fluorochromes in research and (2) flow cytometry can be used to compare and extend studies on diseases of economic importance to buffalo using bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) as a model pathogen. Pregnant buffalo cows were infected with BVDV-1 at 81 (trial 1) and 203 (trial 2) days post artificial insemination and flow cytometric evaluations were performed at 0, 3, 4, and 14 days after infection (dpi).

Serological relationship between a novel ovine pestivirus and classical swine fever virus.

The genus Pestivirus comprises globally distributed members of the family Flaviviridae, which cause severe losses in livestock. The most common species of the genus are bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 1 (BVDV-1) and type 2 (BVDV-2), classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and border disease virus (BDV). Recently, a novel ovine pestivirus was repeatedly detected in aborted lamb foetuses on a farm located in the Brescia Province (Italy).

Molecular characterization of Italian bovine leukemia virus isolates reveals the presence of distinct phylogenetic clusters.

Disease caused by bovine leukemia virus (BLV) results in significant economic losses to the livestock industry. To date, there is only one report describing the strains found in Italy. BLV strains (n = 24), collected between 2012 and 2016 from four different Italian regions, were genetically analyzed by direct sequencing of a portion of the BLV env gene, and the sequences were compared with those in the GenBank database.

Survival of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in various traditional Italian dry-cured meat products.

A number of animal diseases can be transmitted to pigs via pork meat and pork products imported from infected areas. Therefore, feeding of swill to pigs is regulated or prohibited in many swine-rearing countries. African swine fever is one of the major porcine diseases recognized as significant in this transmission pathway.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Subgenotype 1h Strain Isolated in Italy.

We sequenced the complete genome of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strain UM/126/07. It belongs to subgenotype 1h. The complete genome is composed of 12,196 nucleotides organized as one open reading frame encoding 3,898 amino acids.

Characterization of a novel full-length bovine endogenous retrovirus, BERV-β1.

Recent studies have suggested that certain classes of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) may be present in cattle. The aim of this study was increase the scope of knowledge regarding bovine ERVs. The ovine ERV β1 pro/pol sequence was used to design a primer set for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a similar sequence in the bovine genome.

Increased genetic diversity of BVDV-1: recent findings and implications thereof.

Sequence-based genotyping was recently used to distinguish between the BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 species of the bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). Quite recently, a new putative species, BVDV-3, was also detected. The phylogenetic analysis of the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) and Npro region has revealed at least 17 distinct subtypes for BVDV-1 to date.

Development and Field Testing of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis-Virus (CAEV).

Caprine arthritis/encephalitis (CAE) of goats and occasionally sheep are persistent virus infections caused by a lentivirus (CAEV). This viral infection results in arthritis in adult animals and encephalitis in kids. Prognosis for the encephalitic form is normally poor, with substantial economic loss for the farm.

CA 15-3 cell lines and tissue expression in canine mammary cancer and the correlation between serum levels and tumour histological grade.

Background: Mammary tumours are the most common malignancy diagnosed in female dogs and a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in this species. Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15-3 is a mucinous glycoprotein aberrantly over-expressed in human mammary neoplasms and one of the most widely used serum tumour markers in women with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the antigenic analogies of human and canine CA 15-3 and to assess its expression in canine mammary cancer tissues and cell lines.

Genetic and antigenic typing of border disease virus (BDV) isolates from Italy reveals the existence of a novel BDV group.

Border disease virus belongs to the Pestivirus genus, within the family Flaviviridae. Genetic analysis of pestiviruses isolated from sheep in continental Europe have led to the proposal that BDV isolates are segregated into at least seven clusters. In 2005 the molecular analysis of an Italian caprine BDV strain provided evidence for the presence of an atypical pestivirus, which may represent the first member of a putative novel pestivirus sub-group.

Genetic diversity of bovine viral diarrhea virus 1: Italian isolates clustered in at least seven subgenotypes.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an economically important pathogen of cattle. Two approved species are recognized, namely BVDV-1 and BVDV-2. To date, only 4 subgenotypes of BVDV-2 are known, and at least 11 distinct subgenotypes have been detected for BVDV-1.

Development of a novel hot-start multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of classical swine fever virus, African swine fever virus, porcine circovirus type 2, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine parvovirus.

A novel hot-start multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay was developed and subsequently evaluated for its effectiveness in simultaneously detecting multiple viral infections of swine. Specific primers for each of five virus genomes, namely classical swine fever virus (CSFV), African swine fever virus (ASFV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine parvovirus (PPV) were used. Combined nucleic acid purification was carried out using a commercial RNA/DNA extraction kit.

Acute myeloid leukemia fusion proteins deregulate genes involved in stem cell maintenance and DNA repair.

Acute myelogenous leukemias (AMLs) are genetically heterogeneous and characterized by chromosomal rearrangements that produce fusion proteins with aberrant transcriptional regulatory activities. Expression of AML fusion proteins in transgenic mice increases the risk of myeloid leukemias, suggesting that they induce a preleukemic state. The underlying molecular and biological mechanisms are, however, unknown.