A Case of Dibothriocephalosis () from Iseo Lake (Northern Italy): An Update on a Persistent Sanitary Issue.

Dibothriocephalosis is a fish-borne parasitic zoonosis that is caused by tapeworms of the (syn. ) genus. This paper describes a human case of dibothriocephalosis associated with the consumption of a presumably infected fish, prepared at a restaurant near Iseo Lake (northern Italy).

Comparative analysis of blood protein fractions in two mediterranean farmed fish: Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata.

Total protein levels in fish are widely used in health and welfare studies, providing a simple and accessible measure. However, the multifaceted role of blood proteins makes it sometimes challenging to link total protein content to specific health issues, while specific protein fractions may offer more precise insights into fish biology and health, particularly in farmed fish species where such data is often lacking. Data were gathered from two experiments involving Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata, key species in European marine aquaculture.

Epidemiological cut-off values for Yersina ruckeri disc diffusion data generated by a standardised method.

In order to establish the meaning of data generated in antimicrobial agent susceptibility tests, it is necessary to develop internationally harmonised interpretive criteria. Currently, such criteria have not been developed for data generated in studies of the susceptibility of the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri. This work generated the data that would be required to set epidemiological cut-off values for the susceptibility data of this species that had been generated using a standardised disc diffusion method that specified the use of Mueller Hinton agar and incubation at 22°C for 24-28 h.

Growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed an environmentally and economically sustainable low marine protein diet in sea cages.

The large use of fish meal/fish oil in carnivorous fish feeds is the main concern regarding environmental sustainability of aquaculture. Here, we evaluated the effects of an innovative diet, designed to be (1) environmentally sustainable by lowering the marine protein content while being (2) cost effective by using sustainable alternative raw materials with acceptable cost and produced on an industrial scale, on growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a key species of the Mediterranean marine aquaculture, reared in sea cages. Results show that the specific growth rate of fish fed the low marine protein diet was significantly lower than those fed conventional diet (0.

Farmed fish welfare during slaughter in Italy: survey on stunning and killing methods and indicators of unconsciousness.

Information on slaughter procedures for farmed fish in aquaculture is limited, both in Europe and in Italy, due to a general lack of field data. The aim of this study was to gather information on the procedures used to slaughter fish in Italy and to discuss them considering the WOAH and EFSA recommendations on fish welfare. Using a questionnaire survey, data were collected by official veterinarians in 64 slaughtering facilities where 20 different species of fish were slaughtered.

Epidemiological cut-off values for Vibrio anguillarum MIC and disc diffusion data generated by standardised methods.

This work aims to generate the data needed to set epidemiological cut-off values for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc-diffusion zone measurements of Vibrio anguillarum. A total of 261 unique isolates were tested, applying standard methods specifying incubation at 28°C for 24-28 h. Aggregated MIC distributions for a total of 247 isolates were determined in 9 laboratories for 11 agents.

Setting epidemiological cut-off values for Vibrio harveyi relevant to MIC data generated by a standardised microdilution method.

The lack of internationally harmonised criteria for interpreting the data generated by standardised susceptibility testing methods presents a serious obstacle for the development of prudent use of antimicrobials in aquaculture. The data required to set epidemiological cut-off values for minimum inhibitory concentrations for antibiotic agents against Vibrio harveyi was determined using a standard microdilution method that specified the use of cation-adjusted Mueller Hinton broth and incubation at 28°C for 24 to 28 h. In total, 120 observations were made in 4 independent laboratories from 109 unique isolates.

Retrospective analysis of Vibrio spp. isolated from marketed crustaceans using multilocus sequence analysis.

The genus includes bacteria with different morphological and metabolic characteristics responsible for different human and animal diseases. An accurate identification is essential to assess the risks in regard to aquatic organisms and consequently to public health. The Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) scheme developed on the basis of 4 housekeeping genes (B, H, A and A) was applied to identify 92 strains isolated from crustaceans in 2011.

Red mark syndrome: Is the aquaculture water microbiome a keystone for understanding the disease aetiology?

Aquaculture significantly contributes to the growing demand for food worldwide. However, diseases associated with intensive aquaculture conditions, especially the skin related syndromes, may have significant implications on fish health and industry. In farmed rainbow trout, red mark syndrome (RMS), which consists of multiple skin lesions, currently lacks recognized aetiological agents, and increased efforts are needed to elucidate the onset of these conditions.

Efficacy of DNA Vaccines in Protecting Rainbow Trout against VHS and IHN under Intensive Farming Conditions.

Despite the negative impact of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) on European rainbow trout farming, no vaccines are commercially available in Europe. DNA vaccines are protective under experimental conditions, but testing under intensive farming conditions remains uninvestigated. Two DNA vaccines encoding the glycoproteins (G) of recent Italian VHSV and IHNV isolates were developed and tested for potency and safety under experimental conditions.

Carp edema virus-related mortality in wild adult common carp (cyprinus carpio) in Italy.

Mortality in wild fish populations represents a challenging issue for public fish health inspectors. When a single fish species is involved, an infective aetiology is frequently suspected, with focus on viral notifiable diseases. However, other viral agents not subjected to regulation and causing mortality in common carp have been reported such as carp edema virus (CEV).

Development of molecular and histological methods to evaluate stress oxidative biomarkers in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

In aquaculture, fish species may experience stressful episodes caused by poor farming conditions. The exponential increase of global aquaculture has raised the number of research studies aimed at demonstrating the sensitivity of aquatic animals in confined environments. The development of a real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry methods were investigated to evaluate the presence, localization, and quantity of biomarkers of oxidative stress in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

Induced expression of cathelicidins in trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) challenged with four different bacterial pathogens.

Cathelicidins are an important family of antimicrobial peptide effectors of innate immunity in vertebrates. Two members of this group, CATH-1 and CATH-2, have been identified and characterized in teleosts (ray-finned fish). In this study, we investigated the expression of these genes in different tissues of rainbow trout challenged with 4 different inactivated pathogens.

Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of Vairimorpha austropotamobii sp. nov. (Microsporidia: Burenellidae) and Thelohania contejeani (Microsporidia: Thelohaniidae), two parasites of the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes complex (Decapoda: Astacidae).

The microsporidiosis of the endangered white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes complex has generally been attributed to only one species, Thelohania contejeani, the agent of porcelain disease. Species identification was mostly assessed by macroscopic examination or microscopic evaluation of muscle samples rather than by molecular or ultrastructural analyses. A survey conducted on A.

Genomic Sequencing of Ranaviruses Isolated from Edible Frogs ().

Ranaviruses were isolated from wild edible frogs () during epizootics in Denmark and Italy. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that these isolates are closely related and belong to a clade of ranaviruses that includes the ranavirus (ADRV), common midwife toad ranavirus (CMTV), ranavirus (THRV), and pike-perch iridovirus (PPIV).

Occurrence and molecular characterisation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in crustaceans commercialised in Venice area, Italy.

Infections due to the pathogenic human vibrios, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus, are mainly associated with consumption of raw or partially cooked bivalve molluscs. At present, little is known about the presence of Vibrio species in crustaceans and the risk of vibriosis associated with the consumption of these products. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and concentration of the main pathogenic Vibrio spp.

Synergistic effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and marination treatment on the inactivation of hepatitis a virus in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

Consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked mussels contaminated with hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a major cause of infection to humans. The origin of mussels commonly used for the preparation of marinated seafood salads is often unknown, since different producers worldwide undergo a precooking treatment at the original collection site with methods and parameters not always indicated. These treatments could be insufficient for the inactivation of HAV, which is characterized by a high temperature resistance.

Determination of microbial diversity of Aeromonas strains on the basis of multilocus sequence typing, phenotype, and presence of putative virulence genes.

The genus Aeromonas has been described as comprising several species associated with the aquatic environment, which represents their principal reservoir. Aeromonas spp. are commonly isolated from diseased and healthy fish, but the involvement of such bacteria in human infection and gastroenteritis has frequently been reported.