Publications by authors named "Massacci F"

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to analyze enterococci with linezolid and vancomycin resistance genes from wild boar fecal samples.
  • Five isolates were found to carry resistance genes, with specific strains showing genetic similarities to human isolates.
  • The findings raise concerns about antibiotic resistance and gene exchange between wildlife, humans, and the environment.
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  • Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae causes porcine pleuropneumonia, a serious lung infection in pigs, and is typically managed using antibiotics like phenicols.
  • This study identifies three florfenicol-resistant isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae from Italian pig farms, all harboring the floR gene and showing varying susceptibility levels.
  • Whole genome sequencing revealed moderate virulence traits and the presence of a novel plasmid, pAp-floR, which is closely related to another plasmid and shows stability without selective pressure, emphasizing the need to monitor resistance in this bacterium.
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The impact of soil fertilization with animal manure on the spread and persistence of antibiotic resistance in the environment is far from being fully understood. To add knowledge about persistence and correlations between antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in fertilized soil, a longitudinal soil mesocosm study was conducted. Soil samples were collected from the mesocosms immediately before spreading and then afterward at fifteen time points during a 320-day observation period.

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  • * A survey of 136 veterinarians in Italy showed that nearly 90% are open to using former foodstuffs (FFs) as animal feed, with differences in perceptions based on gender and age.
  • * The study highlights the need for educational initiatives to improve the acceptance of FFs in animal diets, emphasizing their benefits for sustainability in animal production, while also indicating the need for further research on perceptions across different regions.
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  • The study aimed to investigate the global spread of a specific linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis strain (ST476), focusing on its genetic characteristics and distribution.
  • Researchers analyzed genomes from the NCBI database and found 66 isolates from 15 different countries, suggesting a wide geographical presence of this resistant strain primarily in humans and animals.
  • The findings indicate that the optrA gene, responsible for resistance, is closely associated with transposon Tn6674 and that the emergence of this clone poses significant public health risks, highlighting the need for a coordinated One Health strategy to manage its spread.
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Background: Streptococcus suis is an important pig pathogen and an emerging zoonotic agent. In a previous study, we described a high proportion of penicillin-resistant serotype 9 S. suis (SS9) isolates on pig farms in Italy.

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The spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing is a major public health issue. Bivalves are filter-feeder animals capable of bioaccumulating the microorganisms present in water. This physiological characteristic makes them both good indicators of environmental contamination and possible carriers of pathogenic bacteria, including those resistant to antimicrobials.

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The genus comprises a group of bacteria widely distributed in different habitats that can be spread throughout the food chain. Fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides represent the most common antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of infections. However, the increasing trend of the antimicrobial resistance of this pathogen leads to treatment failures.

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This dataset contains expert assessments of the cybersecurity skills required for six job profiles in Europe, as determined via surveys responded by cybersecurity experts from academia and industry. The data can be used to identify educational needs in the cybersecurity sector and compare against other frameworks. The six cybersecurity-oriented job profiles used in the surveys are: General cybersec auditor; Technical cybersec auditor; Threat modelling engineer; Security engineer; Enterprise cybersecurity practitioner; Cybersecurity analyst.

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Objectives: To investigate the optrA-carrying genetic elements and their transferability in two linezolid-resistant Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) strains of swine origin.

Methods: SDSE strains (V220 and V1524) were phenotypically and genotypically characterized.

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Oxazolidinones are critically important antibiotics to treat human infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, therefore the occurrence of linezolid-resistant enterococci from food-producing animals poses a serious risk to human health. In this study, Enterococcus avium 38157 and 44917 strains, isolated from the brain of two unrelated piglets, were found to carry the linezolid resistance genes cfr(D)-optrA, and cfr(D2)-poxtA, respectively. Whole genome sequencing analysis of E.

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Poultry is the most likely source of livestock-associated Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) and plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC)-producing E. coli (EC) for humans. We tested the hypothesis that farming methods have an impact on the load of ESBL/pAmpC-EC in the gut of broilers at slaughter.

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The serotypes of Pasteurella multocida were predicted based on whole genomic sequences (WGS) with specific genes of the capsular and liposaccharide (LPS) outer core polysaccharide regions as targets. A total of 56 strains were whole genomic sequenced and in addition all assembled genomes from NCBI were included for comparison. BIGSdb (Bacterial Isolate Genome Sequence Database) was installed on a Linux server and targets for capsular types A, B, D, E and F were defined as gene sequences of hyaD, bcbD, dcbF, ecbJ and fcbD, respectively and targets for LPS groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were defined as gene sequences of pcgB, nctA, gatF, latB, rmlA, nctB, ppgB and natG, respectively.

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Although its importance, little information is available on antibiotic-resistance in cow-calf beef farms. This study aimed to determine prevalence and risk factors for antibiotic-resistant organisms in this livestock system. Fifty-four farms from Central Italy were included to assess the presence of antibiotic-resistant indicator Escherichia coli and of ESBL and/or AmpC-producing E.

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The aim was to assess the effects of (AN) with/without C-3102 as alternative treatments for Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy (CIE) of dogs. Fourteen CIE patients, which had received the same control (CTR) diet, were enrolled to serially receive three diets: (1) hydrolysed protein (HP) diet; (2) 4.0% AN supplemented HP (HPA) food, (3) HPA diet fortified with 125 billion C-3102 spores/10 kg body weight (HPAB diet).

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study analyzed 78 isolates from diseased pigs in Italy, revealing that nearly 60% of infections were linked to serotypes 1/2 and 9, with distinct clustering patterns among different sequence types.
  • * Many serotype 9 isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin, raising concerns about treatment effectiveness and emphasizing the need for monitoring these S. suis strains in pigs for better disease management.
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  • The study examines the prevalence of specific bacteria in nearly 10,000 ready-to-eat food samples from northern Italy, collected over two years from large retailers and canteens.
  • Samples were divided into two groups: Group A included fully cooked foods ready for immediate consumption, while Group B included a mix of cooked and uncooked items or raw ingredients.
  • Overall prevalence rates for the bacteria were low, at 0.13% for one type and 0.07% for another, providing insights for risk analysis in the safety of ready-to-eat foods.
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The transmission of antimicrobial resistance bacteria from animals to humans has become an important concern. The extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) -AmpC- producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-AmpC EC) and quinolones resistant E. coli are of particular interest.

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Even though SARS-CoV-2's primary transmission pathway is person-to-person, the role played by surfaces and food contact materials in carrying viral RNA should be further explored. For this purpose, the study aimed to investigate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 using the strain ATCC® VR-1986HK™ on flow pack polyethylene (FPP) and polystyrene food trays (PFT). Samples of FPP and PFT were contaminated with heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and were incubated at a temperature of 24 ± 1 °C and at controlled relative humidity (RH 65%).

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The assumption that a cyberattacker will potentially exploit all present vulnerabilities drives most modern cyber risk management practices and the corresponding security investments. We propose a new attacker model, based on dynamic optimization, where we demonstrate that large, initial, fixed costs of exploit development induce attackers to delay implementation and deployment of exploits of vulnerabilities. The theoretical model predicts that mass attackers will preferably (i) exploit only one vulnerability per software version, (ii) largely include only vulnerabilities requiring low attack complexity, and (iii) be slow at trying to weaponize new vulnerabilities .

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The emergence of as the main agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea has raised concerns about its potential zoonotic role in different animal species. The use of antimicrobials is a major risk factor for infection. Here, we provide data on infection in dairy and beef calves in Umbria, a region in central Italy.

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