in ready to eat meat products from Zambia: phenotypical and genomic characterization of isolates.

The contamination of ready to eat foods (RTE) products due to could compromise the products safety becoming a great risk for the consumers. The high presence of in RTE products has been described worldwide, but few data are available about these products from African countries. The aims of this study were to report the presence of in Zambian RTE products, providing genomic characterization and data on similarity with African circulating strains using whole genome sequencing (WGS).

Identification of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides from slaughtered cattle in two transboundary states of North‑eastern Nigeria.

This study aimed to perform molecular typing of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides from slaughtered cattle in Adamawa and Taraba States, north‑eastern Nigeria. A total of four hundred and eighty (480) samples of lung tissues, nasal swabs, ear swabs and pleural fluids were collected from cattle at slaughter and processed according to standard laboratory protocols.

Genetic Diversity of Rift Valley Fever Strains Circulating in Namibia in 2010 and 2011.

Outbreaks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) occurred in Namibia in 2010 and 2011. Complete genome characterization was obtained from virus isolates collected during disease outbreaks in southern Namibia in 2010 and from wildlife in Etosha National Park in 2011, close to the area where RVF outbreaks occurred in domestic livestock. The virus strains were sequenced using Sanger sequencing (Namibia_2010) or next generation sequencing (Namibia_2011).

Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia: A Comprehensive Overview.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a respiratory disease of cattle that is listed as notifiable by the World Organization for Animal Health. It is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and causes important productivity losses due to the high mortality and morbidity rates. CBPP is caused by subsp.

Pro-Inflammatory Response of Bovine Polymorphonuclear Cells Induced by subsp. .

subsp. () is the etiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), one of the major diseases affecting cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. Some evidences suggest that the immune system of the host (cattle) plays an important role in the pathogenic mechanism of CBPP, but the factors involved in the process remain largely unknown.

Prevalence of positive in Italian poultry flocks by environmental sampling.

type G is one of the pathogens involved in enteric diseases in poultry. NetB, a pore-forming toxin, is considered the main virulence factor responsible for necrotic enteritis during infection. We carried out a field study involving 14 farms to evaluate the occurrence of positive and the impact of infection in Italian poultry flocks.

Brucellosis and chlamydiosis seroprevalence in goats at livestock-wildlife interface areas of Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe, there have been no chlamydiosis and limited brucellosis studies in goats. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of the two diseases in goats at three different livestock-wildlife interface areas: porous, non-porous and non-interface in the south-eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe. Collected sera (n = 563) were tested for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and the complement fixation test (CFT); and for Chlamydia abortus antibodies using the CFT.

Virulence gene profiles of rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated in Northern Italy.

The virulence gene profile of 26 rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains, isolated from 17 colibacillosis outbreaks located in two regions of Northern Italy, was determined using an Echerichia coli virulence DNA microarray. All strains were classified according to their determined biotype, sero- and phylo-group. The distribution of virulence genes encoding for the Locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), LEE type III secretion system (T3SS), non-LEE T3SS translocated proteins and adherence factors was also determined.

Polymorphonuclear cells and reactive oxygen species in contagious bovine pleuropneumonia: New insight from in vitro investigations.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, a severe respiratory disorder caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm). The present study investigated the generation of ROS by different strains of Mmm, as well as their effect on the oxidative response of bovine neutrophils.

Sero-prevalence of chlamydiosis in cattle and selected wildlife species at a wildlife/livestock interface area of Zimbabwe.

A study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Chlamydia abortus infection in cattle and some selected wildlife species at selected interface areas at the periphery of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area in Zimbabwe. Three study sites were selected based on the type of livestock-wildlife interface, porous livestock-wildlife interface (unrestricted), non-porous livestock-wildlife interface (restricted by fencing), and livestock-wildlife non-interface (totally absent or control). Sera were collected from cattle aged ≥ 2 years representing both female and intact male.

Respiratory explants as a model to investigate early events of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia infection.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a severe disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm). Knowledge on CBPP pathogenesis is fragmented and hampered by the limited availability of laboratory animal and in vitro models of investigation.

Seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and selected wildlife species at selected livestock/wildlife interface areas of the Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe.

A study was conducted to investigate seroprevalence and risk factors for Brucella species infection in cattle and some wildlife species in communities living at the periphery of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area in south eastern Zimbabwe. Three study sites were selected based on the type of livestock-wildlife interface: porous livestock-wildlife interface (unrestricted); non-porous livestock-wildlife interface (restricted by fencing); and livestock-wildlife non-interface (totally absent or control). Sera were collected from cattle aged≥2years representing both female and intact male animals.

Lung lesion score system in cattle: proposal for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a severe infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. The peculiar pathological features of CBPP make desirable the assessment of ad hoc score methods to grade the disease in the affected animals.

Molecular detection of Nigerian field isolates of subsp. as causative agents of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a highly contagious respiratory disease affecting cattle and is widely distributed in the sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to detect subspecies () the causative agent of CBPP from 90 cattle at slaughter using polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length polymorphism. In this study, 450 samples suggestive of CBPP in Maiduguri, Yola and Gombe township abattoirs were processed according to standard protocols.

Bluetongue virus surveillance in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania: Is serotype 26 circulating among cattle and dromedaries?

In March 2013, EDTA-blood and serum samples were collected from 119 cattle and 159 dromedaries at the slaughterhouse of Nouakchott, the capital city of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Serum samples were screened for the presence of Bluetongue (BT) antibodies by competitive ELISA (cELISA). Positive samples were then tested by serum-neutralization (SN) to determine BTV serotype.

Rift Valley Fever Virus among Wild Ruminants, Etosha National Park, Namibia, 2011.

After a May 2011 outbreak of Rift Valley fever among livestock northeast of Etosha National Park, Namibia, wild ruminants in the park were tested for the virus. Antibodies were detected in springbok, wildebeest, and black-faced impala, and viral RNA was detected in springbok. Seroprevalence was high, and immune response was long lasting.

African horse sickness outbreaks in Namibia from 2006 to 2013: clinical, pathological and molecular findings.

African horse sickness (AHS) is a vector‑borne viral disease of equids, endemic in Sub‑Saharan Africa. This article reports the clinic‑pathological and laboratory findings observed in the framework of passive surveillance during the AHS outbreaks which occurred in Namibia between 2006 and 2013. This study was conducted in the framework of the collaboration among the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise (Teramo, Italy), the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture Water and Forestry, and the Namibian National Veterinary Association.

Orbivirus detection from Culicoides collected on African horse sickness outbreaks in Namibia.

African horse sickness (AHS), a non-contagious infectious disease caused by a RNA virus in the Orbivirus genus within the Reoviridae family affecting all equids, is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The virus is transmitted by some species of biting midges in the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). In April 2011, 8 Culicoides collections were performed in 6 districts of 4 regions of the Republic of Namibia (Africa), all within a 400 km radious from the capital Windhoek.

Coxiella burnetii in central Italy: novel genotypes are circulating in cattle and goats.

Genotyping of bacteria is critical for diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiological surveillance. Coxiella burnetii, the etiological agent of Q fever, has been recognized to have a potential for bioterrorism purposes. Because few serosurveys have been conducted in Italy, there is still limited information about the distribution of this pathogen in natural conditions.

High antibody titres against predicted Mycoplasma surface proteins do not prevent sequestration in infected lung tissue in the course of experimental contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a severe respiratory disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm) is endemic in many African countries due to fragmented veterinary services and the lack of an efficient vaccine and sensitive diagnostics. More efficient tools to control the disease are needed, but to develop the tools, a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions is necessary.

Characterization of the in vitro core surface proteome of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides, the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm) is a severe cattle disease, present in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The development of improved diagnostic tests and vaccines for CBPP control remains a research priority.

Rift Valley fever in Namibia, 2010.

During May-July 2010 in Namibia, outbreaks of Rift Valley fever were reported to the National Veterinary Service. Analysis of animal specimens confirmed virus circulation on 7 farms. Molecular characterization showed that all outbreaks were caused by a strain of Rift Valley fever virus closely related to virus strains responsible for outbreaks in South Africa during 2009-2010.

Recent observations on site reactions in cattle to vaccination against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) using T1/44 vaccine in Zambia.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a highly infectious and fatal disease of cattle present in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is usually controlled by mass vaccinations. However, vaccination against CBPP is known to cause site reactions in a percentage of cattle especially in primary vaccinations. In Zambia, a record of site reactions was kept for seven consecutive years from 2005 to 2011 to establish the level of the problem.