The Effects of Animal, Collection Time, and Interval on the Microbiota Structure, Metabolism, and Degradative Potential of Rumen Fluid Inoculum Collected by Esophageal Probe from Hay-Fed Cows.

Rumen fluid (RF) is the greatest source of uncontrolled inter-assay variations in in vitro digestibility tests. This study aimed to investigate the effect of donor cow (DC) individual variability, time relative to feeding, and weekly sampling intervals on RF microbiota structure and metabolism, and on its degradative capacity expressed as enzymatic activity (EA). RF was collected using an esophageal probe from 4 Holstein hay-fed DCs before feeding, and 4 and 8 h post-feeding, over 3 days with one-week intervals, for a total of 3 weeks.

Analysis of the zoonotic tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in raw milk and dairy products in mountain pastures of the Lombardy region, Italy.

Over the last few decades, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has become a growing public health problem in Europe. The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic virus that affects the central nervous system (CNS). TBEV has been detected in 27 European countries, and the rise in TBE cases is mainly due to environmental and ecological factors, and factors that increase the risk of human exposure to infected ticks.

Metabolic profile of Charolais young bulls transported over long-distance.

Long-distance transport can cause stress to beef cattle impairing health and growth performances. This study aimed to deepen the knowledge of the effects of long-distance transport on young bulls' metabolic profile to identify reliable blood parameters for monitoring their health and welfare. Eighty Charolais young bulls, transported for 12 hours to the final fattening unit, were weighed and blood sampled at three time intervals: before leaving the commingling centre (day -1), upon arrival at the fattening unit (day 0), and 7 days post-arrival (day 7).

Contamination source identification for the prompt management of a gastroenteritis outbreak caused by norovirus in drinking water in Northern Italy.

In June 2022, a gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in a town in Northern Italy, possibly associated with the ingestion of norovirus from public drinking water. Noroviruses are highly infectious RNA viruses, with high stability in the environment. They are the primary cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, and despite the fact that the disease is mainly self-limiting, norovirus infection can lead to severe illness in the immunocompromised, the elderly and children.

Milking system and diet forage type effect on milk quality of Italian Holstein-Friesian.

Moving from conventional (CMS) to automatic (AMS) milking systems could affect milk quality. Moreover, the type and preservation methods of the forages used in the TMR, such as alfalfa hay (HTMR) or corn silage (STMR) have been demonstrated to modify milk composition. Thus, this study investigated the effect of implementing AMS and different diet forage types on the quality of Italian Holstein-Friesian bulk milk.

Effectiveness of near-infrared spectroscopy to predict the chemical composition of feces and total-tract apparent nutrients digestibility estimated with undigestible neutral detergent fiber or acid-insoluble ash in lactating buffaloes' feces.

Following a comparison of nutrient total-tract digestibility estimates in lactating buffaloes using single-point undigestible NDF (uNDF) or acid-insoluble ash (AIA) as internal markers, the potential of fecal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to provide calibration equations for the assessment of the chemical composition of feces and nutrient total-tract digestibility estimated with internal markers was explored. Chemical analyses were performed on 147 fecal samples from lactating buffaloes reared on 5 farms in central Italy (Naples). Each farm fed a silage-based TMR to the buffaloes, and the TMR was sampled in the 2 d before the fecal collection.

Does Acidification Affect Urinary Creatinine in Dairy Cattle?

Nitrogen content in urine plays a crucial role in assessing the environmental impact of dairy farming. Urine acidifications avoid urine nitrogen volatilization, but potentially lead to a degradation of creatinine, the most dependable marker for quantifying total urine excretion volume, affecting its measurement. This study aimed to assess how acidifying urine samples affects the concentration and detection of creatinine in dairy cattle.

A case-control autopsy series of liver pathology associated with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Background: Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is most well-known for causing pulmonary injury, a significant proportion of patients experience hepatic dysfunction. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV2 causes liver injury is not fully understood. The goal of this study was to describe the hepatic pathology in a large cohort of deceased patients with COVID-19 as compared to a control group of deceased patients without COVID-19.

The effects of dietary iodine content, milking system, and farming practices on milk iodine concentration and quality traits.

Various management practices can influence milk quality traits in dairy cattle. As an example, an increasing investment in automatic milking system to substitute milking parlors has been observed in the last 2 decades in dairy farms which could have affected certain bulk milk quality traits. What is more, milking practices can also affect certain milk parameters; as an example, teat disinfectants containing I are used in commercial farms where pre- or postdipping is performed, leading to presence of some I in the bulk milk.

Monitoring and Genotyping of in Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish from Northern Italian Seas (2018-2020).

(NoV) is an enteric virus with foodborne transmission. Bivalve shellfish are a main source of infections and outbreaks. In Italy a voluntary based monitoring plan to check the safety of bivalve shellfish was set up at provincial level.

A short-term comparison of wheat straw and poplar wood chips used as litter in tiestalls on hygiene, milk, and behavior of lactating dairy cows.

A short-term study was conducted to compare the effect of using poplar wood chips (PWC) instead of wheat straw (WS) litter in dairy cows. A total of 38 lactating Holstein cows (204 ± 119 days in milk, 26.9 ± 6.

Comparison of chemical composition of organic and conventional Italian cheeses from parallel production.

Although there are several studies comparing organic and conventional milk characteristics, very few focused on dairy processed products such as cheese. Thus, this study aimed for a detailed controlled examination of gross composition, minerals, and the fatty acid profile of organic (ORG) and conventional (CON) Italian cheeses from parallel production. Four Italian cheese types were analyzed: Latteria (ORG, n = 9; CON, n = 10); Asiago Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) fresco (ORG, n = 9; CON, n = 9); Caciotta (ORG, n = 8; CON, n = 8); and Mozzarella Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG; ORG, n = 14; CON, n = 14).

A network meta-analysis of the impact of feed-grade and slow-release ureas on lactating dairy cattle.

A network meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of feeding feed-grade urea (FGU) or slow-release urea (SRU) as a replacement for true protein supplements (control; CTR) in high-producing dairy cattle diets. Research papers were selected (n = 44) from experiments published between 1971 and 2021 based on the following criteria: dairy breed, detailed description of the isonitrogenous diets fed, provision of FGU or SRU (or both), high-yielding cows (>25 kg/cow per day), and results that included at least milk yield and composition, but data on nutrient intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation profile, and N utilization were also considered. Most studies compared only 2 treatments, and a network meta-analysis approach was adopted to compare the effects among CTR, FGU, and SRU.

Effects of the addition of non-fibre carbohydrates with different rumen degradation rates in dairy cow high-forage diets using the Rumen Simulation Technique.

Nutrient synchronisation of protein and carbohydrates is a promising practice to improve ruminal nutrient utilisation. However, dietary sources supplying these nutrients can vary in ruminal nutrient availability due to differing degradation rates, therefore potentially affecting utilisation of nitrogen (N). The effects of the addition of non-fibre carbohydrates (NFCs) with different rumen degradation rates in high-forage diets on ruminal fermentation, efficiency and microbial flow were investigated in vitro using the Rumen Simulation Technique (RUSITEC).

Invited review: Iodine level in dairy products-A feed-to-fork overview.

The theme of iodine in the dairy sector is of particular interest due to the involvement and the interconnection of several stakeholders along the dairy food chain. Iodine plays a fundamental role in animal nutrition and physiology, and in cattle it is an essential micronutrient during lactation and for fetal development and the calf's growth. Its correct use in food supplementation is crucial to guarantee the animal's recommended daily requirement to avoid excess intake and long-term toxicity.

Absence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Italian Lagomorph Species Sampled between 2019 and 2021.

The zoonotic hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) causes most autochthonous human hepatitis E cases in Europe, which are due to the consumption of raw or undercooked food products of animal origin. Pigs and wild boars are considered the main reservoirs of this genotype, while rabbits are the reservoir of a distinct phylogenetic group named HEV-3ra, which is classified within the HEV-3 genotype but in a separate clade. Evidence for the zoonotic potential of HEV-3ra was suggested by its detection in immunocompromised patients in several European countries.

Adherence to Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Catch-Up Campaign at the Romagna Local Health Authority (Italy), a Multi-Center Retrospective Observational Study.

Herpes Zoster (shingles) is an infection that occurs when varicella-zoster virus reactivates from the latent state. Incidence and severity of Herpes Zoster disease increase with age. Antiviral drugs are the elective treatment; however, prevention of disease reactivation through effective and safe vaccines is available in Italy out-of-pocket from age 65 onwards.

The amino acid profile of Camelina sativa seeds correlates with the strongest immune response in dairy ewes.

Camelina sativa is an alternative protein source (with a specific amino acid profile) rich also in bioactive compounds (such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants), which have immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to assess the impact of the dietary inclusion level of Camelina seeds, on the expression levels of key genes involved in ewes' innate immunity. Forty-eight dairy ewes were assigned into four homogenous groups of 12 animals that were fed individually with alfalfa hay, wheat straw, and concentrate.

Is SARS-CoV-2 a Concern for Food Safety? A Very Low Prevalence from a Food Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Italy.

In 2019, SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of an easily transmissible disease that was declared as a world pandemic. Foodborne transmission was never reported. However, early studies suggested that food could be involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry in the human gastrointestinal tract leading to possible infection, and highlighting the importance of further studies to inspect possible issues linked to food consumption.

Detailed comparison between organic and conventional milk from Holstein-Friesian dairy herds in Italy.

Several studies have reported gross composition differences between organic and conventional milk; however, most studies have not considered other factors such as breed and diet ingredients, which are known to influence milk composition. Thus, this study aimed to provide a detailed characterization of Holstein-Friesian cow milk from organic (ORG) and conventional (CONV) herds with similar diet ingredients and in the same geographic area. Bulk milk samples (n = 225) of 12 ORG and 12 CONV farms were collected from September 2019 to August 2020.

Long-term administration of a commercial supplement enriched with bioactive compounds does not affect feed intake, health status, and growth performances in beef cattle.

Feed additives including natural bioactive compounds (BCs) in combination with vitamin E (VitE) and organic Se could mitigate animal stress associated with intensive livestock farming due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Yeast and yeast derivate are included in feed additives as probiotic products and digestion promoters. is a source of bioactive compounds and has been tested in monogastrics, exhibiting many immunostimulating and hepato-protective activities.

Preparation and Asymmetric Induction Evaluation of the First Ephedrine-Based Ligands Immobilized on Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Herein, the synthesis and catalytic activity of two ephedrine-based catalysts and two ephedrine-based magnetic nanoparticle-supported catalysts are reported. All catalysts developed were tested in the addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes and in the Henry reaction. The homogeneous catalysts showed moderate catalytic activity in the organozinc addition and good activity in the Henry reaction, whereas in the case of the nanocatalyst, it was not effective in the addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes and gave reasonable results in the Henry reaction.