Angiostrongylosis in northeastern Italy: First report of two autochthonous fatal cases in dogs and first detection in a wild red fox.

Canine angiostrongylosis is an emergent cardio-pulmonary gastropod-borne helminthic infection caused by the metastrongyloid nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum. Clinically, it is characterized by a wide spectrum of non-specific signs and the red fox serves as the most important reservoir for dog infections. In Italy, this disease has been well documented both in northwestern and central-southern regions, whereas it is apparently poorly recognized in the northeastern area of the country.

An international inter-laboratory study on Nosema spp. spore detection and quantification through microscopic examination of crushed honey bee abdomens.

Nosemosis is a microsporidian disease causing mortality and weakening of honey bee colonies, especially in the event of co-exposure to other sources of stress. As a result, the disease is regulated in some countries. Reliable and harmonised diagnosis is crucial to ensure the quality of surveillance and research results.

Identification and characterization of a spreadable IncI1 plasmid harbouring a bla gene in an Italian human isolate of Salmonella serovar Napoli.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Napoli (S. Napoli) ranks among the top serovars causing human infections in Italy, although not common in other European countries.

The Interplay between Campylobacter and the Caecal Microbial Community of Commercial Broiler Chickens over Time.

is the most frequent foodborne zoonotic bacteria worldwide, with chicken meat being overwhelmingly the most important reservoir for human infections. Control measures implemented at the farm level (i.e.

Interface between Bats and Pigs in Heavy Pig Production.

Bats are often claimed to be a major source for future viral epidemics, as they are associated with several viruses with zoonotic potential. Here we describe the presence and biodiversity of bats associated with intensive pig farms devoted to the production of heavy pigs in northern Italy. Since chiropters or signs of their presence were not found within animal shelters in our study area, we suggest that fecal viruses with high environmental resistance have the highest likelihood for spillover through indirect transmission.

Steps of the Replication Cycle of the Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia Virus (VHSV) Affecting Its Virulence on Fish.

The viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), a single-stranded negative-sense RNA novirhabdovirus affecting a wide range of marine and freshwater fish species, is a main concern for European rainbow trout () fish farmers. Its genome is constituted by six genes, codifying five structural and one nonstructural proteins. Many studies have been carried out to determine the participation of each gene in the VHSV virulence, most of them based on genome sequence analysis and/or reverse genetics to construct specific mutants and to evaluate their virulence phenotype.

Donkey assisted interventions: A pilot survey on service providers in North-Eastern Italy.

Context: Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI), which are generally defined as 'pet therapy', focus on the improvement of human health and wellbeing through a multidisciplinary approach and the involvement of domestic animals. An Italian survey conducted in 2017 revealed that donkeys were the third most involved species in AAI. Nevertheless, data on the main features of the providers of Donkey Assisted Interventions (DAI), especially in Italy, and their organisational models are scarce.

Effect of sterilization on the canine vaginal microbiota: a pilot study.

Background: Surgical sterilization is the most effective method of contraception for dogs. It also prevents pyometra and reduces the risk of mammary tumour development. However, this procedure also has negative effects, such as urinary incontinence.

Serum S100B protein as a marker of severity in Covid-19 patients.

SARS-CoV-2 infection shows a wide-ranging clinical severity, requiring prognostic markers. We focused on S100B, a calcium-binding protein present in biological fluids, being a reliable biomarker in disorders having inflammatory processes as common basis and RAGE as main receptor. Since Covid-19 is characterized by a potent inflammatory response also involving RAGE, we tested if S100B serum levels were related to disease severity.

Divergent minute virus of canines strains identified in illegally imported puppies in Italy.

Minute virus of canines (MVC) belongs to the family Parvoviridae, genus Bocaparvovirus, and has been mainly described during enteritis episodes in young dogs. This study reports the characterization of four divergent MVC strains detected between 2012 and 2018, three of which were from dogs illegally imported into Italy, most probably from Eastern Europe, that cluster together phylogenetically but share low genetic similarity with the fourth MVC from an autochthonous dog and other available MVC sequences. Our data indicate that the introduction of genetically distinct MVC strains occurred through the illegal movement of dogs from a geographic area where a distinct MVC lineage was most likely circulating.

Antimicrobial Use in Broilers Reared at Different Stocking Densities: A Retrospective Study.

According to the Directive 2007/43/EC, broiler farms can house animals up to 39 kg/m, provided that specific environmental requirements are met. However, limited information is available about the effects of stocking density (SD) on broiler health and welfare, including the need for antimicrobial use. In this study, annual data on mortality, feed conversion rate, and antimicrobial use (AMU) are compared between broiler farms with stocking densities of 39 kg/m (N = 257) and 33 kg/m (N = 87).

Canine leishmaniosis in the Italian northeastern Alps: A survey to assess serological prevalence in dogs and distribution of phlebotomine sand flies in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol, Italy.

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol (APB), located in the northernmost territory of the Italian eastern Alps, is still considered non-endemic for canine leishmaniosis (CanL) despite clinical cases being observed and a competent Leishmania infantum vector (Phlebotomus perniciosus) having been recorded since 2008. A serological survey of leishmaniosis among a randomly-selected subpopulation of registered owned dogs was carried in 2018, followed by entomological investigations performed in 2019 and driven by canine survey results. A total of 457 resident dogs from all over the APB territory were examined through IFAT for antibodies against L.

Author Correction: Unrevealed genetic diversity of GII Norovirus in the swine population of North East Italy.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Canine Leishmaniosis Control through the Promotion of Preventive Measures Appropriately Adopted by Citizens.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a disease caused by the protist and transmitted to dogs by sand fly (Diptera: Phlebotominae) bites. In 2005, a new autochthonous focus of CanL was recognised in the southern part of Euganei hills (northeastern Italy). In subsequent years, this outbreak was monitored, testing dogs and evaluating sand fly population.

Resistant and susceptible rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) lines show distinctive immune response to Lactococcus garvieae.

Lactococcosis is one of the main bacterial diseases affecting rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), with significant economic and sanitary repercussion. Vaccination and antibiotic treatments are commonly used to prevent and control the infection outbreaks; however, these strategies have some drawbacks including limited coverage, handling costs, induction of antibiotic resistance and chemical residues in the environment. Selective breeding programs represent a promising complementary approach for increasing fish disease resistance in commercial farms and some immunological parameters may be tentatively used as indirect indicators for this purpose.

Koi herpesvirus disease outbreak: Input for the implementation of a surveillance program in South Tyrol - Italy.

A severe episode of high and abnormal mortality was observed in the population of Cyprinus carpio of Lake Caldaro (South Tyrol, Italy) in summer 2016. The diagnostic investigation carried out led to the identification of Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) as the etiologic agent. Following this disease outbreak and its socio-economic consequences, the local authorities, in agreement with the local Fishing Association, decided to implement a surveillance program for the achievement of KHV-free health status (Category I) in the Province, in accordance to the Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1554.

Infection Dynamics of and Other Respiratory Mycoplasmas in Newly Imported Bulls on Italian Fattening Farms.

Italian beef production is mainly based on a feedlot system where calves are housed with mixed aged cattle often in conditions favourable to bovine respiratory disease (BRD). In Veneto, an indoor system is also used for imported bulls around 300-350 kg. Mycoplasmas, in particular and , contribute to BRD in young calves, but their role in the disease in older cattle has not been investigated.

Unrevealed genetic diversity of GII Norovirus in the swine population of North East Italy.

Noroviruses (NoVs) are one of the major causative agents of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. NoVs, belonging to Caliciviridae, are classified into ten genogroups (G) and eight P-groups based on major capsid protein (VP1) and of the RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp), respectively. In swine, the main genogroup and P-group identified are GII and GII.

Inter-annual variability of the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic drivers affecting West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens population dynamics in northeastern Italy.

Background: Vector-borne infectious diseases (VBDs) represent a major public health concern worldwide. Among VBDs, West Nile virus (WNV) showed an increasingly wider spread in temperate regions of Europe, including Italy. During the last decade, WNV outbreaks have been recurrently reported in mosquitoes, horses, wild birds, and humans, showing great variability in the temporal and spatial distribution pattern.

Unexpected Genetic Diversity of Two Novel Swine MRVs in Italy.

Mammalian Orthoreoviruses (MRV) are segmented dsRNA viruses in the family . MRVs infect mammals and cause asymptomatic respiratory, gastro-enteric and, rarely, encephalic infections. MRVs are divided into at least three serotypes: MRV1, MRV2 and MRV3.

Effect of dietary supplementation with yeast cell wall extracts on performance and gut response in broiler chickens.

Background: The dietary supplementation of yeast cell wall extracts (YCW) has been found to reduce pathogenic bacteria load, promote immunoglobulin production, prevent diseases by pro-inflammatory responses, and alter gut microbiota composition. This study evaluated growth and slaughter results, health, gut morphology, immune status and gut transcriptome of 576 male chickens fed two diets, i.e.

Spatial spread and emergence of reassortant H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in Iran.

Since 2005, H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the Goose/Guangdong (Gs/GD) lineage have spread worldwide, affecting poultry and wild birds in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. So far, the role of Western Asia and the Middle East in the diffusion dynamics of this virus has been poorly explored. In order to investigate the genetic diversity and the role of Iran in the transmission dynamics of the Gs/GD lineage, we sequenced the complete genome of twenty-eight H5Nx viruses which were circulating in the country between 2016 and 2018.