To gain further insight into the genomic features of border disease virus (BDV), we determined the nearly complete genome sequence of isolate TO/121/04 from an aborted ovine fetus. Its genome ...contains a single open reading frame (ORF), which comprises 11,681 nucleotides encoding a polyprotein of 3893 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis of the near full-length genome sequence showed that the BDV isolate differed significantly from all ovine pestiviruses identified so far, thus re-affirming the presence in Italy of this novel genetic group, termed BDV-7.
Border disease virus (BDV) belongs to the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae. Interspecies transmission of BDV between sheep, cattle, and pigs occurs regularly, sometimes making diagnosis a ...challenge. BDV can yield substantial economic losses, including prenatal and postnatal infections in lambs, which are the primary source of infection and maintenance of the virus in the population. Since BDV is antigenically and genetically related to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), it might pose a significant risk to cattle, influencing BVDV eradication campaigns. Similarly, the presence of BDV in swine herds due to pestivirus spillover between small ruminants and pigs might cause uncertainty in classical swine fever virus (CSFV) diagnostics. Therefore, knowledge of BDV epidemiology in different geographical regions will help prevent its spread and optimize control measures. Previous epidemiological studies have shown that various BDV genotypes are predominant in different countries. This review provides an overview of the spread of BDV world-wide in different host species.
African Swine Fever (ASF), a hemorrhagic disease with a high mortality rate in suids, is transmitted via direct and indirect contact with infectious animals and contaminated fomites, respectively. ...ASF reached Europe in 2014, affecting 14 of the 27 EU countries including, recently, the Italian peninsula. The fast and unprecedented spread of ASF in the EU has highlighted gaps in knowledge regarding transmission mechanisms. Fomites, such as contaminated clothing and footwear, farming tools, equipment and vehicles have been widely reported in the spread of ASF. The absence of available vaccines renders biosecurity measures, cleaning and disinfection procedures an essential control tool, to a greater degree than the others, for the prevention of primary and secondary introductions of ASF in pig farms. In this review, available data on the virucidal activity of chemical compounds as disinfectants against the ASF virus (ASFV) are summarized together with laboratory methods adopted to assess the virucidal activity.
African swine fever (ASF) is a disease that is a growing threat to the global swine industry. Regulations and restrictions are placed on swine movement to limit the spread of the virus. However, ...these are costly and time-consuming. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if high-pressure processing (HPP) sanitization techniques would be effective against the ASF virus. Here, it was hypothesized that HPP could inactivate or reduce ASF virus infectivity in tissue homogenates. To test this hypothesis, 30 aliquots of each homogenate (spleen, kidney, loin) were challenge-infected with the Turin/83 strain of ASF, at a 10
median hemadsorption dose (HAD)
/mL. Subsequently, eight aliquots of each homogenate were treated with 600 millipascal (600 MPa) HPP for 3, 5, and 7 min. Six untreated aliquots were used as the controls. Virological results showed a reduction in the viral titer of more than 7-log. These results support the validity of the study hypothesis since HPP treatment was effective in inactivating ASFV in artificially prepared samples. Overall, this study suggests the need for further investigation of other ASFV-contaminated meat products.
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) represent a very heterogeneous group of ss-RNA viruses that infect sheep and goats worldwide. They cause important, deleterious effects on animal production and ...limit the animal trade. SRLVs show a high genetic variability due to high mutation rate and frequent recombination events. Indeed, five genotypes (A-E) and several subtypes have been detected. The aim of this work was to genetically characterize SRLVs circulating in central Italy. On this basis, a phylogenetic study on the
genetic region of 133 sheep, collected from 19 naturally infected flocks, was conducted. In addition, to evaluate the frequency of mutation and the selective pressure on this region, a WebLogo 3 analysis was performed, and the dN/dS ratio was computed. The results showed that 26 samples out of 133 were clustered in genotype A and 106 samples belonged to genotype B, as follows: A9 (
= 8), A11 (
= 10), A24 (
= 7), B1 (
= 2), B2 (
= 59), and B3 (
= 45). No recombination events were found. Mutations were localized mainly in the VR-2 region, and the dN/dS ratio of 0.028 indicated the existence of purifying selection. Since the genetic diversity of SRLVs could make serological identification difficult, it is important to perform molecular characterization to ensure a more reliable diagnosis, to maintain flock health status, and for the application of local and national control programs.
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are viruses that retro-transcribe RNA to DNA and show high rates of genetic variability. SRLV affect animals with strains specific for each host species (sheep or ...goats), resulting in a series of clinical manifestations depending on the virulence of the strain, the host's genetic background and farm production system. The aim of this work was to present an up-to-date overview of the genomic epidemiology and genetic diversity of SRLV in Italy over time (1998-2019). In this study, we investigated 219 SRLV samples collected from 17 different Italian regions in 178 geographically distinct herds by CEREL. Our genetic study was based on partial sequencing of the
gene (800 bp) and phylogenetic analysis. We identified new subtypes with high heterogeneity, new clusters and recombinant forms. The genetic diversity of Italian SRLV strains may have diagnostic and immunological implications that affect the performance of diagnostic tools. Therefore, it is extremely important to increase the control of genomic variants to improve the control measures.
Abstract African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a devastating disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. ASF was first introduced in Sardinia in 1978 and until 2019 only genotype I isolates were ...identified. A remarkable genetic stability of Sardinian ASFV isolates was described, nevertheless in 2019 two wild boar isolates with a sustained genomic deletion (4342 base pairs) were identified (7303WB/19, 7212WB/19). In this study, we therefore performed in vitro experiments with monocyte-derived macrophages (moMФ) to unravel the phenotypic characteristics of these deleted viruses. Both 7303WB/19 and 7212WB/19 presented a lower growth kinetic in moMФ compared to virulent Sardinian 26544/OG10, using either a high (1) or a low (0.01) multiplicity of infection (MOI). In addition, flow cytometric analysis showed that both 7303WB/19 and 7212WB/19 presented lower intracellular levels of both early and late ASFV proteins. We subsequently investigated whether deleted virus variants were previously circulating in wild boars in Sardinia. In the four years preceding the last genotype I isolation (February 2015–January 2019), other eight wild boar isolates were collected, all belonging to p72 genotype I, B602L subgroup X, but none of them presented a sustained genomic deletion. Overall, we observed the deleted virus isolates in Sardinia only in 2019, at the end of a strong eradication campaign, and our data suggest that it might possess an attenuated phenotype in vivo. A better understanding of ASFV evolution in endemic territories might contribute to development of effective control measures against ASF.
(BoAHV-1) infection is common in cattle worldwide. However, information on the spread of BoAHV-1-circulating strains in Italy remains limited. In this study, we investigated an outbreak characterized ...by severe respiratory symptoms in a cattle herd (
= 30) located in Central Italy. BoAHV-1 was isolated from three cattle in a cell culture, which confirmed viral infection. Next, we characterized one (16453/07 TN) of the three isolates of BoAHV-1 using whole-genome sequencing. BLASTn and phylogenetic analysis revealed a nucleotide identity >99% with all BoAHV-1 strains belonging to subtype 1.1, highlighting the genetic stability of the virus. This study reports the first full genomic characterization of a BoAHV-1 isolate in Italy, enriching our understanding of the genetic characteristics of the circulating BoAHV-1 strain in Italy.
The African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) is a DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family,
genus. It is responsible for massive losses in pig populations and drastic direct and indirect economic impacts. The ...ever-growing handling of ASFV pathological material in laboratories, necessary for either diagnostic or research activities, requires particular attention to avoid accidental virus release from laboratories and its detrimental economic and environmental effects. Recently, the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 of 17 December 2019 repealed the Commission Decision of 26 May 2003 reporting an ASF diagnostic manual (2003/422/EC) with the minimum and supplementary requirements for ASF laboratories. This decision generated a regulatory gap that has not been addressed yet. This paper aims to describe the Italian National Reference Laboratory (NRL) efforts to develop an effective and reliable biological containment tool for ASF laboratories and animal facilities. The tool consists of comprehensive and harmonized structural and procedural requirements for ASF laboratories and animal facilities that have been developed based on both current and repealed legislation, further entailing a risk assessment and internal audit as indispensable tools to design, adjust, and improve biological containment measures.
virus (MVV) and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), referred to as small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs), belong to the genus
of the Retroviridae family. SRLVs infect both sheep and goats, ...causing significant economic losses and animal welfare damage. Recent findings suggest an association between serological status and allelic variants of different genes such as
,
,
and
. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of specific polymorphisms of these genes in SRLVs infection in some sheep flocks in Italy. In addition to those already known, novel variants in the
(P7H, I74V, I105V) gene were detected in this study. The risk of infection was determined finding an association between the serological status and polymorphisms P7H, E35K, N70I, I74V, I105V of
, R447Q, A462S and G520R in
gene, H176H* and K190K* in
genes, while no statistical association was observed for the 4-bp deletion of the
gene. Since no vaccines or treatments have been developed, a genetically based approach could be an innovative strategy to prevent and to control SRLVs infection. Our findings are an important starting point in order to define the genetic resistance profile towards SRLVs infection.
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