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.
(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.
In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for ...Italian administrative regions of taxa in the genera
Bunias
,
Calocedrus
,
Calycanthus
,
Celosia
,
Clerodendrum
,
Convolvulus
,
Crassula
,
Cyclamen
,
Datura
,
Dicliptera
,
Eragrostis
,
Erigeron
,
Gamochaeta
,
Gazania
,
Impatiens
,
Kolkwitzia
,
Leucaena
,
Ludwigia
,
Medicago
,
Muscari
,
Nigella
,
Oenothera
,
Opuntia
,
Paulownia
,
Petroselinum
,
Phyllostachys
,
Physalis
,
Pseudosasa
,
Quercus
,
Reynoutria
,
Roldana
,
Saccharum
,
Sedum
,
Semiarundinaria
,
Senecio
,
Sisyrinchium
,
Solanum
,
Sporobolus
,
Tulipa
,
Vachellia
,
Verbena
, and
Youngia
. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1.
In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records and status changes from casual to naturalized for Italy or for ...Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as supplementary material.
The selection of promising specific species of lactic acid bacteria with potential probiotic characteristics is of particular interest in producing multi species-specific probiotic adjuncts in veal ...calves rearing. The aim of the present work was to select and evaluate
in vitro the functional activity of lactic acid bacteria,
Bifidobacterium longum and
Bacillus coagulans strains isolated from veal calves in order to assess their potential use as multi species-specific probiotics for veal calves. For this purpose, bacterial strains isolated from faeces collected from 40 healthy 50-day-calves, were identified by RiboPrinter and 16s rRNA gene sequence. The most frequent strains belonged to the species
B. longum,
Streptococcus bovis,
Lactobacillus animalis and
Streptococcus macedonicus. Among these, 7 strains were chosen for testing their probiotic characteristics
in vitro. Three strains, namely
L. animalis SB310,
Lactobacillus paracasei subsp.
paracasei SB137 and
B. coagulans SB117 showed varying individual but promising capabilities to survive in the gastrointestinal tract, to adhere, to produce antimicrobial compounds. These three selected species-specific bacteria demonstrated
in vitro, both singularly and mixed, the functional properties needed for their use as potential probiotics in veal calves.
Paslahepevirus balayani (hepatitis E virus HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E, a worldwide zoonosis involving a wide range of hosts among domestic and wild animals. This species is ...characterized by a great genomic heterogeneity and includes eight genotypes, HEV-1 to HEV-8. The HEV-3 genotype is one of the most common types circulating in Italy in humans and Suidae. Although domestic and wild Sus scrofa and deer (Cervidae) are recognized as the main reservoirs of HEV, several other wild species are potential carriers. A total of 228 liver samples were collected from nonungulate wild animals, found dead, in the framework of the regional passive surveillance program in Umbria and Marche regions (central Italy) during 2018-20. These were tested using real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for detection of RNA of HEV-1 to HEV-4 and confirmed by nested RT-PCR assay. One of the 11 samples collected from crested porcupines (Hystrix cristata) tested positive for the presence of HEV RNA; all other samples were negative. Sequence analysis based on the full-length genome revealed that this isolate, 49434/UM/2018 (accession no. OL658617), belongs to the HEV-3e subtype. These findings suggest a potential role of crested porcupines as a carrier of HEV infection.
In the last decade in Europe, the number of autochthonous cases of hepatitis E has significantly increased. Most of the cases arise from foodborne infections caused by the zoonotic hepatitis E virus ...(HEV) genotypes HEV‐3 and HEV‐4. Several human cases have been linked to consumption of raw or undercooked animal products of both pork (liver sausages) and wild boar meat. In this study, the occurrence of HEV infection was investigated in 611 livers and 88 paired lungs from wild boars collected during the hunting seasons of 2016–2020 in the Umbria‐Marche Apennines (Central Italy). Using real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, 15 liver samples (2.45%) and one lung sample were found to be positive for HEV RNA. The phylogenetic tree built on the partial ORF2 gene revealed that the detected HEV strains belonged to HEV‐3f (n = 5), HEV‐3e (n = 1) and HEV‐3c (n = 1) subtypes. Interestingly, 8 strains were genetically placed in a different cluster, further away from all other subtypes. To corroborate this finding, four complete genomes were obtained by next generation sequencing. The full genome of the HEV strains clustered together with another wild boar strain previously detected in Southern Italy in 2015 but the strains were divergent from all the HEV‐3 strains classified in any subtype defined so far. Thus, these strains represent a novel subtype that might have originated in Italy, which we have tentatively named HEV‐3n.
Bovine alphaherpesvirus-1 (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 (n = 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 recent reinforcement of CoV surveillance in animals fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic provided increasing evidence that mammals other than bats might hide further diversity and play critical roles ...in human infectious diseases. This work describes the results of a two-year survey carried out in Italy with the double objective of uncovering CoV diversity associated with wildlife and of excluding the establishment of a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 in particularly susceptible or exposed species. The survey targeted hosts from five different orders and was harmonised across the country in terms of sample size, target tissues, and molecular test. Results showed the circulation of 8 CoV species in 13 hosts out of the 42 screened. Coronaviruses were either typical of the host species/genus or normally associated with their domestic counterpart. Two novel viruses likely belonging to a novel CoV genus were found in mustelids. All samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2, with minimum detectable prevalence ranging between 0.49% and 4.78% in the 13 species reaching our threshold sample size of 59 individuals. Considering that within-species transmission in white-tailed deer resulted in raising the prevalence from 5% to 81% within a few months, this result would exclude a sustained cycle after spillback in the tested species.
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