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Ferrara G, Piscopo N, Pagnini U, Esposito L, Montagnaro S. Detection of selected pathogens in reproductive tissues of wild boars in the Campania region, southern Italy. Acta Vet Scand 2024; 66:9. [PMID: 38443949 PMCID: PMC10916309 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-024-00731-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring disease among wildlife is critical to preserving health in both domestic animals and wildlife, and it becomes much more critical when the diseases cause significant economic damage to the livestock industry or threaten public health. Given the continuous increase in populations and its role as a reservoir for several infections, wild boar (Sus scrofa) requires special attention regarding disease surveillance and monitoring. In this study, we investigated the molecular prevalence of selected pathogens in the wild boar population of Campania, southern Italy. The prevalence of pathogens causing reproductive problems in pigs (Sus domesticus), including porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine circovirus types 2 and 3 (PCV-2 and PCV-3), pseudorabies virus (PRV), Coxiella burnetii, and Brucella suis, was evaluated by testing the reproductive organs collected from 63 wild boars with polymerase chain reaction. The most common pathogens were PPV (44.4%) and two porcine circoviruses (14.3%). PRV and C. burnetii, on the other hand, showed a significantly lower prevalence (1.6%). No reproductive organs tested were positive for B. suis. Risk factor analysis revealed a correlation between age and PCV-2 positivity, with animals less than 12 months old having significantly higher prevalence rates.Our findings suggest that wild boars hunted in the Campania region harbour several infections potentially transmissible to other mammals' reproductive tracts. Furthermore, our results emphasized the importance of strict adherence to biosecurity protocols on domestic swine farms, especially on free-range farms, to avoid interactions between domestic and wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ferrara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples ''Federico II'', Via Delpino no. 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Nadia Piscopo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples ''Federico II'', Via Delpino no. 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
| | - Ugo Pagnini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples ''Federico II'', Via Delpino no. 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Esposito
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples ''Federico II'', Via Delpino no. 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Serena Montagnaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples ''Federico II'', Via Delpino no. 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
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Rebollada-Merino A, Pérez-Sancho M, Rodríguez-Bertos A, García N, Martínez I, Navarro A, Domínguez L, García-Seco T. Environment and Offspring Surveillance in Porcine Brucellosis. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:915692. [PMID: 35799841 PMCID: PMC9253667 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.915692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine brucellosis, caused by Brucella suis (B. suis), is a notifiable disease causing significant economic losses in production systems. Most infected pigs may act as carriers and shed B. suis even if asymptomatic. This can contribute to environmental persistence, thus hindering control efforts. Here, the environment and the offspring were investigated during and after a B. suis outbreak at a sow breeding farm. The diagnosis of B. suis in sows (n = 1,140) was performed by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from vaginal swabs, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) from sera, and brucellin skin test (BST). B. suis diagnosis in post-weaning pigs (n = 899) was performed by I-ELISA in sera and BST. The environmental surveillance programme was implemented by placing gauze sponges (n = 175) pre-hydrated in a surfactant and inactivating liquid for Brucella DNA detection by PCR in different farm areas. Our results showed that the offspring of infected sows reacted to in vivo techniques for B. suis. Furthermore, the offspring born during the outbreak displayed higher seropositivity (I-ELISA) and reactivity (BST) than those pigs born after. Brucella DNA was detected in pregnant sow areas, boxes, boots, and post-weaning pig areas. In addition, Brucella DNA environmental detection was higher during the B. suis outbreak than the post B. suis outbreak. The environmental approach has proven to be a simple, practical, valuable, and safe method to detect and monitor B. suis. These results suggest a role of the environment and the offspring that should be considered in porcine brucellosis surveillance and control programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Rebollada-Merino
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Pérez-Sancho
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Marta Pérez-Sancho
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Bertos
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea García
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Martínez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Navarro
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucas Domínguez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa García-Seco
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Soler V, Casas E, Closa-Sebastià F, Sanz A, Martorell J. Health status of free-ranging pure and cross-mixed miniature swine population from Northeast Spain. Vet Med Sci 2021; 8:170-176. [PMID: 34791799 PMCID: PMC8788882 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Miniature pigs have gained popularity as companion animals in the recent years in Spain. Due to the fact that their abandonment and crossing breeds with wild boars can cause severe problems, investigation about the health status is needed. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine their health status according to the clinical findings during physical examination and the results of antibody serology tests against selected infectious diseases. METHODS Two-hundred and eleven miniature pigs (Sus scrofa) were included in the study. Their origin, age, sex, housing conditions and diet were recorded. RESULTS The housing of the animals ranged from wild animals to ones living in animal sanctuaries. The diet varied from a natural one in the wild to commercial and homemade food. Thirty animals out of two-hundred and eleven were hybrids between miniature pigs and wild boars according to morphological characteristics. Antibody serology techniques of Influenza A virus, Hepatitis E virus, brucellosis, tuberculosis, African swine fever, Classical swine fever and Aujeszky's disease was performed. The prevalence for Influenza A was 5.30%, for Hepatitis E was 5.35% and the rest tested negative. It is important to control and monitor these zoonotic infections to prevent Public Health problems. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained from this investigation demonstrated that the animals' health status in this study is optimal and the diseases prevalence is similar or minor when compared to previous studies. This study confirms the hybridization of miniature pig and wild boar in Catalonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Soler
- Servei d´Animals Exòtics, Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Albert Sanz
- Servei de Prevenció en Salut Animal, Departament d´Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació, Generalitat de Catalunya, Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Martorell
- Servei d´Animals Exòtics, Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Medicina i Cirurgía Animals, Facultat de Veterinaria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Gong QL, Sun YH, Yang Y, Zhao B, Wang Q, Li JM, Ge GY, Chen ZY, Shi K, Leng X, Zong Y, Du R. Global Comprehensive Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Brucella spp. in Swine Based on Publications From 2000 to 2020. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:630960. [PMID: 34026886 PMCID: PMC8137890 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.630960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, infects various hosts, including swine and humans. It has reemerged in recent years as a public health concern, and current studies on brucellosis infection in swine have been conducted worldwide. However, no meta-analyses of global brucellosis infection in swine have been published. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of Brucella species (spp.) in swine worldwide and the factors associated with its persistence. Results: We searched seven databases for published epidemiological studies on brucellosis in pigs, including the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, the VIP Chinese Journal Database and PubMed. We selected 119 articles published from January 1, 2000 to January 3, 2020 for inclusion in the meta-analysis and analyzed the data using a random-effects model. Funnel plots and Egger's test showed significant publication bias in the included studies. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that our study was relatively stable and reliable. The prevalence of brucellosis in swine was 2.1% (95% CI: 1.6–2.6), of which the highest infection rate, which was found in Europe, was 17.4% (95% CI: 11.1–24.9). The prevalence in feral pigs (15.0%, 95% CI: 8.4–23.2) was higher than that in domestic pigs (1.1%, 95% CI 0.2–2.5). The prevalence in high-income countries (15.7%, 95% CI 8.0–25.3) was significantly higher than that in middle- (0.8%, 95% CI 0.5–1.1), and low-income countries (0.1%, 95% CI 0.0–0.2). The prevalence was highest in finishing pigs at 4.9% (95% CI 0.9–11.0), and lowest among suckling pigs at 0% (95% CI 0.0–0.5). Conclusion: The Brucella prevalence in pig herds currently is distributed widely throughout the world. In some countries, swine brucellosis may be a neglected zoonotic disease. We recommend long-term monitoring of the prevalence of brucellosis in domestic and wild pig herds. Attention should also be paid to animal welfare on intensive pig farms; controlling the breeding density may play an important role in reducing the spread of brucellosis among pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Long Gong
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Yu-Han Sun
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Bo Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Qi Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Jian-Ming Li
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Gui-Yang Ge
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Zi-Yang Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Kun Shi
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Xue Leng
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Zong
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Rui Du
- College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China.,Laboratory of Production and Product Application of Sika Deer of Jilin Province, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China.,Key Lab of Animal Production, Product Quality and Security, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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Cilia G, Fratini F, Turchi B, Angelini M, Cerri D, Bertelloni F. Genital Brucella suis Biovar 2 Infection of Wild Boar ( Sus scrofa) Hunted in Tuscany (Italy). Microorganisms 2021; 9:582. [PMID: 33809073 PMCID: PMC7998269 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a zoonosis caused by different Brucella species. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) could be infected by some species and represents an important reservoir, especially for B. suis biovar 2. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Brucella spp. by serological and molecular assays in wild boar hunted in Tuscany (Italy) during two hunting seasons. From 287 animals, sera, lymph nodes, livers, spleens, and reproductive system organs were collected. Within sera, 16 (5.74%) were positive to both rose bengal test (RBT) and complement fixation test (CFT), with titres ranging from 1:4 to 1:16 (corresponding to 20 and 80 ICFTU/mL, respectively). Brucella spp. DNA was detected in four lymph nodes (1.40%), five epididymides (1.74%), and one fetus pool (2.22%). All positive PCR samples belonged to Brucella suis biovar 2. The results of this investigation confirmed that wild boar represents a host for B.suis biovar. 2 and plays an important role in the epidemiology of brucellosis in central Italy. Additionally, epididymis localization confirms the possible venereal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cilia
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.F.); (B.T.); (M.A.); (D.C.); (F.B.)
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Bertelloni F, Forzan M, Turchi B, Sagona S, Mazzei M, Felicioli A, Fratini F, Cerri D. A Serological Survey on Swine Brucellosis Using Standard Procedures, Dot Blot, and Western Blot in Finisher Pigs in Central-North Italy. Vet Sci 2018; 5:E86. [PMID: 30282958 PMCID: PMC6313843 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci5040086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, Brucella suis has been sporadically reported in Italy in domestic and wild swine. Since standard serological tests can determine false positive results, the development of alternative tests with improved sensitivity and specificity is rather essential. We analyzed 1212 sera collected at slaughterhouse from healthy pigs belonging to 62 farms of North-Central Italy. Sera were tested by Rose Bengal Test, Complement Fixation Test, and subsequently by a Dot Blot (DB) and Western Blot assays (WB). Only one serum resulted positive to all tests, indicating that swine brucellosis has a very limited spread. DB and WB could represent a support to the available serological tests; however, further studies to validate these tests are needed. In the presence of reemerging diseases, a prompt and continuous monitoring design is necessary to acquire epidemiological information for the subsequent application of specific health emergency plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Bertelloni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Mario Forzan
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Barbara Turchi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Simona Sagona
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Mazzei
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Antonio Felicioli
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Filippo Fratini
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Domenico Cerri
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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Abstract
Background: Several studies have shown that the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in the CACAN1C gene, rs1006737, is related to different mood disorder illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Current day molecular procedures for allele detection of this gene can be very expensive and time consuming. Hence, a sensitive and specific molecular procedure for detecting these mutations in a large number of subjects is desirable, especially for research groups who have no complex laboratory equipment. Objective: The possibility of using a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) probe was evaluated by means of bioinformatic tools, designed for forecasting the molecular behavior of DNA probes used in the research field or for laboratory analysis methods. Method: In this study we used the DINAMelt Web Server to predict the Tms of FRET oligo in the presence of the A and/or G allele in rs1006737. The PCR primers were designed by using oligo 4 and oligo 6 primer analysis software, Results: The molecular probe described in this study detected a Tm difference of 5-6°C between alleles A and G in rs1006737, which also showed good discrimination for a heterozygous profile for this genomic region. Conclusion: Although in silico studies represent a relatively new avenue of inquiry, they have now started to be used to predict how a molecular probe interacts with its biological target, reducing the time and costs of molecular test tuning. The results of this study seem promising for further laboratory tests on allele detection in rs1006737 region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germano Orrù
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Molecular Biology Service (MBS), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,National Research Council of Italy, ISPA, Sassari, Italy
| | - Mauro Giovanni Carta
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessia Bramanti
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti, ISASI, Messina, Italy
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar Disorder (BD), along with depression and schizophrenia, is one of the most serious mental illnesses, and one of the top 20 causes of severe impairment in everyday life. Recent molecular studies, using both traditional approaches and new procedures such as Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS), have suggested that genetic factors could significantly contribute to the development of BD, with heritability estimates of up to 85%. However, it is assumed that BD is a multigenic and multifactorial illness with environmental factors that strongly contribute to disease development/progression, which means that progress in genetic knowledge of BD might be difficult to interpret in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to provide a synthetic description of the main SNPs variants identified/confirmed by recent extensive WGS analysis as well as by reconstruction in an in vitro mechanism or by amygdala activation protocol in vivo. METHOD Bibliographic data, genomic and protein Data Banks were consulted so as to carry out a cross genomic study for mutations, SNPs and chromosomal alterations described in these studies in BD patients. RESULTS Fifty-five different mutations have been described in 30 research papers by different genetic analyses including recent WGS analysis. Many of these studies have led to the discovery of the most probable susceptibility genes for BD, including ANK3, CACNA1C, NCAN, ODZ4, SYNE1, and TRANK1. Exploration has started the role of several of these mutations in BD pathophysiology using in vitro and animal models. CONCLUSION Although new genomic research technology in BD opens up new possibilities, the current results for common variants are still controversial because of four broad conditions: analytical validity, clinical validity, clinical utility and a reasonable cost for genetic analysis are not yet accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germano Orrù
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Molecular Biology Service (MBS), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- National Research Council of Italy, ISPA, Sassari, Italy
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Germano Orrù Ph.D, via Ospedale 54, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; Tel: +39 070 609-2568; E-mail:
| | - Mauro Giovanni Carta
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Brucella suis biovar 2 infection in humans in France: emerging infection or better recognition? Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:2711-2716. [PMID: 28784192 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268817001704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is usually acquired by humans through contact with infected animals or the consumption of raw milk from infected ruminants. Brucella suis biovar 2 (BSB2) is mainly encountered in hares and wild boars (Sus scrofa), and is known to have very low pathogenicity to humans with only two case reports published in the literature. Human cases of brucellosis caused by BSB2 were identified through the national mandatory notification of brucellosis. The identification of the bacterium species and biovar were confirmed by the national reference laboratory. Epidemiological data were obtained during medical follow-up visits. Seven human cases were identified between 2004 and 2016, all confirmed by the isolation of BSB2 in clinical specimens. All patients had direct contact with wild boars while hunting or preparing wild boar meat for consumption. Five patients had chronic medical conditions possibly responsible for an increased risk of infection. Our findings suggest that BSB2 might be an emerging pathogen in hunters with massive exposure through the dressing of wild boar carcasses. Hunters, especially those with chronic medical conditions, should be informed about the risk of BSB2 infection and should receive information on protective measures.
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Goodwin ZI, Pascual DW. Brucellosis vaccines for livestock. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2016; 181:51-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2016.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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