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Di Guardo G. Central Nervous System Disorders of Marine Mammals: Models for Human Disease? Pathogens 2024; 13:684. [PMID: 39204284 PMCID: PMC11357396 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13080684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
This article deals with Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders of marine mammals as putative neuropathology and neuropathogenesis models for their human and, to some extent, their animal "counterparts" in a dual "One Health" and "Translational Medicine" perspective. Within this challenging context, special emphasis is placed upon Alzheimer's disease (AD), provided that AD-like pathological changes have been reported in the brain tissue of stranded cetacean specimens belonging to different Odontocete species. Further examples of potential comparative pathology interest are represented by viral infections and, in particular, by "Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis" (SSPE), a rare neurologic sequela in patients infected with Measles virus (MeV). Indeed, Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV)-infected striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) may also develop a "brain-only" form of CeMV infection, sharing neuropathological similarities with SSPE. Within this framework, the global threat of the A(H5N1) avian influenza virus is another major concern issue, with a severe meningoencephalitis occurring in affected pinnipeds and cetaceans, similarly to what is seen in human beings. Finally, the role of Brucella ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected cetaceans as putative neuropathology and neuropathogenesis models for their human disease counterparts is also analyzed and discussed. Notwithstanding the above, much more work is needed before drawing the conclusion marine mammal CNS disorders mirror their human "analogues".
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Di Guardo
- Former Professor of General Pathology and Veterinary Pathophysiology, Veterinary Medical Faculty, University of Teramo, Località Piano d'Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy
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Zinzula L, Scholz J, Nagy I, Di Guardo G, Orsini M. Biophysical characterization of the cetacean morbillivirus haemagglutinin glycoprotein. Virus Res 2023; 336:199231. [PMID: 37769814 PMCID: PMC10550842 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is an enveloped, non-segmented, negative-stranded RNA virus that infects marine mammals, spreading across species and causing lethal disease outbreaks worldwide. Among the eight proteins encoded by the CeMV genome, the haemagglutinin (H) glycoprotein is responsible for the virus attachment to host cell receptors. CeMV H represents an attractive target for antiviral and diagnostic research, yet the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying its role in infection and inter-species transmission was hampered thus far due to the unavailability of recombinant versions of the protein. Here we present the cloning, expression and purification of a recombinant CeMV H ectodomain (rH-ecto), providing an initial characterization of its biophysical and structural properties. Sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) combined to Western blot analysis and periodic acid Schiff assay showed that CeMV rH-ecto is purifiable at homogeneity from insect cells as a secreted, soluble and glycosylated protein. Miniaturized differential scanning fluorimetry, Blue Native PAGE and size exclusion chromatography coupled to multiangle light scattering revealed that CeMV rH-ecto is globularly folded, thermally stable and exists in solution in the oligomeric states of dimer and multiple of dimers. Furthermore, negative stain electron microscopy single particle analysis allowed us to delineate a low-resolution molecular architecture of the CeMV rH-ecto dimer, which recapitulates native assemblies from other morbilliviral H proteins, such as those from measles virus and canine distemper virus. This set of experiments by orthogonal techniques validates the CeMV rH-ecto as an experimental model for future biochemical studies on its structure and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Zinzula
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; Centro di Educazione Ambientale e alla Sostenibilità (CEAS) Laguna di Nora, Pula, Italy.
| | - Judith Scholz
- Core Facility, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - István Nagy
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany; Center of Research and Development, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Eger, Hungary
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- Retired Professor of General Pathology and Veterinary Pathophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Orsini
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
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Seki F, Takeda M. Novel and classical morbilliviruses: Current knowledge of three divergent morbillivirus groups. Microbiol Immunol 2022; 66:552-563. [PMID: 36151905 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Currently, seven species of morbillivirus have been classified. Six of these species (Measles morbillivirus, Rinderpest morbillivirus, Small ruminant morbillivirus, Canine morbillivirus, Phocine morbillivirus, and Cetacean morbillivirus) are highly infectious and cause serious systemic diseases in humans, livestock, domestic dogs, and wild animals. These species commonly use the host proteins signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) and nectin-4 as receptors, and this usage contributes to their virulence. The seventh species (Feline morbillivirus: FeMV) is phylogenetically divergent from the six SLAM-using species. FeMV differs from the SLAM-using morbillivirus group in pathogenicity and infectivity, and is speculated to use non-SLAM receptors. Recently, novel species of morbilliviruses have been discovered in bats, rodents, and domestic pigs. Because the ability to use SLAM and nectin-4 is closely related to the infectivity and pathogenicity of morbilliviruses, investigation of the potential usage of these receptors is useful for estimating infectivity and pathogenicity. The SLAM-binding sites in the receptor-binding protein show high similarity among the SLAM-using morbilliviruses. This feature may help to estimate whether novel morbillivirus species can use SLAM as a receptor. A novel morbillivirus species isolated from wild mice diverged from the classified morbilliviruses in the phylogenetic tree, forming a third group separate from the SLAM-using morbillivirus group and FeMV. This suggests that the novel rodent morbillivirus may exhibit a different risk from the SLAM-using morbillivirus group, and analyses of its viral pathogenicity and infectivity toward humans are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumio Seki
- Department of Virology 3, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Takeda
- Department of Virology 3, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
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Orsini M, Ianni A, Zinzula L. Brucella ceti and Brucella pinnipedialis genome characterization unveils genetic features that highlight their zoonotic potential. Microbiologyopen 2022; 11:e1329. [PMID: 36314752 PMCID: PMC9597259 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1329] [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: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacteria Brucella ceti and Brucella pinnipedialis circulate in marine environments primarily infecting marine mammals, where they cause an often-fatal disease named brucellosis. The increase of brucellosis among several species of cetaceans and pinnipeds, together with the report of sporadic human infections, raises concerns about the zoonotic potential of these pathogens on a large scale and may pose a threat to coastal communities worldwide. Therefore, the characterization of the B. ceti and B. pinnipedialis genetic features is a priority to better understand the pathological factors that may impact global health. Moreover, an in-depth functional analysis of the B. ceti and B. pinnipedialis genome in the context of virulence and pathogenesis was not undertaken so far. Within this picture, here we present the comparative whole-genome characterization of all B. ceti and B. pinnipedialis genomes available in public resources, uncovering a collection of genetic tools possessed by these aquatic bacterial species compared to their zoonotic terrestrial relatives. We show that B. ceti and B. pinnipedialis genomes display a wide host-range infection capability and a polyphyletic phylogeny within the genus, showing a genomic structure that fits the canonical definition of closeness. Functional genome annotation led to identifying genes related to several pathways involved in mechanisms of infection, others conferring pan-susceptibility to antimicrobials and a set of virulence genes that highlight the similarity of B. ceti and B. pinnipedialis genotypes to those of Brucella spp. displaying human-infecting phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Orsini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and GenomicsLegnaroItaly
| | - Andrea Ianni
- Research Unit in Hygiene, Statistics and Public HealthCampus Bio‐Medico di Roma UniversityRomeItaly
| | - Luca Zinzula
- Department of Molecular Structural BiologyMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
- Centro di Educazione Ambientale e alla Sostenibilità (CEAS) Laguna di NoraPulaItaly
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Cellular Prion Protein Expression in the Brain Tissue from Brucella ceti-Infected Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12101304. [PMID: 35625150 PMCID: PMC9137499 DOI: 10.3390/ani12101304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Brucella ceti, a zoonotic bacterial pathogen, is known to exhibit a strong neurotropism and neuropathogenicity for striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), often leading to their stranding and death. Given the lack of information on B. ceti infection’s neuropathogenesis, we investigated, for the first time, cellular prion protein (PrPc) expression in the brain tissue from B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins. Our study was inspired by previous work, reporting PrPc as the host cell receptor for B. abortus on the surface of murine macrophages. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB) analyses were carried out on brain tissues from 12 striped dolphins found stranded along the coasts of Italy (11 specimens) and the Canary Islands (one individual), five of which served as negative controls. While PrPc IHC yielded inconclusive results, WB analyses showed a clear-cut PrPc expression, albeit of different intensity, in the brain tissue of all the herein investigated, B. ceti-infected and neurobrucellosis-affected individuals. In this respect, the aforementioned PrPc expression patterns could be influenced by a number of intrinsic host-related factors, as well as by several extrinsic factors including simultaneously occurring neuropathies and/or coinfections by other neurotropic pathogens. Additionally, an upregulation of PrPc mRNA in the brain tissue of striped dolphins could be also hypothesized during the different stages of B. ceti infection, in a similar fashion to what is already shown in murine bone marrow cells challenged with Escherichia coli. In conclusion, much more work is needed in order to properly assess the role of PrPc, if any, as a host cell receptor for B. ceti in striped dolphins. Abstract Brucella ceti, a zoonotic pathogen of major concern to cetacean health and conservation, is responsible for severe meningo-encephalitic/myelitic lesions in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), often leading to their stranding and death. This study investigated, for the first time, the cellular prion protein (PrPc) expression in the brain tissue from B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins. Seven B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins, found stranded along the Italian coastline (6) and in the Canary Islands (1), were investigated, along with five B. ceti-uninfected striped dolphins from the coast of Italy, carrying no brain lesions, which served as negative controls. Western Blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with an anti-PrP murine monoclonal antibody were carried out on the brain parenchyma of these dolphins. While PrPc IHC yielded inconclusive results, a clear-cut PrPc expression of different intensity was found by means of WB analyses in the brain tissue of all the seven herein investigated, B. ceti-infected and neurobrucellosis-affected cetacean specimens, with two dolphins stranded along the Italian coastline and one dolphin beached in Canary Islands also exhibiting a statistically significant increase in cerebral PrPc expression as compared to the five Brucella spp.-negative control specimens. The significantly increased PrPc expression found in three out of seven B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins does not allow us to draw any firm conclusion(s) about the putative role of PrPc as a host cell receptor for B. ceti. Should this be the case, an upregulation of PrPc mRNA in the brain tissue of neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins could be hypothesized during the different stages of B. ceti infection, as previously shown in murine bone marrow cells challenged with Escherichia coli. Noteworthy, the inflammatory infiltrates seen in the brain and in the cervico-thoracic spinal cord segments from the herein investigated, B. ceti-infected and neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins were densely populated by macrophage/histiocyte cells, often harboring Brucella spp. antigen in their cytoplasm, similarly to what was reported in macrophages from mice experimentally challenged with B. abortus. Notwithstanding the above, much more work is needed in order to properly assess the role of PrPc, if any, as a host cell receptor for B. ceti in striped dolphins.
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Giorda F, Crociara P, Iulini B, Gazzuola P, Favole A, Goria M, Serracca L, Dondo A, Crescio MI, Audino T, Peletto S, Di Francesco CE, Caramelli M, Sierra E, Di Nocera F, Lucifora G, Petrella A, Puleio R, Mazzariol S, Di Guardo G, Casalone C, Grattarola C. Neuropathological Characterization of Dolphin Morbillivirus Infection in Cetaceans Stranded in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040452. [PMID: 35203160 PMCID: PMC8868427 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary There is abundant literature reporting demyelination in dogs and pinnipeds affected by morbillivirus infection, but myelinopathy is poorly investigated in stranded cetaceans affected with the virus. Also, the neuropathogenesis of cetacean morbillivirus infection has not been fully clarified, leaving questions on cell tropism unanswered. A novel dolphin morbillivirus lineage of Atlantic origin circulating in Italian waters replaced the previous Mediterranean strain in late 2015; however, differences in virulence and pathogenesis between the two strains have not yet been documented. The aims of the present study were to: describe histopathological changes and immunohistochemical findings in the central nervous system of 31 cetaceans which tested positive on molecular investigations for the two dolphin morbillivirus strains; characterize by double indirect immunofluorescence staining the areas of myelin damage. The most frequently observed morbillivirus-associated lesions were astro-microgliosis, neuronal necrosis, spongiosis, malacia, and non-suppurative meningoencephalitis. Demyelination was detected by means of a specific myelin biomarker. Inside and around the demyelinated areas there were morbillivirus antigen-bearing cells of mainly neuronal and microglial origin, associated with marked astro and microglia reactivity. Molecular and immunohistochemical analysis suggested a higher neurotropic affinity of the novel circulating strain. Abstract Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is responsible for epidemic and endemic fatalities in free-ranging cetaceans. Neuro-inflammation sustained by CeMV is a leading cause of death in stranded cetaceans. A novel dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) strain of Atlantic origin circulating in Italian waters since early 2016 has caused acute/subacute lesions associated with positive immunolabelling of the virus. To date, myelin damage has not been fully documented and investigated in cetaceans. This study describes neuropathological findings in the brain tissue of 31 cetaceans found stranded along the Italian coastline and positive for DMV infection on molecular testing. Cell changes in the areas of myelinopathy were revealed by double indirect immunofluorescence. The most frequent DMV-associated lesions were astro-microgliosis, neuronal necrosis, spongiosis, malacia, and non-suppurative meningoencephalitis. Myelin reduction and areas of demyelination were revealed by means of a specific myelin biomarker. Morbilliviral antigen immunolabelling was mainly observed in neurons and microglial cells, in association with a marked activation of microglia and astrocytes. These findings extend our knowledge of DMV-associated brain lesions and shed light on their pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Paola Crociara
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
- Department of Prevention, Local Veterinary Services (ASLTO4), SS Sanità Animale, Piazza Gino Viano Bellandi, Cuorgnè, 10082 Torino, Italy
| | - Barbara Iulini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Paola Gazzuola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Alessandra Favole
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Maria Goria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Laura Serracca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Alessandro Dondo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Maria Ines Crescio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Tania Audino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Simone Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | | | - Maria Caramelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Eva Sierra
- Institute for Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Canary Islands, Spain;
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via della Salute, 2, Portici, 80055 Napoli, Italy; (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Giuseppe Lucifora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via della Salute, 2, Portici, 80055 Napoli, Italy; (F.D.N.); (G.L.)
| | - Antonio Petrella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi, 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Di Guardo
- Retired Professor of General Pathology and Veterinary Pathophysiology, Veterinary Medical Faculty, University of Teramo, Localita’ Piano d’Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
| | - Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (B.I.); (P.G.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (L.S.); (A.D.); (M.I.C.); (T.A.); (S.P.); (M.C.); (C.C.); (C.G.)
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