Evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs from households in Italy

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 originated in animals and is now easily transmitted between people. Sporadic detection of natural cases in animals alongside successful experimental infections of pets, such as cats, ferrets and dogs, raises questions about the susceptibility of animals under natural conditions of pet ownership. Here we report a large-scale study to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection in 817 companion animals living in northern Italy, sampled at a time of frequent human infection. No animals tested PCR positive. However, 3.4% of dogs and 3.9% of cats had measurable SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers, with dogs from COVID-19 positive households being significantly more likely to test positive than those from COVID-19 negative households. Understanding risk factors associated with this and their potential to infect other species requires urgent investigation.One Sentence SummarySARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets from Italy.</jats:sec

Environmental monitoring and analysis of faecal contamination in an urban setting in the city of Bari (Apulia Region, Italy): Health and hygiene implications

Few studies have been conducted in Italy to quantify the potential risk associated with dynamics and distribution of pathogens in urban settings. The aim of this study was to acquire data on the environmental faecal contamination in urban ecosystems, by assessing the presence of pathogens in public areas in the city of Bari (Apulia region, Italy). To determine the degree of environmental contamination, samples of dog faeces and bird guano were collected from different areas in the city of Bari (park green areas, playgrounds, public housing areas, parkways, and a school). A total of 152 canine faecal samples, in 54 pools, and two samples of pigeon guano from 66 monitored sites were examined. No samples were found in 12 areas spread over nine sites. Chlamydophila psittaci was detected in seven canine and two pigeon guano samples. Salmonella species were not found. On the other hand, four of 54 canine faecal samples were positive for reovirus. Thirteen canine faecal samples were positive for parasite eggs: 8/54 samples contained Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina eggs and 5/54 samples contained Ancylostoma caninum eggs. Our study showed that public areas are often contaminated by potentially zoonotic pathogens

Detection of a Hobi-like virus in archival samples suggests circulation of this emerging pestivirus species in Europe prior to 2007

The first reported incidence of Hobi-like viruses in Europe dates to a 2010 outbreak of respiratory disease in cattle in Italy. In this study, a Hobi-like virus was detected in archival samples, collected in 2007 in Italy from a cattle herd displaying respiratory disease, during the validation of a nested PCR protocol for rapid characterization of bovine pestiviruses. Phylogeny conducted with full-length pestivirus genomes and three informative genomic sequences, placed the strain detected in the samples, Italy-129/07, into the Hobi-like virus branch. Italy-129/07, similar to other Hobi-like viruses isolated in Italy, was more closely related to viruses of South American origin, than Hobi-like viruses of Southeast Asian origin. This suggests a possible introduction of this emerging group of pestiviruses into Italy as a consequence of using contaminated biological products such as fetal bovine serum originating in South America. This report of a Hobi-like virus associated with respiratory disease along with the full-genomic characterization of the virus detected provides new data that contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathobiology and genetic diversity of this emerging group of pestiviruses. Importantly, it dates the circulation of Hobi-like viruses in Italy to 2007, at least three years before previous reports

‘Hobi’-like pestivirus in aborted bovine fetuses

An outbreak of abortion affecting multiparous cows was associated with Hobi-like pestivirus infection. Viral RNA and antigens were detected in the tissues of two aborted fetuses. Molecular assays for other common abortogenic agents tested negative. At the genetic level, the Hobi-like pestivirus displayed the closest relatedness to Italian, Australian, and South American viruses, whereas it diverged from the prototype Thai isolate. These findings may have important implications for the pestivirus control/eradication programs in cattle herd

Duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction for simultaneous detection and quantification of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale

Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale are rickettsial pathogens responsible for acute disease and mild infections, respectively, in cattle herds. A duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with probes labeled with different fluorophores was developed for simultaneous detection and quantification of A. marginale and A. centrale DNA in bovine blood samples. The assay was able to detect as few as 101 and 102 DNA copies for A. marginale and A. centrale, respectively, with optimal specificity and reproducibility. Analysis by real-time and nested PCR carried out on 54 samples previously tested by reverse line blot hybridization showed that the established duplex real-time PCR assay can detect and quantify the 2 Anaplasma spp., even if present simultaneously in the same blood samples. Such an assay could be used in pathogenesis studies on bovine acute anaplasmosis

Long-term shedding of Canine alphaherpesvirus 1 in naturally infected newborn pups

The long-term shedding of Canine alphaherpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1) by neonatal pups with natural infection is reported. The pups belonged to a litter of 11 pointers of a breeding kennel in southern Italy, 9 of which developed a fatal form of systemic infection, as resulted by the detection of CaHV-1 in internal organs (kidney, liver, lung and brain) of one of this dogs and in the vaginal swab of their mother. The two remaining animals displayed a milder form of disease, with one pup showing ocular involvement, and underwent a progressive recovery. These pups were monitored from 11 to 36 days of age, showing a long-term shedding of the virus through the nasal and ocular secretions and the faeces. CaHV-1 shedding, as assessed by means of a specific and sensitive real-time PCR assay, occurred mainly through the nasal secretions, although the pup displaying ocular disease shed the virus at high titres and for a long period even in the ocular secretions