Salmonella serotypes in wild boars (Sus scrofa) hunted in northern Italy

BACKGROUND: Salmonella species (spp.) are zoonotic enteric bacteria able to infect humans, livestock and wildlife. However, little is known about the prevalence and the presence of the different serovars in wildlife. Considering the wide distribution of wild boars and the feeding behaviour (omnivorous scavengers), wild boars may be a good indicator for environmental presence of Salmonella spp. The aims of this study were to determine the presence of Salmonella spp. in hunted wild boars and to determine the serotype the isolated strains. FINDINGS: Over three hunting seasons, the intestinal contents of 1,313 boars hunted in northern Italy were sampled and cultured. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 326 boars (24.82%). Thirty different serovars belonging to three different S. enterica spp. were found. Twenty-one serovars of S. enterica subsp. Enterica were found including the human pathogens S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. In addition, nine serovars belonging to S.enterica subsp. diarizonae and S. enterica subsp. houtenae were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the widespread occurrence of wild boars in Europe, the epidemiological role of this species in relation to salmonellosis might be relevant and should be further investigated. Wild boars may act as healthy carriers of a wide range of Salmonella serotypes

Mycobacterium microti at the environment and wildlife interface

10openInternationalItalian coauthor/editorAn unexpected high presence of Mycobacterium microti in wild boar in Northern Italy (Garda Lake) has been reported since 2003, but the factors contributing to the maintenance of this pathogen are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the presence of M. microti in wild rodents and in water and soil samples collected at wild boar aggregation areas, such as watering holes, with the aim of clarifying their role in M. microti transmission. In total, 8 out of 120 captured animals tested positive for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) as assessed by real-time PCR, and six samples were confirmed to be M. microti. A strain with a genetic profile similar to those previously isolated in wild boars in the same area was isolated from one sample. Of the 20 water and 19 mud samples, 3 and 1, respectively, tested positive for the presence of MTBC, and spacer oligotype SB0118 (vole type) was detected in one sample. Our study suggests that wild rodents, in particular Apodemus sylvaticus, Microtus sp. and Apodemus flavicollis, play roles in the maintenance of M. microti infections in wild boar through ingestion or by contact with either infected excreta or a contaminated environment, such as at animal aggregation sitesopenTagliapietra, V.; Boniotti, M.B.; Mangeli, A.; Karaman, I.; Alborali, G.; Chiari, M.; D’Incau, M.; Zanoni, M.; Rizzoli, A.; Pacciarini, M.L.Tagliapietra, V.; Boniotti, M.B.; Mangeli, A.; Karaman, I.; Alborali, G.; Chiari, M.; D’Incau, M.; Zanoni, M.; Rizzoli, A.; Pacciarini, M.L

Infection by Mycobacterium caprae in three cattle herds in Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a contagious chronic disease associated with progressive emaciation (starvation) and tubercles (granuloma) formation commonly caused by Mycobacterium bovis. In cattle, M. caprae may also be responsible for bTB. In EU, human tuberculosis due to M. bovis had a notification rate of 0.04 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2017, but data did not include M. caprae human infections. From September 2018 to April 2019, bTB outbreaks were investigated in three neighbouring cattle herds in Parma province, Northern Italy. Parma municipality belongs to an officially free of bovine tuberculosis (OTF) Italian region. Official testing on cattle herds, performed every three years as legally required, revealed no positive animals. Tubercular lesions were found during the post mortem (PM) examination of slaughtered cattle and M. caprae genotype SB0418/VNTR 4,3,5,3,4,5,2,2,4,3,15,5 was isolated. This report confirms the crucial importance of PM veterinary inspection at slaughterhouse, despite the OTF status of cattle herds

EBHS in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus): disease dynamics and control

Brown hares have undergone a substantial population decline in Europe during recent decades, caused by, among other factors, the occurrence of European Brown Hare Syndrome (EBHS). To improve our knowledge regarding EBHS epidemiology, we developed a mathematical model that takes into consideration both brown hare biology and the infection dynamics of the EBHS virus (EBHSV). The model consists of eight ordinary differential equations simulating the spread of the virus in a closed hare population. Simulations showed that EBHSV’s transmission has complex dynamics, which are strongly affected by the hare density. In particular, a density threshold of 7 individuals/km2 was identified, determining two opposite epidemiological patterns: the extinction of the EBHSV below the threshold and its endemic stability when the hare population density is above the threshold, with a seroprevalence proportional to the population density. The model was validated using serological data collected in different areas in the province of Brescia (Northern Italy). The results suggested that the maintenance of the endemic circulating viral level through density control mechanisms is the best strategy for reducing EBHS’s impact

Evaluation of the Presence and Viability of Mycobacterium bovis in Wild Boar Meat and Meat-Based Preparations

The aim of the present study is to provide information about the ability of Mycobacterium bovis to survive within wild boar (Sus scrofae) meat and meat-based preparations and the duration of this survival, and to consider the preservation of its infectious potential toward humans and animals. Meat samples were artificially contaminated with an M. bovis field strain and then stored at −20 °C, while two sausages batches were contaminated with the same field strain at two different concentrations, 105 CFU/g and 103 CFU/g, before storing them in proper conditions to allow for their ripening. A third sausage batch was contaminated by adding 2 g of wild boar lymph nodal tissue with active tuberculous lesions to the meat mixture. Bacteriological and biomolecular (PCR) methods were used to test the meat and sausage samples every 60 days and every 7–10 days, respectively. M. bovis was detected as still alive and viable on the frozen meat for the last test on the 342nd day, while from the sausage samples, M. bovis was isolated until 23 days after contamination. Our results indicate that M. bovis can stay alive and be viable for 23 days within sausages prepared with contaminated meat from infected wild boars. These products are usually eaten as fresh food after grilling, often cooking at a temperature that does not ensure complete inactivation of the pathogenic microorganisms present, which can pose a risk for humans to develop zoonotic tuberculosis

Identification and characterization of Fringilla coelebs Papillomavirus 1 (FcPV1) in free-living and captive birds in Italy

A papillomavirus (PV) was identified by negative-staining electron microscopy in skin lesions of two bird species (Fringillidae) in Italy. Genetic analyses revealed an FcPV1 with a low genetic variability in the E6, E7, E1, E2, and L1 genes and the long control region when compared to the FcPV1 reference strain

Suitability of a Salmonella control programme based on serology in slaughter heavy pigs

The key component of most European pig Salmonella control programmes is the classification of herds according to seroprevalence at slaughter. The objectives of this study were to estimate the true Salmonella seroprevalence, and investigate the association between the true status of infection and serology in slaughter heavy pigs. Blood of 3340 pigs was collected and tested with ELISA. From 385 pigs, also lymph nodes and cecal content were collected for bacteriology. Analysis was performed in a Bayesian framework. Results showed that a large proportion of pigs was serologically positive (herd seroprevalence 93% and within-herd seroprevalence higher than 81% in half of herds at cut-off 10 OD%). The association between the true status of infection and serology was not significant, and therefore the classification of heavy pig herds according to seroprevalence at slaughter would not be suitable to reduce the risk of introducing Salmonella into the food chain

Suitability of a Salmonella control programme based on serology in slaughter heavy pigs

The key component of most European pig Salmonella control programmes is the classification of herds according to seroprevalence at slaughter. The objectives of this study were to estimate the true Salmonella seroprevalence, and investigate the association between the true status of infection and serology in slaughter heavy pigs. Blood of 3340 pigs was collected and tested with ELISA. From 385 pigs, also lymph nodes and cecal content were collected for bacteriology. Analysis was performed in a Bayesian framework. Results showed that a large proportion of pigs was serologically positive (herd seroprevalence 93% and within-herd seroprevalence higher than 81% in half of herds at cut-off 10 OD%). The association between the true status of infection and serology was not significant, and therefore the classification of heavy pig herds according to seroprevalence at slaughter would not be suitable to reduce the risk of introducing Salmonella into the food chain

Characteristic Presentation of Avian Tuberculosis in Different Species of Birds

Zoo and private collections of birds, where a large variety of species are kept in relatively confined spaces, favor the presence and spread of mycobacteria infections. Several mycobacterial species can be involved in the etiology of avian tuberculosis. The disease is most often caused by Mycobacterium avium belonging to serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 6, and M. genavense, while other species are rarely involved [1]. Also in birds, the pathological forms of tuberculosis vary according to the host immune response (related to the species and the individual immunological status), and the specie/serotype of mycobacterium involved. Regarding the host specie susceptibility to disease, Hejlicek and Treml [2] broadly classified bird species into four groups (high, and less susceptible, moderately resistant, and highly resistant). Regarding the anatomic forms of the disease, Gerlach [3] classified typical tuberculoid, diffuse-paratubercoloid, and non-tubercoloid or inapparent forms, often undiagnosed during necropsy. In our series of necropsies (2008-2019), tuberculosis was observed in different species of birds: diffuse intestinal paratubercular form was observed in parrots of the genus Brotogeris spp., and in the Fringillidae of the species Serinus canaria, C. carduelis, Carduelis c. caniceps, C. tristis, C. atrata; the nodular pulmonary form in birds of the genus Euplectes and Ploceus, and in estrildid finches of genus Pyrenestes, while granulomatous-erosive lesions located at the base of the tongue were found only in a Guinea Turaco (Tauraco persa). Authors hypothesize that these particular pathological forms may be linked to some anatomical peculiarities and to the cell-mediated response of the host