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Fortin A, Laconi A, Monne I, Zohari S, Andersson K, Grund C, Cecchinato M, Crimaudo M, Valastro V, D'Amico V, Bortolami A, Gastaldelli M, Varotto M, Terregino C, Panzarin V. A novel array of real-time RT-PCR assays for the rapid pathotyping of type I avian paramyxovirus (APMV-1). J Virol Methods 2023; 322:114813. [PMID: 37722509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2023.114813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Newcastle disease (ND) caused by virulent avian paramyxovirus type I (APMV-1) is a WOAH and EU listed disease affecting poultry worldwide. ND exhibits different clinical manifestations that may either be neurological, respiratory and/or gastrointestinal, accompanied by high mortality. In contrast, mild or subclinical forms are generally caused by lentogenic APMV-1 and are not subject to notification. The rapid discrimination of virulent and avirulent viruses is paramount to limit the spread of virulent APMV-1. The appropriateness of molecular methods for APMV-1 pathotyping is often hampered by the high genetic variability of these viruses that affects sensitivity and inclusivity. This work presents a new array of real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) assays that enable the identification of virulent and avirulent viruses in dual mode, i.e., through pathotype-specific probes and subsequent Sanger sequencing of the amplification product. Validation was performed according to the WOAH recommendations. Performance indicators on sensitivity, specificity, repeatability and reproducibility yielded favourable results. Reproducibility highlighted the need for assays optimization whenever major changes are made to the procedure. Overall, the new RT-qPCRs showed its ability to detect and pathotype all tested APMV-1 genotypes and its suitability for routine use in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Fortin
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy; Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua (Unipd), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua (Unipd), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Isabella Monne
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Siamak Zohari
- Department of Microbiology, Swedish National Veterinary Institute (SVA), SE751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristofer Andersson
- Department of Microbiology, Swedish National Veterinary Institute (SVA), SE751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christian Grund
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Mattia Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua (Unipd), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Marika Crimaudo
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Viviana Valastro
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Valeria D'Amico
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Alessio Bortolami
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Michele Gastaldelli
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Maria Varotto
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Calogero Terregino
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Panzarin
- EU/WOAH/National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
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Laconi A, Tilli G, Galuppo F, Grilli G, Souillard R, Piccirillo A. Stakeholders' Perceptions of Biosecurity Implementation in Italian Poultry Farms. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3246. [PMID: 37893970 PMCID: PMC10603624 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The level of implementation of biosecurity measures (BMs), the reasons for not implementing BMs and the effectiveness of BMs were assessed according to the perceptions of stakeholders (i.e., farmers and advisors) in Italian poultry farms. For this purpose, data were collected using a questionnaire administered to advisors (n = 37) and farmers (n = 30) of conventional broiler (n = 13) and layer (n = 13), free-range broiler (n = 8) and layer (n = 10), turkey (n = 13), duck (n = 3) and breeder (n = 7) farms between April and September 2021. The frequency of the implementation of BMs was 66.97% and 81.14% according to the answers provided by the advisors and farmers, respectively, with the breeder sector showing the highest level of implementation (85.71%). "Not knowing advantages" (21.49% for advisors) and "other/specific reasons" (21.49% for advisors and 38.32% for farmers) were the most common answers regarding the lack of implementation of BMs for all poultry sectors. Only 31.09% of farmers acknowledged the effectiveness of not-implemented BMs in contrast to 61.02% of advisors, with the layers' stakeholders being the most aware. The findings of this study may be useful for identifying failures in biosecurity and failures to develop intervention strategies to fulfil the biosecurity gaps still present in Italian poultry farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (A.L.); (G.T.)
| | - Giuditta Tilli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (A.L.); (G.T.)
| | - Francesco Galuppo
- Unità Locale Socio-Sanitaria (ULSS) 6 Euganea, Via Enrico degli Scrovegni 14, 35131 Padua, Italy;
| | - Guido Grilli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy;
| | - Rozenn Souillard
- Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, 22440 Ploufragan, France;
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (A.L.); (G.T.)
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Laconi A, Saracino B, Fattorini E, Pellegrini G, Bucchi M, Bailoni L, Piccirillo A. SARS-CoV-2 and Companion Animals: Sources of Information and Communication Campaign during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy. Vet Sci 2023; 10:426. [PMID: 37505831 PMCID: PMC10386290 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10070426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study analyzed data on the sources and the level of Italians' awareness on the risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 at the human-animal interface. Data were collected through a survey-type investigation on a representative sample of the Italian population. Forty-five percent of the interviewees were aware that companion animals could be infected by SARS-CoV-2. However, 29.8% were familiar with preventive measures to adopt to avoid viral transmission between infected humans and companion animals, and only 20.7% knew which companion animals could be at risk of infection. Higher awareness regarding the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between animals and humans (51.7%) and the measures to prevent it (33.3%) was detected among companion animals' owners. Notably, 40.4% of interviewees were not informed at all. Television broadcasts (26.4%) represented the main source of information, while only 3.5% of the interviewees relied on veterinarians, of which 31.9% considered this source of information as the most trustworthy. Overall, 72.4% of Italians recognized that the communication campaign on COVID-19 and companion animals was inadequate. This survey highlights the need for increasing the public awareness of the risk of companion animals being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and the involvement of professionals in the public communication on zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy
| | - Barbara Saracino
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Bologna, 40125 Bologna, Italy
| | - Eliana Fattorini
- Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pellegrini
- Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Massimiano Bucchi
- Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Lucia Bailoni
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy
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Laconi A, Tolosi R, Drigo I, Bano L, Piccirillo A. Association between ability to form biofilm and virulence factors of poultry extra-intestinal Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Vet Microbiol 2023; 282:109770. [PMID: 37150060 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Campylobacter species are known to be able to produce biofilm, which represents an ideal protective environment for the maintenance of such fragile bacteria. Since the genetic mechanisms promoting biofilm formation are still poorly understood, in this study we assessed the ability of C. jejuni (n = 7) and C. coli (n = 3) strains isolated from diseased poultry, and previously characterized by whole genome sequencing, to form biofilm. The in vitro analyses were carried out by using a microtiter based protocol including biofilm culturing and fixation, staining with crystal violet, and measurement of the optical density (OD570). The ability to form biofilm was categorized into four classes (no, weak, moderate, and strong producers). Potential correlations between OD570 and the presence/absence of virulence determinants were examined. The C. jejuni were classified as no (n = 3), weak (n = 2), and moderate (n = 2) biofilm producers; however, all possessed genes involved in chemotaxis, adhesion, and invasion to the host cells. No genes present exclusively in biofilm producers or in non-biofilm producers were identified. All C. coli were classified as weak producers and showed a similar set of virulence genes between each other. A trend of increased mean OD570 was observed in the presence of flaA and maf7 genes. No association between biofilm production classes and the explanatory variables considered was observed. The results of this study suggest that further investigations are needed to better identify and characterize the genetic determinants involved in extra-intestinal Campylobacter biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, PD, 35020, Italy.
| | - Roberta Tolosi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, PD, 35020, Italy
| | - Ilenia Drigo
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 31020 Villorba, TV, Italy
| | - Luca Bano
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 31020 Villorba, TV, Italy
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, PD, 35020, Italy
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Laconi A, Tolosi R, Apostolakos I, Piccirillo A. Biofilm Formation Ability of ESBL/pAmpC-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from the Broiler Production Pyramid. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12010155. [PMID: 36671356 PMCID: PMC9855187 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli able to produce extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (pAmpCs) represents a serious threat to public health, since these genes confer resistance to critically important antimicrobials (i.e., third generation cephalosporins) and can be transferred to non-resistant bacteria via plasmids. E. coli are known to be able to form a biofilm, which represents a favorable environment for the exchange of resistance determinants. Here, we assessed the ability of 102 ESBL/pAmpC-producing E. coli isolated from the broiler production pyramid to form a biofilm and to identify genetic factors involved in biofilm formation. All but one of the ESBL/pAmpC-producing E. coli were able to form a biofilm, and this represents a great concern to public health. E. coli belonging to phylogroups D, E, and F, as well as strains harboring the blaCTX-M-type gene, seem to be associated with an increased biofilm capability (p < 0.05). Furthermore, virulence genes involved in adherence and invasion (i.e., csgBAC, csgDEFG, matABCDEF, and sfaX) seem to enhance biofilm formation in E. coli. Efforts should be made to reduce the presence of ESBL/pAmpC- and biofilm-producing E. coli in the broiler production pyramid and, therefore, the risk of dissemination of resistant bacteria and genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Roberta Tolosi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Ilias Apostolakos
- Dairy Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, 45221 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0498-272-793
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Laconi A, Tolosi R, Mughini-Gras L, Cuccato M, Cannizzo FT, Piccirillo A. Amoxicillin and thiamphenicol treatments may influence the co-selection of resistance genes in the chicken gut microbiota. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20413. [PMID: 36437351 PMCID: PMC9701756 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24927-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of microbial communities and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in the chicken gut following amoxicillin and thiamphenicol treatments and potential co-selection of ARGs. To this purpose, the microbial community composition, using 16S rRNA NGS, and the abundance of ARGs conferring resistance to β-lactams and phenicols, using qPCRs, were determined. Results revealed that the administered antimicrobials did not significantly reduce the gut microbiota diversity, but changed its composition, with taxa (e.g. Gallibacterium and Megamonas) being enriched after treatment and replacing other bacteria (e.g. Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium). Positive correlations were found between ARGs (e.g. cmlA, blaCMY-2, and blaSHV) and the relative abundance of specific taxa (e.g. Lactobacillus and Subdoligranulum). The selective pressure exerted by both amoxicillin and thiamphenicol resulted in an increased abundance of ARGs conferring resistance to β-lactams (e.g. blaTEM-1, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M1-like) and phenicols (e.g. floR and cmlA). These findings, together with the co-occurrence of genes conferring resistance to the two antimicrobial classes (e.g. blaTEM-1 and cmlA), suggest a possible interaction among antimicrobials on resistance emergence, possibly due to the presence of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) carrying multiple resistance determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, PD Italy
| | - Roberta Tolosi
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, PD Italy
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- grid.5477.10000000120346234Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands ,grid.31147.300000 0001 2208 0118Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Matteo Cuccato
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, PD Italy
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Laconi A, Tolosi R, Mughini-Gras L, Mazzucato M, Ferrè N, Carraro L, Cardazzo B, Capolongo F, Merlanti R, Piccirillo A. Beehive products as bioindicators of antimicrobial resistance contamination in the environment. Sci Total Environ 2022; 823:151131. [PMID: 34695463 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The use of antimicrobials in agricultural, veterinary and medical practice exerts selective pressure on environmental microbiota, promoting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global concern for the One Health Initiative Task Force (OHITF). Honeybees have been studied as bioindicators of AMR in the environment, but little is known about beehive products like honey and pollen. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of AMR genes (ARGs) in beehive products and investigated their origins. Specifically, possible associations between ARGs, microbiota and other characteristics of different honey and pollen samples, including country of origin, flower type, type of commercial distribution and environmental factors, such as land use, weather and composition of the environment surrounding the beehives were investigated. We found that beehive products harboured ARGs conferring resistance to β-lactams, macrolides, (fluoro)quinolones and polymyxins. Most samples possessed resistance to multiple antimicrobial classes, with honey and pollen showing similar ARG profiles. Even if Lactobacillus and Acinetobacter genera were common in the microbial communities of both honey and pollen, Bacillus, Clostridium, and Bombella defined honey microbiota, while Pseudomonas and Vibrio were enriched in pollen. ErmB and blaTEM-1 co-occurred with Lactobacillus and Fructobacillus, while positive associations between β-lactams and macrolides and anthropogenic environments (i.e. industrial and commercial areas and non-irrigated arable lands) were found. Altogether, our findings suggest that ARGs in honey and pollen might originate from the honeybee foraging environment, and that the beehive products can be used as bioindicators of the AMR environmental contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
| | - Roberta Tolosi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, De Uithof, 3584 CL Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matteo Mazzucato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferrè
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Lisa Carraro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Barbara Cardazzo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Capolongo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberta Merlanti
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
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Tilli G, Laconi A, Galuppo F, Mughini-Gras L, Piccirillo A. Assessing Biosecurity Compliance in Poultry Farms: A Survey in a Densely Populated Poultry Area in North East Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12111409. [PMID: 35681871 PMCID: PMC9179503 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Biosecurity in poultry farms represents the first line of defense against the entry and spread of pathogens that may have animal health, food safety, and economic consequences. The aim of this study was to assess biosecurity compliance in poultry farms located in a densely populated poultry area in North East Italy. A total of 259 poultry farms (i.e., broilers, turkeys, and layers) were surveyed between 2018 and 2019 using standardized checklists, and differences in biosecurity compliance between the poultry sectors and years (only for turkey farms) were tested for significance. Among the three sectors, turkey farms showed the highest compliance. Farm hygiene, infrastructure condition, cleaning and disinfection tools, and procedures were the biosecurity measures most complied with. Some deficiencies were observed in the cleanliness of the farm hygiene lock in broiler farms, as well as the presence of the house hygiene lock in broiler and layer farms and an adequate coverage of built-up litter in turkey and broiler farms. In conclusion, this study highlighted a generally high level of biosecurity in the visited poultry farms (probably due to the stringent national regulation and the integration of the poultry industry) and identified some measures that still need to be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuditta Tilli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (G.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (G.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Francesco Galuppo
- Unità Locale Socio-Sanitaria (ULSS) 6 Euganea, via Enrico degli Scrovegni 14, 35131 Padua, Italy;
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands;
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (G.T.); (A.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8272793
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Cavicchio L, Laconi A, Piccirillo A, Beato MS. Swine Norovirus: Past, Present, and Future. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030537. [PMID: 35336944 PMCID: PMC8953536 DOI: 10.3390/v14030537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Norovirus, an ssRNA + virus of the family Caliciviridae, is a leading disease burden in humans worldwide, causing an estimated 600 million cases of acute gastroenteritis every year. Since the discovery of norovirus in the faeces of swine in Japan in the 1990s, swine norovirus has been reported in several countries on several continents. The identification of the human-associated GII.4 genotype in swine has raised questions about this animal species as a reservoir of norovirus with zoonotic potential, even if species-specific P-types are usually detected in swine. This review summarises the available data regarding the geographic distribution of norovirus in swine, the years of detection, the genotype characterisation, and the prevalence in specific production groups. Furthermore, we discuss the major bottlenecks for the detection and characterisation of swine noroviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Cavicchio
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVE), Viale dell’Università 10, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy;
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (A.L.); (A.P.)
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy; (A.L.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Serena Beato
- National Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever and Ruminant retroviruses, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini, 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Laconi A, Tolosi R, Cuccato M, Gras LM, Cannizzo F, Tilli G, Piccirillo A. Antimicrobial Resistance Dynamics in the Chicken Gut after Amoxicillin and Thiamphenicol Treatments. Int J Infect Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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11
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Tolosi R, Carraro L, Laconi A, Piccirillo A. Optimization of five qPCR protocols toward the detection and the quantification of antimicrobial resistance genes in environmental samples. MethodsX 2021; 8:101488. [PMID: 34754761 PMCID: PMC8563462 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2021.101488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe the optimization and validation of five quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays by employing the SYBRGreen chemistry paired with melting curve analysis to detect and quantify clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) (i.e. ermB, blaCTXM1-like, blaCMY-2, qnrA and qnrS) from environmental samples (i.e. soil and manure). These five protocols accurately detected and quantified the aforementioned ARGs in complex environmental matrices and represent useful tools for both diagnostic and monitoring activities of resistant bacteria and ARGs into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Tolosi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro, Padua 35020, Italy
| | - Lisa Carraro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro, Padua 35020, Italy
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro, Padua 35020, Italy
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro, Padua 35020, Italy
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12
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Apostolakos I, Laconi A, Mughini-Gras L, Yapicier ÖŞ, Piccirillo A. Occurrence of Colibacillosis in Broilers and Its Relationship With Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) Population Structure and Molecular Characteristics. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:737720. [PMID: 34568479 PMCID: PMC8456121 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.737720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes colibacillosis, the disease with the highest economic loss for the broiler industry. However, studies focusing on the prevalence and population structure of APEC in the broiler production pyramid are scarce. Here, we used genotyping and serotyping data to elucidate the APEC population structure and its changes in different broiler production stages along with whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in a subset of APEC isolates to determine transmission patterns amongst dominant APEC sequence types (STs) and characterize them in detail. Comparison of genotypes encountered in both APEC and avian fecal E. coli (AFEC) provided further insights. Overall, APEC-related mortality, as the proportion of the total sampled mortality in the broiler production, was high (35%), while phylogroup C and serogroup O78 were predominant amongst APEC isolates. We found a low (34.0%) and high (53.3%) incidence of colibacillosis in chicks and end-cycle broilers, respectively, which may be related to a shift in APEC genotypes, suggesting a trend from commensalism to pathogenicity across different broiler production stages. Despite considerable APEC genotypic diversity, there was substantial genotype overlap (40.9%, overall) over the production stages and convergence of STs to the four clusters. Within these clusters, WGS data provided evidence of clonal transmission events and revealed an enriched virulence and resistance APEC repertoire. More specifically, sequenced APEC were assigned to defined pathotypes based on their virulence gene content while the majority (86%) was genotypically multi-drug resistant. Interestingly, WGS-based phylogeny showed that a subset of APEC, which are cephalosporin-resistant, may originate directly from cephalosporin-resistant AFEC. Finally, exploration of the APEC plasmidome indicated that the small fraction of the APEC virulome carried by IncF plasmids is pivotal for the manifestation of the APEC pathotype; thus, plasmid exchange can promote pathogenicity in strains that are at the edge of the commensal and pathogenic states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Apostolakos
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Özlem Şahan Yapicier
- Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Veterinary Control, Central Research Institute, Bacteriology Diagnostic Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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13
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Laconi A, Drigo I, Palmieri N, Carraro L, Tonon E, Franch R, Bano L, Piccirillo A. Genomic analysis of extra-intestinal Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from commercial chickens. Vet Microbiol 2021; 259:109161. [PMID: 34214907 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli have commonly been considered harmless commensal inhabitants of the chicken gut; however, these Campylobacter spp. are known to be able to multiply in the gut and invade other tissues, negatively affecting host health and performance. In this study, fourteen Campylobacter spp. were isolated from chickens showing foci of necrosis on the liver surface resembling lesions observed in cases of avian vibrionic hepatitis/spotty liver disease. The whole genome sequences of the fourteen isolates were analysed and their virulomes compared to those of Campylobacter reference sequences, aiming to investigate the possible association between virulence genes and the observed pathological lesions. Nine C. jejuni and five C. coli were studied. These Campylobacter shared twelve virulence factors with other isolates originated from chicken livers and hosted a higher number of virulence-associated genes in comparison to the reference genomes, including genes encoding for factors involved in adherence to and invasion of the intestinal epithelial cells. Our findings seem to point out that these twelve common virulence-associated genes, together with the presence of a high number of virulence factors involved in adherence, invasion and motility, might be responsible for the extra-intestinal spread of our isolates and the colonization of parenchymatous tissues, possibly causing the pathological lesions observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), 35020, Italy
| | - Ilenia Drigo
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 31020 Villorba (TV), Italy
| | - Nicola Palmieri
- University Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Austria
| | - Lisa Carraro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), 35020, Italy
| | - Elena Tonon
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 31020 Villorba (TV), Italy
| | - Raffaela Franch
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), 35020, Italy
| | - Luca Bano
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 31020 Villorba (TV), Italy
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), 35020, Italy.
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14
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Laconi A, Mughini-Gras L, Tolosi R, Grilli G, Trocino A, Carraro L, Di Cesare F, Cagnardi P, Piccirillo A. Microbial community composition and antimicrobial resistance in agricultural soils fertilized with livestock manure from conventional farming in Northern Italy. Sci Total Environ 2021; 760:143404. [PMID: 33199005 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobials are commonly used in conventional livestock production and manure is widely applied to agricultural lands as fertilizer. This practice raises questions regarding the effects of fertilization on (i) soil microbiota composition and (ii) spread of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment. This study was conducted in a high-density farming area of Northern Italy and aimed at assessing the impact of (dairy cattle, chickens and swine) manure application on soil microbiome, antimicrobial concentrations and antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) abundance. We found the microbial community composition in manure to be different and less diverse than in soil, with manure application altering only marginally the soil microbiome. Exceptions were the phyla Firmicutes, Tenericutes and Cloacimonetes, which significantly enriched in fertilized soil. Of the antimicrobials investigated, only flumequine concentrations increased after manure application, albeit non-significantly. ARGs were more abundant in manure, with ermA, ermB, blaOXA-1 and oqxA being significantly enriched in fertilized soil. Positive correlations between oqxA and qnrS abundances and flumequine concentrations were observed, together with the co-occurrence of some ARGs and microbial taxa (e.g. oqxA correlated with Acidobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes). This study showed that manure application has little effect on soil microbiome but may contribute to the dissemination of specific ARGs into the environment. Moreover, flumequine residues seem to enhance the emergence of oqxA and qnrS in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, De Uithof, 3584 CL Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Roberta Tolosi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Guido Grilli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Angela Trocino
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Lisa Carraro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Di Cesare
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Petra Cagnardi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
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15
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Cavicchio L, Tassoni L, Laconi A, Cunial G, Gagliazzo L, Milani A, Campalto M, Di Martino G, Forzan M, Monne I, Beato MS. Author Correction: Unrevealed genetic diversity of GII Norovirus in the swine population of North East Italy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12522. [PMID: 32694528 PMCID: PMC7374755 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69599-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cavicchio
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - L Tassoni
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - A Laconi
- EU, OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.,Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - G Cunial
- Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - L Gagliazzo
- Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - A Milani
- EU, OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - M Campalto
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - G Di Martino
- Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - M Forzan
- Department of Veterinary Virology, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - I Monne
- EU, OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - M S Beato
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
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16
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Tolosi R, Apostolakos I, Laconi A, Carraro L, Grilli G, Cagnardi P, Piccirillo A. Rapid detection and quantification of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-5) by real-time PCR in bacterial and environmental samples. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 129:1523-1529. [PMID: 32510809 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIM The aim of the study was to validate a rapid method to detect and quantify colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-5) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in diverse matrices. METHODS AND RESULTS The detection limit of two newly designed SYBR Green real-time PCR assays for mcr-4 and mcr-5 and of previously published protocols for mcr-1 to mcr-3 was assessed using serial dilutions of reference strains. The assays could detect all five mcr genes with the lower limit of 102 copy numbers. Escherichia coli isolates (n = 1062) and environmental samples (n = 93) were tested for the presence of mcr genes. The assays enabled the detection of colistin resistance genes both in bacterial isolates and in complex environmental samples. CONCLUSIONS This method represents a set of sensitive, rapid and effective assays for the screening of colistin resistance directly from the environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Colistin is an antimicrobial commonly used in animals and has recently emerged as a last-resort treatment in humans. Plasmid-mediated mcr genes confer resistance to colistin and represent a major threat for public health since they can be easily disseminated through horizontal gene transfer. The rapid and sensitive detection of mcr genes is of utmost necessity.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tolosi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - I Apostolakos
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - A Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - L Carraro
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - G Grilli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - P Cagnardi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - A Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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17
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Cavicchio L, Tassoni L, Laconi A, Cunial G, Gagliazzo L, Milani A, Campalto M, Di Martino G, Forzan M, Monne I, Beato MS. Unrevealed genetic diversity of GII Norovirus in the swine population of North East Italy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9217. [PMID: 32513947 PMCID: PMC7280493 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66140-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Noroviruses (NoVs) are one of the major causative agents of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. NoVs, belonging to Caliciviridae, are classified into ten genogroups (G) and eight P-groups based on major capsid protein (VP1) and of the RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp), respectively. In swine, the main genogroup and P-group identified are GII and GII.P; which can infect humans too. To date, only one case of GIIP.11 have been identified in swine in Italy while the circulation of other P-types is currently unknown. In the present study, 225 swine faecal samples were collected from 74 swine herds in Veneto region through on-farm monitoring. NoV circulation was particularly high in older pigs. The phylogenetic analysis showed the co-circulation of NoVs belonging to two different P-types: GII.P11 and GII.P18, here described for the first time in Italy, presenting an extensive genetic diversity, never described before worldwide. Distinct NoV genetic subgroups and unique amino acid mutations were identified for each P-type for the first time. This study demonstrated the co-circulation of diverse swine NoVs subgroups in Italy, raising questions on the origin of such diversity and suggesting that continuous monitoring of swine NoVs is needed to track the emergence of potentially zoonotic viruses by recombination events.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cavicchio
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - L Tassoni
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - A Laconi
- EU, OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - G Cunial
- Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - L Gagliazzo
- Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - A Milani
- EU, OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - M Campalto
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - G Di Martino
- Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - M Forzan
- Department of Veterinary Virology, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - I Monne
- EU, OIE/FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - M S Beato
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
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18
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Bouwman KM, Habraeken N, Laconi A, Berends AJ, Groenewoud L, Alders M, Kemp V, Verheije MH. N-glycosylation of infectious bronchitis virus M41 spike determines receptor specificity. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:599-608. [PMID: 32213247 PMCID: PMC7414442 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection of chicken coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is initiated by binding of the viral heavily N-glycosylated attachment protein spike to the alpha-2,3-linked sialic acid receptor Neu5Ac. Previously, we have shown that N-glycosylation of recombinantly expressed receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike of IBV-M41 is of critical importance for binding to chicken trachea tissue. Here we investigated the role of N-glycosylation of the RBD on receptor specificity and virus replication in the context of the virus particle. Using our reverse genetics system we were able to generate recombinant IBVs for nine-out-of-ten individual N-glycosylation mutants. In vitro growth kinetics of these viruses were comparable to the virus containing the wild-type M41-S1. Furthermore, Neu5Ac binding by the recombinant viruses containing single N-glycosylation site knock-out mutations matched the Neu5Ac binding observed with the recombinant RBDs. Five N-glycosylation mutants lost the ability to bind Neu5Ac and gained binding to a different, yet unknown, sialylated glycan receptor on host cells. These results demonstrate that N-glycosylation of IBV is a determinant for receptor specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. M. Bouwman
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - N. Habraeken
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A. Laconi
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Present address: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - A. J. Berends
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L. Groenewoud
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M. Alders
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - V. Kemp
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M. H. Verheije
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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19
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Laconi A, Fortin A, Bedendo G, Shibata A, Sakoda Y, Awuni JA, Go-Maro E, Arafa A, Maken Ali AS, Terregino C, Monne I. Detection of avian influenza virus: a comparative study of the in silico and in vitro performances of current RT-qPCR assays. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8441. [PMID: 32439885 PMCID: PMC7242438 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64003-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses (AIV) are negative sense RNA viruses posing a major threat to the poultry industry worldwide, with the potential to spread to mammals, including humans; hence, an accurate and rapid AIV diagnosis is essential. To date AIV detection relies on molecular methods, mainly RT-qPCR directed against AIV M gene segment. The evolution of AIV represents a relevant issue in diagnostic RT-qPCR due to possible mispriming and/or probe-binding failures resulting in false negative results. Consequently, RT-qPCR for AIV detection should be periodically re-assessed both in silico and in vitro. To this end, a specific workflow was developed to evaluate in silico the complementarity of primers and probes of four published RT-qPCR protocols to their target regions. The four assays and one commercially available kit for AIV detection were evaluated both for their analytical sensitivity using eight different viral dilution panels and for their diagnostic performances against clinical specimens of known infectious status. Differences were observed among the tests under evaluation, both in terms of analytical sensitivity and of diagnostic performances. This finding confirms the importance of continuously monitoring the primers and probes complementarity to their binding regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy.
| | - Andrea Fortin
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy
| | - Giulia Bedendo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy
| | - Akihiro Shibata
- Exotic Disease Inspection Division, Laboratory Department, Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokoname, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Sakoda
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | | | - Abdelsatar Arafa
- Reference Lab for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, 12618, Egypt
| | | | - Calogero Terregino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy
| | - Isabella Monne
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy.
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20
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Laconi A, Cavicchio L, Tassoni L, Cunial G, Milani A, Ustulin M, Di Martino G, Forzan M, Campalto M, Monne I, Beato MS. Identification of two divergent swine Noroviruses detected at the slaughterhouse in North East Italy. Porcine Health Manag 2020; 6:9. [PMID: 32322405 PMCID: PMC7160966 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-020-00147-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) has emerged as one of the major causative agents of non-bacterial, food- and water-borne gastroenteritis in humans, with the main genogroup involved in human outbreaks (GII), which has been detected worldwide in different animal species including swine. A four-month investigation at the slaughterhouse aiming to examine the presence of NoV in the swine in North-Eastern Italy, enabled the detection of two divergent Noroviruses (NoVs) (GII.P11) in two swine farms. This represents the first study in the swine population of North-Eastern Italy, which has paved the way for future integrated virological and epidemiological investigations on swine NoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- 1Research and Development Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.,2Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Lara Cavicchio
- 3Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Tassoni
- 3Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cunial
- 4Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Adelaide Milani
- 1Research and Development Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Martina Ustulin
- 5Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Via Bassa del Cuc 4, 33084, Cordenons, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Guido Di Martino
- 4Epidemiology Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Mario Forzan
- 6Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mery Campalto
- 3Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Isabella Monne
- 1Research and Development Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Serena Beato
- 3Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
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Kemp V, Laconi A, Cocciolo G, Berends AJ, Breit TM, Verheije MH. miRNA repertoire and host immune factor regulation upon avian coronavirus infection in eggs. Arch Virol 2020; 165:835-843. [PMID: 32025807 PMCID: PMC7086581 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04527-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a coronavirus with great economic impact on the poultry industry, causing an acute and highly contagious disease in chickens that primarily affects the respiratory and reproductive systems. The cellular regulation of IBV pathogenesis and the host immune responses involved remain to be fully elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a class of crucial regulators of numerous cellular processes, including responses to viral infections. Here, we employed a high-throughput sequencing approach to analyze the miRNA composition of the spleen and the lungs of chicken embryos upon IBV infection. Compared to healthy chicken embryos, 13 and six miRNAs were upregulated in the spleen and the lungs, respectively, all predicted to influence viral transcription, cytokine production, and lymphocyte functioning. Subsequent downregulation of NFATC3, NFAT5, SPPL3, and TGFB2 genes in particular was observed only in the spleen, demonstrating the biological functionality of the miRNAs in this lymphoid organ. This is the first study that describes the modulation of miRNAs and the related host immune factors by IBV in chicken embryos. Our data provide novel insight into complex virus-host interactions and specifically highlight components that could affect the host's immune response to IBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Kemp
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division Pathology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division Pathology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Giulio Cocciolo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Alinda J Berends
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division Pathology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Timo M Breit
- RNA Biology and Applied Bioinformatics Research Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Hélène Verheije
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division Pathology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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22
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Laconi A, Weerts EAWS, Bloodgood JCG, Deniz Marrero JP, Berends AJ, Cocciolo G, de Wit JJ, Verheije MH. Attenuated live infectious bronchitis virus QX vaccine disseminates slowly to target organs distant from the site of inoculation. Vaccine 2019; 38:1486-1493. [PMID: 31822427 PMCID: PMC7115521 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.11.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
IBV-QX vaccine and virulent progenitor have comparable RNA titers in the trachea. IBV-QX vaccine shows delayed induction of lesions in the respiratory tract. IBV-QX vaccine has reduced ability to disseminate from the site of inoculation to other target tissues. IBV-QX vaccine displays no nephropathogenicity in SPF broilers. Ascending virus transport seems to contribute to kidney infection.
Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious respiratory disease of poultry, caused by the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Currently, one of the most relevant genotypes circulating worldwide is IBV-QX (GI-19), for which vaccines have been developed by passaging virulent QX strains in embryonated chicken eggs. Here we explored the attenuated phenotype of a commercially available QX live vaccine, IB Primo QX, in specific pathogens free broilers. At hatch, birds were inoculated with QX vaccine or its virulent progenitor IBV-D388, and postmortem swabs and tissues were collected each day up to eight days post infection to assess viral replication and morphological changes. In the trachea, viral RNA replication and protein expression were comparable in both groups. Both viruses induced morphologically comparable lesions in the trachea, albeit with a short delay in the vaccinated birds. In contrast, in the kidney, QX vaccine viral RNA was nearly absent, which coincided with the lack of any morphological changes in this organ. This was in contrast to high viral RNA titers and abundant lesions in the kidney after IBV D388 infection. Furthermore, QX vaccine showed reduced ability to reach and replicate in conjunctivae and intestines including cloaca, resulting in significantly lower titers and delayed protein expression, respectively. Nephropathogenic IBVs might reach the kidney also via an ascending route from the cloaca, based on our observation that viral RNA was detected in the cloaca one day before detection in the kidney. In the kidney distal tubular segments, collecting ducts and ureter were positive for viral antigen. Taken together, the attenuated phenotype of QX vaccine seems to rely on slower dissemination and lower replication in target tissues other than the site of inoculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Laconi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - E A W S Weerts
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - J C G Bloodgood
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - J P Deniz Marrero
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - A J Berends
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - G Cocciolo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - J J de Wit
- GD Animal Health, Deventer, the Netherlands
| | - M H Verheije
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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23
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Laconi A, Berends AJ, de Laat ECH, Urselmann TAPMP, Verheije HM. Infectious bronchitis virus Mass-type (GI-1) and QX-like (GI-19) genotyping and vaccine differentiation using SYBR green RT-qPCR paired with melting curve analysis. J Virol Methods 2019; 275:113771. [PMID: 31712091 PMCID: PMC7113787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.113771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) is a highly contagious virus of chicken, causing huge economic losses in the poultry industry. Many genotypes circulate in a given area, and optimal protection relies on vaccination with live attenuated vaccines of the same genotype. As these live vaccines are derived from field viruses and circulate, understanding the prevalence of different IBV genotypes in any area is complex. In a recent study, the genome comparison of an IBV QX vaccine and its progenitor field strain led to the identification of vaccine markers. Here we developed a simplex SYBRgreen RT-qPCR assay for differentiation between QX-like field and vaccine strains and a multiplex SYBRgreen RT-qPCR assay for IBV genotyping with melting curve analysis, as each virus produced distinct and reliable melting peaks. Both the simplex and the multiplex assays showed excellent efficiency, sensitivity and specificity representing a low cost diagnostic tool for IBV genotyping and vaccine differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Alinda J Berends
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Esther C H de Laat
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tara A P M P Urselmann
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hélène M Verheije
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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24
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Laconi A, Catelli E, Cecchinato M, Naylor CJ. Two similar commercial live attenuated AMPV vaccines prepared by random passage of the identical field isolate, have unrelated sequences. Vaccine 2019; 37:2765-2767. [PMID: 31003913 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Since late '80 s Avian metapneumovirus subtype A causes sufficient disease in Europe for commercial companies to have started developing live attenuated vaccines. Here, two of those vaccines were fully consensus sequenced alongside their progenitor field strain (#8544). Sequences comparison shows that the attenuation of field strain #8544 was associated with no common substitutions between the two derived vaccines. This finding suggests that the attenuation of field viruses via serial passage on cell cultures or tissues is the result of a random process, rather than a mechanism aiming to achieve a specific sequence. Furthermore, field vaccination strategies would greatly benefit by the unambiguous vaccine markers identified in this study, enabling a prompt and confident vaccines detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom.
| | - Elena Catelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Mattia Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Clive J Naylor
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
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25
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Laconi A, Listorti V, Franzo G, Cecchinato M, Naylor C, Lupini C, Catelli E. Molecular characterization of whole genome sequence of infectious bronchitis virus 624I genotype confirms the close relationship with Q1 genotype. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 66:207-216. [PMID: 30126059 PMCID: PMC7168539 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) genotype Q1 was detected for the first time in China in 1996, and then spread worldwide. The first report of Q1 genotype in Italy occurred in 2011 and a deep molecular investigation of a Q1 isolated in Italy in 2013 has led to speculation regarding the origin of this genotype. Phylogenetic analysis of the S1 sequence of a Q1 Italian strain revealed a close relationship with sequences of the 624I strains circulating in Italy in the early 1990s and this led to the idea that 624I was an ancestor of the Q1 genotype. Despite the fact that most heterogeneity of IBVs occurs in the S1 gene, the sequence analysis of this gene alone was not sufficient to confirm or deny this hypothesis. In the present study, an Italian 624I (gammaCoV/AvCov/Ck/Italy/IP14425/96) was fully sequenced for the first time and compared to all available complete Q1 genome sequences. This analysis confirmed the genetic correlation between GammaCoV/AvCov/Ck/Italy/IP14425/96 and Q1 strains, suggesting a common origin between 624I and Q1 genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool, Cheshire, UK
| | - Valeria Listorti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Giovanni Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Mattia Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Clive Naylor
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Liverpool, Cheshire, UK
| | - Caterina Lupini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Elena Catelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
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26
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Laconi A, van Beurden SJ, Berends AJ, Krämer-Kühl A, Jansen CA, Spekreijse D, Chénard G, Philipp HC, Mundt E, Rottier PJM, Hélène Verheije M. Deletion of accessory genes 3a, 3b, 5a or 5b from avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus induces an attenuated phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. J Gen Virol 2018; 99:1381-1390. [PMID: 30067172 PMCID: PMC7079694 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infects domestic fowl, resulting in respiratory disease and causing serious losses in unprotected birds. Its control is mainly achieved by using live attenuated vaccines. Here we explored the possibilities for rationally attenuating IBV to improve our knowledge regarding the function of IBV accessory proteins and for the development of next-generation vaccines with the recently established reverse genetic system for IBV H52 based on targeted RNA recombination and selection of recombinant viruses in embryonated eggs. To this aim, we selectively removed accessory genes 3a, 3b, 5a and 5b individually, and rescued the resulting recombinant (r) rIBV-Δ3a, rIBV-Δ3b, rIBV-Δ5a and rIBV-Δ5b. In vitro inoculation of chicken embryo kidney cells with recombinant and wild-type viruses demonstrated that the accessory protein 5b is involved in the delayed activation of the interferon response of the host after IBV infection. Embryo mortality after the inoculation of 8-day-old embryonated chicken eggs with recombinant and wild-type viruses showed that rIBV-Δ3b, rIBV-Δ5a and rIBV-Δ5b had an attenuated phenotype in ovo, with reduced titres at 6 h p.i. and 12 h p.i. for all viruses, while growing to the same titre as wild-type rIBV at 48 h p.i. When administered to 1-day-old chickens, rIBV-Δ3a, rIBV-Δ3b, rIBV-Δ5a and rIBV-Δ5b showed reduced ciliostasis in comparison to the wild-type viruses. In conclusion, individual deletion of accessory genes in IBV H52 resulted in mutant viruses with an attenuated phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Pathobiology, Pathology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CL, The Netherlands
| | - Steven J. van Beurden
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Pathobiology, Pathology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CL, The Netherlands
- Present address: Gupta Strategists, Ophemert, The Netherlands
| | - Alinda J. Berends
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Pathobiology, Pathology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CL, The Netherlands
| | - Annika Krämer-Kühl
- Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Center GmbH & Co. KG, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine A. Jansen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Immunology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CL, The Netherlands
| | - Dieuwertje Spekreijse
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Operations BV, Weesp, The Netherlands
- Present address: Intravacc Animal Research Centre, Ponwalla Science Park, The Netherlands
| | - Gilles Chénard
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Operations BV, Weesp, The Netherlands
- Present address: Thermo Fisher Scientific, 8211AR Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - Egbert Mundt
- Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Center GmbH & Co. KG, Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter J. M. Rottier
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CL, The Netherlands
| | - M. Hélène Verheije
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Pathobiology, Pathology Division, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CL, The Netherlands
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Listorti V, Laconi A, Catelli E, Cecchinato M, Lupini C, Naylor CJ. Identification of IBV QX vaccine markers : Should vaccine acceptance by authorities require similar identifications for all live IBV vaccines? Vaccine 2017; 35:5531-5534. [PMID: 28917538 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/03/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
IBV genotype QX causes sufficient disease in Europe for several commercial companies to have started developing live attenuated vaccines. Here, one of those vaccines (L1148) was fully consensus sequenced alongside its progenitor field strain (1148-A) to determine vaccine markers, thereby enabling detection on farms. Twenty-eight single nucleotide substitutions were associated with the 1148-A attenuation, of which any combination can identify vaccine L1148 in the field. Sixteen substitutions resulted in amino acid coding changes of which half were in spike. One change in the 1b gene altered the normally highly conserved final 5 nucleotides of the transcription regulatory sequence of the S gene, common to all IBV QX genes. No mutations can currently be associated with the attenuation process. Field vaccination strategies would greatly benefit by such comparative sequence data being mandatorily submitted to regulators prior to vaccine release following a successful registration process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Listorti
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Catelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Mattia Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Caterina Lupini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Clive J Naylor
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom.
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Cardinale A, Lagalla R, de Maria M, Valentino B, Cabibi D, Laconi A. Biologic Effects of Ultrasound on Liver Cells of Rat Embryos. Acta Radiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/028418518702800218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Experiments on the biologic effects of ultrasound (US) were carried out on rat embryos exposed for 120 s to a US beam showing features similar to those already employed for diagnostic purposes. Electron microscopic investigation of the liver parenchyma of rat embryos confirmed results obtained from adult guinea pigs with the same duration of exposure, i.e. diffuse vacuolization of cytoplasma and varying degrees of mitochondrial damage.
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29
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Laconi A, Clubbe J, Falchieri M, Lupini C, Cecchinato M, Catelli E, Listorti V, Naylor CJ. A comparison of AMPV subtypes A and B full genomes, gene transcripts and proteins led to reverse-genetics systems rescuing both subtypes. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:1324-1332. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Jayne Clubbe
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Marco Falchieri
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Caterina Lupini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Mattia Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'università, 16, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Elena Catelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Valeria Listorti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Clive J. Naylor
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
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30
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Franzo G, Listorti V, Naylor CJ, Lupini C, Laconi A, Felice V, Drigo M, Catelli E, Cecchinato M. Molecular investigation of a full-length genome of a Q1-like IBV strain isolated in Italy in 2013. Virus Res 2015; 210:77-80. [PMID: 26191621 PMCID: PMC7114532 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Since 1996 a new Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) genotype, referred to as Q1, circulated in China and was reported for the first time in Italy in 2011, associated with an increase of mortality, kidney lesions and proventriculitis. During northern Italian outbreak of respiratory disease in a broiler flock in 2013, an IBV strain was detected by RT-PCR and characterized as Q1-like based on partial S1 sequence. The virus was isolated and named γCoV/Ck/Italy/I2022/13. All coding regions of the isolate were sequenced and compared with 130 complete genome sequences of IBV and TCoV, downloaded from ViPR. This showed the highest identity with a Chinese strain CK/CH/LDL/97I (p-distance=0.044). To identify potential recombination events a complete genome SimPlot analysis was carried out which revealed the presence of possible multiple recombination events, but the minor parent strains remained unknown. A phylogenetic analysis of the complete S1 gene was performed using all complete S1 sequences available on ViPR and showed the isolate clustered with an Q1-like strain isolated in Italy in 2011 (p-distance=0.004) and a group of Chinese Q1-like strains isolated from the mid 90's (p-distance equal or higher than 0.001). It could be hypothesized that the isolate descended from the Italian 2011 Q1-like strain or was the result of a separate introduction from China through commercial trade or migratory birds; but the data currently available does not distinguish between these possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'università, 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy.
| | - Valeria Listorti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Clive J Naylor
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Caterina Lupini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Viviana Felice
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Michele Drigo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'università, 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Elena Catelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Mattia Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'università, 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy
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Franzo G, Naylor CJ, Drigo M, Croville G, Ducatez MF, Catelli E, Laconi A, Cecchinato M. Subpopulations in aMPV vaccines are unlikely to be the only cause of reversion to virulence. Vaccine 2015; 33:2438-41. [PMID: 25865471 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.03.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) infects respiratory and reproductive tracts of domestic poultry, often involving secondary infections, and leads to serious economic losses in most parts of the world. While in general disease is effectively controlled by live vaccines, reversion to virulence of those vaccines has been demonstrated on several occasions. Consensus sequence mutations involved in the process have been identified in more than one instance. In one previous subtype A aMPV candidate vaccine study, small subpopulations were implicated. In the current study, the presence of subpopulations in a subtype B vaccine was investigated by deep sequencing. Of the 19 positions where vaccine (strain VCO3/50) and progenitor (strain VCO3/60616) consensus sequences differed, subpopulations were found to have sequence matching progenitor sequence in 4 positions. However none of these mutations occurred in a virulent revertant of that vaccine, thereby demonstrating that the majority progenitor virus population had not survived the attenuation process, hence was not obviously involved in any return to virulence. However within the vaccine, a single nucleotide variation was found which agreed with consensus sequence of a derived virulent revertant virus, hence this and other undetected, potentially virulent subpopulations, can be involved in reversion. Much deeper sequencing of progenitor, vaccine and revertant may clarify whether problematic virulent subpopulations are present and therefore whether these need to be routinely removed during aMPV vaccine preparation prior to registration and release.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
| | - C J Naylor
- Department of Infection Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - M Drigo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - G Croville
- INRA and Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225 IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France
| | - M F Ducatez
- INRA and Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225 IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France
| | - E Catelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - A Laconi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - M Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Viale dell'università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
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Franzo G, Drigo M, Lupini C, Catelli E, Laconi A, Listorti V, Bonci M, Naylor CJ, Martini M, Cecchinato M. A sensitive, reproducible, and economic real-time reverse transcription PCR detecting avian metapneumovirus subtypes A and B. Avian Dis 2014; 58:216-22. [PMID: 25055624 DOI: 10.1637/10676-092413-reg.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Use of real-time PCR is increasing in the diagnosis of infectious disease due to its sensitivity, specificity, and speed of detection. These characteristics make it particularly suited for the diagnosis of viral infections, like avian metapneumovirus (AMPV), for which effective control benefits from continuously updated knowledge of the epidemiological situation. Other real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCRs have been published based on highly specific fluorescent dye-labeled probes, but they have high initial cost, complex validation, and a marked susceptibility to the genetic variability of their target sequence. With this in mind, we developed and validated a SYBR Green I-based quantitative RT-PCR for the detection of the two most prevalent AMPV subtypes (i.e., subtypes A and B). The assay demonstrated an analytical sensitivity comparable with that of a previously published real-time RT-PCR and the ability to detect RNA equivalent to approximately 0.5 infectious doses for both A and B subtypes. The high efficiency and linearity between viral titer and crossing point displayed for both subtypes make it suited for viral quantification. Optimization of reaction conditions and the implementation of melting curve analysis guaranteed the high specificity of the assay. The stable melting temperature difference between the two subtypes indicated the possibility of subtyping through melting temperature analysis. These characteristics make our assay a sensitive, specific, and rapid tool, enabling contemporaneous detection, quantification, and discrimination of AMPV subtype A and B.
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Buonomo E, Cascioli R, Grossi P, Laconi A, Lancia A, Mariotti S, Palombi L, Panfilo M, Lucchetti G. [The general practitioner and clinical records: a survey of the knowledge of users of a software package]. Recenti Prog Med 1992; 83:692-5. [PMID: 1494709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The FATMA project--subproject 6, Line of Research 2--aims at implementing a new computerized information network for general practitioners using the same kind of software and homogeneously located throughout Italy. Thus, patients' case form data can be collected for public health purposes. After a study of literature in order to check whether other countries had implemented similar projects and what they consisted of, a survey based on a computerized questionnaire was carried out on a group of g.p.s. who had already received a software for the management of their clinical and professional activities from Janssen Informedica. This survey aimed at judging some aspects of users in order to select potential monitors of the information network who would test a new software. The analysis regards both g.p.s' social and professional data and the use of a computer package with reference to the quality and quantity of the clinical data they input. 2,010 questionnaires were filled in all their parts and mailed back to Informedica. It came out that g.p.s. believe more and more they can improve the organization and management of their work by using a software equipped with routines and easy access procedures so that clinical data, diagnostic reports and treatment can be collected, placed on files and updated. Thus, a new software should be developed. While meeting g.p.s' needs, it must overcome the limits of packages now available concerning the possibility of carrying out epidemiological studies. The software can become a tool to collect clinical data of patients, diseases and diagnostic procedures through standard protocols directly from g.p.s records.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Buonomo
- Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
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Palombi L, Buonomo E, Marazzi MC, Laconi A, Panfilo M, Mariotti S. A new community-oriented network in Italy for the collection and processing of clinical and epidemiological information. J Clin Comput 1991; 20:166-75. [PMID: 10122084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
This study illustrates a project to implement a clinical information system based on a general practitioner's network covering the national territory. The project is important because there are no other such systems in operation in Italy. Moreover, as is well known, both the quality and the quantity of health information made available by the National Health Service are far from optimal. This community-oriented network enables end-users to share software for the management of outpatient clinics that is produced by Informedica Janssen and distributed throughout Italy to over 16,000 physicians. The features of potential participants in the network as well as the software they have adopted are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Palombi
- Dipartimento di Sanita Pubblica, Universita di Tor Vergata Rome, Italy
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35
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De Maria M, Laconi A, Lagalla R. [Diagnosis by imaging of the adrenal gland]. Radiol Med 1988; 75:219-37. [PMID: 3282276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M De Maria
- Istuto di Radiologia, Università, Palermo
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36
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Laconi A, Daví G, Aiello G, Aiello F, Reina C, Lagalla R. [Possibility of using B-mode echography in the early diagnosis of the carotid localization of atherosclerosis]. Radiol Med 1987; 73:386-9. [PMID: 3296025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
B-Mode ultrasonography is an important complementary tool in the early diagnosis of carotid pre-atheromatous vascular disease. The authors report their personal experience concerning 86 patients affected or not by neurological transitory or persistent symptoms, and point out two main semeiological remarks of endoluminal pathologic conditions. The findings obtained are related to the more recent physiopathological and pathological-anatomical data related the growth and the evolution of atheromatous lesions of the carotid district.
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Cardinale A, Lagalla R, de Maria M, Valentino B, Cabibi D, Laconi A. Biologic effects of ultrasound on liver cells of rat embryos. Acta Radiol 1987; 28:221-4. [PMID: 2953382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Experiments on the biologic effects of ultrasound (US) were carried out on rat embryos exposed for 120 s to a US beam showing features similar to those already employed for diagnostic purposes. Electron microscopic investigation of the liver parenchyma of rat embryos confirmed results obtained from adult guinea pigs with the same duration of exposure, i.e. diffuse vacuolization of cytoplasma and varying degrees of mitochondrial damage.
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Abstract
The authors present one case in which high attenuation values in the liver parenchyma on computed tomographic scans were found in a patient who had been previously treated with colloidal gold for rheumatoid arthritis. Reticuloendothelial storage of gold was proved by biopsy.
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Cucciarrè S, Laconi A, De Maria M, Falsina U, Restivo A, Cucciarrè S. [Screening of neoplasms of the breast by a three-step method]. Minerva Ginecol 1986; 38:245-9. [PMID: 3725163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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41
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De Maria M, Bonadonna F, De Simone G, Mercadante G, Laconi A. [Quantitative evaluation of the phase image in radionuclide ventriculography ]. Radiol Med 1986; 72:131-7. [PMID: 3704213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A functional image is a representation that enhances a particular characteristic of organ behaviour (feature enhancement) with a concomitant reduction or elimination of other informations. The functional image of phase (PI), obtained by Fourier analysis, may be interpreted to represent the onset of counts reduction or contraction in each region of the heart. Phase Spreading (PS), is a parameter derived from PI and represents ventricular temporal behaviour including some spatial information. Phase analysis and PS are very sensitive tools in the diagnosis and characterization of cardiac pathology. PS is a specific indicator of CAD, allows the introduction of normal ranges and is an example of quantitative evaluation of functional images.
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42
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Lagalla R, Bennici E, Aiello F, Benenati A, Laconi A. Ultrasound in abdominal masses in children. Rays 1985; 10:67-71. [PMID: 3916545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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43
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Cardinale A, Lagalla R, De Maria M, Valentino B, Laconi A. [Experimental studies on possible biological effects of ultrasonic diagnosis: ultrastructural analysis of rat embryo]. Radiol Med 1985; 71:506-9. [PMID: 3909243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Within the limits of a systematic research on the biological effects of the ultrasounds, the authors refer on their personal experience on rat's embrions treated, for 120 seconds, with a ultrasonic beam having the common characteristics used in diagnostic investigations. The ultra-structural studies on the hepatic parenchyma substantially confirm the previous results obtained in the adult cavy, exposed for the same period of time, i.e. a diffuse cytoplasmic vacuolization and an unstable mitochondrial damage. Various suggestions are advanced on the particular sensibility that the mitocondria show because of the ultrasonic action. The authors explain the limits of their experimentation in this specific sector of the scientific research.
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45
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Laconi A. [Initial cancer of the breast. Radiotherapy and radical surgical treatment]. Minerva Med 1980; 71:1357-61. [PMID: 7383396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The controversy over the treatment of initial cancer of the breast is well known. An account is given of the factors that determine the prognosis, and the clinical and instrumental examinations on which staging is based. Lastly, radiotherapeutical approaches founded on precise classification dependent on systematic investigations of a radiological, radio-isotopic biochemical and immunological order, and, of course, on accurate information of surgical relevance, are presented.
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46
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Laconi A, Tessitore V, Brancato G, De Maria M, Buscemi M, Gerbino A, Di Gesù G. [Histoenzymatic changes and dosimetric studies of some organs and areas, using diagnostic radioisotopes. Critical review of a 10-year experiment]. Minerva Med 1979; 70:1335-44. [PMID: 156317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ten years experience of dosimetry and study of the histochemical changes brought on by internal irradiation are reviewed. The research is broken down into three stages: 1) identification of enzymatic damage in small laboratory animals; 2) study of the dose really absorbed at various points of critical organs of large animals, 3) the collection of histoenzymatic data resulting from research on large animals treated internally with isotopes commonly used in diagnosis.
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47
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Jannî A, Gattuccio F, Laconi A, Scopelliti M. [Radiological picture Turner's syndrome]. Minerva Med 1977; 68:3313-24. [PMID: 200866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A review of the relevant literature is followed by presentation of the radiological picture, particularly that of the skeleton, in 8 patients with the clinical and endocrinological features and the chromosome pattern of Turner's syndrome. An indication is given of the weight to be attached to the main and lesser radiological signs, especially in cases where the absence of somatic features and detectable hypogonadism impede early diagnosis.
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48
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Laconi A, Caffarelli F, Melfi F, Brancato G, Polizzi P, Guarino P. [Radiothermolumiscent dosimetry in plesioroentgenotherapy]. Minerva Med 1976; 67:1320-4. [PMID: 934487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The employment of thermoluminescence dosimeters in the evaluation of X-rays emitted by a plesiotherapy apparatus was investigated. It was found that lithium fluoride microdosimeters gave good linearity of response in function of the energy involved. This response was also repeatable as required.
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49
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Laconi A, Failla E, Melfi F. [Metabolic endoradiotherapy with P32 in skeletal metastases from breast neoplasms. Note I]. Minerva Med 1976; 67:481-97. [PMID: 943731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
22 patients suffering from breast neoplasia with particularly painful bone metastasis were treated with radiophosphorus. Only occasionally was an evident recalcification condition encountered and survival, although exceptional in some cases, did not deviate from normal. On the basis, also, of clinical and experimental observations reported in the literature, it is held that the use of 32P in metabolic radiotherapy of bone metastases is worthwhile and is justified because of the encouraging successes obtained, especially in pain remission.
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50
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Laconi A, Failla E, Melfi F. [Possibilities of metabolic endoradiotherapy with P32 in the prevention of osseous metastases from breast neoplasms. Note II]. Minerva Med 1976; 67:498-501. [PMID: 1256697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
To reach a definitive conclusion on the value of using 32P in the prophylaxis of bone metastases in association with surgical and traditional radiotherapeutic treatment, observations should be extended to a much greater number of cases. This notwithstanding, the results obtained justify this methodology based on continuous sustained, internal irradiation which would seem to make possible a diminution in the frequency of bone metastases in the early years of a delay in their onset.
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