Survival of hog cholera virus (HCV) in sausage meat products (Italian salami)

Survival of hog cholera virus (HCV) was determined in several sausage meat products (Italian salami) prepared with meats from experimentally infected hogs slaughtered at the peak of disease. Meats were processed following the technology applied by the main factories of the typical Italian production. The survival of HCV was assessed through inoculation in both PK 15 cell monolayers and fully susceptible piglets. In all types of sausages examined HCV was detected up to 75 days of curing by piglet inoculation. This technique was much more sensitive than use of cell culture.

Survival of foot-and-mouth disease virus in sausage meat products (Italian salami)

Determination of the survival of foot- and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in fresh meat from experimentally infected swine and in several types of sausage meat (Italian salami) produced according to the technology widely applied by the principal Italian producers has been carried out. The purpose of the experiment was to assess if typical Italian salami can be considered safe with regard to the spread of FMD through international trade. The results obtained showed: (a) high titers of FMDV were detected in both muscle and fat tissues from animals slaughtered at the peak of the experimental disease; and (b) FMDV was not detectable in the above tissues 72 h after slaughtering and the same applies to the different types of salami tested 7 days after production. The above results were obtained in tissue cultures and confirmed through piglet inoculation.

[The Italian experience in the control of rabies. II. Laboratory research]

Diagnoses of rabies have been performed at the Zooprophylactic Institutes of Brescia and Padua since 1977, 5,765 foxes have been examined and 1,805 (31.30%) resulted positive. The same Institutes have performed also the laboratory tests in order to control the presence of Tetracycline, the serum conversion and the presence of wild or attenuated viruses in the nervous tissue of foxes and other wild animals in occasion of the oral vaccination campaigns of foxes.

[Attenuated rabies virus, ERA strain, in cattle and dogs vaccinated with multiple doses]

Investigation on the vaccination of 18 cattle and 5 dogs against rabies is reported. Each animal received multiple doses of ERA strain vaccine intramuscularly in the gluteal or masseter region. The saliva, the brain and salivary glands of the vaccinated animals were examined to detect the presence of ERA virus using immunofluorescent test and mouse inoculation. The virus was never found in the saliva and organs of treated animals. Circulating antibodies against ERA rabies virus were detected in all vaccinated cattle and dogs.