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Brucellosis represents a major public health concern worldwide. Human transmission is mainly due to the consumption of unpasteurized milk and dairy products of infected animals. The gold standard for the diagnosis of Brucella spp in ruminants is the bacterial isolation, but it is time-consuming. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a quicker and more sensitive technique than bacterial culture. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a novel molecular assay showing high sensitivity in samples with low amount of DNA and lower susceptibility to amplification inhibitors. Present study aimed to develop a ddPCR protocol for the detection of Brucella abortus in buffalo tissue samples. The protocol was validated using proficiency test samples for Brucella spp by real time qPCR. Furthermore, 599 tissue samples were examined. Among reference materials, qPCR and ddPCR demonstrated same performance and were able to detect up to 225 CFU/mL. Among field samples, ddPCR showed higher sensitivity (100%), specificity and accuracy of 93.4% and 94.15%, respectively. ddPCR could be considered a promising technique to detect B. abortus in veterinary specimens, frequently characterized by low amount of bacteria, high diversity in matrices and species and poor storage conditions.

This study set out to assess the microbiological quality of shellfish collected over a six-year period of time in the Campania Region Sea. A total of 1459 samples were examined in order to determine whether Escherichia coli was present. To investigate potential correlations between the E. coli counts and environmental parameters (salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, seawater temperature, turbidity, rainfall) and pollution variables (density and distance of heavy and light discharges), data were gathered. With only roughly 19% of the samples not meeting European and Italian criteria (E. coli counts more than 230 most likely number MPN per 100 g of pulp and intravalvar liquid), the results showed that the microbiological quality of the shellfish was good.A correlation between microbial contamination, season, rainfall, and dissolved oxygen was found using statistical analysis. However, the discharge density along the coast per spatial unit (a 200 × 200 MT cell), which was determined using the ''quartic'' Kernel function, showed found to be the primary factor determining the E. coli concentration in the shellfish.An increase in rain millimeters was found to be associated with a higher risk of heightened E. coli contamination, according to a model that was fitted to assess the probability of detecting a higher E. coli count in connection to environmental parameters. This outcome could be explained by the discharge density near the coast as well as the increased availability of coliforms, particularly E. coli, and nutrients during periods of heavier rainfall.

Abstract Background In December 2019 an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 was first observed in Wuhan, China. The virus has spread rapidly throughout the world creating a pandemic scenario. Several risk factors have been identified, such as age, sex, concomitant diseases as well as viral load. A key point is the role of asymptomatic people in spreading SARS-CoV-2. An observational study in Southern Italy was conducted in order to elucidate the possible role of asymptomatic individuals related to their viral loads in the transmission of the virus within two nursing facilities. Methods Oro-nasopharyngeal swabs from 179 nursing health care workers and patients were collected. SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR was performed and viral loads were calculated by using standard curve. A statistical correlation between viral loads, the presence/absence of symptoms, age and sex variables was investigated. Results SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in the 50.8 % (n = 91) of the cases. Median age of positive individuals resulted higher than negative ones. Over 65 year as well as female individuals showed higher susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, OR = 3.93 and 2.86, respectively. Among 91 tested positive, the 70.3 % was symptomatic while the 29.7 % was asymptomatic. Median viral loads of asymptomatic individuals were found statistically significant higher than symptomatic ones (p = 0.001), while no influence was observed in age and sex variables. The presence of comorbidities was 8.9 folds higher in patients who showed and developed symptoms compared to non-symptomatic ones. Moreover, higher viral loads were found in patients who remained asymptomatic than pre-symptomatic (p = 0.022). Conclusions A range from 9.2 to 69 % of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases remains asymptomatic, moreover, sporadic transmissions from asymptomatic people are reported, that makes their involvement an important issue to take into account in the spreading control of the virus. An asymptomatic clinical course was observed in the 29.7 % of positive individuals, moreover, median viral loads resulted to be statistically significant when compared to symptomatic ones. Surely, such a relevant frequency should not be ignored in relation to the spread of the disease in an environment which has not only important intrinsic (age, sex, concomitant diseases) but also extrinsic factors such as high population density and close contacts.

Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread protozoon that can infect both animals and humans. The main route of human infection is the consumption of the raw or undercooked meat of several animal species, including pigs. Although T. gondii represents a public health concern, control during slaughter is not mandatory, leading to a lack of information on the impact on human contagion as well as poor data availability in domestic animals intended for human consumption. We studied the presence of T. gondii in home-reared pigs, an unconventional type of farming subjected to stringent breeding conditions dictated by Italian regulation. Thus, the diaphragms, livers and masseter muscles from 480 pigs in Napoli Province (Italy) were analyzed using real-time PCR and digital droplet PCR. The results showed four matrices that tested positive for T. gondii with very low protozoan loads (0.62%), belonging to three different animals. The low density of the animals (the maximum was four animals per farm) and the biosafety farming features decisively contributed to the bioexclusion of this pathogen. Comparing these results to intensive and extensive farm data, lower exposure to the parasite was revealed, suggesting that this farming method might mitigate the risk of human exposure through meat consumption.

Foodborne infections cause illness and death every year worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe trends in 2013–2019 in the occurrence of human cases of salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, listeriosis, and hepatitis A in the Campania region. Human case data were provided by the National Surveillance System of disease and were grouped by year, province, age group, and sex. Moreover, the number of people hospitalized was recorded. In the Campania region, the total number of confirmed human cases for the diseases investigated was 1924, with Hepatitis A and the Salmonellosis as the first most reported (1009 and 825 cases, respectively). The incidence rates of gastroenteritis under study were lower than those in Italy and European Union in the same period, with the exception of Hepatitis A whose incidence was higher than that recorded in Italy. Data on hospitalizations pointed out the onset of severe forms of infection also for listeriosis and campylobacteriosis, whose incidence was very low (27 and 63 cases, respectively). Unfortunately, no information on the foods implicated is available. Although probably underestimated, gastroenteritis due to foodborne agents still represents a burden in Campania, and continuous monitoring and implementation of the currently available regional surveillance system is required.

The Via Annia Popilia represents a great historical-cultural heritage, not only for the historical events attached to it but also for the material and immaterial resources that can be found along its itinerary. This great wealth can represent a great opportunity for proposing initiatives aimed at the economic and tourist revival of the areas that the important Roman consular road crosses. The possibility of investing in these resources has therefore attracted the attention of the institutions and of all the actors active on the territory, who have committed themselves to the formulation of a proposal aimed at enhancing the Via Annia Popilia. The following discussion proposes a historical analysis, followed by the description of initiatives already launched on the national territory and then illustrates the initiative of the Calabrian reality which consists of a proposed law presented by the regional councilor, On Battaglia, with the objective to initiate actions for the development of the Via Annia Popilia and of the territories, physically and historically, linked to it.

Motta San Niceto and its castle represent an important resource asheritage for the neighbouring territories; therefore, the Castle of San Niceto, in the course of the centuries, was an important fortress for the defence of the people and collection point of resources. The historical interaction between the territories and the castle, as demonstrated by the various historical sources, has allowed us to develop a hypothesis for the development of the resources of the Ionic calabrese area; historically this area has been part of the so-called barony of San Niceto that included the areas of Motta San Giovanni, Montebello Ionico, Saline, Bocale, Pellaro, Valanidi. This paper directs the attention toward the local products, which represent the historical identity and source of wealth for the territories. After an analysis on best practices and on the characteristic area concerned, the project defines the objectives and actions (tangible and intangible) of the hypothesis of intervention; this idea finds its realization in the creation of a pole in which promote cultural activities for the knowledge of local products and the history of the territories. After the definition of the characteristics of the project, that is developed in two different scenarios, it becomes necessary to check the sustainability of the initiative through the feasibility study.

Due to EU law, European citizens enjoy one of the highest worldwide food safety standards. Along the entire food supply chain, mandatory controls are made to ensure that plant and animal products healthiness and food and feed safety are properly labeled and comply with the strictly EU rules. The process of review of European legislation began with the promulgation of the Regulation 178/2002/EC (Official Journal of the EC no. L31 of 01/02/2002) and was completed with the hygiene package. Regulation No. 178/2002/EC (the General Food Law) laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety.

Food allergens are substances able to induce an abnormal immunological response in sensitive individuals. The presence of allergens in food must be reported in tables (Directive 2003/89/EC). In this study we report the data of a monitoring plan carried out in the Campania Region during the 2012 for the detection of allergens (ovoalbumin and β-lattoglobulin) in food of different origin. The analisys were performed by means of ELISA assays. The percentage of analyzes with the presence of allegens not declared on the label is 4.3%, out of a total of 208 analyzes. It is therefore important to continue monitoring activities by the competent Authorities.

Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a widespread protozoan in the phylum Apicomplexa. In Europe, several studies have demonstrated the presence of the parasite in tissues of wild boars (Sus scrofa), but no data exists on the T. gondii load in tissues which in turn may be an useful way to assess the infection risk for the consumer of wild boar meat. Methods We sampled and tested a total of 472 tissue samples of brain, heart and masseter muscle from 177 wild boars from the Campania region of southern Italy by real-time PCR analyses for detection and quantification of T. gondii. The sensitivity and specificity of the method were calculated by ROC analysis curves. Results PCR analysis revealed the presence of T. gondii in tissue samples of 78 out of 177 (44%) wild boars. In general, the brain presented the highest PCR prevalence (31%), followed by the heart (28.3%) and the masseter muscle (24.2%), with the highest estimated parasite numbers observed in the brain followed by the heart and masseter muscle. The PCR method showed an excellent discriminating ability for each of the examined tissues. According to the ROC analysis curves, the respective sensitivity and specificity were 99 and 100% for masseter muscle, 98 and 98% for brain and 96 and 98% for heart samples. Conclusions The high prevalence of infection here detected suggests a widespread distribution of the parasite in the wildlife of the Campania region of southern Italy. The T. gondii burdens detected may potentially represent a source of infection for humans.