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1. The rapid spread of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant in Italy reflected early through wastewater surveillance

Author

La Rosa, G, Iaconelli, M, Veneri, C, Mancini, P, Bonanno Ferraro, G, Brandtner, D, Lucentini, L, Bonadonna, L, Rossi, M, Grigioni, M, Suffredini, E, Bucciarelli, G, Torlontano, P, Aprea, G, La Bianca, M, Cifarelli, R, Palma, A, La Vecchia, G, Lauria, G, Brienza, R, Montenegro, P, D'Argenzio, A, Cossentino, L, Olivares, R, Pizzolante, A, Fusco, G, Tosco, A, Porta, A, Pennino, F, Maria, T, Angelini, P, De Lellis, L, Nasci, D, Alborali, G, Formenti, N, Guarneri, F, Fontani, N, Nani, G, Palumbo, F, Borlone, G, Guercio, M, Gentili, L, Mariuz, M, Trani, G, Pariani, A, Ancona, C, Giorgi, D, Ferrante, I, Monfrinotti, M, Riosa, S, Capparuccini, V, Scicluna, M, Cersini, A, Arizzi, M, Cecchini, G, Ottaviano, C, Nicosia, E, Grasselli, E, Allaria, G, Izzotti, A, Rosatto, S, Ammoni, E, Cereda, D, Losio, M, Bertasi, B, Aliscioni, A, Oliva, D, Castiglioni, S, Schiarea, S, Zuccato, E, Antonelli, M, Azzellino, A, Malpei, F, Turolla, A, Binda, S, Laura, P, Primache, V, Cocuzza, C, Franzetti, A, Bertanza, G, Callegari, M, Bolognini, L, Filippetti, F, Paniccia', M, Ciuti, F, Briscolini, S, Magi, S, Colitti, M, Montanaro, C, Cerroni, M, Griglio, B, Berruti, R, Cravero, M, Costa, A, Bianchi, M, Decastelli, L, Romano, A, Zuccon, F, Carraro, E, Pignata, C, Bonetta, S, Di Vittorio, G, Mongelli, O, De Giglio, O, Apollonio, F, Triggiano, F, Montagna, M, Ungaro, N, Palermo, M, Maida, C, Mazzucco, W, De Grazia, S, Giammanco, G, Purpari, G, Ferrante, M, Agodi, A, Barchitta, M, Cala', P, Carducci, A, Verani, M, Federigi, I, Lauretani, G, Muzio, S, Ramazzotti, M, Antonelli, A, Ricci, E, Santoro, G, Federici, E, Petricciuolo, M, Barigelli, S, Ruffier, M, Borney, F, Grange, E, Damasco, F, Russo, F, Pitter, G, Groppi, V, Rigoli, F, Zampini, M, Baldovin, T, Amoruso, I, Mengon, E, Cadonna, M, Postinghel, M, Pizzo, F, Schiavuzzi, A, Cutrupi, F, Foladori, P, Manara, S, Zago, L, Stenico, A, Prast, A, La Rosa G., Iaconelli M., Veneri C., Mancini P., Bonanno Ferraro G., Brandtner D., Lucentini L., Bonadonna L., Rossi M., Grigioni M., Suffredini E., Bucciarelli G., Torlontano P., Aprea G., La Bianca M., Cifarelli R. A., Palma A., La Vecchia G., Lauria G., Brienza R., Montenegro P., D'Argenzio A., Cossentino L., Olivares R., Pizzolante A., Fusco G., Tosco A., Porta A., Pennino F., Maria T., Angelini P., De Lellis L., Nasci D., Alborali G., Formenti N., Guarneri F., Fontani N., Nani G., Palumbo F., Borlone G., Guercio M., Gentili L., Mariuz M., Trani G., Pariani A., Ancona C., Giorgi D. A., Ferrante I., Monfrinotti M., Riosa S., Capparuccini V., Scicluna M. T., Cersini A., Arizzi M., Cecchini G., Ottaviano C., Nicosia E., Grasselli E., Allaria G., Izzotti A., Rosatto S., Ammoni E., Cereda D., Losio M. N., Bertasi B., Aliscioni A., Oliva D., Castiglioni S., Schiarea S., Zuccato E., Antonelli M., Azzellino A., Malpei F., Turolla A., Binda S., Laura P., Primache V., Cocuzza C., Franzetti A., Bertanza G., Callegari M. L., Bolognini L., Filippetti F., Paniccia' M., Ciuti F., Briscolini S., Magi S., Colitti M., Montanaro C., Cerroni M. G., Griglio B., Berruti R., Cravero M., Costa A., Bianchi M., Decastelli L., Romano A., Zuccon F., Carraro E., Pignata C., Bonetta S., Di Vittorio G., Mongelli O., De Giglio O., Apollonio F., Triggiano F., Montagna M. T., Ungaro N., Palermo M., Maida C. M., Mazzucco W., De Grazia S., Giammanco G., Purpari G., Ferrante M., Agodi A., Barchitta M., Cala' P., Carducci A., Verani M., Federigi I., Lauretani G., Muzio S., Ramazzotti M., Antonelli A., Ricci E., Santoro G., Federici E., Petricciuolo M., Barigelli S., Ruffier M., Borney F., Grange E., Damasco F., Russo F., Pitter G., Groppi V., Rigoli F., Zampini M., Baldovin T., Amoruso I., Mengon E., Cadonna M., Postinghel M., Pizzo F., Schiavuzzi A., Cutrupi F., Foladori P., Manara S., Zago L., Stenico A., Prast A. -M., La Rosa, G, Iaconelli, M, Veneri, C, Mancini, P, Bonanno Ferraro, G, Brandtner, D, Lucentini, L, Bonadonna, L, Rossi, M, Grigioni, M, Suffredini, E, Bucciarelli, G, Torlontano, P, Aprea, G, La Bianca, M, Cifarelli, R, Palma, A, La Vecchia, G, Lauria, G, Brienza, R, Montenegro, P, D'Argenzio, A, Cossentino, L, Olivares, R, Pizzolante, A, Fusco, G, Tosco, A, Porta, A, Pennino, F, Maria, T, Angelini, P, De Lellis, L, Nasci, D, Alborali, G, Formenti, N, Guarneri, F, Fontani, N, Nani, G, Palumbo, F, Borlone, G, Guercio, M, Gentili, L, Mariuz, M, Trani, G, Pariani, A, Ancona, C, Giorgi, D, Ferrante, I, Monfrinotti, M, Riosa, S, Capparuccini, V, Scicluna, M, Cersini, A, Arizzi, M, Cecchini, G, Ottaviano, C, Nicosia, E, Grasselli, E, Allaria, G, Izzotti, A, Rosatto, S, Ammoni, E, Cereda, D, Losio, M, Bertasi, B, Aliscioni, A, Oliva, D, Castiglioni, S, Schiarea, S, Zuccato, E, Antonelli, M, Azzellino, A, Malpei, F, Turolla, A, Binda, S, Laura, P, Primache, V, Cocuzza, C, Franzetti, A, Bertanza, G, Callegari, M, Bolognini, L, Filippetti, F, Paniccia', M, Ciuti, F, Briscolini, S, Magi, S, Colitti, M, Montanaro, C, Cerroni, M, Griglio, B, Berruti, R, Cravero, M, Costa, A, Bianchi, M, Decastelli, L, Romano, A, Zuccon, F, Carraro, E, Pignata, C, Bonetta, S, Di Vittorio, G, Mongelli, O, De Giglio, O, Apollonio, F, Triggiano, F, Montagna, M, Ungaro, N, Palermo, M, Maida, C, Mazzucco, W, De Grazia, S, Giammanco, G, Purpari, G, Ferrante, M, Agodi, A, Barchitta, M, Cala', P, Carducci, A, Verani, M, Federigi, I, Lauretani, G, Muzio, S, Ramazzotti, M, Antonelli, A, Ricci, E, Santoro, G, Federici, E, Petricciuolo, M, Barigelli, S, Ruffier, M, Borney, F, Grange, E, Damasco, F, Russo, F, Pitter, G, Groppi, V, Rigoli, F, Zampini, M, Baldovin, T, Amoruso, I, Mengon, E, Cadonna, M, Postinghel, M, Pizzo, F, Schiavuzzi, A, Cutrupi, F, Foladori, P, Manara, S, Zago, L, Stenico, A, Prast, A, La Rosa G., Iaconelli M., Veneri C., Mancini P., Bonanno Ferraro G., Brandtner D., Lucentini L., Bonadonna L., Rossi M., Grigioni M., Suffredini E., Bucciarelli G., Torlontano P., Aprea G., La Bianca M., Cifarelli R. A., Palma A., La Vecchia G., Lauria G., Brienza R., Montenegro P., D'Argenzio A., Cossentino L., Olivares R., Pizzolante A., Fusco G., Tosco A., Porta A., Pennino F., Maria T., Angelini P., De Lellis L., Nasci D., Alborali G., Formenti N., Guarneri F., Fontani N., Nani G., Palumbo F., Borlone G., Guercio M., Gentili L., Mariuz M., Trani G., Pariani A., Ancona C., Giorgi D. A., Ferrante I., Monfrinotti M., Riosa S., Capparuccini V., Scicluna M. T., Cersini A., Arizzi M., Cecchini G., Ottaviano C., Nicosia E., Grasselli E., Allaria G., Izzotti A., Rosatto S., Ammoni E., Cereda D., Losio M. N., Bertasi B., Aliscioni A., Oliva D., Castiglioni S., Schiarea S., Zuccato E., Antonelli M., Azzellino A., Malpei F., Turolla A., Binda S., Laura P., Primache V., Cocuzza C., Franzetti A., Bertanza G., Callegari M. L., Bolognini L., Filippetti F., Paniccia' M., Ciuti F., Briscolini S., Magi S., Colitti M., Montanaro C., Cerroni M. G., Griglio B., Berruti R., Cravero M., Costa A., Bianchi M., Decastelli L., Romano A., Zuccon F., Carraro E., Pignata C., Bonetta S., Di Vittorio G., Mongelli O., De Giglio O., Apollonio F., Triggiano F., Montagna M. T., Ungaro N., Palermo M., Maida C. M., Mazzucco W., De Grazia S., Giammanco G., Purpari G., Ferrante M., Agodi A., Barchitta M., Cala' P., Carducci A., Verani M., Federigi I., Lauretani G., Muzio S., Ramazzotti M., Antonelli A., Ricci E., Santoro G., Federici E., Petricciuolo M., Barigelli S., Ruffier M., Borney F., Grange E., Damasco F., Russo F., Pitter G., Groppi V., Rigoli F., Zampini M., Baldovin T., Amoruso I., Mengon E., Cadonna M., Postinghel M., Pizzo F., Schiavuzzi A., Cutrupi F., Foladori P., Manara S., Zago L., Stenico A., and Prast A. -M.

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged in South Africa in November 2021, and has later been identified worldwide, raising serious concerns. A real-time RT-PCR assay was designed for the rapid screening of the Omicron variant, targeting characteristic mutations of the spike gene. The assay was used to test 737 sewage samples collected throughout Italy (19/21 Regions) between 11 November and 25 December 2021, with the aim of assessing the spread of the Omicron variant in the country. Positive samples were also tested with a real-time RT-PCR developed by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), and through nested RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Overall, 115 samples tested positive for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant. The first occurrence was detected on 7 December, in Veneto, North Italy. Later on, the variant spread extremely fast in three weeks, with prevalence of positive wastewater samples rising from 1.0% (1/104 samples) in the week 5–11 December, to 17.5% (25/143 samples) in the week 12–18, to 65.9% (89/135 samples) in the week 19–25, in line with the increase in cases of infection with the Omicron variant observed during December in Italy. Similarly, the number of Regions/Autonomous Provinces in which the variant was detected increased from one in the first week, to 11 in the second, and to 17 in the last one. The presence of the Omicron variant was confirmed by the JRC real-time RT-PCR in 79.1% (91/115) of the positive samples, and by Sanger sequencing in 66% (64/97) of PCR amplicons. In conclusion, we designed an RT-qPCR assay capable to detect the Omicron variant, which can be successfully used for the purpose of wastewater-based epidemiology. We also described the history of the introduction and diffusion of the Omicron variant in the Italian population and territory, confirming the effectiveness of sewage monitoring as a powerful surveillance tool.

Published
2022

2. The CAESAR Project for the ASI Space Weather Infrastructure

Author

Laurenza, M., Del Moro, D., Alberti, T., Battiston, R., Benella, S., Benvenuto, F., Berrilli, F., Bertello, I., Bertucci, B., Biasiotti, L., Campi, C., Carbone, V., Casolino, M., Cecchi Pestellini, C., Chiappetta, F., Coco, I., Colombo, S., Consolini, G., D’Amicis, R., De Gasperis, G., De Marco, R., Del Corpo, A., Diego, P., Di Felice, V., Di Fino, L., Di Geronimo, C., Faldi, F., Ferrente, F., Feruglio, C., Fiandrini, E., Fiore, F., Foldes, R., Formato, V., Francisco, G., Giannattasio, F., Giardino, M., Giobbi, P., Giovannelli, L., Giusti, M., Gorgi, A., Heilig, B., Iafrate, G., Ivanovski, S. L., Jerse, G., Korsos, M. B., Lepreti, F., Locci, D., Magnafico, C., Mangano, V., Marcucci, M. F., Martucci, M., Massetti, S., Micela, G., Milillo, A., Miteva, R., Molinaro, M., Mugatwala, R., Mura, A., Napoletano, G., Narici, L., Neubüser, C., Nisticò, G., Pauluzzi, M., Perfetti, A., Perri, S., Petralia, A., Pezzopane, M., Piersanti, M., Pietropaolo, E., Pignalberi, A., Plainaki, C., Polenta, G., Primavera, L., Romoli, G., Rossi, M., Santarelli, L., Santi Amantini, G., Siciliano, F., Sindoni, G., Spadoni, S., Sparvoli, R., Stumpo, M., Tomassetti, N., Tozzi, R., Vagelli, V., Vasantharaju, N., Vecchio, A., Vellante, M., Vernetto, S., Vigorito, C., West, M. J., Zimbardo, G., Zucca, P., and Zuccon, F. Zuccarell and P.

Subjects
and a total of 92 researchers. The CAESAR approach encompasses the whole chain of phenomena from the Sun to Earth up to planetary environments in a multidisciplinary, and will integrate currently available international SWE assets to foster scientific studies and advance forecasting capabilities, which aims to tackle the relevant aspects of Space Weather (SWE) science and develop a prototype of the scientific data centre for SpaceWeather of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) called ASPIS (ASI SPaceWeather InfraStructure). To this end, models), an interface, and a wiki-like documentation structure. The DB will be accessed through both a Web graphical interface and the ASPIS.py module, a library of functions in Python, which exhibit noticeable SWE characteristics from several SWE perspectives. CAESAR investigations synergistically exploit a great variety of different products (datasets, CAESAR involves the majority of the SWE Italian community, codes, comprehensive, This paper presents the project Comprehensive spAce wEather Studies for the ASPIS prototype Realization (CAESAR), bringing together 10 Italian institutions as partners, both long-standing and novel, i.e, This paper presents the project Comprehensive spAce wEather Studies for the ASPIS prototype Realization (CAESAR), which aims to tackle the relevant aspects of Space Weather (SWE) science and develop a prototype of the scientific data centre for SpaceWeather of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) called ASPIS (ASI SPaceWeather InfraStructure). To this end, CAESAR involves the majority of the SWE Italian community, bringing together 10 Italian institutions as partners, and a total of 92 researchers. The CAESAR approach encompasses the whole chain of phenomena from the Sun to Earth up to planetary environments in a multidisciplinary, comprehensive, and unprecedented way. Detailed and integrated studies are being performed on a number of well-observed “target SWE events”, which exhibit noticeable SWE characteristics from several SWE perspectives. CAESAR investigations synergistically exploit a great variety of different products (datasets, codes, models), both long-standing and novel, that will be made available in the ASPIS prototype: this will consist of a relational database (DB), an interface, and a wiki-like documentation structure. The DB will be accessed through both a Web graphical interface and the ASPIS.py module, i.e., a library of functions in Python, which will be available for download and installation. The ASPIS prototype will unify multiple SWE resources through a flexible and adaptable architecture, and will integrate currently available international SWE assets to foster scientific studies and advance forecasting capabilities, that will be made available in the ASPIS prototype: this will consist of a relational database (DB), and unprecedented way. Detailed and integrated studies are being performed on a number of well-observed “target SWE events”, which will be available for download and installation. The ASPIS prototype will unify multiple SWE resources through a flexible and adaptable architecture
Published
2023

17. Histidine at codon 154 of the prion protein gene is a risk factor for Nor98 scrapie in goats

Author

Colussi, S., primary, Vaccari, G., additional, Maurella, C., additional, Bona, C., additional, Lorenzetti, R., additional, Troiano, P., additional, Casalinuovo, F., additional, Di Sarno, A., additional, Maniaci, M. G., additional, Zuccon, F., additional, Nonno, R., additional, Casalone, C., additional, Mazza, M., additional, Ru, G., additional, Caramelli, M., additional, Agrimi, U., additional, and Acutis, P. L., additional

Published
2008
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18. Molecular Characterization of Pseudomonas fluorescensIsolates Involved in the Italian “Blue Mozzarella” Event

Author

Nogarol, C., Acutis, P.L., Bianchi, D.M., Maurella, C., Peletto, S., Gallina, S., Adriano, D., Zuccon, F., Borrello, S., Caramelli, M., and Decastelli, L.

Abstract

Between June and September 2010, widespread Italian consumer reports of unusual blue spoilage on fresh dairy products were publicized, resulting in the so-called blue mozzarella event. An inordinately high number of samples from mozzarella and whey cheese products of Italian and German production subsequently tested positive for Pseudomonas fluorescens. The aim of this study was to verify whether a selected P. fluorescensstrain was responsible for this apparently unusual event. Molecular characterization of 181 isolated P. fluorescensstrains was conducted using a newly optimized pulsed-field gel electrophoresis protocol. Although a high number of pulsotypes was found (132), only four pulsotypes were associated with more than one production plant, and only one German isolate had the same pulsotype as was detected in two Italian plants. This is the only evidence of possible cross-contamination among cheeses from the two countries. The overall results did not support the spread of contamination from German to Italian plants or the presence of one environmental strain that spread in both countries.

Published
2013
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22. The rapid spread of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant in Italy reflected early through wastewater surveillance

Author

La Rosa, G., Iaconelli, M., Veneri, C., Mancini, P., Bonanno Ferraro, G., Brandtner, D., Lucentini, L., Bonadonna, L., Rossi, M., Grigioni, M., Suffredini, E., Giuseppe, Bucciarelli, Paolo, Torlontano, Giuseppe, Michele La Bianca, Rosa Anna Cifarelli, Achille, Palma, Giovanna La Vecchia, Giuseppe, Lauria, Rosanna, Brienza, Patrizia, Montenegro, Angelo, D'Argenzio, Luigi, Cossentino, Renato, Olivares, Antonio, Pizzolante, Giovanna, Fusco, Alessandra, Tosco, Amalia, Porta, Francesca, Pennino, Triassi, Maria, Paola, Angelini, Laura De Lellis, Daniele, Nasci, Giovanni, Alborali, Nicoletta, Formenti, Flavia, Guarneri, Nadia, Fontani, Giulia, Nani, Franca, Palumbo, Gianluca, Borlone, Marco, Guercio, Lisa, Gentili, Marika, Mariuz, Gabriella, Trani, Anna, Pariani, Carla, Ancona, Doriana Antonella Giorgi, Irene, Ferrante, Monica, Monfrinotti, Silvia, Riosa, Valeria, Capparuccini, Maria Teresa Scicluna, Antonella, Mariaconcetta, Arizzi, Giancarlo, Cecchini, Claudio, Ottaviano, Elena, Nicosia, Elena, Grasselli, Giorgia, Allaria, Alberto, Izzotti, Stefano, Rosatto, Emanuela, Ammoni, Danilo, Cereda, Marina Nadia Losio, Barbara, Bertasi, Andrea, Aliscioni, Desdemona, Oliva, Sara, Castiglioni, Silvia, Schiarea, Ettore, Zuccato, Manuela, Antonelli, Arianna, Azzellino, Francesca, Malpei, Andrea, Turolla, Sandro, Binda, Pellegrinelli, Laura, Valeria, Primache, Clementina, Cocuzza, Andrea, Franzetti, Giorgio, Bertanza, Maria Luisa Callegari, Luigi, Bolognini, Fabio, Filippetti, Marta, Paniccia, Francesca, Ciuti, Sara, Briscolini, Silvia, Magi, Michele, Colitti, Carmen, Montanaro, Giuseppe, Aprea, Maria Grazia Cerroni, Bartolomeo, Griglio, Renza, Berruti, Mauro, Cravero, Angela, Costa, Manila, Bianchi, Lucia, Decastelli, Angelo, Romano, Fabio, Zuccon, Elisabetta, Carraro, Cristina, Pignata, Silvia, Bonetta, Giuseppe Di Vittorio, Onofrio, Mongelli, Osvalda De Giglio, Francesca, Apollonio, Francesco, Triggiano, Maria Teresa Montagna, Nicola, Ungaro, Mario, Palermo, Carmelo Massimo Maida, Walter, Mazzucco, Simona De Grazia, Giovanni, Giammanco, Giuseppa, Purpari, Margherita, Ferrante, Antonella, Agodi, Martina, Barchitta, Piergiuseppe, Cala’, Carducci, Annalaura, Verani, Marco, Federigi, Ileana, Giulia, Lauretani, Sara, Muzio, Matteo, Ramazzotti, Alberto, Antonelli, Enrica, Ricci, Giovanni, Santoro, Ermanno, Federici, Maya, Petricciuolo, Sofia, Barigelli, Mauro, Ruffier, Francesca, Borney, Eric, Grange, Florida, Damasco, Francesca, Russo, Gisella, Pitter, Vanessa, Groppi, Franco, Rigoli, Marco, Zampini, Tatjana, Baldovin, Irene, Amoruso, Elena, Mengon, Maria, Cadonna, Mattia, Postinghel, Francesco, Pizzo, Alessandra, Schiavuzzi, Francesca, Cutrupi, Paola, Foladori, Serena, Manara, Lorella, Zago, Alberta, Stenico, Anna-Maria, Prast., La Rosa, G, Iaconelli, M, Veneri, C, Mancini, P, Bonanno Ferraro, G, Brandtner, D, Lucentini, L, Bonadonna, L, Rossi, M, Grigioni, M, Suffredini, E, Bucciarelli, G, Torlontano, P, Aprea, G, La Bianca, M, Cifarelli, R, Palma, A, La Vecchia, G, Lauria, G, Brienza, R, Montenegro, P, D'Argenzio, A, Cossentino, L, Olivares, R, Pizzolante, A, Fusco, G, Tosco, A, Porta, A, Pennino, F, Maria, T, Angelini, P, De Lellis, L, Nasci, D, Alborali, G, Formenti, N, Guarneri, F, Fontani, N, Nani, G, Palumbo, F, Borlone, G, Guercio, M, Gentili, L, Mariuz, M, Trani, G, Pariani, A, Ancona, C, Giorgi, D, Ferrante, I, Monfrinotti, M, Riosa, S, Capparuccini, V, Scicluna, M, Cersini, A, Arizzi, M, Cecchini, G, Ottaviano, C, Nicosia, E, Grasselli, E, Allaria, G, Izzotti, A, Rosatto, S, Ammoni, E, Cereda, D, Losio, M, Bertasi, B, Aliscioni, A, Oliva, D, Castiglioni, S, Schiarea, S, Zuccato, E, Antonelli, M, Azzellino, A, Malpei, F, Turolla, A, Binda, S, Laura, P, Primache, V, Cocuzza, C, Franzetti, A, Bertanza, G, Callegari, M, Bolognini, L, Filippetti, F, Paniccia', M, Ciuti, F, Briscolini, S, Magi, S, Colitti, M, Montanaro, C, Cerroni, M, Griglio, B, Berruti, R, Cravero, M, Costa, A, Bianchi, M, Decastelli, L, Romano, A, Zuccon, F, Carraro, E, Pignata, C, Bonetta, S, Di Vittorio, G, Mongelli, O, De Giglio, O, Apollonio, F, Triggiano, F, Montagna, M, Ungaro, N, Palermo, M, Maida, C, Mazzucco, W, De Grazia, S, Giammanco, G, Purpari, G, Ferrante, M, Agodi, A, Barchitta, M, Cala', P, Carducci, A, Verani, M, Federigi, I, Lauretani, G, Muzio, S, Ramazzotti, M, Antonelli, A, Ricci, E, Santoro, G, Federici, E, Petricciuolo, M, Barigelli, S, Ruffier, M, Borney, F, Grange, E, Damasco, F, Russo, F, Pitter, G, Groppi, V, Rigoli, F, Zampini, M, Baldovin, T, Amoruso, I, Mengon, E, Cadonna, M, Postinghel, M, Pizzo, F, Schiavuzzi, A, Cutrupi, F, Foladori, P, Manara, S, Zago, L, Stenico, A, Prast, A, La Rosa G., Iaconelli M., Veneri C., Mancini P., Bonanno Ferraro G., Brandtner D., Lucentini L., Bonadonna L., Rossi M., Grigioni M., Bucciarelli G., Torlontano P., Aprea G., La Bianca M., Cifarelli R.A., Palma A., La Vecchia G., Lauria G., Brienza R., Montenegro P., D'Argenzio A., Cossentino L., Olivares R., Pizzolante A., Fusco G., Tosco A., Porta A., Pennino F., Maria T., Angelini P., De Lellis L., Nasci D., Alborali G., Formenti N., Guarneri F., Fontani N., Nani G., Palumbo F., Borlone G., Guercio M., Gentili L., Mariuz M., Trani G., Pariani A., Ancona C., Giorgi D.A., Ferrante I., Monfrinotti M., Riosa S., Capparuccini V., Scicluna M.T., Cersini A., Arizzi M., Cecchini G., Ottaviano C., Nicosia E., Grasselli E., Allaria G., Izzotti A., Rosatto S., Ammoni E., Cereda D., Losio M.N., Bertasi B., Aliscioni A., Oliva D., Castiglioni S., Schiarea S., Zuccato E., Antonelli M., Azzellino A., Malpei F., Turolla A., Binda S., Laura P., Primache V., Cocuzza C., Franzetti A., Bertanza G., Callegari M.L., Bolognini L., Filippetti F., Paniccia' M., Ciuti F., Briscolini S., Magi S., Colitti M., Montanaro C., Cerroni M.G., Griglio B., Berruti R., Cravero M., Costa A., Bianchi M., Decastelli L., Romano A., Zuccon F., Carraro E., Pignata C., Bonetta S., Di Vittorio G., Mongelli O., De Giglio O., Apollonio F., Triggiano F., Montagna M.T., Ungaro N., Palermo M., Maida C.M., Mazzucco W., De Grazia S., Giammanco G., Purpari G., Ferrante M., Agodi A., Barchitta M., Cala' P., Carducci A., Verani M., Federigi I., Lauretani G., Muzio S., Ramazzotti M., Antonelli A., Ricci E., Santoro G., Federici E., Petricciuolo M., Barigelli S., Ruffier M., Borney F., Grange E., Damasco F., Russo F., Pitter G., Groppi V., Rigoli F., Zampini M., Baldovin T., Amoruso I., Mengon E., Cadonna M., Postinghel M., Pizzo F., Schiavuzzi A., Cutrupi F., Foladori P., Manara S., Zago L., Stenico A., Prast A.-M., Suffredini E., and Triassi, M

Subjects
Omicron, RT-qPCR, SARS-CoV-2, Sewage, Variant, Wastewater-based epidemiology, Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring, Environmental Engineering, COVID-19, Wastewater, Pollution, Humans, RNA, Viral, Waste Water, SARS-Cov2, Environmental Chemistry, RNA, Viral, wastewater based epidemiology, Waste Management and Disposal, Human, Omicron, RT-qPCR, SARS-CoV-2, Sewage, Variant, Wastewater-based epidemiology
Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged in South Africa in November 2021, and has later been identified worldwide, raising serious concerns. A real-time RT-PCR assay was designed for the rapid screening of the Omicron variant, targeting characteristic mutations of the spike gene. The assay was used to test 737 sewage samples collected throughout Italy (19/21 Regions) between 11 November and 25 December 2021, with the aim of assessing the spread of the Omicron variant in the country. Positive samples were also tested with a real-time RT-PCR developed by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), and through nested RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Overall, 115 samples tested positive for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant. The first occurrence was detected on 7 December, in Veneto, North Italy. Later on, the variant spread extremely fast in three weeks, with prevalence of positive wastewater samples rising from 1.0% (1/104 samples) in the week 5-11 December, to 17.5% (25/143 samples) in the week 12-18, to 65.9% (89/135 samples) in the week 19-25, in line with the increase in cases of infection with the Omicron variant observed during December in Italy. Similarly, the number of Regions/Autonomous Provinces in which the variant was detected increased from one in the first week, to 11 in the second, and to 17 in the last one. The presence of the Omicron variant was confirmed by the JRC real-time RT-PCR in 79.1% (91/115) of the positive samples, and by Sanger sequencing in 66% (64/97) of PCR amplicons. In conclusion, we designed an RT-qPCR assay capable to detect the Omicron variant, which can be successfully used for the purpose of wastewater-based epidemiology. We also described the history of the introduction and diffusion of the Omicron variant in the Italian population and territory, confirming the effectiveness of sewage monitoring as a powerful surveillance tool.

Published
2022

23. Polymorphism of goat PrP gene in Northern and Southern Italian breeds

Author

Acutis, P. L., Santagada, G., Colussi, S., Maniaci, M. G., Sacchi, P., Laurenza, C., Riina, M. V., Peletto, S., Zuccon, F., Caramelli, M., and Rasero, R.

Abstract

AbstractScrapie in sheep is an infectious disease with genetic susceptibility playing an important role. The European Union applied genetics to control scrapie in the sheep population. In goats no clear association between PrP genotypes and resistance to scrapie has been demonstrated yet. Beside investigating this further, it is important to know the PrP genotype distribution in goat breeds. Actually, to estimate the frequency of interesting alleles in a population is a necessary preliminary step to understand how feasible it could be to select them. Aim of this work is to analyse the variability of the PrPgene in goat breeds from a Northern and a Southern Italian regions.Blood samples were collected from 300 goats of the four most common goat breeds reared in Piedmont region, belonging to 81 herds, and from 178 goats of 7 breeds from Basilicata, belonging to 19 herds. PrPgene polymorphisms were detected by direct DNA sequencing on both strands of the PCR products.In total, thirteen point mutations were identified: G37V, T110P, G127S, M137I, I142M, I142T, H143R, R154H, P168Q, T194P, R211Q, Q222K and S240P (the substitutions I142T and T194P are novel). This variability gave rise to 14 alleles. The allele with S127 mutation and the allele with Q211 mutation were found only in Northern goats while V37, I137, T142, R143 and P194 alleles were detected only in Southern goats.Regarding the alleles that were present in both groups, the M142 allele was statistically associated with Northern goats (χ2=39.84, p-value=<0.001) while K222 and H154 alleles were significantly associated with breeds from the South (χ2=54.75, p-value=<0.001; χ2=5.68, p-value=<0.05, respectively). The substitutions T110P, M137I, I142T, P168Q, and T194P were found at a low rate in both Southern and Northern goats and no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups.The present study revealed a high variability in the caprine PrP gene and clear frequency differences between Northern and Southern breeds, with mutations exclusively or significantly associated with one group or the other. M142 and K222 are known to be related to protection against scrapie in goats. More case-control studies are necessary to confirm the protective role of these variants; in fact if this role is confirmed it will allow the introduction of breeding programme to select for resistance to TSEs also in goats.

Published
2007
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24. Coagulase-positive Staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus in food products marketed in Italy

Author

Normanno, G., Firinu, A., Virgilio, S., Mula, G., Dambrosio, A., Poggiu, A., Decastelli, L., Mioni, R., Scuota, S., Bolzoni, G., Di Giannatale, E., Salinetti, A.P., La Salandra, G., Bartoli, M., Zuccon, F., Pirino, T., Sias, S., Parisi, A., Quaglia, N.C., and Celano, G.V.

Subjects
*FOOD industry, *STAPHYLOCOCCUS aureus infections, *ENTEROTOXINS, *BACTERIAL toxins
Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a very common organism capable of producing several enterotoxins (SEs) that cause intoxication symptoms of varying intensity in humans when ingested through contaminated food. This paper reports the results of an investigation on the presence of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci (CPS) and S. aureus in several food products marketed in Italy and on food contact surface swabs sampled from the food industry. A total of 11,384 samples were examined and 1971 of them (17.3%) were found to contain CPS. The assays performed on 541 CPS strains led to the identification of 537 S. aureus strains on which characterization of type A, B, C and D staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA, SEB, SEC and SED) was performed. A total of 298 S. aureus strains (55.5%) produced one or more SEs: 33.9% of the strains produced SEC, 26.5% SEA, 20.5% SEA+SED, 13.4% SED, 2.7% SEB, 1.7% SEA+SEB, 0.7% SEC+SED and 0.3% produced SEA+SEC and SEB+SEC.The investigation highlighted that these organisms are very common and constitute a potential risk for consumers'' health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Published
2005
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25. Staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks occurred in Sicily (Italy) from 2009 to 2016.

Author

Cardamone C, Castello A, Oliveri G, Costa A, Sciortino S, Nia Y, Hennekinne JA, Romano A, Zuccon F, and Decastelli L

Abstract

Notification of foodborne outbreaks has been mandatory in Europe since 2005, and surveillance is carried out along the entire food chain. Here we report the results obtained from laboratory investigations about four cases of foodborne outbreaks that occurred in Sicily between 2009 and 2016, deemed to be related to staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) and coagulase-positive Staphylococci (CPS) by the Local Public Health Authority. Primosale cheese samples were processed by culture methods for enumeration of CPS and immunoenzymatic assays for detection and differentiation of the SEs possibly contained in food samples. In all cases, the mistrusted foods were found to be contaminated by CPS at bacterial loads between 5 and 8 log CFU/g and contained SE type C (SEC). The reported data confirm the risk of staphylococcal food poisoning associated with the consumption of raw milk cheese. SEC is the most commonly occurring SE in goat milk and dairy products and the most represented enterotoxin in Sicilian dairy products. Our results highlighted the need for improving the current monitoring efficiency and implementing the available laboratory methods to collect more faithful epidemiological data on the current prevalence of staphylococcal toxins in the food chain, including SEs currently not detectable by validated analytical methods., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024, the Author(s).)

Published
2024
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26. First Report of Food Poisoning Due to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Type B in Döner Kebab (Italy).

Author

Romano A, Carrella S, Rezza S, Nia Y, Hennekinne JA, Bianchi DM, Martucci F, Zuccon F, Gulino M, Di Mari C, Zaccaria T, and Decastelli L

Abstract

Staphylococcal food poisoning results from the consumption of food contaminated by staphylococcal enterotoxins. In July 2022, the Turin local health board was notified of a suspected foodborne outbreak involving six children who had consumed döner kebab purchased from a takeaway restaurant. The symptoms (vomiting and nausea) were observed 2-3 h later. A microbiological analysis of the food samples revealed high levels (1.5 × 10 7 CFU/g) of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS). The immunoassay detected a contamination with staphylococcal enterotoxins type B (SEB). The whole genome sequencing of isolates from the food matrix confirmed the staphylococcal enterotoxin genes encoding for type B, which was in line with the SEB detected in the food. This toxin is rarely reported in staphylococcal food poisoning, however, because there is no specific commercial method of detection. The involvement of enterotoxin type P (SEP) was not confirmed, though the corresponding gene ( sep ) was detected in the isolates. Nasal swabs from the restaurant food handlers tested positive for CPS, linking them to the likely source of the food contamination.

Published
2023
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27. Investigation and Follow-Up of a Staphylococcal Food Poisoning Outbreak Linked to the Consumption of Traditional Hand-Crafted Alm Cheese.

Author

Filipello V, Bonometti E, Campagnani M, Bertoletti I, Romano A, Zuccon F, Campanella C, Losio MN, and Finazzi G

Abstract

Staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) is one of the most important foodborne diseases. This work describes a SFP event linked to the consumption of alm cheese and involved three people belonging to the same family. Leftovers of the consumed cheese, samples from the grocery store and the producing alm were collected and tested for Coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) enumeration and for the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs). Isolates were typed with MLST, spa typing, and tested for SEs and methicillin resistance genes. An in vitro test evaluated SEs production in relation to bacterial growth. The presence of CPS and SEs was detected in all cheese samples and all isolates belonged to the same methicillin sensitive ST8/t13296 strain harbouring sed , ser and sej genes. The in vitro test showed the production of enterotoxins started from 10 5 CFU/mL. The farmer was prescribed with corrective actions that led to eradication of the contaminating strain.

Published
2020
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28. Genome-Wide Profiling of Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus Strains Used for the Production of Naturally Contaminated Cheeses.

Author

Macori G, Bellio A, Bianchi DM, Chiesa F, Gallina S, Romano A, Zuccon F, Cabrera-Rubio R, Cauquil A, Merda D, Auvray F, and Decastelli L

Subjects
Bacterial Adhesion, Exotoxins, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Genome, Bacterial, Phenotype, Plasmids genetics, Staphylococcal Food Poisoning, Staphylococcus aureus classification, Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity, Virulence Factors genetics, Cheese microbiology, Gene Expression Profiling methods, Staphylococcus aureus genetics, Whole Genome Sequencing methods
Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen and an important cause of livestock infections. More than 20 staphylococcal enterotoxins with emetic activity can be produced by specific strains responsible for staphylococcal food poisoning, one of the most common food-borne diseases. Whole genome sequencing provides a comprehensive view of the genome structure and gene content that have largely been applied in outbreak investigations and genomic comparisons. In this study, six enterotoxigenic S. aureus strains were characterised using a combination of molecular, phenotypical and computational methods. The genomes were analysed for the presence of virulence factors (VFs), where we identified 110 genes and classified them into five categories: adherence ( n = 31), exoenzymes ( n = 28), genes involved in host immune system evasion ( n = 7); iron uptake regulatory system ( n = 8); secretion machinery factors and toxins' genes ( n = 36), and 39 genes coding for transcriptional regulators related to staphylococcal VFs. Each group of VFs revealed correlations among the six enterotoxigenic strains, and further analysis revealed their accessory genomic content, including mobile genetic elements. The plasmids pLUH02 and pSK67 were detected in the strain ProNaCC1 and ProNaCC7, respectively, carrying out the genes sed , ser , and selj . The genes carried out by prophages were detected in the strain ProNaCC2 ( see ), ProNaCC4, and ProNaCC7 (both positive for sea ). The strain ProNaCC5 resulted positive for the genes seg , sei , sem , sen , seo grouped in an exotoxin gene cluster, and the strain ProNaCC6 resulted positive for seh , a transposon-associated gene. The six strains were used for the production of naturally contaminated cheeses which were tested with the European Screening Method for staphylococcal enterotoxins. The results obtained from the analysis of toxins produced in cheese, combined with the genomic features represent a portrait of the strains that can be used for the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin-positive cheese as reference material.

Published
2019
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29. Evaluation of the efficacy of a training course in food safety addressed to food charity volunteers.

Author

Bianchi DM, Giorgi I, Zuccon F, Somma D, D'Errico V, Martelli W, Muzzani A, Soncin V, Collarino S, Adriano D, and Decastelli L

Abstract

In Italy, the Banco Alimentare Onlus manages a network of 8,000 charitable organizations that distribute 67,000 tons of foodstuffs to 1.6 million needy persons. To provide their volunteers with the required food safety knowledge, the Banco Alimentare del Piemonte Onlus commissioned the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta to hold training courses in food safety. Before and after each session, the participants completed a questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge on the topic of food safety. The responses were entered in a dedicated database and analyzed using STATA ver. 15.1. Comparison of the scores for each participant before and after training revealed a considerable discordance [ICC 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00-0.18]. Analysis of the post-training questionnaires showed that the number of questions left unanswered decreased and the number of correct answers increased. The difference between the percentage of correct and incorrect responses before and after the training course was statistically significant (P<0.001). Comparison of responses to the pre- and post-training questionnaires provided the data for statistical evaluation of the efficacy of the training course., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no potential conflict of interest., (©Copyright: the Author(s), 2019.)

Published
2019
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30. Outbreak of febrile gastroenteritis caused by Listeria monocytogenes 1/2a in sliced cold beef ham, Italy, May 2016.

Author

Maurella C, Gallina S, Ru G, Adriano D, Bellio A, Bianchi DM, Chiavacci L, Crescio MI, Croce M, D'Errico V, Dupont MF, Marra A, Natangelo U, Pomilio F, Romano A, Stanzione S, Zaccaria T, Zuccon F, Caramelli M, and Decastelli L

Subjects
Feces microbiology, Food Contamination, Gastroenteritis diagnosis, Gastroenteritis microbiology, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Listeria monocytogenes genetics, Listeriosis diagnosis, Listeriosis microbiology, Molecular Epidemiology, Whole Genome Sequencing, Disease Outbreaks statistics & numerical data, Fever etiology, Foodborne Diseases epidemiology, Gastroenteritis epidemiology, Listeria monocytogenes isolation & purification, Listeriosis epidemiology, Red Meat microbiology
Abstract

In May 2016, two separate clusters of febrile gastroenteritis caused by Listeria monocytogenes were detected by the local health authority in Piedmont, in northern Italy. We carried out epidemiological, microbiological and traceback investigations to identify the source. The people affected were students and staff members from two different schools in two different villages located in the Province of Turin; five of them were hospitalised. The epidemiological investigation identified a cooked beef ham served at the school canteens as the source of the food-borne outbreak. L. monocytogenes was isolated from the food, the stools of the hospitalised pupils and the environment of the factory producing the cooked beef ham. All isolates except one were serotype 1/2a, shared an indistinguishable PFGE pattern and were 100% identical by whole genome sequencing (WGS). By combining a classical epidemiological approach with both molecular subtyping and WGS techniques, we were able to identify and confirm a Listeria gastroenteritis outbreak associated with consumption of sliced cold beef ham.

Published
2018
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31. Molecular Typing of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolate Responsible for Staphylococcal Poisoning Incident in Homemade Food.

Author

Macori G, Bellio A, Bianchi DM, Gallina S, Adriano D, Zuccon F, Chiesa F, Acutis PL, Casalinuovo F, and Decastelli L

Abstract

In October 2012, two persons fell ill with symptoms consistent with staphylococcal food poisoning after eating home-canned tuna fish and tomatoes. Laboratory investigation detected the enterotoxins in the home-canned tuna and molecular analysis of the isolated Staphylococcus aureus confirmed it carried toxin genes. Qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and enzime linked fluorescent assay methods and quantitative assay identified the enterotoxins in the food leftovers, specifically staphylococcal enterotoxins type A (SEA) and D (SED), respectively 0.49 and 2.04 ng/g. The laboratory results are discussed considering the relation to the fish in oil, survival and heat resistance of S. aureus , and presumptive microbial contamination due to improper handling during home-canning procedures. This is the first reported cluster of foodborne illnesses due to staphylococcal enterotoxins in tuna in Italy. In this study, we reported cases described and analysed for their spa -type. Showing a high heterogeneity of isolates, spa -type t 13252 is correlated in a node of the minimum spanning tree and it has never been reported as responsible for foodborne outbreak. This case underlines the importance of risk communication and dissemination of home-canning guidelines to reduce the incidence of foodborne outbreaks caused by homemade conserves., Competing Interests: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Published
2016
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32. A Salmonella Enterica Subsp. Enterica Serovar Enteritidis Foodborne Outbreak after Consumption of Homemade Lasagne .

Author

Vencia W, Gariano GR, Bianchi DM, Zuccon F, Sommariva M, Nguon B, Malabaila A, Gallina S, and Decastelli L

Abstract

In the latest year, and also in 2013, Salmonella was the most frequently detected causative agent in foodborne outbreaks (FBOs) reported in Europe. As indicated in EFSA report (2015) the serotypes mostly associated to FBOs are S. Typhimurium and Enteritidis; while Salmonella Typhimurium is generally associated with the consumption of contaminated pork and beef, FBOs due to Salmonella Enteritidis are linked to eggs and poultry meat. In this study it is described the investigation of a domestic FBO involving four adults and linked to homemade lasagne . Investigations were performed to determine the relatedness of Salmonella strains, identify the sources of infection, and trace the routes of Salmonella contamination in this FBO. Salmonella strains were isolated in 3 out of 4 patient stool samples and from lasagne and all of them were serotyped as S. Enteritidis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis revealed the genotypical similarity of all the strains. Although serotyping and PFGE analysis identified the common food source of infection in this FBO, it was not possible to determine how or at what point during food preparation the lasagne became contaminated with Salmonella ., Competing Interests: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Published
2015
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33. Evaluation of Hygiene and Safety Criteria in the Production of a Traditional Piedmont Cheese.

Author

Astegiano S, Bellio A, Adriano D, Bianchi DM, Gallina S, Gorlier A, Gramaglia M, Lombardi G, Macori G, Zuccon F, and Decastelli L

Abstract

Traditional products and related processes must be safe to protect consumers' health. The aim of this study was to evaluate microbiological criteria of a traditional Piedmont cheese, made by two different cheese producers (A and B). Three batches of each cheese were considered. The following seven samples of each batch were collected: raw milk, milk at 38°C, curd, cheese at 7, 30, 60, 90 days of ripening. During cheese making process, training activities dealing with food safety were conducted. Analyses regarding food safety and process hygiene criteria were set up according to the EC Regulation 2073/2005. Other microbiological and chemical-physical analyses [lactic streptococci, lactobacilli, pH and water activity (A w )] were performed as well. Shiga-toxin Escherichia coli , aflatoxin M1 and antimicrobial substances were considered only for raw milk. All samples resulted negative for food safety criteria; Enterobacteriaceae , E.coli and coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) were high in the first phase of cheese production, however they decreased at the end of ripening. A high level of CPS in milk was found in producer A, likewise in some cheese samples a count of >5 Log CFU/g was reached; staphylococcal enterotoxins resulted negative. The pH and A w values decreased during the cheese ripening period. The competition between lactic flora and potential pathogen microorganisms and decreasing of pH and A w are considered positive factors in order to ensure safety of dairy products. Moreover, training activities play a crucial role to manage critical points and perform corrective action. Responsible application of good manufacturing practices are considered key factors to obtain a high hygienic level in dairy products.

Published
2014
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34. Occurrence of Thermotolerant Campylobacter in Raw Poultry Meat, Environmental and Pigeon Stools Collected in Open-Air Markets.

Author

Bellio A, Traversa A, Adriano D, Bianchi DM, Colzani A, Gili S, Dondo A, Gallina S, Grattarola C, Maurella C, Zoppi S, Zuccon F, and Decastelli L

Abstract

Campylobacteriosis was the most commonly reported zoonosis for confirmed human cases in European Union during 2011. Poultry meat was very often implicated in Campylobacter infections in humans. In Italy commerce of raw poultry meat is common in open-air markets: these areas can be considered at high risk of bacterial contamination due to the high presence birds like pigeons. The aim of this study was to collect data about the contamination by thermotolerant Campylobacter of raw poultry meat commercialised in open-air markets, of work-surfaces in contact with poultry meat and of pigeon stools sampled in the market areas in Turin, Northern Italy. Between September 2011 and December 2012, 86 raw poultry meat samples, 86 environmental swabs and 108 animal samples were collected in 38 open-air markets. Analysis were carried out according to ISO10272-1:2006 standard. C.coli was detected in 2.3% (2/86) of raw poultry meat samples, whereas no swab (0/86) resulted positive. Of pigeon stool 28% (30/107) was positive for C.jejuni (83.3% C.jejuni subsp . jejuni and 16.7% C.jejuni subsp . doylei ). C.jejuni subsp. jejuni was isolated from 1 dead pigeon . Our results showed lower rates of contamination than those reported at retail in Europe. Although samples were collected in areas at high risk of contamination, raw poultry meat and work surfaces reported a low level of presence of thermotolerant Campylobacter . The high percentage of C.jejuni isolated from pigeon stools showed the importance of a continuous application of preventive measures by the food business operators and the surveillance activity by the Competent Authority., Competing Interests: the authors declare no potential conflict of interests.

Published
2014
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35. Food Allergens: State of the Art in Piedmont Region in the Period 2011-2012.

Author

Barbaro A, Rubinetti F, Crisafulli AG, Radaelli MC, Chiavacci L, Bianchi DM, Adriano D, Zuccon F, Fragassi S, Buonincontro G, Vencia W, and Decastelli L

Abstract

The US National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases defines food allergy as adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly on exposure to a given food . Undeclared allergens in food label represent a risk for consumers, as there is no therapy for food allergies. According to Directive 2003/89/EC, declaration of all ingredients and derived substances in the label is mandatory. In 2011-2012, in Piedmont region (North-western Italy) 285 food samples were analysed for β-lactoglobulin and 234 for egg proteins. The aim of this work was to analyse 2 years data in order to assess the presence of undeclared milk and egg allergenic proteins in food placed on the market checking the compliance of labeling of food allergens. Analyses were carried out with ELISA tests, both for the detection of the egg and milk proteins. β-lactoglobulin was found in 2.8% (8/286) of samples, while egg proteins in 4.7% (11/234).

Published
2014
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36. Ruminant rhombencephalitis-associated Listeria monocytogenes strains constitute a genetically homogeneous group related to human outbreak strains.

Author

Rocha PR, Lomonaco S, Bottero MT, Dalmasso A, Dondo A, Grattarola C, Zuccon F, Iulini B, Knabel SJ, Capucchio MT, and Casalone C

Subjects
Animals, Bacterial Typing Techniques methods, Base Sequence, Cattle, Cattle Diseases epidemiology, Cattle Diseases pathology, Cluster Analysis, DNA, Bacterial chemistry, DNA, Bacterial genetics, Disease Outbreaks, Female, Foodborne Diseases microbiology, Goat Diseases epidemiology, Goat Diseases pathology, Goats, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Listeria monocytogenes classification, Listeria monocytogenes genetics, Listeriosis epidemiology, Listeriosis microbiology, Listeriosis pathology, Molecular Sequence Data, Multilocus Sequence Typing, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Sheep, Sheep Diseases epidemiology, Sheep Diseases pathology, Virulence, Cattle Diseases microbiology, Food Microbiology, Goat Diseases microbiology, Listeria monocytogenes isolation & purification, Listeriosis veterinary, Sheep Diseases microbiology
Abstract

Listeriosis is a disease that causes significant economic losses at the farm level because of high morbidity and mortality in ruminants. This study was performed to investigate the role of ruminants in the epidemiology of listeriosis in northern Italy and the possible association of animal-adapted strains of Listeria monocytogenes with strains associated with human disease. Twenty ruminant rhombencephalitis isolates previously confirmed as L. monocytogenes by bacteriology and PCR were characterized by serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multi-virulence-locus sequence typing (MVLST), and multiplex single nucleotide polymorphism (mSNP) typing for the detection of epidemic clones. Subtyping results were subsequently compared with those obtained from human, food, and environmental isolates of L. monocytogenes, including 311 isolates from the University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy, and 165 isolates representing major human listeriosis outbreaks worldwide, in addition to other unrelated isolates. Both mSNP typing and MVLST showed that 60% of the isolates analyzed belonged to epidemic clone I (ECI), which has been epidemiologically linked to several human outbreaks of listeriosis. In particular, the 1981 Canada outbreak was linked to the use of sheep manure and the 1985 California outbreak was linked to the use of raw cow's milk. In our study, ECI isolates were collected from different ruminant species on geographically and temporally distinct occasions for the last 13 years. Our results support the hypothesis that ruminants represent possible natural reservoirs of L. monocytogenes strains capable of causing epidemics of listeriosis in humans.

Published
2013
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37. Resistance to classical scrapie in experimentally challenged goats carrying mutation K222 of the prion protein gene.

Author

Acutis PL, Martucci F, D'Angelo A, Peletto S, Colussi S, Maurella C, Porcario C, Iulini B, Mazza M, Dell'atti L, Zuccon F, Corona C, Martinelli N, Casalone C, Caramelli M, and Lombardi G

Subjects
Animals, Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel veterinary, Female, Goat Diseases etiology, Goat Diseases pathology, Goat Diseases transmission, Goats, Italy, Luminescent Measurements veterinary, Male, Mutation, Polymerase Chain Reaction veterinary, Polymorphism, Genetic, Prions metabolism, Scrapie etiology, Scrapie pathology, Scrapie transmission, Goat Diseases genetics, Prions genetics, Scrapie genetics
Abstract

Susceptibility of sheep to scrapie, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of small ruminants, is strongly influenced by polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP). Breeding programs have been implemented to increase scrapie resistance in sheep populations; though desirable, a similar approach has not yet been applied in goats. European studies have now suggested that several polymorphisms can modulate scrapie susceptibility in goats: in particular, PRNP variant K222 has been associated with resistance in case-control studies in Italy, France and Greece. In this study we investigated the resistance conferred by this variant using a natural Italian goat scrapie isolate to intracerebrally challenge five goats carrying genotype Q/Q 222 (wild type) and five goats carrying genotype Q/K 222. By the end of the study, all five Q/Q 222 goats had died of scrapie after a mean incubation period of 19 months; one of the five Q/K 222 goats died after 24 months, while the other four were alive and apparently healthy up to the end of the study at 4.5 years post-challenge. All five of these animals were found to be scrapie negative. Statistical analysis showed that the probability of survival of the Q/K 222 goats versus the Q/Q 222 goats was significantly higher (p = 0.002). Our study shows that PRNP gene mutation K222 is strongly associated with resistance to classical scrapie also in experimental conditions, making it a potentially positive target for selection in the frame of breeding programs for resistance to classical scrapie in goats.

Published
2012
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38. Detection and phylogenetic analysis of an atypical pestivirus, strain IZSPLV&#95;To.

Author

Peletto S, Zuccon F, Pitti M, Gobbi E, Marco LD, Caramelli M, Masoero L, and Acutis PL

Subjects
Animals, Base Sequence, Cell Culture Techniques veterinary, Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral classification, Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral isolation & purification, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, RNA, Viral analysis, RNA, Viral genetics, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction veterinary, Sequence Analysis, RNA, Cattle blood, Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral genetics, Serum virology
Abstract

Recently, atypical bovine pestiviruses (BVDV-3) have been identified in batches of contaminated foetal calf serum (FCS) and in naturally infected cattle. During routine screening of FCS by conventional panpestivirus PCR assay, one batch showed traces of pestivirus nucleic acids, and the contaminating virus was typed as BVDV-3-like. Phylogenetic analysis based on three genome regions (5'UTR, N(pro) and E2) showed that this strain, named IZSPLV&#95;To, clusters in a separate clade with CH&#95;KaHo/cont, a cell culture contaminant detected in Switzerland. This study is the first report of the detection in Italy of a FCS batch contaminated with BVDV-3 and adds more evidence that atypical pestiviruses represent a serious cause for concern in cell culture laboratories, with potential repercussions on BVD control and vaccine biosafety. Our findings suggest that the BE/B2 primers may be able to detect BVDV-3 in a panpestivirus assay, but testing of a larger number of strains is required., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Published
2012
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39. Detection of a morphogenetically novel Sarcocystis hominis-like in the context of a prevalence study in semi-intensively bred cattle in Italy.

Author

Domenis L, Peletto S, Sacchi L, Clementi E, Genchi M, Felisari L, Felisari C, Mo P, Modesto P, Zuccon F, Campanella C, Maurella C, Guidetti C, and Acutis PL

Subjects
Animals, Cattle, Cattle Diseases parasitology, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Microscopy, Electron, Molecular Typing, Prevalence, RNA, Ribosomal, 18S genetics, Sarcocystis isolation & purification, Sarcocystosis epidemiology, Sarcocystosis parasitology, Cattle Diseases epidemiology, Sarcocystis classification, Sarcocystosis veterinary
Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sarcosporidiosis in semi-intensively bred cattle in northwestern Italy. A diagnostic protocol was setup in which infected animals were identified by rapid histological examination of the esophagus, diaphragm, and heart and the detected Sarcocystis spp. were subsequently typed using conventional electron microscopy in combination with molecular techniques. Sarcosporidia cysts were detected in 78.1% of the animals and were seen most often in the esophagus. The cattle is intermediate host for Sarcocystis hominis (final host, humans and some primates), Sarcocystis cruzi (final host, domestic and wild canids), and Sarcocystis hirsuta (final host, wild and domestic cats).All these three species of Sarcocystis were identified, variously associated, with the following prevalence: S. cruzi (74.2%), S. hirsuta (1.8%), and S. hominis (42.7%). Furthermore, a new S. hominis-like (prevalence 18.5%), characterized by hook-like structures of villar protrusion and a different sequence of the 18S rRNA gene, was identified. The cattle sheds testing positive for zoonotic Sarcocystis were assessed for risk factors contributing to the maintenance of the parasite's life cycle. Significant associations emerged between consumption of raw meat by the farm owner, mountain pasturing, and absence of a sewerage system on the farm and cattle breed. Our study demonstrates that sarcosporidiosis may constitute a public health problem in Italy and indicates several issues to be addressed when planning surveillance and prevention actions. The applied diagnostic approach revealed that cattle can harbor a further type of Sarcocystis, of which life cycle and zoonotic potential should be investigated.

Published
2011
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40. Physical map of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 chromosome.

Author

Zuccon FM, Hantman MJ, Sechi LA, Sun S, Piggot PJ, and Daneo-Moore L

Subjects
Genes, Bacterial, Genome, Bacterial, Chromosome Mapping, Chromosomes, Bacterial genetics, Streptococcus mutans genetics
Published
1995

41. Ribosomal RNA gene (rrn) organization in enterococci.

Author

Sechi LA, Zuccon FM, Mortensen JE, and Daneo-Moore L

Subjects
DNA, Bacterial, RNA, Bacterial genetics, Restriction Mapping, Enterococcus genetics, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics, RNA, Ribosomal, 28S genetics
Abstract

A cloned 1.8-kb probe containing the 3' end of 16S ribosomal RNA and the 5' end of 23S ribosomal RNA from Enterococcus hirae was used to analyze various endonuclease digests of enterococci. In the ATCC strains tested we observed a remarkable conservation of the ApaI sites in the rrn operons, and a partial conservation of EcoRI sites. Using a number of other endonuclease digestions with the ApaI rrn probe, we estimate the number of rrn operons in enterococci to be between five and six.

Published
1994
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