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Simple Summary: African swine fever (ASF) is a severe viral disease of domestic pigs and Eurasian wild boars (Sus scrofa) that is caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). ASF is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, where 24 genotypes of the virus have been reported. Between the late 1950s and the early 1980s, genotype I ASFV emerged in Europe, including Italy. In June 2007, a second ASF epidemic wave caused by genotype II was registered, involving several European and extra-European countries, including Italy in 2022. The present paper aims to provide the state of the art of ASF in Italy, describing the course of ASF in wild boars and domestic pigs as an example of multiple concurring different scenarios. Sardinia is coping with the last phase of the eradication of the disease by applying the exit strategy. Conversely, four clusters of infection located in North, Central, and South Italy are still ongoing. The unique and complex Italian experience in ASF-controlling may be useful to increase know-how on the efficacy of strategies and measures, as well as issues that could be further improved. African swine fever (ASF) is a severe viral disease of domestic pigs and Eurasian wild boars (Sus scrofa) caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). ASF is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, where 24 genotypes of the virus have been reported. Between the late 1950s and the early 1980s, genotype I ASFV emerged in Europe, including Italy. In June 2007, a second ASF epidemic wave caused by genotype II was registered, involving several European and extra-European countries, including Italy in 2022. The present paper aims to provide the state of the art of ASF in Italy, describing the course of ASF in wild boars and domestic pigs as an example of multiple concurring different scenarios. Sardinia is coping with the last phase of the eradication of the disease by applying the exit strategy. Conversely, four clusters of infection located in North, Central, and South Italy are still ongoing. The unique and complex Italian experience in ASF-controlling may be useful to increase know-how on the efficacy of strategies and measures, as well as issues that could be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The arrival of the African swine fever (ASF) epizootic in the European continent has pushed public veterinary authorities to act immediately in order to contain its spread by applying the regulatory guidance of the current Animal Health Law of the European Union (Regulations EU 2016/429). Control and surveillance measures, in accordance with Regulations 2020/687 and 2023/594, have been implemented. Moreover, protection and surveillance areas have been created around the infected holdings and the wild boar cases. This paper analyzes the advantages and critical points of the legal framework for the control of ASF in wild boar, focusing on the role of official veterinary services in European Union Member States (EU MS). Recently, the African swine fever (ASF) epizootic has been reported in domestic pigs and wild boars in several European Union Member States (EU MS) and epidemiological evidence has accumulated which indicates that wild boar play a key role in maintaining and spreading the disease. Thanks to the experience gained when managing ASF outbreaks in Sardinia (Italy) and Eastern Europe, Directive 2002/60 CE was issued. This directive represented an important step forward in controlling the disease, particularly the risk of spreading the virus to wild animals. Since 2021, according to Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which is also called "Animal Health Law—AHL", when the MS competent authority suspects or confirms ASF (a cat. A listed disease) in wild animals, it is mandatory to conduct surveillance in the wild boar population and implement the necessary control measures. Within AHL, Regulations (EU) 2020/687 and 2023/594 established special ASF control measures in kept and wild porcine animals, and their products and by-products, focusing on and underlying old and new responsibilities that vets (both public and private ones) have to accomplish under the new regulations. The new change in the legal framework deals with specific measures to be applied in the wild and represents a great challenge for MS veterinary services. Some of these measures have been well established in the last two decades, particularly those related to application in the farming system, while other measures are still new to veterinary health management and require a holistic approach in terms of intensity, considering all geographical, ecological, productive, cultural and social features of the involved EU MS. In this contribution, the authors intend to focus on specific measures which have been issued in order to limit or stop the spread of ASF in a wild, "boundless" ecosystem. These measures expand the field of competence of the official veterinary service to wild areas in addition to farm activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Antibiotics are emerging contaminants found in several matrices of environmental, animal, and human origin. This high occurrence constitutes a major global threat, which is also responsible for the development of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, it is vitally important to develop new, simple, and reliable methods by which to quantify them in several matrices. In this work, the mussel matrix was chosen as the sentinel organism; a new analytical method for the determination of two commonly used macrolides in mussels harvested along the Sardinian coasts was developed. None of the tested macrolides were found in the sampling sites at concentrations quantifiable by the developed method. These results can be useful for competent authorities evaluating the food safety of mussels (as concerns the studied antibiotics) and pollution derived from these drugs in the marine environment. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are compounds found in several environmental compartments whose ubiquitous presence can cause toxicity for the entire ecosystem. Several personal care products, including antibiotics, have entered this group of compounds, constituting a major global threat. It is essential to develop simple and reliable methods by which to quantify these contaminants in several matrices. In this work, mussels were chosen as sentinel organisms to assess environmental pollution and the safety of bivalve mollusk consumption according to the "One Health perspective". A liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) was developed for the quantification of two macrolides, erythromycin (ERY) and azithromycin (AZI), in mussels. This new method was validated according to international guidelines, showing high selectivity, good recoveries (>60% for both of them), sensitivity, and precision. The method was successfully applied for ERY and AZI research in mussels farmed along the Sardinian coasts (Italy), demonstrating itself to be useful for routine analysis by competent authorities. The tested macrolides were not determined in the analyzed sites at concentrations above the limits of detection (LODs). These results demonstrate the food safety of mussels (as concerns the studied antibiotics) and a negligible amount of pollution derived from these drugs in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Extensive goat breeding follows principles of sustainable agriculture, and it can be achieved with local breeds because their genome has been shaped by centuries of interaction with the environment in which goats were raised. The Sarda goat is well adapted to the arid environment of Sardinia (Italy). The aim of the present work was to study the variability of the casein genes, the main proteins of milk. We measured milk traits such as protein, fat, lactose, total solids, and milk yield, and performed association analyses with casein gene variants. The variability of the four casein genes was associated with milk protein, fat, total solids, and milk energy. The main finding was that intronic variants of the CSN1S2 gene (encoding the αs2-casein protein) were associated with milk yield and protein and fat content. This information might be used in selection schemes, and in future investigations aiming to disclose the direct link between genotype and phenotype. This work aimed to assess the variability of casein genes in a population of 153 bucks and 825 lactating does of the Sarda breed, and to perform association analysis between polymorphic sites and milk yield and composition traits. To genotype the casein genes, we chose an SNP panel including 44 SNPs mapping to the four casein genes CSN1S1, CSN2, CSN1S2, and CSN3. Genotyping (made by KASP™ genotyping assay, based on competitive allele-specific PCR) revealed the high variability of the Sarda goat, and haplotype analysis revealed linkage disequilibrium (LD) between CSN1S1 and CSN2 genes, in addition to two LD blocks within the CSN1S2 and two LD blocks within the CSN3 gene, in bucks and does. Association analysis revealed that variability at all four casein genes was associated with milk protein content, total solids, and milk energy. The three Ca-sensitive casein genes were associated with lipid content, and CSN1S2 showed a unique pattern, with intron variants associated with milk yield, in addition to milk pH, NaCl, and SCS (Somatic Cell Score). This information might prove useful in selection schemes and in future investigations aiming to better understand the biology of lactation, and the direct link between genotype and phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Botulism is a disease that can affect humans as well as many animals. Most cases of botulism in farm animals are foodborne. This report describes the clinical course and diagnosis of a botulism outbreak in cattle that was most likely derived from foods. We emphasize the importance of the early sampling of food and biological matrixes in cases of suspected botulism to arrive at a quick diagnosis. Clostridium botulinum is the main causative agent of botulism in humans and animals. The ingestion of the botulinum neurotoxin, usually types C and D, has been shown to produce disease (neurological symptoms) in most botulism cases in cattle. We report an outbreak in Southern Sardinia that involved a livestock farm with 120 animals, 39 of which died. The aim of this report is to describe the course of this outbreak and the progression of symptoms up to the death of some animals; we also describe the therapeutic approach applied in this case and the analytical techniques used to diagnose the disease. Finally, we emphasize the importance of promptly proceeding with the sampling of several matrixes when a suspicion of botulism arises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bycatch, a direct negative effect of the fishing industry, is one of the top research priorities in the field of seabird ecology and conservation, being the major cause of seabird mortality. The Mediterranean Shag (Gulosus aristotelis desmarestii) is a seabird endemic to the Mediterranean and Black Seas and is considered threatened. The most important site for reproduction for the Mediterranean shag is an islet near Corsica and Sardinia. To evaluate the impact of bycatch in the sex ratio population dynamic, we sampled, extracted DNA and sexed Mediterranean Shags found drowned in nets and newborn chicks in the colony of Corcelli islet, northeast Sardinia. A skewed sex ratio in the effective population was caused by the higher rate of male Mediterranean shags bycaught in nets. At the same time, in the Corcelli colony's offspring, a skewed sex ratio toward the male sex was recorded. According to the Sex Allocation Theory, the skewed sex ratio of the offspring may represent an adaptive arrangement of the sex ratio by the mothers, to restore the sex ratio in the effective population. Mediterranean Shag (Gulosus aristotelis desmarestii) is a seabird endemic to the Mediterranean and Black Seas, recently included in the IUCN list of threatened Species. Most of the reproductive colonies are hosted in Sardinia and surrounding islets. Bycatch in fishing nets is one of the most significant threats for this population. Our work aimed to assess alterations in the sex ratio caused by bycatch and to study the adaptive response of the population to a skewed adult sex ratio. The sex ratio of Mediterranean Shags found drowned in the gillnets near the colonies and that of the nestlings of the Corcelli (northeast Sardinia) colony was determined using the sex-linked polymorphism of the gene Chromobox-Helicase-DNA-binding 1. The data of the shags found drowned in gillnets evidenced a high mortality rate (83.3%; p < 0.001) and a larger size of males (35% heavier than females, p < 0.05) compared to females, supporting the theory that heavier individuals are able to forage at great depths. With 64.8% of the nestlings being male, the sex ratio of nestlings was statistically different from parity (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it was related to the brood size. In one- and two-chick broods, 73% and 70% of nestlings, respectively, were males, while in three-chick broods, only 33% were males. Our data identify the higher rate of male shags drowned in gillnets as a factor causing an alteration of the sex ratio in the Mediterranean Shag population. According to the Sex Allocation Theory, an adaptive adjustment of sex made by adult females restores the Mendelian sex ratio in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The use of boars for breeding purposes is common on small farms in rural regions of Italy. These animals are butchered at the end of their reproductive life for the production of charcuterie. In this regard, orchiectomy is required to remove boar taint caused by testosterone metabolites. The purpose of this study is to validate the efficacy of a safe, rapid and inexpensive castration procedure. To accomplish this objective, 91 boars were orchiectomised using the suture ligation technique. Following castration, characteristics of the severed ductus deference were evaluated in order to understand how much force would be required to tie knots without breaking the deferens and achieving proper haemostasis. After identifying a correlation between tensile strength and the age and weight of boars, a sutureless technique was successfully applied to 20 animals. The heterogeneity of Italian manufacturing processes results in the production of a large variety of pork products. In Sardinia, boars are raised and butchered to produce charcuterie. These animals are castrated before slaughter as androstenone would otherwise taint the meat, rendering it unfit for human consumption. However, to date, the literature concerning surgical orchiectomy in adult boars is limited. The goal of this study is to assess whether a sutureless swine orchiectomy procedure is feasible. Additionally, this study aims to determine the appropriate traction force needed to tie knots in the deferens duct of pigs of different weights and ages. Two groups were created: the first (n = 91) underwent orchiectomy by suture ligation; the second (n = 20) was castrated using the sutureless technique. Deferens ducts of animals in the first group (n = 182) were collected following castration, and their tensile strength was measured. Pearson's linear correlation was used to determine the relationship between the maximum traction force and weight and age groups. A correlation of 0.99 and 0.96 was shown between traction force and age and traction force and weight, respectively. In accordance with these results, sutureless castration was performed on 20 animals, calibrating the pulling force needed according to the age and weight of the boars. No complications were observed during the feasibility study, thus validating sutureless orchiectomy in adult boars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present study provides new molecular data on populations of the freshwater blenny Salariopsis fluviatilis from Italian geographic areas (north-western regions and Sardinia Island) so far never investigated and uses five species delimitation methods in order to shed further light on the Mediterranean phylogeography of this fish and give a more comprehensive scenario of its taxonomic status. Our findings clarified the phylogeographical patterns of the northern Italian populations of Salariopsis fluviatilis sensu stricto, considering the Po River basin and some Tyrrhenian basins of the Liguria region on the other side of the Ligurian Alps. The dispersal pathways of the island of Sardinia were also investigated suggesting that patterns of genetic structuring for this species are probably linked to Pleistocene glacial and interglacial periods. Results obtained supported previous studies in evidencing the occurrence of a species complex for Salariopsis fluviatilis with at least three taxonomic units: Salariopsis fluviatilis sensu stricto, Salariopsis cf. fluviatilis diffused in the Middle East and a further taxonomic entity from the Iberian Guadiana River basin whose tributaries flow in the Atlantic Ocean. For what concerns Salariopsis fluviatilis sensu stricto, two divergent groups of populations were reported in the present study, being the first diffused in western Mediterranean areas and the second in western Adriatic and eastern Mediterranean areas. The genus Salariopsis (Blenniidae) comprises freshwater blenny fish that inhabits Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and north-east Atlantic areas. Three species were formally described to date: Salariopsis fluviatilis. S. economidisi, and S. atlantica. In this study, 103 individuals were collected from different Italian regions (Sardinia, Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy) and analyzed using the mtDNA Control Region and the ribosomal 16s gene. We aimed (i) to depict the phylogeographic patterns of S. fluviatilis in northern Italy and Sardinia and (ii) to compare the genetic structure of Italian samples with those from other Mediterranean regions. Results obtained showed the presence of a well-supported genetic structuring among Italian S. fluviatilis populations, shedding new light on the phylogeographic patterns of northern Italian populations of S. fluviatilis sensu stricto across the Ligurian Alpine ridge and the Sardinia Island-mainland dispersal patterns. Furthermore, our species delimitation analysis was consistent in supporting results of previous research about the presence of genetic differentiation among S. fluviatilis, evidencing: (i) a large group of S. fluviatilis sensu stricto that includes two sub-groups (Occidental and Oriental), (ii) one group comprising populations from the Middle East of a taxonomic entity corresponding to Salariopsis cf. fluviatilis, and (iii) one group of Iberian individuals from the Guadiana River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The diversity of reproductive mechanism in bony fishes is greater than in any other group of vertebrates. It ranges from oviparous, to several stages of viviparous forms. In this context, scorpaenoid fishes belonging to the families Scorpaenidae and Sebastidae are of particular interest, since they show extremely varied reproductive modes connected with ovarian structures. We describe here the ovarian morphology of five rockfish species showing different reproductive modalities, using histology. Specialized microscopic features were found during gametogenesis, strictly related to the production of gelatinous mass surrounding the eggs, typical of these species. Based on microscopic maturity stages here analyzed, we found that all species shed eggs more than once through the spawning season, and were characterized by continuous oogenesis with multiple oocyte deposition. Further ovarian dynamic observations supported the hypothesis that all species had an indeterminate fecundity. The sub-order Scorpenoidei appears to be particularly interesting due to the presence of intermediate stages between oviparity and viviparity in several species. The present study aims to describe the ovarian morphology, using a histological and histochemical approach, in four ovuliparous species belonging to Scorpaena genus compared with a zygoparous species, H. dactylopterus, focusing also on the assessment of the ovarian dynamics in the populations of such species in Sardinia waters (central–western Mediterranean). Ovarian sections of all species were examined using light microscopy. All species showed a specialized ovary, cystovarian type II-3, strictly related to the production of gelatinous matrices surrounding the eggs. Some microscopic peculiarities in the oogenesis process were found: thin zona pellucida, small and low cortical alveoli, and a specialized ovarian wall during the spawning period. All species analyzed were batch-spawners with an asynchronous ovarian organization. A continuous recruitment of oocytes and the occurrence of de novo vitellogenesis was also observed. During the spawning period, low atresia intensity was detected, while a marked increase in this intensity found in the ovaries at the end of spawning season. Our observations may support an indeterminate fecundity type for these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]