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In order to determine the association between the lactation stage with serum and milk ELISA results, 697 ewes reared in 17 Paratuberculosis infected dairy farms, were sampled: 10 flocks at early/late and 7 flocks at peak lactation period. Prevalences of 7.75% (n = 697) and 5.31% (n = 697) were observed analyzing serum and milk samples, respectively, and the difference was not significant (P = 0.065). A higher number of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) seropositive sheep were found in the larger flocks than in the smaller ones (P = 0.04), when sampled in early/late lactation. Moreover, the milk ELISA revealed that 7.8% and 3.7% of the ewes were positive to MAP antibodies at early/late and peak of lactation, respectively, and the difference was highly significant (P = 0.021). Considering the importance of early diagnosis, milk ELISA could be a valid alternative tool in early/late lactation stage. Further studies, investigating the effect of MAP positivity on production parameters of ovine dairy breeds, are needed.

The aims of this work were to evaluate the potential role of enrofloxacin in controlling the severity of the clinical mastitis in sheep caused by Staphylococcus aureus; to improve cure rates and to minimize the related effects of the disease on the mammary glands. This study was conducted in commercial dairy flocks where there was on going intensive monitoring of subclinical mastitis by Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and bacteriology. Two groups of animals were selected from these flocks. Group A (n = 34 animals) and Group B (n = 39 animals) were treated with 2.5 mg/kg bw and 5 mg/kg bw, respectively of enrofloxacin (Baytril® 5% injectable solution, Bayer, Italy) for three consecutive days (2 doses per day). The effectiveness of the enrofloxacin in curing the S. aureus-induced clinical mastitis was monitored through SCC, rectal temperature, and by systemic and local mammary gland reactions from the 1st to the 14th day post treatment. The presence of S. aureus in milk samples was confirmed by bacteriological examination and PCR before and after treatment. Bacteriological cure was 39% in Group A and 82% in Group B. Both doses significantly reduced SCC (P

EHV1 and EHV4 are the most important herpesviruses in horses. Repeated cases of abortion in mares regularly vaccinated, prompted us to investigate the immune response after vaccination with the same inactivated vaccine, but with three different protocols. Eighteen mares were chosen and randomly divided in three study groups (G1-G2-G3) and a control group (Ctrl). For serologic and PCR investigations nasal swabs, sera and blood were collected. The protocol used in G3 (4 doses) increased the titer recorded by ELISA and seroneutralization (SN). Poor agreement and no correlation were observed in titer values between ELISA and SN and between SN and PCR. A very weak positive correlation between ELISA and PCR was obtained. Seven out of 18 nasal swabs were positive by PCR; none showed viremia and no abortion occurred, regardless of vaccination status and despite active circulation of EHV-1 in the farm at the time of the study. The study was conducted in field conditions, in a susceptible population with a known history of infection and abortion, and among the three protocols, the one proposed in the G1 was the least efficient while the one proposed for the G3, seems to have induced a higher antibody titer in both SN and ELISA.

Pathogens transmitted to humans by phlebotomine sand flies are neglected, as they cause infectious diseases that are not on the priority list of national and international public health systems. However, the infections caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus and viruses belonging to the Phlebovirus genus (family Phenuiviridae)-the most significant group of viruses transmitted by sand flies-have a relevant role for human pathology. These infections are emerging in the Mediterranean region and will likely spread in forthcoming decades, posing a complex threat to human health. Four species and 2 hybrid strains of Leishmania are pathogenic for humans in the Mediterranean Basin, with an estimated annual incidence of 239,500-393,600 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis and 1,200-2,000 cases of visceral leishmaniasis. Among the phleboviruses, Toscana virus can cause neuroinvasive infections, while other phleboviruses are responsible for a typical "3-day fever"; the actual incidence of Phlebovirus infections in the Mediterranean area is unknown, although at least 250 million people are exposed. Here, we reviewed the current literature on epidemiology of sand fly-borne infections in the Mediterranean Basin, with a focus on humans. Our analysis indicates the need for increased public health activities directed to determine the disease burden of these infections as well as to improve their surveillance. Among the emerging challenges concerning sand fly-borne pathogens, the relationships between sand fly-borne protozoa and viruses should be considered in future studies, including epidemiological links between Leishmania and phleboviruses as well as the conditional capacity for these pathogens to be involved in interactions that may evolve towards increased virulence.

Streptococcus canis (S. canis), Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies (S. dysgalactiae subspecies) are β-haemolytic Gram positive bacteria infecting animals and humans. S. canis and S. zooepidemicus are considered as two of the major zoonotic species of Streptococcus, while more research is needed on S. dysgalactiae subspecies bacteria. In this work, a multiplex-PCR protocol was tested on strains and clinical samples to detect S. canis, S. dysgalactiae subspecies and S. equi subspecies bacteria in dogs. All strains were correctly identified as S. canis, S. equi subspecies or S. dysgalactiae subspecies by the multiplex-PCR. The main Streptococcus species isolated from symptomatic dogs were confirmed S. canis. The multiplex-PCR protocol described is a rapid, accurate and efficient method for identifying S. canis, S. equi subspecies and S. dysgalactiae subspecies in dogs and could be used for diagnostic purposes and for epidemiological studies.