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Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence is considered the main risk factor for neoplastic progression, and evidence suggests that regulatory T cells play an important role in the failure of viral elimination. Regulatory T cells may be involved in maintaining a microenvironment favourable for viral persistence and neoplasticity, through a deregulation of the local immune response. The association between altered immune function and the development of chronic infections, cancer (solid and haematological), and autoimmune diseases is documented in the literature. The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the possible correlation between HPV cervical infection and lymphoma incidence in women attending colposcopy due to an abnormal Pap smear during a period of 15 years. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Participants: We investigated retrospectively the incidence of haematological diseases in women aged 21–84 with an abnormal Pap smear who referred to our centre between 2004 and 2019. Setting: This study was conducted at the university hospital. Methods: In our analysis, we included women with diagnoses of HL and NHL after the detection of abnormal Pap smears and HPV infections. We excluded patients with a diagnosis of lymphoma preceding the date of the abnormal Pap smear and HPV test. Results: We divided the patients into two groups in order to analyse the standard incidence ratio (SIR): HL patients (19/7,064, 0.26%) and NHL patients (22/7,064, 0.31%). In our sample, we reported a significant risk of developing lymphoma compared to the general population, both for HL and NHL disease, at age <45 years. Regarding HL, the SIR of disease in women 45 years was 4.886 (95% CI 2.775–9.6029) and in women between 45 and 59 years was 2.612 (95% CI 0.96–7.108804). On the other hand, for NHL in women 45 years, we reported an SIR of about 3.007 (95%, CI 1.273–7.101575), in women aged 45–59 years, the SIR was 4.291 (95% CI 2.444–7.534399), and in women aged 60–74 years, the SIR was 3.283 (95% CI 1.054–10.22303). Limitations: This retrospective analysis was conducted in a single centre in Northern Italy and did not consider all interregional differences existing in the country in terms of HPV genotypes, ethnicity, and population characteristics. Regarding the analysis of SIR for HL and NHL, we did not divide the disease into subtypes because of the small sample of cases. Finally, we considered in our analysis only women with an abnormal Pap smear and not the general population. Conclusions: Women with chronic and persistent HPV infections may have a higher relative risk of developing lymphoma. This possible association may be caused by the deregulation of the immune system response against HPV and the failure of viral clearance, especially in younger women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli VTEC was investigated in two batches of artisanal Italian salami tested in winter and summer. Moreover, enumerations of total bacterial count, lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were performed as well as monitoring of water activity and pH. Samples were taken from raw materials, production process environment, semi-finished product and finished products. The results revealed an overall increase of total bacterial count and lactic acid bacteria during the ripening period, along with a decrease of Enterobacteriaceae, pH and water activity. No significant difference was observed between the two batches. The enterobacterial load appeared to decrease during the maturation period mainly due to a decrease in pH and water activity below the limits that allow the growth of these bacteria. E. coli VTEC, Salmonella spp. or L. monocytogenes were not detected in both winter and summer batches. However, Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in both summer and winter products. Except for one isolate, no biological hazards were detected in the finished salami, proving the efficacy of the ripening period in controlling the occurrence of microbiological hazard in ripened salami. Further studies are required to assess the virulence potential of the Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The serovar Typhimurium (4, [5],12:i:1,2), is the most frequently isolated serovar in case of salmonellosis in pigs in Europe and its monophasic variant (4, [5],12:i:-) has been increasingly responsible for Salmonella outbreaks in humans. A total of 25,215 samples were collected, during the years 2002–2017, from 1359 pig farms located in Northern Italy. Samples were collected from different material sources including fecal samples, rectal swabs, gut content and different organs. Results: Salmonella was isolated in 15.80% of samples and, among the isolates, 733 were typed as Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) or its monophasic variant (MST). Over time, there was an increase of isolation of MST which outnumbered ST. Most of the strains were isolated in animals during the weaning stage and the growing – fattening period whereas the clinical cases were mainly present in young pigs after weaning. Conclusions: This study confirms the presence of ST and MST in pig farms although, considering the total of isolated serotypes, with lower percentages than previously reported. In the last few years, ST has increasingly been replaced by MST suggesting that MST has a competitive advantage over ST, probably due to its different antigenicity and pathogenicity which renders the infection stealthier to recognize and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]