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Simple Summary: Septic exudates in the body cavities of dogs and cats are considered a critical clinical condition. The current elective diagnostic tools for detecting septic effusion are bacterial culture and fluid cytology. Although culture is considered the gold standard, clinicians may not have access to the results for several days. This may result in a delayed diagnosis of septic effusion, which may have adverse effects on patient outcomes. This study compared the performances of cytology and bacterial culture in the identification of septic exudative body cavity effusions in dogs and cats. The results of our investigation indicated moderate agreement between cytology and microbiology. Cytology and bacterial culture results for exudative body cavity effusions in dogs and cats can be misleading when conducted individually. To improve diagnostic accuracy, these two methodologies should be integrated. The elective test for the determination of the effusions etiopathogenesis is represented by physico-chemical analysis and cytology. Nevertheless, the bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests are crucial for setting therapy and for the outcome. This study compared cytology with microbiology in the etiologic diagnosis of exudative body cavity effusions in dogs and cats collected from October 2018 to October 2022. All samples underwent aerobic and anaerobic culture and cytology examination. Bacterial identifications were confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, whereas cytological samples were blindly evaluated either in May Grunwald-Giemsa (MGG) or Gram-stained samples by two board-certified clinical pathologists. A moderate agreement (κ = 0.454) between cytology and bacterial culture was revealed. The sensitivity of the cytological evaluation in our study ranged from 38.5% to 67.9%, and the specificity ranged from 88.9% to 100%, depending on the type of the effusion, so cytology may not be representative of the etiopathogenesis, whereas bacterial culture can misidentify or fail to isolate the correct pathogen for difficult in vitro growing due to the presence of inhibitory substances or contamination. Cytology and bacterial culture results for exudative body cavity effusions in dogs and cats can be misleading if conducted separately, so these two tests should be performed together to increase diagnostic accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Equine periodontal disease (EPD) is a painful syndrome in horses that causes significant health problems. Despite its clinical importance, very few investigations on its etiopathogenesis have been performed. This study investigates the association of different bacterial species, including the red complex bacteria (RCB, i.e., Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis), Fusobacterium nucleatum, Veilonella parvula, and Prevotella intermedia, with periodontal disease and other risk factors. Tannerella spp. and Treponema spp. were detected with a significantly higher proportion in horses affected by EPD than in healthy animals. Overall, the investigated pathogens, belonging to RCB, were detected in a low number of horses. Age was found to be the main risk factor, with horses aged older than 20 years being at higher risk of EPD. A very high rate of coinfection was statistically associated with EPD, and, thus, EPD supported the multiagent etiology of this equine complex syndrome. Equine periodontal disease (EPD) is a painful oral inflammatory syndrome characterized by multifactorial pathogenesis. Although it is well known that bacterial proliferation and consequent gingivitis are caused by the decomposition process of food residues, in hypsodont species, the pathogenetic role and the different bacterial species involved in the progression of EPD must be fully clarified. This study aimed to investigate the association of bacteria, including the complex red bacteria (RCB), with EPD, and to evaluate possible EPD risk factors. Bacterial species, including Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis (belonging to the RCB), Fusobacterium nucleatum, Veilonella parvula, and Prevotella intermedia, were investigated in 125 oral swabs from healthy and EPD-affected horses using real-time multiplex PCR. Subsequently, possible risk factors (i.e., age, gender, and breed of the animals and type of feed used) were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Tannerella spp. and Treponema spp. were detected in a significantly higher proportion of horses affected by EPD than in healthy animals, although pathogens belonging to RCB were detected in low number of horses. At the same time, none of the investigated pathogens was significantly associated with a particular stage of disease severity. Horses aged older than 20 years were at higher risk of EPD. The high rate of coinfection, statistically associated with EPD, supports the hypothesis that EPD is a complex syndrome characterized by the possible simultaneous involvement of several pathogens and an increased risk depending on the animal's age. Constant oral hygiene is the best prevention to prevent and treat the disease, especially in old animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) is an emerging virus related to the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The pathogenic potential of DCH in cats remains to be established. The molecular prevalence of DCH varies widely in the regions investigated so far. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, load, and risk factors for DCH detection among cats in Hong Kong, and to generate molecular and epidemiological data on the DCH strains circulating in cats in Hong Kong. DCH DNA was detected using DCH-specific qPCR in 57/513 (11.1%) residual diagnostic blood samples from owned cats. The median viral load was 8.85 × 103 copies/mL of whole blood (range for the 5th to the 95th percentile, 3.33 × 103 to 2.2 × 105 copies per mL). Two outliers had higher viral loads of 1.88 × 107 copies/mL and 4.90 × 109 copies/mL. DCH was detected in cats from 3 months to 19 years of age. Sex, age, neuter status, breed, or elevated serum alanine aminotransferase were not statistically associated with DCH DNA detection. On phylogenetic analysis based on 12 complete genome sequences, the Hong Kong DCH viruses clustered in Genotype A with viruses from Australia and Asia (clade A1), distinct from viruses from Europe (clade A2). Sequence analysis found that DCH has similar epsilon and direct repeat regions to human HBV, suggesting a conserved method of replication. Based on our findings, the DCH strains circulating in Hong Kong are a continuum of the Asiatic strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepadnaviruses have been identified in several animal species. The hepadnavirus prototype, human hepatitis B virus (HBV), is a major public health problem associated with chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, a novel hepadnavirus, similar to HBV, was identified in domestic cats. Since several pathogens can be shared between cats and dogs, we hypothesized that dogs could also harbor hepadnaviruses and we tested a collection of canine sera with multiple molecular strategies. Overall, hepadnavirus DNA was identified in 6.3% (40/635) of canine serum samples, although the viral load in positive sera was low (geometric mean of 2.70 × 102 genome copies per mL, range min 1.36 × 102—max 4.03 × 104 genome copies per mL). On genome sequencing, the canine hepadnaviruses revealed high nucleotide identity (about 98%) and similar organization to the domestic cat hepadnavirus. Altered hepatic markers were found in hepadnavirus-positive dogs, although the role of hepadnavirus in canine health remains to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FeHV-1) can induce infections that are difficult to prevent and to treat due to the involvement of host genetic factors and immune mechanisms. These two viruses areimportant examples of viral immune evasion of the host's innate immune response. The innate immune system provides an early form of host protection from infectious diseases without pre-exposure and plays an essential role in determining the outcome of viral infections. The mechanisms that the innate immune system utilizes to counteract infections are based on therecognition of a relatively limited set of molecular structures that are either products of microbes (virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites) or expressed by injured or dead host cells. This review provides a brief overview of the main mechanisms achieved by host's innate immunity, focusing primarily on the immune escape mechanisms developed and carried out by FCoV and FeHV-1 during infection. Over time, feline viruses have acquired elaborateopportunistic properties, making their infections particularly difficult to prevent and treat. Feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FeHV-1), due to the involvement of host genetic factors and immune mechanisms in the development of the disease and more severe forms, are important examples of immune evasion of the host's innate immune response by feline viruses.It is widely accepted that the innate immune system, which providesan initial universal form of the mammalian host protection from infectious diseases without pre-exposure, plays an essential role in determining the outcome of viral infection.The main components of this immune systembranchare represented by the internal sensors of the host cells that are able to perceive the presence of viral component, including nucleic acids, to start and trigger the production of first type interferon and to activate the cytotoxicity by Natural Killercells, often exploited by viruses for immune evasion.In this brief review, we providea general overview of the principal tools of innate immunity, focusing on the immunologic escape implemented byFCoVand FeHV-1 duringinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible role of viruses in feline liver disease has long remained neglected. However, in 2018, an analogue of human hepatitis B virus was identified in cats. Moreover, antibodies for human hepatitis E have been detected consistently at various prevalence rates in cats. Although the correlation between these viruses and the liver injury in cats must be clarified, hepatotropic viruses might represent an increasing risk for feline and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parvovirus infections in cats have been well known for around 100 years. Recently, the use of molecular assays and metagenomic approaches for virus discovery and characterization has led to the detection of novel parvovirus lineages and/or species infecting the feline host. However, the involvement of emerging parvoviruses in the onset of gastroenteritis or other feline diseases is still uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hepatitis B virus (HBV) analogue, DCH, was discovered in 2018 in domestic cats. • It is unclear if DCH may cause liver damage and chronic infections. • Upon re-testing of DCH-positive animals, two cats were persistently viremic. • A 9-year-old male cat was viremic from February 2019 through January 2020. • This pattern of infection mirrors what described with HBV in human patients. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver disease in humans including chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH), a novel HBV-like hepadnavirus, was identified in domestic cats in 2018. From 6.5 %–10.8 % of pet cats are viremic for DCH and altered serological markers suggestive of liver damage have been identified in 50 % of DCH-infected cats. DCH DNA has been detected in association with characteristic lesions of chronic hepatitis and with hepatocellular carcinoma in cats, suggesting a possible association. In this study longitudinal molecular screening of cats infected with DCH was performed to determine if DCH can cause chronic infections in cats. Upon re-testing of sera from five DCH-positive animals, 2–10 months after the initial diagnosis, three cats tested negative for DCH on two consecutive occasions using quantitative PCR. Two other cats remained DCH-positive, including an 8-month-old female cat re-tested four months after the initial positive result, and a 9-year-old male cat, which tested positive for DCH on six occasions over an 11-month period. The latter had a history of chronic hepatopathy with jaundice, lethargy and elevated serum alanine transaminase levels (ALT). During the period of observation, DCH titers ranged between 1.64 × 105 and 2.09 × 106 DNA copies/mL and ALT was persistently elevated, suggesting chronic infection. DCH DNA was not detected in oral, conjunctival, preputial and rectal swabs from the two animals collected at several time points. Long-term (chronic) infection would be consistent with the relatively high number of viremic cats identified in epidemiological investigations, with the possible association of DCH with chronic hepatic pathologies and with what described with HBV in human patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is a common agent of gastroenteritis in dogs, although some variants have been found associated with systemic and often fatal diseases. Distinct genotypes (CCoV-I and CCoV-II) and subgenotypes (CCoV-IIa and CCoV-IIb) are worldwide distributed. In Italy, CCoV infections have been occasionally evaluated, but information about the molecular epidemiology and the genomic features of currently circulating strains is limited. This study reports the detection and molecular characterization of CCoV strains from samples collected from 284 dogs in Italy between 2019 and 2021. CCoV RNA was detected in 39 (13.7%) dogs, as a single viral agent (5 animals, 12.8%) or with other viral pathogens (canine parvovirus types 2a/2b/2c; canine adenovirus type 1; norovirus GIV.2) (34 animals, 87.2%). A total of 48 CCoV strains were detected either alone (CCoV-I: 51.3%, CCoV-IIa: 20.5%) or in copresence (CCoV-I and CCoV-IIa, 23.1%); surprisingly, CCoV-IIb was not identified in this study. Five clusters of CCoV-I were detected, and their spike gene sequences showed the highest nucleotide identities with CCoV-I strains collected from Greece in 2008/2009 and from China in 2021. CCoV-IIa spike gene sequences (three variants) had the highest nucleotide identities with CCoV-IIa strains collected in Greece in 2008/2009 and in Italy in 2009/2011. Given the high CCoV diversity and the variable pathogenicity potential, we underline the need of further surveillance studies to increase our understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of these viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepadnaviruses infect several animal species. The prototype species, human hepatitis B virus (HBV), increases the risk of liver diseases and may cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently a novel hepadnavirus, similar to HBV, has been identified through transcriptomics studies in a domestic cat with large cell lymphoma in Australia. Herewith, a collection of 390 feline serum samples was screened for hepadnavirus. Overall, the virus was identified in 10.8% of the sera with a significantly higher prevalence (17.8%) in the sera of animals with a clinical suspect of infectious disease. Upon genome sequencing, the virus was closely related (97.0% nt identity) to the prototype Australian feline virus Sydney 2016. The mean and median values of hepadnavirus in the feline sera were 1.3 × 106 and 2.1 × 104 genome copies per mL (range 3.3 × 100–2.5 × 107 genome copies per mL). For a subset of hepadnavirus-positive samples, information on the hemato-chemical parameters was available and in 10/20 animals a profile suggestive of liver damage was present. Also, in 7/10 animals with suspected hepatic disease, virus load was >104 genome copies per mL, i.e. above the threshold considered at risk of active hepatitis and liver damage for HBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A novel protoparvovirus (bufavirus) was identified in cats. • The feline bufavirus was more common in respiratory samples of juvenile cats. • The feline bufavirus was highly similar to a canine bufavirus. • The carnivore bufaviruses were phylogenetically related to primate bufaviruses. • Carnivore bufaviruses are genetically distinct from feline/canine protoparvovirus-1. Abstract A novel protoparvovirus species was identified in domestic cats. The virus was distantly related to the well-known feline (feline panleukopenia virus) and canine (canine parvovirus type 2) parvoviruses, sharing low nucleotide identities in the capsid protein 2 (less than 43%). The virus was genetically similar (100% at the nucleotide level) to a newly identified canine protoparvovirus, genetically related to human bufaviruses. The feline bufavirus appeared as a common element of the feline virome, especially in juvenile cats, with an overall prevalence of 9.2%. The virus was more common in respiratory samples (9.5%–12.2%) than in enteric samples of cats (2.2%). The role of bufaviruses in the etiology of feline respiratory disease complex, either as a primary or a secondary agents, should be defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human astroviruses (AstVs) are usually associated with acute gastroenteritis. In recent years, atypical animal‐like AstVs have been identified, but their pathogenic role in humans has not been determined. Starting from 2010, there has been a growing evidence that AstVs may also be associated with encephalitis in human and animal hosts. Some human atypical AstV strains (VA1, MLB1/MLB2) display neurotropic potential, as they have been repeatedly identified in patients with AstV‐related encephalitis, chiefly in immunosuppressed individuals. In this study, a VA1‐like AstV was identified from a single stool sample from an outbreak of foodborne acute gastroenteritis occurred in Italy in 2018. On genome sequencing, the virus was related to the VA1‐like strain UK1 (99.3% at the nucleotide level). Similar viruses were also found to circulate in paediatric patients hospitalized with AGE in the same time span, 2018, but at low prevalence (0.75%, 3/401). Gathering epidemiological data on atypical AstVs will be useful to assess the risks posed by atypical AstV infections, chiefly in medically fragile patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of ulcerative stomatitis was observed in a donkey (Equus asinus) dairy herd. Similar lesions were also observed on the dams' udders and, sporadically, in genital areas. The lesions typically resolved in 1-3 weeks. An α-herpesvirus, Varicellovirus, genetically related to equid herpesvirus type 3, was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a major pathogen of cats associated with either respiratory disease or systemic disease, but its possible role as an enteric pathogen is neglected. Using RT‐PCR, the RNA of FCV was identified in 25.9% (62/239) of stools of cats with enteritis and in 0/58 (0%) of cats without diarrhoea or other clinical signs. Isolates of enteric origin were obtained and a large 3.2‐kb portion of the genome was sequenced, encompassing the 3′ end of the RNA polymerase, the capsid protein precursor and the minor capsid protein. Also, the complete genome sequence of one such strain, the 160/2015/ITA, was determined. Upon sequence analysis, the enteric viruses were found to be genetically heterogeneous and to differ from each other and from isolates of respiratory origin. The enteric isolates were found to be more resistant to low pH conditions, to trypsin and to bile treatment than respiratory isolates. Overall, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that some FCVs may acquire enteric tropism and eventually act as enteric pathogens. Whether this enteric tropism is maintained stably and whether it may affect, to some extent, the ability of the virus to trigger the classical and/or hypervirulent forms of disease should be assessed. Also, FCV should be included in the diagnostic algorithms of enteric diseases of cats to gain further information about FCV strains displaying enteric pathotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bovine alphaherpesvirus type 2 (BoHV-2) belongs to family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesviridae and can cause two distinct, well-defined conditions: a generalized benign skin infection that somewhat mimics lumpy skin disease (LSD), referred to as Pseudo-Lumpy Skin Disease (PSLD) and a localized ulcerative mammillitis, referred to as Bovine Herpetic Mammillitis (BHM). BHM is a localized form of BoHV-2 infection that causes erosive-ulcerative self-limiting lesions on breast and nipples. BHM is chiefly a disease of lactating dairy cows and has been described sporadically in several countries. In this study we describe an outbreak of bovine herpetic mammillitis caused by BoHV-2 occurred in a dairy farm in Southern Italy. Clinical signs were observed in 26/59 lactating cows with the age ranging between 2 and 6 years. The affected animals were afebrile, showed lesions on the skin of nipples, breast and ventral surface of the abdomen, near the mammary veins and spontaneously recovered within 2 months. Results: BoHV-2 DNA was detected in the crust samples by pan-herpes PCR and real-time quantitative PCR. The virus was isolated on bovine kidney cells and was characterised by deep sequencing technologies. The nucleotide identity to BoHV-2 of the strain ITA/2018/468 retrieved in this study ranged from 98.83 to 100%. Phylogenetic analyses based on three full-length gene (glycoprotein B, thymidine kinase and glycoprotein G) sequences confirmed the close relatedness of the strain ITA/2018/468 to BoHV-2 sequences. Conclusions: The report represents a significant outbreak of BHM in a dairy farm 50 years after the last description in Italy. However, outbreaks of PLSD have been described in Europe recently, indicating that the virus is present in European territories. Improving the diagnostic algorithms and enacting specific surveillance plans could be useful to understand better the epidemiological and pathogenetic patterns of BoHV-2 infection in livestock animals, and to develop, eventually, effective prophylaxis plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • EOs function as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and insecticidal agents. • GEO proved to inhibit replication of HSV-2 in vitro halting plaque formation by 90%. • Anti-infective activity of GEO against CpHV-1 was assessed in MDBK cells. • GEO was not able to inhibit CpHV-1 adsorption and/or replication. • GEO was able to inactivate cell-free CpHV-1 up to 100%. Abstract The emergence of alphaherpesvirus strains resistant to commonly used antiviral drugs has prompted the research for alternative, biologically active anti-herpetic agents. Essential oils (EOs) have shown anti-infective properties against human herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and -2). Caprine alphaherpesvirus 1 (CpHV-1) induces genital lesions in its natural host and it is regarded as a useful homologous animal model for the study of HSV-2 infection, chiefly for the assessment of antiviral drugs in in vivo studies. In the present study we evaluated the activity in vitro of ginger EO (GEO) against CpHV-1. GEO was found to be effective as virucide on cell-free virus, inactivating CpHV-1 up to 100%. The virucidal activity of GEO is likely accounted for by disruption of herpesvirus envelope and its associated structures which are necessary for virus adsorption and entry into host cells. On the opposite, GEO was not able to inhibit virus adsorption and/or replication, as treatment of cells before and after infection did not abolish virus infectivity. GEO could be suggested for topical applications in in vivo experiments using CpHV-1/goat model, since the lipophilic nature of EOs favours their adsorption through the cutaneous/mucosal barrier, either alone or in conjunction with other molecules. These findings open several perspectives in terms of therapeutic possibilities for a number of human and animal alphaherpesviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slaughter by Jewish religious rite is the killing of an animal by cutting the trachea and oesophagus and major blood vessels using a very sharp blade. This operation is subject to strict rules laid down by religious authorities that characterize its sacredness. The aim of the study was to evaluate the specific criteria inherent in the Jewish religious rite, by analysing reject rates during the different phases. In this study, 52.4% of the carcasses failed to quality as Kosher , with 22.9% being rejected due to pulmonary lesions and only 3% for miscuts. The study also revealed legal vacuums in the field of labelling rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: During the last decade, canine circovirus (CaCV) has been repeatedly reported in domestic dogs with and without acute enteritis. Here we report the detection and full genome characterization of CaCV strains from non-diarrheic dogs in Iran. The results showed the circulation of the virus in this country, with Iranian strains segregating from the CaCVs detected in other countries. Canine circovirus (CaCV) is a single-stranded DNA virus that globally circulates in dogs and wild carnivores. Although the pathogenic potential of the virus has not been fully understood yet, CaCV has been suggested to exacerbate the clinical course of other canine viral infections but also to circulate in dogs without clinical signs. In this study, we carried out real-time PCR assays to detect enteric pathogens from 156 canine rectal swabs collected from dogs without enteritis in 3 different regions in Iran. A total of 14 samples tested positive for CaCV and full-length genome sequences were obtained from 6 of the detected strains. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that, despite the distance between the different sample collection sites, all Iranian CaCV strains were closely related and formed a separate clade from extant CaCVs. The present study shows that CaCV is circulating in non-diarrheic dogs in Iran, thus highlighting the need for further epidemiological investigations in Iranian domestic and wild carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The evolution of a bovine coronavirus (BCoV) natural infection in a calf persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was described. The infected calf developed intermittent nasal discharge, diarrhea and hyperthermia. The total number of leukocytes/mL and the absolute differential number of neutrophils and lymphocytes resulted within the normal range, but the monocytes increased at T28 (time 28 post-infection) and the CD8+ subpopulation increased at T7 and between T28 and T35. BCoV shedding in nasal discharges and feces was detected up to three weeks post infection (p.i.) and high antibody titers persisted for up to 8 weeks p.i. Virus shedding increased until T14, contrary to what was observed in a previous study where BCoV was detected with a lower load in the co-infected (BCoV/BVDV) calves than in the calves infected with BCoV only. We can suppose that BVDV may have exacerbated the long viral excretion, as well as favoring the onset of mutations in the genome of BCoV. An extensive study was performed to verify if the selective pressure in the S gene could be a natural mode of variation of BCoV. The evolution of a bovine coronavirus (BCoV) natural infection in a calf persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was described. The infected calf developed intermittent nasal discharge, diarrhea and hyperthermia. The total number of leukocytes/mL and the absolute differential number of neutrophils and lymphocytes resulted within the normal range, but monocytes increased at T28 (time 28 post-infection). Flow-cytometry analysis evidenced that the CD8+ subpopulation increased at T7 and between T28 and T35. BCoV shedding in nasal discharges and feces was detected up to three weeks post infection and high antibody titers persisted up to T56. The RNA BCoV load increased until T14, contrary to what was observed in a previous study where the fecal excretion of BCoV was significantly lower in the co-infected (BCoV/BVDV) calves than in the calves infected with BCoV only. We can suppose that BVDV may have modulated the BCoV infection exacerbating the long viral excretion, as well as favoring the onset of mutations in the genome of BCoV detected in fecal samples at T21. An extensive study was performed to verify if the selective pressure in the S gene could be a natural mode of variation of BCoV, providing data for the identification of new epidemic strains, genotypes or recombinant betacoronaviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 on pool salivary samples. • Noninvasive and self-collecting method. • Application for systematic monitoring of COVID-19 on a large scale. Saliva is an appropriate specimen for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis. The possibility of pooling samples of saliva, using non-invasive bibula strips for sampling, was explored employing Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) spiked saliva. In laboratory, up to 30 saliva-soaked strips were pooled in a single tube with 2 mL of medium. After quick adsorption with the medium and vortexing, the liquid was collected and tested with a quantitative molecular assay to quantify viral RNA genome copies. On testing of single and pooled strips, the difference between the median threshold cycles (Ct) value of test performed on the single positive saliva sample and the median Ct value obtained on the pool of 30 strips, was 3.21 cycles. Saliva pooling with bibula strips could allow monitoring of COVID-19 on a large scale, reducing costs for the health bodies in terms of medical material and skilled personnel. Finally, saliva sampling is noninvasive and less traumatic than nasopharyngeal swabs and can be self-collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Canine chaphamaparvovirus (CaChPV) is a novel parvovirus recently discovered in dogs; • Herein, stool samples from dogs with or without enteric signs were screened for CaChPV; • CaChPV DNA was found either in diarrhoeic (1.9 %) or asymptomatic (1.6 %) dogs; • The nearly complete genome sequences were determined for two strains; • The Italian CaChPV strains tightly clustered with the American reference viruses. Canine chaphamaparvovirus (CaChPV) is a newly recognised parvovirus discovered by metagenomic analysis during an outbreak of diarrhoea in dogs in Colorado, USA, in 2017 and more recently detected in diarrhoeic dogs in China. Whether the virus plays a role as canine pathogen and whether it is distributed elsewhere, in other geographical areas, is not known. We performed a case-control study to investigate the possible association of CaChPV with enteritis in dogs. CaChPV DNA was detected both in the stools of diarrhoeic dogs (1.9 %, 3/155) and of healthy animals (1.6 %, 2/120). All the CaChPV-infected dogs with diarrhea were mixed infected with other enteric viruses such as canine parvovirus (formerly CPV-2), canine bufavirus (CBuV) and canine coronavirus (CCoV), whilst none of the asymptomatic CaChPV positive animals resulted co-infected. The nearly full-length genome and the partial capsid protein (VP) gene of three canine strains, Te/36OVUD/19/ITA, Te/37OVUD/19/ITA and Te/70OVUD/19/ITA, were reconstructed. Upon phylogenetic analyses based on the NS1 and VP aa sequences, the Italian CaChPV strains tightly clustered with the American reference viruses. Distinctive residues could be mapped to the deduced variable regions of the VP of canine and feline chaphamaparvoviruses, considered as important markers of host range and pathogenicity for parvoviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) affects the lower respiratory tract of cattle, causing high mortality. The syndrome has a multifactorial etiology and transport seems to favor pathogen proliferation. This study investigated the prevalence of different pathogens involved in BRD, in the nasal microbiota of beef steers collected before and after a long-distance journey. A total of 56 Limousine animals were included, travelling in three different shipments, on the same route from France to southern Italy in a semitrailer, on three different days from February to April. Prior to shipment (T0) and four days after arrival (T1), two deep nasopharyngeal swabs (DNS)/steer were collected and tested by bimolecular analysis. Neither bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) nor bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) were detected. A higher prevalence of Histophilus somni was observed in the DNS collected during the third shipment in comparison with those registered during the first and the second one, probably due to a higher prevalence at departure. Conversely, the prevalence of bovine coronavirus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, Mannheimia haemolytica, Mycoplasma bovis and Pasteurella multocida was higher on arrival in comparison with departure, confirming data reported in the literature. Overall, there were nasal microbiota changes in beef steers, with an increase in the prevalence of pathogens associated with BRD after travelling. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a serious health and economic problem in the beef industry, which is often associated with transportation and caused by different pathogens. The prevalence of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1), bovine adenovirus (BAdV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine coronavirus (BCoV), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine parainfluenza virus (BPiV), Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, Mycoplasma bovis, in the nasal microbiota of beef steers before and after the same long-distance journey from France to southern Italy was documented. Fifty-six Limousine animals of three different shipments, travelling on three different days from February to April, were included. Prior to shipment (T0) and four days after arrival (T1), two DNS/animal were collected and tested by Real Time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Univariate logistic regression was carried out, considering time and day as fixed factors and the outcome of qPCR for each pathogen as a dependent categorical dichotomous variable (positive/negative, 1/0). The fact that the number of H. somni positive animals were found to be higher in the third shipment than the first and second one, indicating that this pathogen was already present before loading, is relevant. The prevalence of BCoV, BRSV, M. haemolytica, M. bovis, P. multocida was higher at T1 than T0, suggesting that other factors, such as stress and the epidemiological status of the arrival farm, played a role. The tested animals were not treated before and after transport, and our results are in agreement with the current literature, supporting the hypothesis that the prevalence of pathogens related to BRD would increase after travelling, with an increased risk of pathogens shedding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]