Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Lombardy, Italy.

Tick-borne encephalitis was limited to northeast portions of Italy. We report in Lombardy, a populous region in the northwest, a chamois displaying clinical signs of tickborne encephalitis virus that had multiple virus-positive ticks attached, as well as a symptomatic man. Further, we show serologic evidence of viral circulation in the area.

A Longitudinal Case Study on Dissemination of ST398 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Within a Dairy Cow Herd.

The study was conducted to describe the dynamics of ST398 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on a dairy herd in northeastern Italy. MRSA was first identified in this herd of 120 cows in 2016, after which the herd was sampled once every 3 months for 1 year (April 2016-May 2017). Samples collected included nasal swabs and milk samples from cows and nasal swabs from farmworkers. In addition, pen fencing and teat milk liners were swabbed and air samples from cow pens and the milking parlor were collected. All samples were tested for MRSA using a selective medium; positive isolates were confirmed by mecA PCR. A representative set of MRSA isolates was genotyped using spa typing and multilocus sequence typing. Overall, 34 (mean 23%, range 16-30%) milking cows were found harboring MRSA in the mammary gland and only 6 recovered from infection or colonization. The mean incidence rate was 14% (range 8-20%), mean cure rate was 23% (range 13-43%), and estimated basic reproduction number (R0) was 1.08. The average of positive quarters found was 35.1% and most of the positive quarters (82.4%) developed subclinical mastitis. The mean duration of MRSA colonization in quarters during the study was 247 days, but quarters affected by subclinical mastitis harbored MRSA for a longer time than healthy ones (285 days vs. 131 days). After the second sampling, the farmer segregated MRSA-positive cows from the uninfected cows and milked them last. Despite segregation, 25 newly infected or colonized cows were detected. MRSA isolates from cows, environment, and two farmworkers belonged to the same sequence type (ST398) and spa type (t034). This study highlights the ability of ST398 MRSA to cause a persistent infection of the mammary gland and to survive in the farm environment.

Cerebral toxoplasmosis in a cat with feline leukemia and feline infectious peritonitis viral infections.

A diarrheic young cat died after neurological involvement. Biochemistry pointed to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The final diagnosis was severe multifocal meningoencephalitis due to Toxoplasma gondii. The presence of the parasite in the brain was confirmed using immunohistochemical staining. Concomitant feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and FIP were possible contributors to the clinical, fatal outcome.

Toxoplasmose cérébrale chez un chat atteint des infections virales de leucémie féline et de péritonite infectieuse féline. Un jeune chat diarrhéique est mort après des symptômes neurologiques. La biochimie a signalé une péritonite infectieuse féline (FIP). Le diagnostic final a été une méningo-encéphalite multifocale grave causée par Toxoplasma gondii. La présence du parasite dans le cerveau a été confirmée à l'aide de la coloration immunohistochimique. La présence concomitante du virus de la leucémie féline (FeLV) et de la FIP sont des facteurs possibles ayant contribué au résultat clinique mortel.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Complete Genome Sequences of Three Rabbit Endogenous Lentivirus Type K Viruses Obtained from Commercial Meat Rabbits in Italy.

Rabbit endogenous lentivirus type K (RELIK) was discovered in the genome of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In our study, we present three complete genome sequences of RELIK viruses generated using a target amplification approach performed on the RNA of commercial rabbits from Italy.

Complete Genome Sequence of Psittacine Adenovirus 1, Identified from Poicephalus senegalus in Italy.

Using a metagenomics approach, we were able to determine for the first time the full-genome sequence of a psittacine adenovirus 1 isolate that was recovered from the liver of a dead Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) in Italy. The results of the phylogenetic investigations revealed the existence of high genetic diversity among adenoviruses circulating in psittacine birds.