Heterogeneous shedding of Brucella abortus in milk and its effect on the control of animal brucellosis.

AIMS: To ascertain whether in Brucella abortus-infected water buffalo herds, the number of newly infected animals could be reduced by culling superspreaders (the animals secreting > or =10(4) CFU per ml of milk). METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of B. abortus present in the milk (CFU per ml) from 500 water buffaloes was measured by the culture. Each animal was tested three times, at one month intervals. The presence or the absence of B. abortus in each milk sample was confirmed by PCR. A majority of infected animals shed the pathogen at a low level (< or =10(3) CFU ml(-1)). However, a few infected individuals (superspreaders) shed large numbers of B. abortus (> or =10(4) CFU ml(-1)). Quantitative PCR of B. abortus positive milk samples gave comparable results to culture. Culling of the superspreaders was sufficient to arrest the spread of infection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The approach described here can reduce significantly the cost of controlling brucellosis. Culture and quantitative PCR tests identify superspreaders and, compared with the serological tests in use to detect brucellosis, provide also a more accurate estimate of the disease incidence.

Mannose-binding lectin haplotypes influence Brucella abortus infection in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

A case-control study established that the haplotype pair HYA/HYA at the MBL (mannose binding lectin) locus of water buffalo is associated with resistance to Brucella abortus infection (P < 10(-7)) and the haplotype pairs LYD/LYD with susceptibility to the same pathogen (P < 10(-7)). The subjects included in the present study were tested twice-at a 1-month interval-for the presence of anti-B. abortus antibodies in the serum by agglutination, complement fixation and flow cytometry. Cases (335 subjects) included animals consistently positive to all these tests; controls (335 subjects) comprised animals exposed yet negative by the same tests. The serum from genetically resistant subjects displayed in vitro significantly higher antibacterial activity compared to the serum from genetically susceptible subjects, lending biological significance to the results from the association study. Inhibition of the antibacterial activity following heat treatment of the serum, addition of specific MBL inhibitors (EDTA, mannose, N-acetyl-D: -glucosamine) or anti-human MBL antiserum provide convincing evidence that the antibacterial activity present in the serum results from the interaction between MBL and B. abortus. A replication study (comprising 100 cases and 100 controls) confirmed the results from the original study.

Swine vesicular disease surveillance and eradication activities in Italy.

Swine vesicular disease (SVD) was first observed in Italy in 1966, and was initially diagnosed as foot and mouth disease (FMD). The causative agent of SVD was classified as an Enterovirus within the family Picornaviridae. It was included in the list of diseases notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) because of the similarity of its lesions to those produced by FMD; however SVD is often mild in nature and may infect pigs subclinically. During the last decade SVD has been persistently reported in Italy, and surveillance and eradication activities are in place. The central and northern parts of Italy have been designated SVD free since 1997, while the southern regions have not achieved disease-free status. However, occasional outbreaks of SVD have occurred in central and northern Italy and have been eradicated using rigorous control measures. Most recent SVD outbreaks in Italy have been subclinical; SVD can rarely be diagnosed now on the basis of clinical signs and it is necessary to use laboratory diagnosis. This paper examines the epidemiology of SVD in Italy, and considers the measures adopted in Europe for SVD control on the basis of current knowledge of the disease.

Human exposure to dioxins through diet in Italy.

We have measured the content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (together defined as "dioxins") in 269 samples of food of animal origin collected through the regional veterinary services, covering the national territory. Quantification of the dioxins was accomplished by isotope dilution method, and toxic equivalents (TEQ) were calculated. The average daily food intake was obtained from two main sources: national data collected by the National Institute of Nutrition, and data from an ongoing cohort study on diet and cancer including 40,000 Italian subjects. The mean value of dioxins measured in food of animal origin was 0.144 +/- 0.266 pg-TEQ/g (range: 0.003-1.655 pg-TEQ/g). Fish was the item with the highest content. The estimated intake of dioxins with main food items of animal origin is presented. The major contribution to dioxins intake with food comes from cow milk and fish consumption. These results are in agreement with what observed in studies conducted in other countries, such as Germany, Finland, Japan, Spain, and are below the limits set by the European legislation.

Prevalence of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes contamination in foods of animal origin in Italy.

The present survey collected and analyzed the results of routine testing for Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes on foods of animal origin submitted for official controls in Italy during 2001 to 2002. Salmonella was detected in 2.2% of 71,643 food samples examined, and the isolation rates ranged from 9.9% for raw poultry meat to less than 0.1% for dairy products. Isolation rates were also high in raw pork (4.9%) and processed meats (5.3%), which often involved pork. Low rates were observed in seafood (0.5%) and in ready-to-eat foods, such as grocery products (0.7%) and ice creams (0.1%). Serotyping showed that approximately 50% of the isolates belonged to the serotypes most commonly isolated from humans in Italy, thus confirming that most cases of human salmonellosis have a foodborne origin. Levels of L. monocytogenes were higher than what is accepted by the current regulation in 2.4% of 42,300 food samples. The positivity rates ranged from 10.3% in raw pork to none in eggs and egg products. Contamination rates were higher in other meat products (between 2 and 5%) and fish (6.5%) than in cheeses (1.1%) and other dairy products (0.6%). Routine control activities on the microbial contamination of foods can generate data with statistical and epidemiological value. Such data can be used as a basis for estimating the exposure of consumers to foodborne pathogens, following the trends of contamination over time, and evaluating the effects of control measures on the contamination of food.

The role of official veterinary services in dealing with new social challenges: animal health and protection, food safety, and the environment.

The authors describe the role of Veterinary Services in dealing with developments in society and the challenges they present. In an increasingly globalised world, in which there are new methods of production, a new and changing relationship between humans and animals and increasingly complex and global problems, the protection of public health and the safety of the environment in which people and animals live require new skills, new knowledge and new technical-scientific responses. Official Veterinary Services are responsible for maintaining hygiene and animal health standards in primary and secondary production and ensuring fair trade. To achieve this, Veterinary Services must ensure that their organisational structures meet internationally recognised quality assurance standards.

Quality assurance of veterinary services at the international level: a proposed approach.

A proposal for the harmonization of quality assurance of Veterinary Services at the international level is made. This proposal is based on the hypothesis of accreditation of Veterinary Services according to the 9000 series of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards. An example of a way in which ISO 9000 standards can be used within the context of management of Veterinary Services is given, together with an explanation of the possible role of the Office International des Epizooties in ensuring fairness of evaluations of Veterinary Services at the international level.

Management of animal health emergencies: general principles and legal and international obligations.

The Eighth Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade led to the creation of the World Trade Organization and to the adoption of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, thus considerably changing the rules of international trade in animals and animal products. Animal health measures may result in trade restrictions, but governments accept that these restrictions may sometimes be necessary and appropriate to ensure food safety and animal health protection. The SPS Agreement acknowledges the rights of governments to adopt measure to protect human, animal and plant health. To ensure effective animal health protection, without unjustifiable discrimination, the operational procedures of Veterinary Services must be standardised, especially those concerning disease notification, epidemiological information, certification for international trade and management of animal health emergencies. Veterinary Services must be further supported by a proper legislative framework and adequate financial resources.

[A project of the Ministry of Health for iodine prophylaxis in Italy: Salt in food for the prophylaxis of iodine deficiency and the prevention of hypertension]. / Progetto del Ministero della Sanità per la iodoprofilassi in Italia: il sale nell'alimentazione per la profilassi della carenza iodica e la prevenzione dell'ipertensione.

A main goal to achieve in order to reduce the incidence of wrong nutritional habit associated diseases, according to the engagement taken on the FAO/WHO International Conference on Nutrition 1992 is the eradication of the endemic goitre and other iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine nutritional lack is, in Italy, a heavy public health problem; above 10% of population (about 5 million) has to bear thyroid troubles and in many of the Italian regions such a kind of pathology may involve more than 20% of scholastic population. All these disorders could be completely eradicated by means of a continuous and generalized iodine prophylaxis, as it has already been verified in several European countries. The most effective way to ensure the correct daily intake of iodine is the substitution of the usual cooking salt by iodine enriched salt; salt is in fact eaten by everybody at daily rates ungoverned by economical factors as it is a low cost product. Due to the heavy social relevance of this problem, an educational campaign is going on, from the Italian Ministry of Health "Salt in food for iodine deficiency disorder prophylaxis and hypertension prevention". The purpose is to achieve, by means of a unique message based on salt, a double goal in terms of public health: eradicating endemic goitre and preventing hypertension (reducing the salt global intake to less than 6 g/day).

Veterinary drug surveillance.

The possible adverse effects of the application of veterinary drugs are considered with special reference to their illegal use or misuse in the different categories of animals (pet, sporting, food-producing). The risks of unacceptable drug residues in animals and their products, the environment and man are taken into consideration. The need is stressed for proper veterinary surveillance by previous assessment of priorities such as animals' health status, economic aspects, quality of food of animal origin, safeguard of the environment.