Southern Europe, and Italy in particular, has historically been exposed to repeated incursions of orbiviruses, including multiple bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus serotype 8. Sardinia, Italy represents a key sentinel location due to its geographic position in the Mediterranean basin. In August 2025, fatal bluetongue cases in sheep were reported in Sardinia during a period of intense BTV circulation in Italy, characterised by widespread outbreaks associated with BTV-3 and BTV-8. These clinical samples tested positive for BTV but could not be serotyped using the available real-time RT-PCR assays. Whole-genome sequencing identified the causative agent as BTV serotype 5 (BTV-5), representing the first detection of this serotype in Europe. The virus was also successfully isolated in cell culture. Segments 2 and 6 showed the highest nucleotide identity with a BTV-5 strain identified in Nigeria in 1982, whereas the rest of the genome seems to be composed by gene segments originating from multiple BTV serotypes circulating in Africa and Europe. At the time of writing, no official reports of BTV-5 circulation were available from Northern Africa; however, during the editorial process, BTV-5 was reported in Tunisia, further supporting the Mediterranean basin as a single interconnected epidemiological ecosystem for orbivirus emergence and spread.
African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) is the causative agent of devastating disease affecting domestic and wild pigs globally. A previous study of the intranasal inoculation of domestic pigs (DP) and wild boar (WB) with the ASFV genotype II strain “Armenia 2007” demonstrated distinct disease outcomes. This study aims to compare the leukocyte, cytokine and biochemical profiles in experimentally infected DP and WB. Blood and serum samples were collected before infection (day 0), from animals euthanized in groups of six (comprising 3 DP and 3 WB) on days 1, 2, 3 and 5 post infection (pi) and from animals that reached a humane endpoint. Both DP and WB developed severe lymphopenia, occurring earlier in WB. Inflammatory response occurred earlier in WB, as evident from day 3 pi by the increased levels of TNF, followed by IL-6 and, to a lesser extent, IL-1β. IL-8 concentrations only increased in some WB, but not in DP. No modulation of Th1-associated cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-18) was detected in DP, whereas WB had a moderate increase in IL-12 and IFN-γ levels from day 5 pi, which peaked at humane endpoint. C-reactive protein levels increased in concomitant with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as early as day 5 pi in WB, reaching its maximum in both DP and WB at the humane endpoint. A delayed but significant increase in the levels of anti-inflammatory mediators IL-1Ra and IL-10 was observed in both groups, but earlier in some WB from day 5 pi. Biochemical analysis revealed potential perturbations of the liver function in both subspecies, characterized by changes in serum AST and triglycerides levels, in addition to renal alterations in DP evidenced by changes in creatinine and urea levels. These findings underscore earlier immune activation in WB, potentially contributing to the different subspecies-specific disease outcomes following ASFV inoculation.
This study investigates bacterial species with potential human health implications isolated from blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy). The primary objectives include the preliminary characterization of Vibrio, Shewanella, and other pathogenic bacteria, examining their healthcare-related implications, and providing insights into their epidemiology.Morphometric and cluster analyses revealed significant variations in bacterial prevalence across sampling months and crab sizes, with Vibrio parahaemolyticus being the most abundant species, reaching its highest prevalence in the September samples. Logistic regression indicated that crab length and sampling month were significant factors influencing bacterial isolation, whereas weight and sex had minimal effects.Antibiotic resistance profiles showed widespread resistance to ampicillin and amoxicillin among several bacterial genera, including Vibrio and Shewanella. Shewanella algae, though less prevalent than Vibrio, demonstrated intrinsic resistance to β-lactams, aligning with its known pathogenic potential in humans. Seasonal variations and environmental changes, such as rising temperatures and salinity, may exacerbate the prevalence and resistance of these pathogens, increasing risks associated with seafood-borne illnesses.This study highlights the need for further research to understand the interactions between environmental changes, bacterial ecology, and human health risks. Implementing proper seafood handling, cooking practices, and personal protective measures can mitigate potential hazards. These results provide the basis for future studies on bacterial epidemiology and guide strategies for the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems and seafood safety.
Abstract This data paper presents a curated, georeferenced dataset of the frequencies of the two main target site mutations (V1016G and F1534C) associated with resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in Aedes albopictus in Italy. Populations were collected in 102 out 107 Italian provinces between 2023 and 2025. Specimens were sampled by members of the Mosquito Insecticide Resistance Italian Network (MosqIRIT) as part of RN2 activities within the INF-ACT project. Genotyping was performed on 3,517 individuals by specific allele-specific PCR assays. Each record includes metadata on sampling site, administrative location, developmental stage, collection method, and mutation-specific genotype frequencies. To support spatial analysis modelling effort, the dataset integrates geographic, eco-climatic, and demographic data. This resource will support mosquito control programs, pyrethroid resistance monitoring and managing, as well as ecological modelling, and is compliant with the FAIR data program.
Lumpy skin disease (LSD), a vector-borne viral disease of cattle, re-emerged in Italy in June 2025 after six years of absence in Europe, affecting the island of Sardinia, which had previously been disease-free. The insular setting, the predominance of extensive cattle farming systems, and the rapid implementation of control measures provided a unique opportunity to investigate epidemic dynamics and evaluate vaccination effectiveness under field conditions. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological pattern of the first epidemic season (June-October 2025), estimate key transmission parameters, and assess vaccination effectiveness at the farm level. Confirmed outbreaks consistent with local transmission and notified between 20 June and 26 October 2025 were analyzed to characterize epidemic transmission dynamics, while vaccination effectiveness was assessed over an extended follow-up period through 31 December 2025. The between-farm basic reproduction number (R0) was estimated from the early exponential growth phase using log-linear regression and doubling time calculations. Spatio-temporal clustering was assessed using Kulldorff's scan statistic under a Poisson model, accounting for the population at risk. Vaccination effectiveness was evaluated using a time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model with a 21-day post-vaccination lag. A total of 79 outbreaks were confirmed, of which 68 were consistent with local transmission. Affected farms included a total of 3443 cattle, with morbidity, mortality, and case fatality rates of 14.4%, 7.0%, and 31.1%, respectively. The exponential growth phase lasted four weeks, with an estimated growth rate of 0.366 per week and a doubling time of 1.89 weeks. The estimated R0 ranged from 1.55 to 1.92, depending on the assumed generation time, indicating moderate but sustained transmission. The median apparent spatial spread velocity was 4.8 km/day. Spatio-temporal analysis identified a single highly significant cluster in the central-eastern area, accounting for approximately 27% of outbreaks (RR = 58.06; p < 0.001). Vaccination was associated with a substantial reduction in outbreak risk (HR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.51; p = 0.001), corresponding to an estimated effectiveness of approximately 82% at the farm level. The 2025 Sardinian epidemic was characterized by moderate transmissibility and strong spatial clustering during the early phase. Rapid implementation of vaccination was associated with a significant reduction in outbreak risk, even under conditions of high infection pressure. The integration of spatio-temporal analyses and time-dependent modeling proved essential to support evidence-based control strategies in newly affected regions.
