Mycoplasma infections are commonly found in the respiratory system of small ruminants; the species most commonly detected are Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and Mycoplasma arginini, associated with the so-called "atypical non-progressive pneumonia". The pathogenic role of M. ovipneumoniae in pneumonia has been demonstrated in sheep but still needs to be verified in goats; on the other hand, the role of M. arginini in sheep is not well understood, while in goats seems to be of low pathogenic value. The present study aims to investigate the aetiology of pneumonia in sheep and goats that died from respiratory disease using anatomopathological, histopathological, and molecular investigations and to clarify the role of respiratory mycoplasmas by the association of molecular data with histopathological features. First, to better understand which histological changes are actually suggestive of atypical pneumonia in sheep and goats, the study identified the histological lesions significantly associated with Mycoplasma spp. infection. Then, the histological score of lesions considered suggestive of atypical pneumonia was used to estimate the pathogenicity of each mycoplasma detected. The results showed that M. ovipneumoniae and M. arginini (alone or in mixed infections) are pathogenic both in sheep, as well as in goats with similar histology and severity of lesions. Moreover, young animals were statistically more susceptible to M.ovipneumoniae and M. arginini infection than adults. Animals appeared more at risk to the development of M. ovipneumoniae and M. arginini infection in summer.

Mannheimia haemolytica related pneumonia is characterized by high morbidity and mortality in lambs and thus is a common cause of important economic losses in sheep industry due to reduction in lamb growing and decreased carcass value. Due to the frequency of the disease, vaccination is a very common practice in Italy but the extent and duration of colostral protection in Sarda lambs born from vaccinated dams is not known. In this study, the extent and length of colostral antibody protection in Sarda lambs born from M. haemolytica-vaccinated ewes was evaluated in field condition. The in-field trial took place in two different farms in Sardinia region (Italy). A total of forty-five adult healthy pregnant Sarda sheep were enrolled for the study (24 from the first flock and 21 from the second flock). Each flock in each farm was divided in two groups: unvaccinated control group (10 sheep from the first flock and 8 from the second flock) and vaccinated sheep (14 from the first flock and 13 from the second flock). A total of forty-five lambs born from both vaccinated (n=27) and unvaccinated (n=18) dams were included in the study. Colostrum was collected from all the dams within 6-12 hours after lambing. Blood samples were taken from all the lambs included in the study at 48 hours, 15, 30, 45, 60 days after parturition. Antibody responses following vaccinations were detected by ELISA test. In the trial, antibody titres both on serum of ewes and lambs and colostrum were comparatively examined and important differences were observed in vaccinated pregnant ewes where serum titres developed after vaccination resulted two times higher than in the unvaccinated group (p-value=0.0029); within the lamb groups, an increase of serum ELISA titres was found in lambs born from vaccinated ewes until 60 days after birth. Colostral titres didn't show any significant difference. In conclusion, when the control group and the trial group were compared, vaccinating the lambs belonged to vaccinated dams showed significant differences concerning antibody responses against M. haemolytica.

Abortion in dairy cattle may be caused by infectious (viruses, fungi and protozoa) and non-infectious causes mostly related to bad management practices and genetic factors. Recently, the significant contribution of mycotic infection to bovine abortion has been recognized. This report describes an abortion case in a Chianina cow due to Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus luchuensis and Lichtheimia sp. diagnosed by histology, cytology, culture and molecular assays. A mixed infection due to more than one fungus in abortion is rarely demonstrated. To our knowledge, this is the first case of bovine abortion caused by co-infection with three different moulds.

A case of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) occurred in a 4‑month‑old calf housed in a semi‑intensive herd in central Italy is described. The herd was in strict cohabitation with a group of domestic sheep. The calf displayed clinical signs that resembled the acute form of MCF and, after a few days of antibiotic and anti inflammatory therapy, died in September 2016. The diagnosis was confirmed in vivo in blood by detection of ovine herpesvirus type 2 DNA through real‑time PCR. At necropsy, the gross post‑mortem findings were typical of MCF and the histological and molecular assays confirmed the presence of the virus. The sheep flock was suspected to be the source of the infection. In Italy, as well as in Europe, there is little data regarding the epidemiology and the recurrence of the disease in herds of cattle, due to the lack of an active surveillance plan and to a major consideration of MCF between differential diagnosis.

Abortion in ruminants represents an important economic concern for farmers. Microbial agents, such as Brucella spp., Chlamydia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira spp., Neospora caninum, Salmonella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, are among the main infectious causes of abortion and require rapid and reliable diagnosis. This study describes the development of a multi-screening assay using Fast Real-Time PCR (Fast qPCR) that allows, in a single test, the simultaneous identification of the above-mentioned abortive agents. This multi-screening approach is characterized by a mean diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 97%, respectively; it has a limit of detection (LOD) ranging from 5 × 103 to 4 × 104 genomic copies/g of tissue and a very good concordance with traditional end-point PCR assays used in routine diagnostic activity. The proposed method represents a rapid approach to the simultaneous detection of the main abortive agents in ruminants that allows to make an accurate diagnosis and to set up appropriate control measures in a short period of time.

A remarkable case of onychomycosis by Trichophyton (T.) rubrum combined with nail infestation by Tyrophagus (T.) putrescentiae in an elderly diabetic farmer is described and discussed. Large numbers of eggs and mites in all development stages were present in nail debris, reflecting active reproduction on site. Treatment with ivermectin 0.1% cream and environmental decontamination cleared the mite infestation, while onychomycosis responded well to oral terbinafine and ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer. Such a combination of onychomycosis and mite infestation of the same nail is an exceptional finding reported only twice in the literature.

The growing attention to fungal infections, observed both in human and veterinary cases, resulted in an innovative diagnostic approach, based on molecular biology and mass spectrometry techniques to overcome limits of traditional methods. In particular, in this study we compare two fungal identification systems: gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS