Since 2019, when the first autochthonous cases of ZIKV disease were observed in EU/EEA countries, no other locally acquired ZIKV disease cases have been reported in EU/EEA. Our case of ZIKV disease in 2024 had a history of flying from Slovakia to Italy and back through Hungary. Since other human routes of ZIKV transmission have been ruled out, we describe the first case of possible ZIKV transmission through airport mosquitoes in EU/EEA.
- Klíčová slova
- Airport, EU/EEA, Mosquitos, Transmission, Zika,
- MeSH
- cestování MeSH
- Culicidae virologie MeSH
- infekce virem zika * diagnóza přenos MeSH
- letiště * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- virus zika * izolace a purifikace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- kazuistiky MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie MeSH
- Maďarsko MeSH
- Slovenská republika MeSH
BACKGROUND: The management of patients with non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) is challenging due to coexisting diseases, competing risks and uncertainties around optimal transition planning. Such clinical challenges are further exacerbated by physician shortage, coupled with rising service demands, which may hinder timely medical access due to long waiting times. Accurate progression risk assessment may help optimize resource allocation and adapting care based on individual patients' needs. This study validated the Prognostic Reasoning System for Chronic Kidney Disease Progression (PROGRES-CKD) in an Italian public hospital and compared its potential impact on waiting list optimization against physician-based protocols. METHODS: First we first validated PROGRES-CKD by assessing its accuracy in predicting kidney replacement therapy (KRT) initiation within 6 months and 24 months in a historical cohort of patients treated at the San Gerardo Hospital (Italy) between 01-01-2015 and 31-12-2019. In a second study we compared PROGRES-CKD to attending nephrologists' prognostic ratings and simulated their potential impact on a waiting list management protocol. RESULTS: We included 2005 patients who underwent 11,757 outpatient nephrology visits in 4 years. Most visits occurred for NDD-CKD stage 4 patients; the incidence of KRT onset was 10.8 and 9.32/100 patient-years at the 6 and 24-month prediction horizon cohorts, respectively. PROGRES-CKD demonstrated high accuracy in predicting KRT initiation at 6 and 24 months (AUROC = 0.88 and AUROC = 0.85, respectively). Nephrologists' prognostic performance was highly operator-dependent, albeit always significantly lower than PROGRES-CKD. In the simulation exercise, allocation based on PROGRES-CKD resulted in more follow-up visits for patients progressing to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and fewer visits for non-progressing patients, compared to allocation determined by nephrologists' prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: PROGRES-CKD showed high accuracy in a real-world application. Waiting list simulation suggests that PROGRES-CKD may enable more efficient allocation of resources.
- Klíčová slova
- AI (artificial intelligence), Chronic kidney disease, Progression of chronic kidney disease, Risk score, Transition management, Waiting list,
- MeSH
- ambulantní péče * MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- chronická renální insuficience * terapie diagnóza MeSH
- hodnocení rizik metody MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- náhrada funkce ledvin statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- nefrologie * MeSH
- nemocnice veřejné MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- progrese nemoci MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- seznamy čekatelů * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- validační studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie MeSH
Some scholars consider the Antonine Plague to have been a major disease outbreak in the 2nd century CE that caused a significant decline in the population of the Roman Empire. Although there is currently no molecular evidence of the specific pathogen, literary evidence indicates the parameters of the disease that it caused and how significant the impact on Roman society was. One way to advance the current discussion concerning the Antonine Plague's impact on the Roman Empire's population is to examine the currently available sources and comparatively model the spread of different pathogens in a specific location with known demographic data for the relevant period. To accomplish this, we developed a series of dynamic ordinary differential equation models of the spread of disease in Rome between 165 and 189 CE for several pathogens. We found that daily disease deaths in the final years of the pandemic were inconsistent with estimates reported in primary sources, suggesting that either (a) the impact of the Antonine Plague may have been exaggerated in the descriptions of ancient authors, or (b) the daily deaths in ca. 189 CE were caused by a different disease event than the Antonine Plague, or (c) seasonality might have been a significant factor changing the intensity of disease spread, with the population more severely affected during the winter months. Although none of the pathogens we analyzed emerged as the likely causative agent of the Antonine Plague, the models show that the overall mortality rate would have increased maximally by 7%. This result contradicts the mortality rate accepted by historians who defend the thesis of the significant impact of this epidemic on the demography of the Roman Empire.
- MeSH
- dějiny 17. století MeSH
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny starověku MeSH
- epidemický výskyt choroby dějiny MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mor * epidemiologie dějiny mortalita MeSH
- římská říše dějiny MeSH
- teoretické modely * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dějiny 17. století MeSH
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny starověku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- historické články MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Řím epidemiologie MeSH
The medieval inquisition of heresy strongly relied on depositions, where witnesses were expected to report on the crimes of others and oneself. The resulting patterns of incrimination could be influenced by various factors, including the characteristics of the underlying dissident social network; the investigators' choices and biases; the trial circumstances, some of which must have exerted considerable pressure upon deponents; and the deponents' decisions to protect some suspects more than others. This case study aimed at disentangling selected social factors of incrimination in the register of the inquisition in Bologna, 1291-1310. We used social network analysis and, more specifically, an Exponential Random Graph Model (ERGM) to assess the influence of four social predictors: gender, churchperson status, membership of the urban "middle class", and kinship ties between incriminators and the incriminated. To increase the validity of our results, we controlled for various trial circumstances and structural parameters of the incrimination network. Our model corroborated a tendency towards female-to-female incrimination, while we did not find any positive or negative tendency towards male-to-male incrimination. We identified no effect of churchperson status on incriminating, while we found that among Cathars, members of the middle class were more likely to be incriminated than people without this status. Our model also corroborated the tendency to incriminate one's kinship group. Overall, our study underlines the relevance, but also the non-trivial operation, of social and demographic predictors in medieval heresy trials.
- MeSH
- dějiny středověku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- registrace MeSH
- sexuální faktory MeSH
- zločin * dějiny MeSH
- Check Tag
- dějiny středověku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- historické články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie MeSH
After centuries of decline and protracted bottlenecks, the peninsular Italian wolf population has naturally recovered. However, an exhaustive comprehension of the effects of such a conservation success is still limited by the reduced availability of historical data. Therefore, in this study, we morphologically and genetically analyzed historical and contemporary wolf samples, also exploiting the optimization of an innovative bone DNA extraction method, to describe the morphological variability of the subspecies and its genetic diversity during the last 30 years. We obtained high amplification and genotyping success rates for tissue, blood and also petrous bone DNA samples. Multivariate, clustering and variability analyses confirmed that the Apennine wolf population is genetically and morphologically well-distinguishable from both European wolves and dogs, with no natural immigration from other populations, while its genetic variability has remained low across the last three decades, without significant changes between historical and contemporary specimens. This study highlights the scientific value of well-maintained museum collections, demonstrates that petrous bones represent reliable DNA sources, and emphasizes the need to genetically long-term monitor the dynamics of peculiar wolf populations to ensure appropriate conservation management actions.
- Klíčová slova
- Canis lupus italicus, Apennine Italian wolves, Conservation management, Genetic variability patterns, Historical biological samples, Multilocus genetic profiles, Museomics, Museum collections, Population genetics,
- MeSH
- DNA genetika MeSH
- genetická variace MeSH
- genotyp MeSH
- muzea MeSH
- skalní kost chemie MeSH
- vlci * genetika anatomie a histologie klasifikace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- DNA MeSH
The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur; species Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis, family Flaviviridae) was the only tick-borne flavivirus present in central Europe known to cause neurologic disease in humans and several animal species. Here, we report a tick-borne flavivirus isolated from Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) with encephalitis and attached ticks, present over a wide area in the Alps. Cases were detected in 2017 in Salzburg, Austria, and 2023 in Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy. The virus strains exhibit 94.8-97.3% nucleotide identities to each other and are more closely related to Louping ill viruses (LIV; Orthoflavivirus loupingi; 90-92% identities) than to TBEV-Eur (less than 88%). The chamois-derived virus strains, tentatively termed "Alpine chamois encephalitis virus", form a well-supported independent genetic clade with Spanish goat encephalitis virus, clearly separated from other LIV. This supports its designation as a new virus subtype with the proposed shared taxonomic name "Spanish goat and Alpine chamois encephalitis virus subtype" within the species Orthoflavivirus loupingi. The zoonotic potential of this newly identified virus subtype as well as its host range in other animal species including farm animals needs to be further investigated.
- Klíčová slova
- Alpine chamois, Flaviviridae, Ixodes ricinus, Rupicapra rupicapra, Spanish goat encephalitis virus, encephalitis, flavivirus, louping ill virus, neurotropic, tick-borne encephalitis virus,
- MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- genom virový MeSH
- klíšťata virologie MeSH
- klíšťová encefalitida * veterinární virologie epidemiologie MeSH
- Rupicapra * virologie MeSH
- viry klíšťové encefalitidy * genetika izolace a purifikace klasifikace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie epidemiologie MeSH
- Rakousko epidemiologie MeSH
Dothistroma septosporum and Dothistroma pini are severe foliar pathogens of conifers. They infect a broad spectrum of hosts (mainly Pinus spp.), causing chlorosis, defoliation of needles, and eventually the death of pine trees in extreme cases. Mycoviruses represent a novel and innovative avenue for controlling pathogens. To search for possible viruses hosted by Dothistroma spp. we screened a subset of isolates (20 strains of D. septosporum and one D. pini) originating from the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy, Austria and Ireland for viral dsRNA segments. Only five of them showed the presence of dsRNA segments. A total of 21 fungal isolates were prepared for total RNA extractions. RNA samples were pooled, and two separate RNA libraries were constructed for stranded total RNA sequencing. RNA-Seq data processing, pairwise sequence comparisons (PASC) and phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of thirteen novel putative viruses with varying genome types: seven negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, including six bunya-like viruses and one new member of the order Mononegavirales; three positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, two of which are similar to those of the family Narnaviridae, while the genome of the third correspond to those of the family Gammaflexiviridae; and three double-stranded RNA viruses, comprising two novel members of the family Chrysoviridae and a potentially new species of gammapartitivirus. The results were confirmed with RT-PCR screening that the fungal pathogens hosted all the viruses and showed that particular fungal strains harbour multiple virus infections and that they are transmitted vertically. In this study, we described the narnavirus infecting D. pini. To our knowledge, this is the first virus discovered in D. pini.
- Klíčová slova
- Conifer pathogens, Dothistroma needle blight (DNB), High-throughput sequencing, Total RNA sequencing, Virus diversity,
- MeSH
- Ascomycota * virologie genetika MeSH
- borovice * mikrobiologie MeSH
- dvouvláknová RNA genetika MeSH
- fylogeneze * MeSH
- genom virový * MeSH
- mykoviry * genetika klasifikace izolace a purifikace MeSH
- nemoci rostlin * virologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- RNA virová * genetika MeSH
- RNA-viry genetika klasifikace izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Itálie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- dvouvláknová RNA MeSH
- RNA virová * MeSH
BACKGROUND: Five species of the Phortica genus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) are known in Europe and the Middle East. Among these, Phortica variegata and Phortica okadai are better known for their role as vectors of the zoonotic eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda. Other species, such as Phortica semivirgo and Phortica oldenbergi, have been studied less. Given the paucity of data about these Phortica spp. vectors, we explored the population dynamics and ecology of Phortica spp. in an area highly endemic for T. callipeada (Manziana, Rome, Central Italy). METHODS: Phortica spp. flies were collected over a 3-year period (2018-2020) during their active season (April-October) with a sweep net while hovering around fermenting fruits or a human operator acting as baits. Collected flies were morphologically identified and tested for a T. callipeada infection and for the presence of Wolbachia, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Population dynamics of species collected was associated to environmental drivers through generalized additive models. RESULTS: Of the 5564 flies collected, 90.8% were P. variegata, 9.1% were P. oldenbergi, 0.05% were P. semivirgo, and one specimen was P. okadai. Only P. variegata scored molecularly infected with T. callipeada throughout the 3-year sampling period (1.8%). Phortica oldenbergi, observed consistently during the entire sampling period, exhibited a marked preference for fruit traps, contrasting with the lachryphagous activity of P. variegata. Analysis of environmental drivers of P. oldenbergi and P. variegata population dynamics indicated temperature, wind speed, and pressure as significant factors. In addition, Wolbachia pipientis endosymbiont was detected in P. oldenbergi and P. okadai. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, this study analysed several ecological aspects of Phortica species coexisting in a T. callipeada endemic area, highlighting different behaviors in the same environment and their vectorial role. Notably, this is also the first report of the presence of P. oldenbergi in Italy and P. okadai in Europe, underscoring the importance of extensive sampling for detecting potential vectors and alien species with direct implications for vector-borne disease epidemiology.
- Klíčová slova
- Eyeworm, Lachryphagy, Phortica, Sympatry, Thelazia, Vector-borne disease, Wolbachia, Zoonosis,
- MeSH
- Drosophilidae * parazitologie MeSH
- hmyz - vektory * parazitologie MeSH
- populační dynamika * MeSH
- roční období MeSH
- Thelazioidea * izolace a purifikace genetika fyziologie MeSH
- Wolbachia izolace a purifikace genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie epidemiologie MeSH
Trichinella spp. are cosmopolitan parasites that infect a wide range of hosts, with wildlife being the main reservoir of these zoonotic nematodes, especially red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and wolves (Canis lupus) due to their apex position in the food chain in most European countries. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of Trichinella spp. in these wild canids and their epidemiological role in the Campania region (southern Italy). From 2017 to 2023, the carcasses of red foxes (n = 352) and wolves (n = 41) were collected as part of a health surveillance plan. Muscle samples were analysed individually by artificial digestion and four (1.1%) red foxes and nine (21.9%) wolves tested positive for Trichinella britovi. All Trichinella isolates were identified as T. britovi by multiplex PCR. Statistically significant differences in prevalence were found by province (p-value = 0.05) for red foxes and sampling years (p-value = 0.01) for wolves. The prevalence was lower in red foxes than in wolves, probably due to the longer life expectancy of wolves compared to red foxes and the role of wolves as apex predators compared to red foxes as meso-carnivores. The results obtained confirm the important role that these wild canids play in the circulation of the parasite.
- Klíčová slova
- Red fox, Trichinella britovi, Wildlife, Wolf,
- MeSH
- divoká zvířata parazitologie MeSH
- lišky * parazitologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- Trichinella * izolace a purifikace MeSH
- trichinelóza * epidemiologie veterinární parazitologie MeSH
- vlci * parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie epidemiologie MeSH
BACKGROUND: Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is a global threat to grazing livestock farming. In Italy, anthelmintic efficacy remains high compared to other European countries, but many parts of the country haven't been investigated yet. Local veterinary practitioners from Trentino and Veneto regions reported suspected inefficacy towards anthelmintic drugs in some of their farms, prompting a study on AR in sheep and goat farms of northern Italy. The study aimed to assess anthelmintic effectiveness using genus-specific faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT), to detect differences in treatment response among nematode genera involved in the infection. RESULTS: Twelve farms (6 sheep and 6 goat farms) were included based on clinical suspicion of AR. Treatments were carried out with either benzimidazoles (BZ) or macrocyclic lactones (ML) Treatment was effective in 3/6 goat trials, with reduced effectiveness to BZ in two farms and to ML the last one. In sheep farms (6/6), effectiveness was consistently and more severely insufficient. Ineffectiveness was particularly high towards Haemonchus contortus, while Oesophagostomum/Chabertia maintained susceptibility in nearly all trials. Trichostrongylus/Teladorsagia exhibited intermediate results. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals diminished efficacy of both BZ and ML in small ruminant farms in north-eastern Italy, an area previously lacking data on the topic, except for goats in South Tyrol. Variability in treatment responses among nematode genera support suspicions of AR, and further concerns are raised by the prevalence of treatment ineffectiveness against the highly pathogenic Haemonchus contortus. This finding underscores the urgent need for comprehensive AR monitoring in the area and improved management practices to prevent further resistance development and protect livestock health.
- Klíčová slova
- Anthelmintic resistance, Control, Faecal egg count reduction test, Gastrointestinal nematodes, Small ruminants,
- MeSH
- anthelmintika * terapeutické užití MeSH
- benzimidazoly terapeutické užití farmakologie MeSH
- feces parazitologie MeSH
- Haemonchus * účinky léků MeSH
- hemonchóza * veterinární farmakoterapie epidemiologie MeSH
- kozy * MeSH
- léková rezistence * MeSH
- nemoci koz * farmakoterapie parazitologie epidemiologie MeSH
- nemoci ovcí * farmakoterapie epidemiologie parazitologie MeSH
- ovce MeSH
- počet parazitárních vajíček veterinární MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Itálie epidemiologie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- anthelmintika * MeSH
- benzimidazoly MeSH
