Maurizio Percipalle

Toxoplasmosis is an insidious globally distributed zoonosis accounting for approximately one-fifth of all foodborne illnesses in humans in Europe. It stands as a classic example of a disease transmitted through the close interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment. Accordingly, mitigation strategies and health management protocols demand cross-sectoral involvement from medical, veterinary, environmental, and political actors, rendering the adoption of a ‘One Health’ perspective essential. Despite longstanding advocacy for One Health by the WHO, WOAH, and FAO, national health authorities have yet to establish the necessary operational infrastructure. Specifically, there is a lack of tools to enable information sharing among professionals, which is essential for the synergistic management of major health issues. A four-part epidemiological data collection tool specifically developed for human toxoplasmosis is proposed here to aid in the identification of risk factors and potential sources of infection. The proposed framework comprises four sequential sections intended to be completed through contribution from the patient, the attending physician, the involved veterinarian, and the national reference laboratory for toxoplasmosis. This questionnaire serves as a conceptual, non-validated tool designed to support a One Health–oriented epidemiological investigation process. Its practical performance, feasibility, and potential usefulness in routine surveillance or prevention strategies have not yet been assessed and will require validation in future studies. Nonetheless, the framework may serve as a model for the development of similar integrative tools applicable to other zoonotic diseases.

Toxoplasmosis is an insidious globally distributed zoonosis accounting for approximately one-fifth of all foodborne illnesses in humans in Europe. It stands as a classic example of a disease transmitted through the close interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment. Accordingly, mitigation strategies and health management protocols demand cross-sectoral involvement from medical, veterinary, environmental, and political actors, rendering the adoption of a 'One Health' perspective essential. Despite longstanding advocacy for One Health by the WHO, WHOA, and FAO, national health authorities have yet to establish the necessary infrastructure. Specifically, there is a lack of tools to enable information sharing among professionals, which is essential for the synergistic management of major health issues. The scientific community has a responsibility to propose such tools. A four-part epidemiological data collection tool specifically developed for human toxoplasmosis is proposed here to standardize the identification of risk factors and potential sources of infection. The tool comprises four distinct sections intended to be completed in a systematic, sequential manner: first through an interview with the appropriately informed and sensitized patient, then with the input of the attending physician, then of the veterinarian involved, and finally of the national reference laboratory for zoonoses. This tool, if widespread and properly managed, can be valuable for the prevention of toxoplasmosis cases. Although its limitation stems from potential delays in epidemiological information collection due to the natural incubation period, the instrument remains effective when administered by experienced professionals. Critically, this tool could serve as prototype mechanism for the management of other zoonoses.

The actinobacillosis is rare and to date the biological profile of the agent is not yet fully understood. The knowledge about the possible hosts of the pathogen is incomplete and is generally only associated with granulomatous lesions in cattle and sheep. The primary organs involved are the mouth, tongue and pharynx. Human infection is extremely rare. Actinobacillus lignieresii is the causative agent of a rare bovine granulomatous disease known as “wooden tongue”. In this research, we describe a case of cerebral and ocular metastatic diffusion of granuloma due to infection with Actinobacillus lignieresii in cattle, probably resulting from primary oral localization. Diagnosis was made using histopathological assay which made it possible to highlight the typical lesion of actinobacillosis, and bacteriological assay that allowed to isolate the pathogen.

Novel foods such as edible insects and food products based on insects could play an important role in both human and animal nutrition in the future. The identification of dangers associated with insect consumption is fundamental to guarantee consumer safety and adequate regulatory guidelines for operators of the food sector. While former studies have focused on the microbiological contamination of fresh or processed edible insects, so far little information is available about the occurrence of foodborne parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, whose life cycle makes it a candidate for potential insects’ breeding substrate contamination. Hence, we investigated the presence of contaminating T. gondii in farmed edible insects to rule out this further hazard for consumers. Four species of insects most commonly used as food for human consumption were analyzed: Mealworm, African migratory locust, House cricket and Silkworms. Samples included live specimens but also minimally (dehydrated) and highly processed edible insects. Traces of T. gondii DNA were detected in samples of dehydrated mealworm. These results highlight the need for implementing good farming and processing practices with particular care paid to safe storage and handling of feed and substrates used for edible insects to reduce the chance of T. gondii entering the human food chain.

We report a rapid and reliable method for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in meat and animal tissues based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Samples were collected from cattle, small ruminants, horses, and pigs raised or imported into Sicily, Italy. All DNA preparations were assayed by real-time PCR tests targeted to a 98-bp long fragment in the AF 529-bp repeat element and to the B1 gene using specific primers. Diagnostic sensitivity (100%), diagnostic specificity (100%), limit of detection (0.01 pg), efficiency (92–109%), and precision (mean coefficient of variation = 0.60%), repeatability (100%), reproducibility (100%), and robustness were evaluated using 240 DNA extracted samples (120 positives and 120 negative as per the OIE nested PCR method) from different matrices. Positive results were confirmed by the repetition of both real-time and nested PCR assays. Our study demonstrates the viability of a reliable, rapid, and specific real-time PCR on a large scale to monitor contamination with Toxoplasma cysts in meat and animal specimens. This validated method can be used for postmortem detection in domestic and wild animals and for food safety purposes.

Summary: The prevalence ofSalmonellainfection was determined in a group of spur‐thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) seized during two smuggling attempts and in a population of captive Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) sheltered in a wildlife rescue centre.Salmonellaspp. was isolated in 81 of 220 (36.8%) and in 17 of 67 (25.4%) cloacal swabs collected from theT. graecaandT. hermannitortoises respectively. Overall, a total of 21 different Salmonella serotypes were found. Some of these serotypes are common to terrestrial chelonians while others have never been reported. All cultured serotypes were non‐typhoidal but nonetheless many of these have been previously reported as source of human outbreaks of reptile‐related salmonellosis. Eighty‐two per cent and 5.3% of the isolates were resistant to two and three anti‐microbial agents respectively. However, the isolates were highly susceptible to the anti‐microbials of choice for the treatment of salmonellosis such as cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Our findings confirm that tortoises can be considered a reservoir forSalmonellaand that care should be employed when handling and breeding these animals. Tight surveillance should be enforced to avoid illegal importation and prevent the trading of live tortoises, carriers of zoonotic pathogens.

Spirocerca lupi (Rudolphi 1809) is a cosmopolitan nematode of dogs and wild carnivores. In the past it has been reported in Italy, mainly in southern regions and in Sicily, where the parasite was observed in foxes in 2005. The parasite typically produces nodular masses in the oesophagus and thoracic aorta. During the 2003-2004 hunting season, the authors investigated a total of 55 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) hunted or killed by car accidents in the provinces of Palermo and Agrigento. All the foxes were subjected to necropsy and 6 (9.16%) had S. lupi nodules located exclusively in the gastric wall. The nature of the nodules was determined by opening them and detecting the nematodes inside, which were identified as S. lupi. Some of the nodules were characterized anatomopathologically and histopathologically. The formation of the parasitic nodule in the stomach only suggests a deviation from the route commonly followed by the nematode to reach the oesophagus, the elective anatomical site for completion of its lifecycle. This survey gives a contribution to the epidemiology of this parasite which is severely outdated in Italy and highlights some distinctive features of the life cycle and parasite migration.

Stray dogs in kennels in western Sicily were monitored for zoonotic diseases presence; considering life conditions before their capture they are particularly exposed to the environment and so they can give good epidemiological information on disease prevalence. Leptospira pathogen specific PCR had been used to identify potential reservoirs of pathogenic serovars and provide a preliminary picture of the prevalence of the disease among stray dogs.