Research activities (68 publications in journals and 50 in proceedings of
national and international meetings) mainly concerned topics of
animals infectious diseases and veterinary public health:
chlamydiosis, leishmaniosis, ehrlichiosis, occupational zoonoses,
bartonellosis, circovirosis.
Main research subjects:
1. Tick-borne infectious diseases. Seroepidemiological surveys were
carried out on canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (in owned and stray
dogs). The prevalence of antibodies to Bartonella henselae
in dogs in Italy was evaluated.
2. Chlamydiosis. Seroepidemiological surveys and molecular
analysis of isolates were performed about Chlamydia suis and
Chlamydia felis. The circulation of C. felis in human
beings with and without contact with cats was assessed. The
sensitivity of C. suis and C. felis to tetracicline
and cathelicidin peptides was studied. Molecular analysis was
performed to detect plasmid sequences in C. suis and
C. felis isolates and their identity with plasmid
sequences of reference strains. A sequencing project of C.
suis complete genome is in progress. The seroprevalence
against chlamydiae in red deer and wild boar populations has been
evaluated and additional molecular investigation allowed the first
detection of Parachlamydia spp. DNA from wild boar samples.
Molecular analysis of C. trachomatis isolates and comparison
studies between C. trachomatis and C. suis have
been performed. The prevalence of C. pneumoniae in horses
was also evaluated.
3. Occupational zoonoses. Surveys on biological risks in
zootechnical and related activities were performed. A two-year
seroepidemiological study on some zoonoses, involving two groups of
workers of the Bologna University, was carried out. Research has
been now extended to persons attending to dog pounds and stray cat
homes and to small animals pratictioners.
4. Canine leishmaniosis. Serological, parassitological and
entomological investigations have been carried out to assess the
spread of CanL and vectors in the Emilia-Romagna Region (ERR). New
autochtonous foci by Leishmania infantum have been identified in
some areas of the Region, with the first autochthonous human
visceral leishmaniosis cases.
5. Swine pathology. A study was carried-out to evaluate the
clinical and pathological consequences of an infection with porcine
circovirus type 2 in combination with porcine parvovirus in
conventional 3-week-old pigs with maternal serum antibodies towards
both viruses. The effect of an immunostimulation induced by the
administration of a commercial inactivated vaccine against porcine
pleuropneumonia on the outcome of the infection was also evaluated,
together with the effects of the infection on the growth rate of
the pigs.
6. Serological investigations have been carried out to assess
the prevalence of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), canine
distemper virus, Ehrlichia canis, Leishmania infantum
in free-ranging shepherd dogs.
7. Wildlife. The research activity focused on the role of wild animals as indicators of antibiotic resistance, through the search for resistance genes in biological samples of different animal species.
