No abstract

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging, transboundary, viral pox disease affecting cattle of all ages and breeds. Serological assay for monitoring immunity following vaccination is a virus neutralisation test (VNT/OIE) that determines the neutralisation index (NI). The first validated ELISA (IDVet) has become commercially available, facilitating large-scale sero-surveillance for LSD. Although VNT is labour intensive and time consuming it is still recommended test by OIE. Thus, in this study, we modified virus neutralisation test employing Madin Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cells. The qualitative results obtained with the modified method were compared to the qualitative results obtained by VNT/OIE and ELISA test. We used blood sera received within a surveillance programme for LSD in 2018. In total, 291 serum samples were tested using VNT/MDBK and ELISA. Out of 291 samples 80 samples were tested by VNT/OIE and used for comparison of the performances between VNT/MDBK and VNT/OIE. Compatibility of results obtained by VNT/MDBK and VNT/OIE resulted with kappa index 0,9 with overall proportion agreement of 0,96. Agreement between VNT/MDBK and VNT/OIE was achieved in 56 positive and 21 negative samples. Compatibility of results obtained by ELISA and VNT/MDBK were compared on 291 samples in total and resulted with kappa index 0,834 with overall proportion agreement of 0,955. Agreement between ELISA and VNT/MDBK was achieved in 238 positive and 40 negative samples. Obtained results demonstrated a strong correlation between VNT/MDBK and the other two methods indicating the suitability of VNT/MDBK for the detection of the LSDV specific neutralising antibodies.

The COST action “Standardising output-based surveillance to control non-regulated diseases of cattle in the European Union (SOUND control),” aims to harmonise the results of surveillance and control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases to facilitate safe trade and improve overall control of cattle infectious diseases. In this paper we aimed to provide an overview on the diversity of control for these diseases in Europe. A non-EU regulated cattle disease was defined as an infectious disease of cattle with no or limited control at EU level, which is not included in the European Union Animal health law Categories A or B under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002. A CP was defined as surveillance and/or intervention strategies designed to lower the incidence, prevalence, mortality or prove freedom from a specific disease in a region or country. Passive surveillance, and active surveillance of breeding bulls under Council Directive 88/407/EEC were not considered as CPs. A questionnaire was designed to obtain country-specific information about CPs for each disease. Animal health experts from 33 European countries completed the questionnaire. Overall, there are 23 diseases for which a CP exists in one or more of the countries studied. The diseases for which CPs exist in the highest number of countries are enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhoea and anthrax (CPs reported by between 16 and 31 countries). Every participating country has on average, 6 CPs (min–max: 1–13) in place. Most programmes are implemented at a national level (86%) and are applied to both dairy and non-dairy cattle (75%). Approximately one-third of the CPs are voluntary, and the funding structure is divided between government and private resources. Countries that have eradicated diseases like enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhoea have implemented CPs for other diseases to further improve the health status of cattle in their country. The control of non-EU regulated cattle diseases is very heterogenous in Europe. Therefore, the standardising of the outputs of these programmes to enable comparison represents a challenge.

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) emerged for the first time in 1978 and evolved into two antigenic variants CPV2a and CPV2b and the third new antigenic variant CPV2c reported in 2000 in Italy. During 2014 unexplained outbreaks of gastroenteritis were observed in kennels where an extensive vaccination program was ongoing and where vaccinated animals showed pathologic lesions consistent with typical parvovirosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CPV2 could have played a role in the emergence of these cases and to evaluate genetic or pathological specificities of the virus and the disease. Using PCR and phylogenetic analysis we showed that the CPV2c variant is circulating in Croatia and is in close relationships with isolates from North and South America. Histopathological lesions and cell tropism that are known for CPV2 we are reporting the identification of the virus in glial cells and ovaries. It seems that evolution of CPV and CPV2a-c and adaptation to dogs are two independent events. Croatian isolates had specific and some unique amino acid mutations under positive selection. The effect of the alterations on the immunoglobulin binding cannot be excluded.

The annual production of European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) in Croatia is about 50 to 65 tons, and it has a long tradition. All Croatian oyster farms are subjected to the national surveillance program aiming to detect the presence of Bonamia ostreae and Marteilia refringens according to the Council Directive 2006/88/EC. Within the surveillance program, the first findings of the parasite Bonamia spp. occurred in 2016 in two production areas in the north and south of the Eastern Adriatic coast. The repeated findings of the parasite were noted up to 2020 but also on two additional sites in the north. The parasite was detected by cytological analysis of stained heart smears, histological examination, and PCR. PCR positive samples were sequenced for SSU rDNA gene, and BLAST analysis confirmed infection with Bonamia exitiosa. Attempts to prove the Pacific oyster as a putative vector of the parasite failed. The infection prevalence from 2016 until 2020 ranged from 3.3 to 20% in different sites. No mortalities were reported from the infected sites, and it seemed that infection of flat oysters with B. exitiosa did not affect their health. The study has not shown the source and way of infection spread, which imposes the need for more comprehensive molecular and epidemiological studies.