Special Issue "Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy"

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Nicola Decaro
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Italy
Interests: Viruses of domestic animals (mainly carnivores and ruminants), with particular emphasis on those that have an economic impact on livestock productivity, are responsible for zoonoses or can serve as animal models for human infections.
Dr. Alessio Lorusso
E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
Interests: moleculary epidemiology of orbiviruses; morbilliviruses and flaviviruses; next generation sequencing; metagenomics and virus discovery; innovative diagnostic tools; genome manipulation via reverse genetics
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last decades, tremendous strides have been made by Italian virologists in all areas of veterinary science. Animal virologists from the universities “Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali” (the network of the National Veterinary Diagnostic and Research laboratories) and “Istituto Superiore di Sanità” (the Italian Institute for Health) are contributing enormously to advancing knowledge in veterinary virology. Despite the limited financial resources allocated for research in Italy, excellence has been achieved in several fields of animal virology, with emphasis on those pathogens existing at the human–animal interface. Indeed, a number of Italian veterinary virologists have firmly established their international reputation, becoming a point of reference for the global scientific community.

With this Special Issue of Viruses, we aim to provide an up-to-date view of the state-of-the-art of animal viruses. We cordially invite you to submit/send your most recent research findings and/or insights into this topic. We welcome reviews and original research articles, including those covering technical aspects.

Prof. Dr. Nicola Decaro
Dr. Alessio Lorusso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal viruses
  • Italian research
  • state of the art
  • epidemiology
  • pathogenesis
  • diagnosis
  • prophylaxys
  • zoonoses

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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Editorial
Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Italy: The Role of Veterinary Public Health Institutes
Viruses 2021, 13(4), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13040549 - 25 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 600
Abstract
Novel SARS-CoV-2 variants with potential impacts on diagnostics, antivirals, and vaccines are spreading in Italy. In this editorial, we highlight the role that veterinary public health institutes may have in this global crisis, as their expertise in genomic/antigenic surveillance and animal studies are [...] Read more.
Novel SARS-CoV-2 variants with potential impacts on diagnostics, antivirals, and vaccines are spreading in Italy. In this editorial, we highlight the role that veterinary public health institutes may have in this global crisis, as their expertise in genomic/antigenic surveillance and animal studies are crucial to tackle SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy)
Editorial
Erasing the Invisible Line to Empower the Pandemic Response
Viruses 2021, 13(2), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13020348 - 23 Feb 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 743
Abstract
A challenging debate has arisen on the role of veterinary expertise in facing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. It seems totally unreasonable that in most countries, veterinary diagnostic and tracing forces were not deployed at the start to perform strategic tasks, which could have mitigated [...] Read more.
A challenging debate has arisen on the role of veterinary expertise in facing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. It seems totally unreasonable that in most countries, veterinary diagnostic and tracing forces were not deployed at the start to perform strategic tasks, which could have mitigated the outcome of this dramatic health emergency. Erasing the invisible line between human and veterinary virology will empower the response to future pandemics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy)

Research

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Article
Detection and Molecular Characterization of Two Gammaherpesviruses from Pantesco Breed Donkeys during an Outbreak of Mild Respiratory Disease
Viruses 2021, 13(8), 1527; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13081527 - 02 Aug 2021
Viewed by 460
Abstract
Equid and asinine gammaherpesviruses (GHVs; genus Percavirus) are members of the Herpesviridae family. Though GHVs have been reported in horse populations, less studies are available on gammaherpesviral infections in donkeys. This study reports the co-infection with two GHVs in Pantesco breed donkeys, [...] Read more.
Equid and asinine gammaherpesviruses (GHVs; genus Percavirus) are members of the Herpesviridae family. Though GHVs have been reported in horse populations, less studies are available on gammaherpesviral infections in donkeys. This study reports the co-infection with two GHVs in Pantesco breed donkeys, an endangered Italian donkey breed. Samples (n = 124) were collected on a breeding farm in Southern Italy from 40 donkeys, some of which were healthy or presented erosive tongue lesions and/or mild respiratory signs. Samples were analysed by using a set of nested PCRs targeting the DNA polymerase, glycoprotein B, and DNA-packaging protein genes, and sequence and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Twenty-nine donkeys (72.5%) tested positive, and the presence of Equid gammaherpesvirus 7 and asinine herpesvirus 5 was evidenced. In 11 animals, we found evidence for co-infection with viruses from the two species. Virions with herpesvirus-like morphology were observed by electron microscopic examination, and viruses were successfully isolated in RK-13-KY cell monolayers. The histological evaluation of tongue lesions revealed moderate lympho-granulocytic infiltrates and rare eosinophilic inclusions. The detection of GHVs in this endangered asinine breed suggests the need long-life monitoring within conservation programs and reinforces the need for further investigations of GHV’s pathogenetic role in asinine species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy)
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Communication
Do Dogs and Cats Passively Carry SARS-CoV-2 on Hair and Pads?
Viruses 2021, 13(7), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13071357 - 13 Jul 2021
Viewed by 818
Abstract
The epidemiological role of domestic animals in the spread and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans has been investigated in recent reports, but some aspects need to be further clarified. To date, only in rare cases have dogs and cats living with COVID-19 patients [...] Read more.
The epidemiological role of domestic animals in the spread and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans has been investigated in recent reports, but some aspects need to be further clarified. To date, only in rare cases have dogs and cats living with COVID-19 patients been found to harbour SARS-CoV-2, with no evidence of pet-to-human transmission. The aim of the present study was to verify whether dogs and cats act as passive mechanical carriers of SARS-CoV-2 when they live in close contact with COVID-19 patients. Cutaneous and interdigital swabs collected from 48 dogs and 15 cats owned by COVID-19 patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by qRT-PCR. The time elapsed between owner swab positivity and sample collection from pets ranged from 1 to 72 days, with a median time of 23 days for dogs and 39 days for cats. All samples tested negative, suggesting that pets do not passively carry SARS-CoV-2 on their hair and pads, and thus they likely do not play an important role in the virus transmission to humans. This data may contribute to confirming that the direct contact with the hair and pads of pets does not represent a route for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy)
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Article
Emergence and Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages B.1.1.7 and P.1 in Italy
Viruses 2021, 13(5), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13050794 - 29 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 957
Abstract
Italy’s second wave of SARS-CoV-2 has hit hard, with more than three million cases and over 100,000 deaths, representing an almost ten-fold increase in the numbers reported by August 2020. Herein, we present an analysis of 6515 SARS-CoV-2 sequences sampled in Italy between [...] Read more.
Italy’s second wave of SARS-CoV-2 has hit hard, with more than three million cases and over 100,000 deaths, representing an almost ten-fold increase in the numbers reported by August 2020. Herein, we present an analysis of 6515 SARS-CoV-2 sequences sampled in Italy between 29 January 2020 and 1 March 2021 and show how different lineages emerged multiple times independently despite lockdown restrictions. Virus lineage B.1.177 became the dominant variant in November 2020, when cases peaked at 40,000 a day, but since January 2021 this is being replaced by the B.1.1.7 ‘variant of concern’. In addition, we report a sudden increase in another documented variant of concern—lineage P.1—from December 2020 onwards, most likely caused by a single introduction into Italy. We again highlight how international importations drive the emergence of new lineages and that genome sequencing should remain a top priority for ongoing surveillance in Italy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy)
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Review

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Review
Emerging Parvoviruses in Domestic Cats
Viruses 2021, 13(6), 1077; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13061077 - 04 Jun 2021
Viewed by 740
Abstract
Parvovirus infections in cats have been well known for around 100 years. Recently, the use of molecular assays and metagenomic approaches for virus discovery and characterization has led to the detection of novel parvovirus lineages and/or species infecting the feline host. However, the [...] Read more.
Parvovirus infections in cats have been well known for around 100 years. Recently, the use of molecular assays and metagenomic approaches for virus discovery and characterization has led to the detection of novel parvovirus lineages and/or species infecting the feline host. However, the involvement of emerging parvoviruses in the onset of gastroenteritis or other feline diseases is still uncertain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy)
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Review
Feline Morbillivirus Infection in Domestic Cats: What Have We Learned So Far?
Viruses 2021, 13(4), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13040683 - 15 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 622
Abstract
Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) was identified for the first time in stray cats in 2012 in Hong Kong and, since its discovery, it was reported in domestic cats worldwide. Although a potential association between FeMV infection and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has been suggested, this [...] Read more.
Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) was identified for the first time in stray cats in 2012 in Hong Kong and, since its discovery, it was reported in domestic cats worldwide. Although a potential association between FeMV infection and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has been suggested, this has not been proven, and the subject remains controversial. TIN is the most frequent histopathological finding in the context of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is one of the major clinical pathologies in feline medicine. FeMV research has mainly focused on defining the epidemiology, the role of FeMV in the development of CKD, and its in vitro tropism, but the pathogenicity of FeMV is still not clear, partly due to its distinctive biological characteristics, as well as to a lack of a cell culture system for its rapid isolation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of FeMV infection, including genetic diversity of FeMV strains, epidemiology, pathogenicity, and clinicopathological findings observed in naturally infected cats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viruses: State-of-the-Art Research in Italy)
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