The commercialization of porgies or seabreams of the family Sparidae has greatly increased in the last decade, and some valuable species have become subject to seafood substitution. DNA regions currently used for fish species identification in fresh and processed products belong to the mitochondrial (mt) genes cytochrome b (Cytb), cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), 16S and 12S. However, these markers amplify for fragments with lower divergence within and between some species, failing to provide informative barcodes. We adopted comparative mitogenomics, through the analysis of complete mtDNA sequences, as a compatible approach toward studying new barcoding markers. The intent is to develop a specific and rapid assay for the identification of the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus, a sparid species frequently subject to fraudulent replacement. The genetic diversity analysis (Hamming distance, p-genetic distance, gene-by-gene sequence variability) between 16 sparid mtDNA genomes highlighted the discriminating potential of a 291 bp NAD2 gene fragment. A pair of species-specific primers were successfully designed and tested by end-point and real-time PCR, achieving amplification only in P. erythrinus among several fish species. The use of the NAD2 barcoding marker provides a rapid presence/absence method for the identification of P. erythrinus.

The common dentex (Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758)) is an iconic fish in the Mediterranean diet. Due to its commercial and organoleptic importance, this sparid is highly appreciated in European markets and is often subjected to species substitution frauds. Comparative mitogenomics is a suitable approach for identifying new and effective barcode markers. This study aimed to find a molecular tag useful for unequivocally discriminating the sparid species D. dentex. The comparison of the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of 16 sparid species allowed us to highlight the potential of the NAD2 gene for direct identification purposes. Common dentex-specific primers were created and successfully evaluated by end-point and real-rime PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) for several fish species, achieving amplification only in the D. dentex. The method proposed in this study appears fast, simple, and inexpensive and requires affordable instrumentation. This approach provides unambiguous results for the common dentex authentication without the sequencing step. The presence/absence assay for D. dentex can be executed in a few hours of lab work. Therefore, national authorities responsible for food safety and traceability could apply and make full use of DNA-testing methods for deterring operators from false seafood declarations.

Introduction: Brucella spp. infections in livestock continue to pose significant threats to public and animal health, as well as to local economies. In the European Union, Brucella abortus, which primarily affects cattle and buffaloes, has been successfully eradicated in some Member States and across northern and central Italy through mandatory eradication and control programmes. However, some provinces in southern Italy, including Caserta and Salerno (Campania Region), remain affected, while in other provinces, as in Isernia (Molise Region), brucellosis has temporarily re-emerged.Methods: The study examines brucellosis outbreaks occurring between 2019 and 2023 in these territories, focusing on livestock that play a key role in the milk value chain, an essential pillar for economic sustainability, environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation. Since brucellosis is a WOAH Listed Disease subject to mandatory notification, we analyzed data registered in Italian, European Union and International portals concerning these notifications. Furthermore, we correlated these data to the national and regional rules adopted in order to tackle bovine brucellosis, including the methods approved for the serological diagnosis of infection.Results: In Isernia, a mountainous area where cattle ranching and traditional herding are widespread and culturally significant, brucellosis re-emerged in the period 2019–2021, when 30 outbreaks arose, 50% of outbreaks were linked to grazing practices. Outbreaks were promptly extinguished through veterinary intervention due to the low density of farms, which typically house only a few animals, and new cases have not been detected since 2022. The provinces of Caserta and Salerno present a different scenario, as they are major hubs for water buffalo breeding. The stringent tailored control measures, implemented in these provinces through a regional programme, led to a gradual decline in the prevalence of buffalo brucellosis outbreaks in Caserta, that involved 8,766 heads in 2019 and 6,164 heads in 2023, and in the eradication in Salerno, with 369 positive heads in 2019 brought to 0 since 2022. The Caserta programme specifically addresses the province’s particular vulnerabilities, which include frequent flooding events and the presence of the largest and most densely concentrated water buffalo population in Italy.Discussion: The results highlight the fundamental importance of a One Health approach, which includes targeted interventions adapted to the specific context in which they are applied. This approach must actively involve key stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, public health authorities, and policymakers, and be supported by financial investments. Key components include strengthening biosecurity measures, implementing advanced animal traceability systems, continuous professional training programmes (including for farmers), expert-led information-sharing technologies, and promoting voluntary serological self-monitoring practices.

Brucellosis in water buffalo remains endemic in southern Italy, particularly in areas of the province of Caserta characterized by high animal density. This retrospective cohort study (2016–2021) assessed the effectiveness of stamping out (whole-herd depopulation) versus selective culling in counteracting brucellosis in water buffalo herds. Data from 222 outbreaks were analyzed using Cox regression, incorporating herd size, buffalo density, eradication method, and co-infection with Mycobacterium bovis . Stamping out reduced reinfection risk by 80% (HR = 0.2; p < 0.001), especially in municipalities exceeding 200 buffaloes/km ² . Co-infection with M. bovis was not statistically associated with reinfection. These results indicate that control strategies should prioritize stamping out, coupled with reinforced structural and operational biosecurity measures, even in high-density settings, to achieve disease-free status. Integrated surveillance and education, in line with One Health principles, are essential for sustainable eradication and protection of the buffalo dairy sector.

In 2024, a significant Salmonella Umbilo outbreak was reported across the European Union and beyond, traced to contaminated vegetables originating from the Province of Salerno (Italy). Subsequent on-site inspections in the production area revealed a mismanaged manure storage tank, which became the focus of a GIS-based investigation aimed at locating nearby animal establishments. Within a 1-km radius—encompassing both the tank and the contaminated greenhouses—three buffalo farms were identified. Farm inspections revealed buffalo calves exhibiting enteric symptoms. Fecal samples collected from these animals led to the isolation of S. Umbilo genomically linked to the 2024 multi-country outbreak, as well as other serotypes. To thoroughly investigate, data from official EU and Italian databases were analyzed, to detect the presence of S. Umbilo in vegetables, buffalo, and other livestock within the Province of Salerno. However, the lack of access to critical data needed to clarify the epidemiological links at the human–animal–environment interface has hindered the full reconstruction of the outbreak dynamics. These limitations underscore the urgent need to implement One Health strategies by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among veterinarians, physicians, food technologists, biologists and other professionals; leveraging official open access databases; and adopting emerging technologies as interoperable data systems and drone surveillance.

The operationalization of the One Health (OH) approach remains a major challenge due to persistent fragmentation across human, animal, and environmental data systems. This gap is exacerbated by climate change, which acts as a risk multiplier for pathogen transmission and agri-food system vulnerability. Drawing on more than a decade of research, including the re-emergence of brucellosis in Italy and the 2024 Salmonella Umbilo outbreak, this perspective discusses key weaknesses in current data management, particularly the lack of real-time, interoperable data sharing. To address these challenges, we propose an AI-enabled One Health Information System (OH-IS), grounded in FAIR data principles and privacy-preserving architectures. The proposed conceptual framework integrates multi-matrix data streams, combining Earth observation data, genomic surveillance through whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and livestock mobility within a geospatially integrated architecture to support timely decision-making in vulnerable settings. By analyzing the constraints of siloed databases, we discuss how automated semantic harmonization could conceptually support improved risk assessment and outbreak reconstruction in recent zoonotic events. This approach may facilitate a transition from descriptive to anticipatory surveillance, providing a scalable model to move One Health from a conceptual paradigm toward a more integrated and data-driven surveillance framework aligned with EU digital health policies and global health security priorities.