Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans worldwide. The food-borne transmission of HEV appears to be a major route in Europe through the consumption of pork and wild boar meat. HEV epidemiology in wild boars has been investigated mainly in Northern and Central Italian regions, whilst information from Southern Italy is limited. We investigated the occurrence of HEV in wild boar in the Apulia and Basilicata regions (Southern Italy). Thirteen (10.4%) out of one hundred and twenty-five wild boar samples tested positive for HEV using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR. HEV prevalence was 12% in Apulia and 9.3% in Basilicata. Seven samples were genotyped, and different subtypes (c, f, m) of genotype 3 were identified. The complete genome of a 3m strain was determined, and the virus showed the highest nucleotide identity to a human HEV strain identified in France in 2017. These findings demonstrate the substantial circulation of HEV in the wild boar population in Italian Southern regions. Gathering information on the HEV strains circulating in different geographical areas is useful for tracking the origin of HEV outbreaks and assessing the epidemiological role of wild boar as a potential virus reservoir for domestic pigs.

Actinobacillus seminis is a gram-negative bacterium that affects reproductive organs, causing epididymitis, low fertility, and occasional abortions in sheep and goats. The virulence factors and the pathogenicity mechanisms of A. seminis have not been clearly elucidated yet. The aim of this study is to report a laboratory investigation performed on a sheep farm in the Basilicata region (southern Italy) following cases of abortion. Four samples of aborted fetuses taken from two sheep were analyzed to investigate the main pathogens causing abortions by bacterial isolation. In addition, serum samples belonging to the sheep have also been analyzed. Analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) of the isolated colonies identified protein spectra referable to A. seminis. This result was also confirmed through the use of genome sequencing. Therefore, these data could explain cases of abortion that occurred on the farm and would confirm that MALDI-TOF MS technology is a rapid, accurate, and inexpensive method for identifying bacteria.

The circulation of viruses of medical and veterinary importance is monitored to evaluate risks to both human and animal health. Among the species most commonly used in surveillance programs, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) plays a key role due to its high population density and its contacts with rural swine herds in the areas under investigation. In the present study, molecular (real-time PCR) and serological analyses were conducted on wild boar samples collected in the regions of Apulia, Basilicata, Campania, and Calabria. Specifically, molecular detection was applied to IAVs, FLVs, and Porcine PCV-2, while serological testing was used to assess exposure to IAVs, FLVs, and ADV. Serological results showed an 8.31% positivity for IAVs, whereas viral presence detected by PCR was 1.17%. No active infections were detected for WNV, with only a single seropositive sample (0.30%), while ADV showed a seroprevalence of 2.61%. PCV-2 was detected exclusively by molecular analysis in 66 out of 223 tested animals (29.6%). The overall objective of the study is to deepen the understanding of virus circulation in the wildlife of Southern Italy, using the wild boar as an additional sentinel species for epidemiological surveillance activities. The distinctive feature of the project lies in its multi-pathogen approach applied to a reference population distributed across a particularly wide geographical area, allowing for the simultaneous assessment of the circulation of different viruses over a large territory.

Toxocara cati is a common parasite of wild and domestic felines, and presents a cosmopolitan distribution. Adult parasites localize in the gut of the definitive host giving rise to the infection, which usually runs asymptomatic. These worms produce eggs that are excreted with feces into the environment, where they become a source of infection for paratenic hosts, such as mammals, birds, and invertebrates. In this brief communication, we report the detection of T. cati larvae in a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and a red kite (Milvus milvus), in the Basilicata Region of Italy. This result may be important to define new pathways of spread and survival of T. cati in the wild.

In recent years, the wild boar population has increased in Italy. Wild boar is one of the most problematic species from a sanitary point of view because it represents a dangerous reservoir of pathogens and viruses. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulation of coronaviruses in wild boars, a group of viruses known for their ability to spill over between species. As part of the wild boar population control plan established by the Basilicata region relating to this species, 625 animals were analyzed from May 2024 to January 2026. Nasal swabs were collected at the slaughterhouse in the province of Potenza. Screening was conducted using pan-coronavirus PCR through a nested PCR assay targeting the conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) region. Out of all samples analyzed, 1.9% were positive for Porcine Hemagglutinating Encephalomyelitis Virus (PHEV), marking the first identification of this neurotropic coronavirus in wild boars in Italy. The detection of PHEV in free-ranging populations highlights the potential for viral circulation at the wildlife–livestock interface and underlines the importance of integrated surveillance systems to prevent possible interspecies transmission and minimize the risk of spillover to domestic pig herds.

The circulation of viruses of medical and veterinary importance is monitored to evaluate risks to both human and animal health. Among the species most commonly used in surveillance programs, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) plays a key role due to its high popu-lation density and its contacts with rural swine herds in the areas under investigation. In this study, molecular and serological analyses were carried out on wild boar samples collected from the regions of Apulia, Basilicata, Campania, and Calabria. The aim of this study is assessing the circulation of Influenza viruses, porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), Flaviviruses, and Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV). Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of Influenza virus and PCV-2 in the wild population, while serological moni-toring detected specific antibodies against Influenza viruses, Flaviviruses, and ADV. The overall objective of the study is to deepen the understanding of virus circulation in the wildlife of Southern Italy, using the wild boar as an additional sentinel species for epidemiological surveillance activities. The distinctive feature of the project lies in its multi-pathogen approach applied to a reference population distributed across a parti-cularly wide geographical area, allowing for the simultaneous assessment of the circu-lation of different viruses over a large territory.