Consumer interest in alternative protein sources has grown rapidly, driven by concerns over health, sustainability and environmental impact. This study investigated perceptions, attitudes and behaviours towards alternative proteins among residents of Piedmont, northwestern Italy. A cross-sectional online and face-to-face survey was conducted between August and October 2023, collecting sociodemographic data, dietary habits, and respondents’ perception on plant-, insect-, snail-, and algae-derived products. Responses from 627 participants were analysed. Approximately one-third reported consuming alternative proteins, with uptake being higher among women, younger adults, and flexitarian respondents. Plant-based alternatives were by far the most frequently consumed, while insect- and snail-based products elicited strong aversion. Curiosity and interest on alternative options predominated among consumers, whereas indifference and disgust—particularly among women and towards animal-derived options—were common among non-consumers. Reported barriers included taste, quality, and safety concerns, with price emerging as a major constraint. These findings indicate that acceptance of alternative proteins is unevenly distributed across demographic groups and product types. Plant-based options currently appear best positioned to facilitate dietary shifts, whereas animal-derived alternatives remain hindered by cultural and sensory barriers. Supporting the protein transition will require strategies to improve affordability, sensory appeal and consumer trust.

Honey bees are affected by several pathogens, including different RNA viruses such as Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV) and Deformed Wing Virus (DWV). Real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR) is a standard method to detect these viruses, but it requires the sacrifice of bees. In this study, we tested an RT‐PCR method, routinely used to detect ABPV, CBPV and DWV in bees, using hive debris as an alternative non‐invasive matrix to adult bees. We analysed results both at apiary and colony levels. The performances of hive debris as an alternative matrix to bees were tested by calculating sensitivity, specificity and the Kappa index using RT‐PCR results on bees as reference. At apiary level, specificity was high for ABPV and DWV, whereas sensitivity was high only for DWV. At colony level, specificity was over 75% for all the three viruses, whereas test sensitivity was poor. Hive debris has the potential to be an effective alternative matrix to detect viruses on honey bees at apiary level; therefore, new research studies focused on standardization of the sampling and RNA extraction procedure are needed to develop a reliable diagnostic tool for a field application.

Snail farming in Italy has experienced steady growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand in the food and cosmetic sectors. The most commonly reared species include the garden snail (Cornu aspersum) and the Roman snail (Helix pomatia). Despite the occurrence of disease and high mortality outbreaks in snail farming, the aetiological agents remain poorly characterised. To date, no confirmed viral infections have been reported in terrestrial gastropods, although viral sequences have been detected in metagenomic studies and virus-like infections have been described in the Mediterranean snail (Theba pisana). This study investigated the presence of Herpesvirales and Baculoviridae in terrestrial edible snails from three Italian regions, including two farmed species (C. aspersum and H. pomatia) and one wild species (Eobania vermiculata). A total of 83 samples were analysed by PCR. Neither herpesviruses nor baculoviruses were detected. These findings represent the first targeted investigation of these viral groups in Italian terrestrial edible snails and provide baseline data for future virological surveillance. Further studies are needed to characterise viral diversity, assess its epidemiological relevance, and clarify potential implications for snail health and farming systems.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global concern, exacerbated by the overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming. Honey bees (Apis mellifera), widely used as bioindicators of environmental contamination, may also serve as sentinels for monitoring the environmental spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study investigated the presence of ARGs and the gut microbiota composition of honey bees sampled from 11 apiaries located in a region of Northwestern Italy characterized by intensive livestock farming. PCR and sequencing analyses revealed a widespread presence of tetracycline resistance genes—particularly tet(B) and tet(C)—as well as occasional detection of blaTEM, qnrB, and int1 genes. ARGs were also identified in bacterial colonies isolated from bee guts, notably in Hafnia spp. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the gut microbiota revealed dominance of genera such as Bartonella, Snodgrassella, Gilliamella, Bombilactobacillus and Lactobacillus. Some samples showed reduced microbial diversity or shifts associated with possible dysbiosis. The findings confirm the potential of honey bees as bioindicators for environmental AMR surveillance and underscore the need for further research to elucidate correlations between ARGs presence and microbial community structure in honey bees from various ecological contexts.

Snail farming in Italy has experienced steady growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand in the food and cosmetic sectors. The most commonly reared species include the garden snail (Cornu aspersum) and the Roman snail (Helix pomatia). Despite the occurrence of disease and high mortality outbreaks in snail farming, the aetiological agents remain poorly characterised. To date, no confirmed viral infections have been reported in terrestrial gastropods, although viral sequences have been detected in metagenomic studies and virus-like infections have been described in the Mediterranean snail (Theba pisana). This study investigated the presence of Herpesvirales and Baculoviridae in terrestrial edible snails from three Italian regions, including two farmed species (C. aspersum and H. pomatia) and one wild species (Eobania vermiculata). A total of 81 individuals yielded 83 biological matrices (50 foot tissue and 33 haemolymph) which were analysed by PCR. Neither herpesviruses nor baculoviruses were detected. These findings represent the first targeted investigation of these viral groups in Italian terrestrial edible snails and provide baseline data for future virological surveillance. Further studies are needed to characterise viral diversity, assess its epidemiological relevance, and clarify potential implications for snail health and farming systems.