Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 remains one of the predominant seasonal influenza viruses worldwide and continues to evolve under the combined effects of host immunity, vaccination, and changing epidemiological conditions. However, the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its evolutionary dynamics remains poorly understood. We investigated the genetic variability and phylodynamic evolution of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of Italian A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses collected between 2009 and 2026. Time-calibrated phylodynamic analyses, Bayesian Skyline Plots (BSPs), Lineages Through Time (LTT) graphs, principal component analysis (PCA), and codon-based selection analyses were used to characterize long-term evolutionary patterns. Both HA and NA followed continuous evolutionary trajectories, with a marked post-2020 genetic shift associated with the emergence of 6B.1A.5a.2-related clades. HA showed greater evolutionary variability than NA, whereas selection analyses identified only one positively selected site in HA and none in NA, consistent with reduced adaptive diversification in recent strains. Phylodynamic analyses revealed a marked decline in effective population size and lineage accumulation during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by renewed expansion after 2022. Overall, Italian A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses exhibited reduced genetic diversity, limited evidence of positive selection, and coordinated genomic restructuring following the pandemic. These findings provide new insights into the long-term evolutionary dynamics of A(H1N1)pdm09 in Italy and reinforce the importance of sustained genomic surveillance for anticipating evolutionary changes and informing evidence-based public health strategies.

Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is essential for the sustainable management of freshwater fish, particularly in systems influenced by long-term stocking. In this context, the genetic status of Albanian common carp (Cyprinus carpio) remains poorly understood. Here, 125 individuals from five populations representing natural lakes (Ohrid and Shkodra), semi-managed freshwater systems (Prespa and Belshi), and a hatchery stock (Tapiza) were genotyped at 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci. High genetic diversity was detected across all populations, with low genetic differentiation and relevant estimates of gene flow. Bayesian clustering identified two main genetic groups, with natural lake populations predominantly represented by a single genetic lineage and managed systems showing higher admixture. Multivariate and phylogenetic analyses supported a close genetic relationship between Ohrid and Shkodra natural lake populations. These patterns may reflect historical stocking and translocation programmes, potentially involving genetically similar or shared broodstock sources, which may have contributed to the observed genetic similarity among populations while maintaining high levels of within-population genetic diversity. The more homogeneous genetic composition of natural lake populations may also reflect local environmental conditions that influenced the distribution of allelic variants among populations. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive genetic assessment of Albanian common carp and establishes a baseline for future sustainable management plans.