title: First report of Brucella suis biovar 2 in a semi free-range pig farm, Italy.
abstract: This communication describes the isolation of Brucella suis (B. suis) biovar 2 in semi‑free‑range pigs located in the province of Rome, Italy. Sera of 28 pigs from a herd with reproductive problems were tested for brucellosis. Twenty-five sera (89%) were found positive to Rose Bengal Test (RBT), while 22 (79%) were positive to Complement Fixation Test (CFT). Two positive pigs were slaughtered, organs were collected and tested for the presence of bacteria. Brucella spp. was isolated from the spleens and the abdominal lymph nodes of the 2 subjects. The isolates were identified as B. suis biovar 2 by biochemical and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. The frequent infringement in the fences of the premises and the birth of striped piglets provided evidence that sows mated with wild boar, the major reservoir of B. suis biovar 2. Conversely, the isolation of B. suis biovar 2 from spleens and lymphnodes of seropositive slaughtered animals only, as well as the constant negative results from all vaginal swabs and the abortion materials tested, raise doubts on the implication of B. suis biovar 2 in the infertility of the holding.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana 'M. Aleandri', Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barlozzari
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Gladia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macrì
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorenzetti
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maggiori
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dottarelli
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurelli
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Giannatale
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tittarelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battisti
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gamberale
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D041021:Brucella suis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*