OIE RL for « West Nile Encephalitis » – « Federica Monaco » – « Italy »
OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2012
Address of laboratory / Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, ITALY
Tel.: / (0039) 0861 33231
Fax: / (0039) 0861 332251
e-mail address: /
website: /
Name (including Title) of Head of Laboratory (Responsible Official): / Fernando Arnolfo
General Director
Name(including Title and Position) of OIE Reference Expert: / Federica Monaco
Head of the diagnosis and surveillance of the exotic viral diseases of animals laboratory
Date of submission to the OIE / January 25th, 2013
Instructions
This form should be used by an OIE Reference Laboratory to report activities that took place from January through December of the past year (2012), unless otherwise stated, and must be submitted by the end of January every year.
Only those activities that concern the disease (or topic) for which the laboratory is recognised by the OIE should be mentioned. The questionnaire structure follows the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for OIE Reference Laboratories, available at:
Each ToR(blueitalicised text)has been placed as a heading covering the group of questions related to it.
Please note the reditalicisedtext is given as guidance and should be deleted from your report and substitute with your data. Examples are based onpast Annual Reports or have been invented.
The questionnaire represents a means of gathering information on activities carried out by OIE Reference Laboratories and making it available to OIE Member Countries and to the OIE Reference Laboratory network.
This annual report will remain available for consultation on the OIE web site:
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ToR:To use, promote and disseminate diagnostic methods validated according to OIE Standards
Test recommended by the OIE / Total number of test performed last yearIndirect diagnostic tests / Nationally / Internationally
ELISA IgG / 6139 tests / 182 tests (Bolivia and Peru)
ELISA IgM / 992 tests / 194 tests (Bolivia, Peru and Croatia)
Virus neutralization (microtitre format) / 3514 tests / 194 tests
Plaque Reduction neutralization test (PRNT)
/ 571 tests / 194 testsDirect diagnostic tests / Nationally / Internationally
Cell Culture (Vero)
/ 49 tests / -Real-time RT-PCRWNV lineage 1
/ 76 tests / -Real-time RT-PCRWNV lineage 2
/ 58 tests / -Real-time RT-PCRWNV lineages 1 and 2
/ 7120 tests / 46 tests (Tunisia)IF (Flavivirus Group)
/ 49 tests / -Genome sequencing
/ 6 partial and 3 full genome sequences / -Mosquitoes morphological identification
/ 776 samples / 154 samples (Tunisia)ToR:To develop reference material in accordance with OIE requirements, and implement and promote the application of OIE Standards.
Tostore and distribute to national laboratories biological reference products and any other reagents used in the diagnosis and control of the designated pathogens or disease.
2.Did your laboratory produce or store imported standard reference reagents officially recognised by the OIE or other international bodies?
X Yes No
3.Did your laboratory supply standard reference reagents to OIE Member Countries?
X YesNo
Type of reagent available / Related diagnostic test / Produced/stored / Amount supplied nationally
(ml, mg) / Amount supplied internationally
(ml, mg) / Name of recipient OIE Member Countries and of institutions
Control positive serum / Virus neutralization (microtitre format) and PRNT / Produced / 1 ml / - / -
Control negative serum / Virus neutralization (microtitre format) and PRNT / Produced / 1 ml / - / -
WNV monoclonal antibody / IF / Produced / 600 µl / - / -
Positive antigen for ELISA test (Eg101 strain) / ELISA IgG / Produced / 10 ml / - / -
Negative antigen for ELISA test / ELISA IgG / Produced / 10 ml / - / -
WNV strain Eg101 / Real-time RT-PCR and Cell Culture / Produced / 200 ml / - / Italy (Italian IIZZSS)
WNV strain B956 / Real-time RT-PCR and Cell Culture / Produced / 60 ml / - / Italy (Italian IIZZSS)
4.Did your laboratory produce diagnostic reagents other than the OIE-approved standard reference reagents?
X Yes No
5.Did your laboratory produce vaccines?
YesX No
6.Did your laboratory supply vaccines to OIE Member Countries?
YesX No
ToR:To develop, standardise and validate, according to OIE Standards, new procedures for diagnosis and control of the designated pathogens or diseases
7.Did your laboratory develop new diagnostic methods validated according to OIE Standards for the designated pathogen or disease?
X YesNo
8.Did your laboratory develop new vaccines according to OIE Standards for the designated pathogen or disease?
YesX No
Name of the new test or diagnostic method or vaccine developed / Description and References (Publication, website, etc.)Virus neutralisation test in microtiter format / OIE Manual chapter on West Nile Fever
ToR:To provide diagnostic testing facilities, and, where appropriate, scientific and technical advice on disease control measures to OIE Member Countries
9.Did your laboratory carry out diagnostic testing for other OIE Member Countries?
X Yes No
Name of OIE Member Country seeking assistance / Date(dd/mm) / No. samples received for provision of diagnostic support (i.e. from surveillance campaign) / No. samples received for provision of confirmatory diagnoses
Namibia / 20/01 / 2 samples / -
Peru / 06/06 / - / 116 samples
Bolivia / 20/09 / - / 66 samples
Croatia / 18/06 / - / 12 samples
Tunisia / 10/09 / 46 samples / -
10.Did your laboratory provide expert advice in technical consultancies on the request of an OIE Member Country?
X Yes No
Name of the OIE Member Country receiving a technical consultancy / Purpose / How the advice was providedCentro de Diagnóstico de Sanidad Animal SENASA, Perù / Interpretation of serological results collected during the surveillance activities / Remote assistance
Etlik Veterinary Control Central Research Institute , Ankara, Turkey / To provide support to the Turkish Institute to enhance capacity and improve scientific capabilities in relation to diagnosis and surveillance of West Nile Disease / Twinning project
Croatian veterinary Institute, Split, Croatia / Support to interpret the diagnostic results and to draw a national surveillance plan / Remote and in loco assistance
ToR:To carry out and/or coordinate scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories, centres or organisations
11.Did your laboratory participate in international scientific studies in collaboration with OIE Member Countries other than the own?
X Yes No
Title of the study / Duration / Purpose of the study / Partners (Institutions) / OIE Member Countries involved other than your countryOrigin and evolution of recent vector-borne virus incursions in the Mediterranean Basin / 3 years / Assessment of the role played by the most common species of migrating birds in the new recent WNV and USUV incursions;
Study on the prevalence and possible genetic evolution of USUV and WNV isolates circulating in Italy and in Mediterranean Countries correlated to their pathogenicity;
Development of diagnostic techniques to identify and characterize the different strains of Flaviviruses. / Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire
Biopharma
Croatian Veterinary Institute / Tunisia
Morocco
Croatia
Transnational network for early detection of emerging animal diseases in the Mediterranean Basin / 3 years / Development and validation of a network for the collection and the analysis of data generated from surveillance systems;
Analysis of environmental variables related to vector/disease association;
Evaluation of inactivated and recombinant WNV vaccines used in Morocco. / Etlik Central Veterinary Control and Research Institute;
Biopharma;
Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire;
National Center for Zoosanitary Vigilance. / Turchia
Morocco
Tunisia
ToR:To collect, process, analyse, publish and disseminate epizootiological data relevant to the designated pathogens or diseases
12.Did your Laboratory collect epizootiological data relevant to international disease control?
X Yes No
13.Did your laboratory disseminate epizootiological data that had been processed and analysed?
X Yes No
14.What method of dissemination of information is most often used by your laboratory?
(Indicate in the appropriate box the number by category)
a) Articles published in peer-reviewed journals:...... 5
b) International conferences:...... 7
c) National conferences:...... 2
d) Other:...... internet
- For publications see annex: “List of publications”
ToR: To provide scientific and technical training for personnel from OIE Member Countries
To recommend the prescribed and alternative tests or vaccines as OIE Standards
15.Did your laboratory provide scientific and technical training to laboratory personnel from other OIE Member Countries?
X Yes No
a) Technical visits:......
b) Seminars:......
c) Hands-on training courses:...... 2
d) Internships (>1 month):......
Type of technical training provided (a, b,c or d) / Country of origin of the expert(s) provided with training / No. participants from the corresponding countryc / Thailand / 1
c / Tunisia / 1
ToR:To maintain a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant for the pathogen and the disease concerned
16.Does your laboratory have a Quality Management System certified according to an International Standard?
X Yes No
Quality management system adoptedISO/IEC 17025
17.Is your laboratory accredited by an international accreditation body?
X Yes No
Test for which your laboratory is accredited / Accreditation bodyELISA IgG / ILAC (Accredia)
Plaque Reduction neutralization test (PRNT) / ILAC (Accredia)
Virus neutralization (microtitre format) / ILAC (Accredia)
Real-time RT-PCR WNV lineage 1 / ILAC (Accredia)
18.Does your laboratory maintain a “biorisk management system” for the pathogen and the disease concerned? (See Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals 2012, Chapter 1.1.3 or Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals 2012, Chapter 1.1.1)
X Yes No
ToR:To organise and participate in scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE
19.Did your laboratory organise scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE?
X Yes No
National/International / Title of event / Co-organiser / Date (mm/yy) / Location / No. Participants
International meeting / Kick-Off Meetings: “Origin and evolution of recent vector-borne virus incursions in the Mediterranean Basin” and “Transnational network for early detection of emerging animal diseases in the Mediterranean Basin” / - / 04/12 / Teramo, Italy / 22
20.Did your laboratory participate in scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE?
X Yes* No
*The table content refers to the participation in international meetings
Title of event / Date(mm/yy) / Location / Role (speaker, presenting poster, short communications) / Title of the work presented
Chronic Wasting Disease / 06/12 / Seoul, South Korea / Speaker / Current West Nile Disease Status and Research
6th Annual Meeting EPIZONE “Viruses on the move” / 06/12 / Brighton, UK / Presenting poster / West Nile Disease in Sardinian wild birds
6th Annual Meeting EPIZONE “Viruses on the move” / 06/12 / Brighton, UK / Presenting poster / West Nile and Usutu virus vectors in Italy
15th International Congress of Infectious Diseases / 06/12 / Bangkok, Thailand / Presenting poster / Importance of dogs as sentinels of West Nile virus activity in urban and suburban areas
15th International Congress of Infectious Diseases / 06/12 / Bangkok, Thailand / Presenting poster / West Nile Disease (WND) in Sicily
Endemic and Emerging Infectious Diseases of Priority in the Middle East and North Africa: Research Opportunities and Biosafety in a Changing Environment / 06/12 / Istanbul,
Turkey / Presenting poster / West Nile Disease in the Mediterranean Basin: activities and results of collaboration between the Istituto G. CaporaleTeramo (Italy) and Middle East and North African countries
Epidemiological and clinical aspects of West Nile virus infection in Croatia and neighbouring countries / 10/12 / Zagreb, Croatia / Speaker / West Nile virus in Italy, five years of epidemic
Arbo-Zoonet final meeting, Joint Conference on Emerging and Re-emerging epidemics affecting global health / 09/12 / Orvieto, Italy / Presenting poster / An integrated information system for the management of West Nile Disease surveillance in Italy.
Arbo-Zoonet final meeting, Joint Conference on Emerging and Re-emerging epidemics affecting global health / 09/12 / Orvieto, Italy / Presenting poster / Analysis of surveillance systems in place in European Mediterranean countries for West Nile virus (WNV) and Rift Valley fever (RVF)
ToR:To establish and maintain a network with other OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease and organise regular inter-laboratory proficiency testing to ensure comparability of results
21.Did your laboratory exchange information with other OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease?
X Yes No
22.Was your laboratory involved in maintaining a network with OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease by organising or participating in proficiency tests?
X Yes No
Purpose of the proficiency tests: (validation of a diagnostic protocol: specify the test; quality control of vaccines: specify the vaccine type, etc.) / Role of your Reference Laboratory (organiser/participant) / No. participants / Participating OIE Ref. Labs/ organising OIE Ref. Lab.Validation of the virus neutralisation test in microtiter format by using PRNT as gold standard / Co-organiser / 2 / APHIS, USDA OIE Ref. Lab.For WN(co-organizer)
Validation single stage conventional, nested, and real time PCR assays by side-by-side performance comparison / Co-organiser / 2 / APHIS, USDA OIE Ref. Lab. For WN (co-organizer)
23.Did your laboratory collaborate with other OIE Reference Laboratories for the same disease on scientific research projects for the diagnosis or control of the pathogen of interest?
X Yes No
Title of the project or contact / Scope / Name(s) of relevant OIE Reference LaboratoriesRevision of the OIE Manual chapter on West Nile Fever / Updating and revising the protocols of old procedures and adding new diagnostic procedures / APHIS, USDA OIE Ref. Lab. For WN
ToR:To organise inter-laboratory proficiency testing with laboratories other than OIE Reference Laboratories for the same pathogens and diseases to ensure equivalence of results.
24.Did your laboratory organise or participate in inter-laboratory proficiency tests with laboratories other than OIE Reference Laboratories for the same disease?
X Yes No
Purpose for inter-laboratory test comparisons[1] / No. participating laboratories / Participating OIE Member CountriesHarmonising diagnostic tests / 2 / Italy (Sardinia region)
ToR:To place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE
25.Did your laboratory place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE?
X Yes No
Kind of consultancy / Location / Subject (facultative )Harmonization of the diagnostic tests included in the West Nile Fever chapter of the OIE Manual / Teramo / Revision of chapter for WNF
ad hoc Group / Paris / Validation of diagnostic tests
Annex : List of publications
List of publications:
- Savini G., Capelli G., Monaco F., Polci A., Russo F., Di Gennaro A., Marini V., Teodori L., Montarsi F., Pinoni C., Pisciella M., Terregino C., Marangon S., Capua I., Lelli R. 2012. Evidence of West Nile virus lineage 2 circulation in Northern Italy. Vet Microbiol. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.02.018.
- Mulatti P., Capelli G., Lorenzetto M., Terregino C., Monaco F., Bonfanti L., Marangon S. Surveillance of West Nile Virus in north-eastern Italy, 2011: equine IgM and mosquitoes to early detect virus circulation. Zoonoses and Public Health. 2012 Sep 13. doi: 10.1111/zph.12013.
- Lelli R, Calistri P, Bruno R, Monaco F, Savini G, Di Sabatino D, Corsi I, Pascucci I. West Nile transmission in resident birds in Italy. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2012 Oct; 59 (5):421-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01287.x. Epub 2011 Dec 28.
- Barbić L., Listeš E., Katić S., Stevanović V., Madić J., Starešina V., Šeparović S., Di Gennaro A., Savini. G. Spreading of West Nile virus infection in Croatia. Vet Microbiol. 2012 Oct 12;159(3-4):504-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.04.038. Epub 2012 May 9.
- Di Francesco G., Savini G., Maggi A., Cavaliere N., D’Angelo A. R., Marruchella G. 2012. Equine meningo-encephalitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis: a case report observed during West Nile disease surveillance activities. Veterinaria Italiana 48: 431-443.
International conferences:
- Goffredo M. “Training on Identification of Culicoides and Mosquitoes at Species Level and Molecular Typing of Culicoides Species”, TAIEX 46424 Ankara, Turkey, 17 - 18 April 2012.
- Savini G., Monaco F., Briguglio P., Pinto S., Pinoni C., Polci A., Di Gennaro A., Pais M., Teodori L., Bruno R., Ruiu A., Lelli R. West Nile disease in Sardinian wild birds. 6th Annual Meeting EPIZONE Brighton, UK, 12 - 14 June 2012.
- Fares F., Savini G., Goffredo M., Cipriani M., Di Gennaro A., Marini V., Santilli A., Ippoliti C., Monaco F., Lelli R. West Nile and Usutu virus vectors in Italy. 6th Annual Meeting EPIZONE, "Viruses on the move", Brighton, UK, 12 - 14 June 2012.
- Guercio A., Savini G., Monaco F., Calistri P., Bruno, S. Di Bella, P. Di Marco, V. Di Marco, A. Torina, G. Purpari, R. Lelli. West Nile Disease (WND) in Sicily. 15th International Congress of Infectious Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand, 13 - 16 June 2012.
- Purpari G., Savini G., Monaco F., Calistri P., Di Gennaro A., Cannella V ., Vitale F., Mira F., Di Bella C., Guercio A., Lelli R. Importance of dogs as sentinels of West Nile virus activity in urban and suburban areas. 15th International Congress of Infectious Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand, 13 - 16 June 2012.
- Savini G., Monaco F., El Harrak M., Sghaier S., Erturk A., Kennerman E., Calistri P., Lelli R. West Nile Disease in the Mediterranean Basin: activities and results of collaboration between the Istituto G. Caporale Teramo (Italy) and Middle East and North African countries. “Endemic and Emerging Infectious Diseases of Priority in the Middle East and North Africa: Research Opportunities and Biosafety in a Changing Environment”. Istanbul, Turkey, 18 - 21 June 2012.
- Lelli R. Current West Nile Disease Status and Research. “Chronic Wasting Disease”. Seoul, South Korea, 18 - 23 June 2012.
- Cito F., Narcisi V., Danzetta M.L., Iannetti S., Di Sabatino D., Bruno R., Carvelli A., Atzeni M., Sauro F., Calistri P. Analysis of surveillance systems in place in European Mediterranean countries for West Nile virus (WNV) and Rift Valley fever (RVF). Arbo-Zoonet final meeting, Joint Conference on Emerging and Re-emerging epidemics affecting global health. Orvieto, Italia, 19 - 21 September 2012.
- Calistri P., Iannetti S., Danzetta M.L., Narcisi V, Cito F., Di Sabatino D., Bruno R., Sauro F., Atzeni M., Carvelli A., Giovannini A. The Components of “One World – One Health” Approach. Arbo-Zoonet final meeting, Joint Conference on Emerging and Re-emerging epidemics affecting global health. Orvieto, Italia, 19 - 21 September 2012.
- Danzetta M.L., Iannetti S., Di Sabatino D., Bruno R., Cioci D., Cito F., Narcisi V., Primavera A. , Carvelli A., Atzeni M., Sauro F., Calistri P. An integrated information system for the management of West Nile Disease surveillance in Italy. Arbo-Zoonet final meeting, Joint Conference on Emerging and Re-emerging epidemics affecting global health. Orvieto, Italia, 19 - 21 September 2012.
- Savini G. West Nile virus in Italy, five years of epidemic. Symposium “Epidemiological and clinical aspects of West Nile virus infection in Croatia and neighbouring countries” Zagreb, Croatia, 25 October 2012 (oral presentation).
National conferences:
- Marruchella G., Di Francesco G., Vita S., Portanti O., Marini V., d'Angelo A.R., Savini G Infezione da virus west nile: protocolli immunoistochimici a confronto nel modello murino. XIV Congresso Nazionale della S.I.Di.L.V. Sorrento, 24 - 26 October 2012.
- Savini G., Puggioni G., Di Gennaro A., Rossi R., Di Francesco G., Rocchigiani A., Polci A., Marini V., Pinoni C., Arru D., Rolesu S., Lorusso A., Monaco F. Ceppi del virus della West Nile appartenenti al lineage 2 isolati in uccelli selvatici in Sardegna. XIV Congresso Nazionale della S.I.Di.L.V. Sorrento, 24 - 26 October 2012 (oral presentation).
- Di Francesco G., Savini G., Maggi A., Cavaliere N., D’Angelo A. R., Marruchella G. Meningo-encefalite equina da Halicephalobus gingivalis: contributo casistico nell’ambito del piano di sorveglianza West Nile disease. IX Congresso Nazionale dell’Associazione Nazionale di Patologia Veterinaria, Perugia, 25-26 May 2012.
Other communications