Data Sheet 5_Brucellosis in cattle and buffalo in southern Italian provinces: trends in presence of territory-specific One Health measures.pdf

IntroductionBrucella spp. infections in livestock continue to pose significant threats to public and animal health, as well as to local economies. In the European Union, Brucella abortus, which primarily affects cattle and buffaloes, has been successfully eradicated in some Member States and across northern and central Italy through mandatory eradication and control programmes. However, some provinces in southern Italy, including Caserta and Salerno (Campania Region), remain affected, while in other provinces, as in Isernia (Molise Region), brucellosis has temporarily re-emerged.
MethodsThe study examines brucellosis outbreaks occurring between 2019 and 2023 in these territories, focusing on livestock that play a key role in the milk value chain, an essential pillar for economic sustainability, environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation. Since brucellosis is a WOAH Listed Disease subject to mandatory notification, we analyzed data registered in Italian, European Union and International portals concerning these notifications. Furthermore, we correlated these data to the national and regional rules adopted in order to tackle bovine brucellosis, including the methods approved for the serological diagnosis of infection.
ResultsIn Isernia, a mountainous area where cattle ranching and traditional herding are widespread and culturally significant, brucellosis re-emerged in the period 2019–2021, when 30 outbreaks arose, 50% of outbreaks were linked to grazing practices. Outbreaks were promptly extinguished through veterinary intervention due to the low density of farms, which typically house only a few animals, and new cases have not been detected since 2022. The provinces of Caserta and Salerno present a different scenario, as they are major hubs for water buffalo breeding. The stringent tailored control measures, implemented in these provinces through a regional programme, led to a gradual decline in the prevalence of buffalo brucellosis outbreaks in Caserta, that involved 8,766 heads in 2019 and 6,164 heads in 2023, and in the eradication in Salerno, with 369 positive heads in 2019 brought to 0 since 2022. The Caserta programme specifically addresses the province’s particular vulnerabilities, which include frequent flooding events and the presence of the largest and most densely concentrated water buffalo population in Italy.
DiscussionThe results highlight the fundamental importance of a One Health approach, which includes targeted interventions adapted to the specific context in which they are applied. This approach must actively involve key stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, public health authorities, and policymakers, and be supported by financial investments. Key components include strengthening biosecurity measures, implementing advanced animal traceability systems, continuous professional training programmes (including for farmers), expert-led information-sharing technologies, and promoting voluntary serological self-monitoring practices.

引言
布鲁氏菌属（Brucella spp.）感染在畜禽中仍对公共卫生、动物健康以及地方经济构成重大威胁。在欧盟，主要侵害牛和水牛的流产布鲁氏菌（Brucella abortus），已通过强制根除与防控计划在部分成员国以及意大利北部和中部地区成功根除。然而，意大利南部的部分省份，包括坎帕尼亚大区（Campania Region）的卡塞塔（Caserta）和萨勒诺（Salerno），仍受疫情影响；而在莫利塞大区（Molise Region）的伊塞尔尼亚（Isernia）等其他省份，布鲁氏菌病则出现了暂时性复燃。

材料与方法
本研究针对上述区域2019至2023年间暴发的布鲁氏菌病疫情展开分析，重点关注乳价值链中发挥关键作用的畜禽——乳价值链是经济可持续性、环境保护与文化遗产保护的重要支柱。由于布鲁氏菌病属于世界动物卫生组织（World Organisation for Animal Health, WOAH）列明的须强制通报疫病，我们对意大利、欧盟及国际通报数据库的相关数据进行了分析。此外，我们还将这些数据与为防控牛布鲁氏菌病而制定的国家及地区法规（包括获批用于感染血清学诊断的方法）进行关联分析。

结果
在伊塞尔尼亚（Isernia）这片以山地为主、牧场养殖与传统放牧文化盛行的区域，布鲁氏菌病在2019至2021年间复燃，累计暴发30起疫情，其中50%的疫情与放牧行为相关。由于该区域农场密度较低，且单个农场通常仅饲养少量畜禽，疫情通过兽医干预得到迅速扑灭，自2022年起未再检出新增病例。卡塞塔（Caserta）与萨勒诺（Salerno）两省的疫情形势则有所不同：两地均为水牛养殖的核心产区。通过区域计划在两省实施的严格针对性防控措施，使卡塞塔的水牛布鲁氏菌病疫情患病率逐步下降——2019年涉及8766头水牛，2023年降至6164头；萨勒诺则实现了疫情根除：2019年检出369头阳性水牛，自2022年起已无阳性病例报告。卡塞塔的防控方案专门针对该省的特殊易感因素制定，包括频发的洪涝灾害，以及意大利规模最大、密度最高的水牛种群分布。

讨论
本研究结果凸显了同一健康（One Health）理念的核心重要性——该理念需结合应用场景制定针对性干预措施，同时须积极吸纳养殖户、科研人员、公共卫生主管部门与政策制定者等关键利益相关方参与，并获得财政投入支持。其核心要点包括强化生物安全措施、搭建先进的动物溯源系统、开展持续的专业培训（面向养殖户在内的相关人员）、依托专家主导的信息共享技术，以及推广自愿性血清学自我监测实践。