Towards the Eradication of Brucellosis in Italy: Epidemiological Insights and Strategic Perspectives
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| Авторы: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Формат: | artículo original |
| Статус: | Versión publicada |
| Дата публикации: | 2026 |
| Описание: | Brucellosis still remains a significant zoonotic disease in southern European countries, posing serious threats to public health, animal welfare, and agricultural economics. Italy, despite more than five decades of structured eradication efforts, continues to experience endemic brucellosis in specific regions, particularly in Sicily, Campania, and Apulia. This study analyzes the evolution, effectiveness, and limitations of Italian brucellosis control programs, offering critical insights and a roadmap towards final eradication. We evalu- ated the trends in brucellosis prevalence and incidence across cattle, buffalo, and small ruminants. Notable progress has been made during last decades, with the large majority of Italian territories now free from brucellosis without vaccination, and a clear down- ward trend in both animal and human cases. However, persistent hotspots underscore critical challenges: extensive and pasture-based farming practices, illegal animal move- ments, and delayed implementation of culling protocols remain significant obstacles. The study proposes recommendations for the program improvement, including strengthening animal dentification and traceability, digitalizing movement records, and creating pasture registries. Integration of One Health approaches, involving veterinary and public health coordination, is vital for timely outbreak detection and control. Furthermore, enhancing farmer awareness, improving diagnostic systems, and deploying strategic vaccination in hot-spot areas could help in breaking the transmission cycle. Ultimately, eradication in Italy requires adaptive strategies tailored to regional and local epidemiological realities, robust political commitment, and community engagement. Lessons learned can inform similar efforts across endemic regions globally, highlighting the importance of context- specific, multisectoral approaches to disease control. |
| Страна: | Portal de Revistas UNA |
| Институт: | Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas UNA |
| Язык: | Inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:www.revistas.una.ac.cr:article/22830 |
| Online-ссылка: | https://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/veterinaria/article/view/22830 |
| Ключевое слово: | epidemiology One Health livestock |