Diagnostic Microbiology, Anatomo-histopathology, Parasitology and Mycology

The Diagnostic Microbiology, Anatomo-histopathology, Parasitology and Mycology Department is concerned with the ascertainment of the causes of pathologies of farmed animals and wild animals .

The Department carries out clinical and anatomo-pathological examination, isolation and identification of bacteria, mycetes and  parasites, using traditional methods, automated systems and molecular biology techniques (PCR, for example) with particular regard to zoonotic agents (Trichinella spp., Brucella spp., Micobacterium spp., Salmonella spp., etc.), to agents which cause economic losses on livestock farms (E. coli, Clostridium spp., Chlamydia spp., Mycoplasma spp., etc.) and to aetiological agents of bacterial diseases for which the Institute is an OIE Reference Laboratory and/or National Reference Centre (Brucellosis, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia).

The Department also performs histological examinations and ultrastructural studies on tissue samples to investigate both animal pathologies and pathogenetic processes, with particular regard to veterinary oncology, Pulmonary Adenomatosis of sheep and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP).

Within the Department, support work is carried out for the Entomological Surveillance Plan against Bluetongue; a national network of insect traps allows it to provide epidemiological information on insects of the genus Culicoides which are the vectors of the disease.

Finally, the Department is the corporate reference point in the matter of microscopy, BSE, meat & bone meal in feedingstuff and enteric pathology of rabbits: all of these are activities to which the staff are committed in national workgroups and research groups and for purposes of internal and external corporate training.