National Reference Centre for Brucellosis
The National Reference Centre for Brucellosis provides technical and scientific support to the Ministry of Health and to the network of Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali (IIZZSS). It produces and standardises diagnostic reagents, develops and validates analytical methods, performs strain typing and organises interlaboratory proficiency tests. It contributes to surveillance and eradication plans, to staff training and to the management of health emergencies.
The National Reference Centre for Brucellosis (NRCB) was established the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM) by Ministerial Decree on 4 October 1999. It was created to provide a highly specialised national structure capable of delivering technical and scientific support to the Ministry of Health and to the network of Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali (IIZZSS) on matters related to animal and human brucellosis.
Its principal responsibilities include the typing of Brucella spp. strains isolated by other laboratories and the standardisation of analytical methods, ensuring consistent and high-quality diagnostic results across the country. The Centre also organises interlaboratory proficiency tests (ring tests) among the IIZZSS to assess performance and harmonise diagnostic procedures.
Another core area of activity involves collaboration with European and international Reference Centres, as well as with Third Countries, to facilitate knowledge exchange and ensure continuous updates of diagnostic methodologies. The Centre also provides the Ministry of Health with technical assistance and specialist information, supporting the management of health emergencies and the development of surveillance and eradication plans.
Institutional duties include organising training courses for technical and scientific staff from other Istituti Zooprofilattici, disseminating scientific advances and updated diagnostic protocols for the detection and control of brucellosis, and preparing specific intervention plans in the event of outbreaks, in support of regional and local veterinary services.
The Centre is also responsible for the production, storage, calibration and distribution of reference reagents—such as antigens, antibodies and antisera—supplied to the IIZZSS network and to research bodies. In this way, the NRCB ensures the availability of high-quality, standardised materials essential for reliable and reproducible diagnostic analyses.
Overall, the National Reference Centre for Brucellosis serves as a key scientific and operational hub for protecting animal and public health. It plays a central role in implementing national brucellosis control and eradication programmes and in coordinating diagnostic activities across the IIZZSS network.
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D.M. del 4 ottobre 1999 "Centri di Referenza nazionali nel settore veterinario" (Brucellosi)(166 KB)
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Manuela Tittarelli
Head
Graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Bologna (1988). Registered in the national professional register of biologists (1990, no. EA_007475).
She currently holds a highly specialised executive position (Dirigente sanitario con incarico di altissima professionalità, effective from 2024).
She is Head of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for brucellosis, as well as of the National Reference Centre for brucellosis, and is responsible for the serum bank within the national network of bio-reagent banks.
Graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Bologna (1988). Registered in the national professional register of biologists (1990, no. EA_007475).
She currently holds a highly specialised executive position (Dirigente sanitario con incarico di altissima professionalità, effective from 2024).
She is Head of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for brucellosis, as well as of the National Reference Centre for brucellosis, and is responsible for the serum bank within the national network of bio-reagent banks.
Her role includes responsibility for the validation and accreditation of testing methods used by the Animal Health Laboratory. This involves organising inter-laboratory comparison tests, validating reagents, maintaining updated lists of reference materials, and harmonising testing methods in accordance with the guidance of relevant national and European Union reference laboratories.
She collaborates with relevant departments within the Institute and with the network of IIZZSS laboratories in managing the activities of the NRL and the National Reference Centre for brucellosis. She also works in partnership with the EU Reference Laboratory (EU-RL) for brucellosis.
She manages and participates in national and international research projects and collaborates with WOAH reference laboratories and with FAO as a brucellosis expert. She organises and attends national and international conferences, both as speaker and participant.
She has been employed at IZSAM since 1992, when she was appointed Assistant Biologist (Level IX) after passing a public recruitment procedure based on qualifications and examinations (1990 call). Initially assigned to the Animal Health Laboratory and the Serology Unit, in 1994 she was entrusted with coordinating all technical and operational activities of the Serology Unit at IZSAM. She worked in the Immunology and Serology Unit for thirty years as Head of Unit (1994–2024), and since 2009 also as Head of the National Reference Centre for brucellosis.
Over the years, she has enhanced her professional development by attending numerous training courses and visiting various national and international animal health laboratories.
She is co-author of 89 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals (Scopus h-index: 16).
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