Andrea Armani

University of Pisa | UNIPI · Department of Veterinary Sciences

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease with consequences for public health as well as the economy. In the EU, compulsory eradication programmes have been applied, and most territories in Italy have been reported as disease-free (FTs). However, outbreaks (OBs), i.e., an officially confirmed occurrence of bTB in one or more animals in an est...

Next Generation Sequencing Technologies (NGS), particularly metabarcoding, are valuable tools for authenticating foodstuffs and detecting eventual fraudulent practices such as species substitution. This technique, mostly used for the analysis of prokaryotes in several environments (including food), is in fact increasingly applied to identify eukary...

In the present study, in order to expand the knowledge on the distribution of parasites of the genus Eustrongylides in never investigated Italian lacustrine areas of Tuscany and Latium, fish specimens from four Tuscan lakes (Bilancino, Chiusi, Montedoglio and San Cipriano) and two Latium lakes (Bolsena and Bracciano) were collected and analyzed. Th...

To standardize control activities, it is necessary to introduce checklists to support the control of consignments entering the European Union through border control posts (BCPs). This study aimed to develop a pilot checklist for the control of fishery consignments, preliminarily identified as the predominant group of goods entering the Livorno (Ita...

The original notifications (n=1355) managed by the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the Tuscany region in the seven-year period 2015-2021 were analyzed. 68.9% of them were classified as alert notifications, and they mostly originated (56.3%) from official controls on the market, followed by the company's own checks (29.1%). Italy was the mos...

Food authentication using molecular techniques is of great importance to fight food fraud. Metabarcoding, based on the next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, allowing large‐scale taxonomic identification of complex samples via massive parallel sequencing of fragments (called DNA barcodes) simultaneously, has become increasingly popular in m...

In this study, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectroscopy was applied to detect Tetrodotoxin and analogues (TTXs) on pufferfish (Sphoeroides marmoratus) tissues, accidentally found in the stomach of a cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). The cuttlefish tissues were also analysed. Pufferfish (digestive tract, skin, gonads, liver/spleen, muscle)...

The discovery of a pufferfish specimen (Tetraodontidae) inside a frozen cuttlefish, purchased by a fishmonger, and caught in the central-east Atlantic (FAO 34) is reported. The consumer, who reported this case to FishLab (Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa) for investigation, was a student of Veterinary Medicine at the University...

Pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea can represent an emerging public health risk due to the possible accumulation of marine neurotoxins (TTXs and STXs) in their tissues. In this study, the presence of pufferfish species in the Strait of the Sicily (Lampedusa Island, Italy) was investigated using a Citizen Science (CS) appro...

Economically motivated or accidental species substitutions lead to economic and potential health damage to consumers with a loss of confidence in the fishery supply chain. In the present study, a three–year survey on 199 retail seafood products sold on the Bulgarian market was addressed to assess: (1) product authenticity by molecular identificatio...

The growing demand for poultry meat and the complexity of the supply chain affect traceability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to apply DNA metabarcoding to verify the labelling compliance of multi-species poultry meat commercial products. Overall, the molecular identifications conducted in this study confirm that all products contain the spe...

In this study the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis on mislabeling in seafood products sold on the Italian market are presented The aim was especially targeted to answer the research question “What is the mislabeling rate in seafood products sold on the Italian market?“. Scientific papers (SPs), were filtered using pre-determined inc...

The present study aimed at assessing the validity and accuracy of the new official Bulgarian list of seafood trade names in compliance with EU requirements, and the list evolution and adherence to the Bulgarian market trends. The new list consists of 88 commercial designations (CD) associated with 81 scientific names (SN) provided as 72 species, 8...

The compliance to European and National safety and labelling requirements relating to the sale of spontaneous and cultivated mushrooms and mushroom-based products in Tuscany was assessed. The evidence was collected by the Mycological Inspectorate of North-West Tuscany Local Health Authority during 90 inspections (from 2016 to 2020) at large-scale d...

Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) is one of the large mammals most spread worldwide, highly adaptable, and its population rapidly increased in many areas in Europe, including Italy, where Tuscany is considered particularly suitable for wild boar. Wild boars are potential hosts for different etiological agents, such as Brucella spp., Leptospira spp. and Pse...

We studied the genetic resistance to Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni in wild boar using both STR analysis and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A total of 60 wild boars hunted in Tuscany (Italy) during the 2018/2019 hunting season were analyzed and genotyped. During postmortem operations, fecal swabs, liver samples and kidneys wer...

Parasitic nematodes of the genus Anisakis are among the most important biological hazards associated with seafood. A survey of Anisakis spp. in European hake (Merluccius merluccius) was undertaken as this species is a staple of the Portuguese diet. Moreover, a literature review of cases of anisakiosis reported from Portugal, a country with one of t...

In the last few years, the widespread diffusion of potentially zoonotic parasitic nematodes of the genus Eustrongylides in the Trasimeno Lake, Central Italy, prompted FBOs operating in the freshwater fish supply chain to define preventive measures to reduce or eliminate this new hazard from fishery products. The results of the self-checks for paras...

Game meat is increasingly appreciated and consumed in Europe, also due to the growing population of wild ungulates. In addition to interesting nutritional properties and market opportunities, game meat is characterized by some specific public health issues. This review focuses on the etiology, epidemiology, public health aspects and risk management...

Obtaining a Veterinary Surgeon degree relies on the acquisition of “Day One Competences” (DOCs), among which professional skills related to meat inspection are acquired during visits to abattoirs. In 2020, lockdown measures due to COVID-19 pandemic limited on-site practical training. The present study describes the creation of an e-learning course...

An analysis of the notifications in the European Union (EU) Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal due to residues of veterinary drugs in fish and fish products over the period 2001–2021 was conducted examining the following data: number and type of notifications; year of notification; notification basis; notifying country; country of...

The labelling compliance with EU and national legislation of market products composed of Mytilus spp. sold in Italy was evaluated. Then, a PCR-RFLP technique analyzing a region of the Polyphenolic Adhesive Protein (PAP) nuclear gene was used to support the label assessment. The technique allows to discriminate the species most commercialized in EU...

In this study the labelling compliance of 40 caviar products collected from a major Chinese Business to Customer online platform was assessed. The label information was analyzed according to the requirements of the Chinese standard for prepackaged food and of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Resolution on Conserva...

This study aims at building an ITS gene dataset to support the Italian Health Service in mushroom identification. The target species were selected among those mostly involved in regional (Tuscany) poisoning cases. For each target species, all the ITS sequences already deposited in GenBank and BOLD databases were retrieved and accurately assessed fo...

The aim of this poster is to make a Literature Review about the microplastics in Bivalves molluscs, to support an exposure assessment to humans. In fact, microplastics are defined as heterogeneous mixture of differently shaped materials in the range of 0.1–5,000 µm and, because of their small size and widespread occurrence, they are now available a...

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium, commonly found in the nostrils, on the skin and on the hair of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It can produce a wide variety of virulence factors, including staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs). In literature, 24 different SEs and many variants have been identified; among these, only five (th...

A nationwide survey conducted in China aimed at authenticating species in shark lips products (鱼唇) (n=252) by full DNACOI barcoding (FDB; 652 bp) is presented. In addition, the efficiency of the FDB and of the mini DNA barcode (MDB; 127 bp) proposed by Fields et al. (2015) (PloS one, 10, e0114844.) in identifying the shark species detected in this...

Gilthead seabream and European seabass are among the most appreciated farmed fish species in the European Union. This case study analysed the self-control plan procedures adopted in an offshore cage farm in Central Italy to prevent anisakids infection, in the light of the Anisakis contamination pathways previously proposed for farmed Atlantic salmo...

A molecular approach (DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis) using mitochondrial COI and 16SrRNA genes was used to identify species in crocodile dried food products (meat and feet) and skin sold on the Chinese market and generically labelled as “鳄鱼” (crocodiles). All the 80 collected samples (100%) were identified at species level and five of the...

Proper investment in mushroom production (farming and wild mushroom picking activities) may represent a winning strategy for many countries, including Italy, to better face the problems of food security and environmental impact, and to break away from imports, enhancing the local products. However, the risk related to the consumption of poisoning s...

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging and globally spread zoonosis caused by pathogenic genomospecies of Leptospira. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) are an important Leptospira host and are increasing in population all over Europe. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate Leptospira spp. infection in the reproductive systems of wild boar hunted in two Italian...

This study aimed at selecting effective histological indicators of the freezing process, for the discrimination of fresh and frozen common octopus Octopus vulgaris. Histological indices of freezing process were selected in mantle and arm muscle and axial nerve tissues. Seven histological parameters were chosen: overall muscle tissue structural orga...

The activities performed by the Official Veterinarian at the slaughterhouse represent a useful source of data for the control of issues affecting human and animal health and welfare. This study analyzed the data deriving from ten years (2010–2019) of meat inspection in a pig slaughterhouse in Tuscany (Italy) to investigate the transport mortality r...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence, infection level and distribution of ascaridoid larvae in cephalopod products sold in Italy. Data on the species most commonly commercialized as whole and fresh on the Italian market were collected. After comparing commercial and literature data, Eledone spp., comprising E. cirrhosa and E. moscha...

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced as secondary metabolite by various Aspergillus and Penicillium species, with ascertained nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic potential. As a result of the introduction of alternative vegetable sources to substitute fish meal and fish oil, OTA may also contaminate aquafeed. This represent...

Cephalopods, an appreciated seafood product, are common hosts of marine cestodes. The aim of this work is to report visible alive plerocercoids in longfin inshore squid (Doryteuthis pealeii), a cephalopod species commercialized as fresh and whole in Italy. Seventy D. pealeii from the Northwest Atlantic (FAO area 21) were collected and visually insp...

Eustrongylides spp. are cosmopolitan parasitic nematodes with several freshwater fish species as intermediate or paratenic hosts, rarely reported as zoonotic agents. This work aims to report, for the first time, the occurrence of this parasite in specimens of big scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) caught in the lake Massaciuccoli (Northwest Tuscany...

An extensive survey of the Bulgarian seafood market was conducted to assess the diversity of fish products available and to compare the provided commercial designations (CDs) and scientific names (SNs) on the products with those on the Bulgarian official seafood designations list, in light of the requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 1379/2013 on sea...

Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) are among the most popular fish on the Italian and European market. The present study aimed to assess the occurrence and localization of ascaridoid nematodes in wild specimens of these two species caught in a previously not investigated area of the Tyrrhenian Sea (FAO sub...

In November 2019, the FishLab was consulted by a wholesaler for solving an identification issue concerning a batch of products labelled as “Chilean mussels” (Mytilus chilensis). Samples of the batch had been molecularly identified first as M. chilensis by an external private lab and, subsequently, as Choromytilus chorus through a second analysis en...

The sanitary survey is aimed at classifying and monitoring the production areas of live bivalve molluscs (LBM) and it is performed using standards that are provided by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s Guide to Good Practice. In this study, data from the sanitary survey carried out by the Asl5 Spezzino on the productio...

The presented global retrospective study on human cases of tetrodotoxin (TTX) intoxication caused by seafood consumption was aimed at updating the relative risk according to seafood product categories (fish, gastropods, cephalopods, arthropods) and geographical areas. Overall, 3032 cases from five continents were collected, mainly from Asia. Over h...

The present study aimed at verifying labelling compliance to the current EU legislation, as well as the products' identity against substitution incidents, of processed herring currently available on the Italian market. Totally, one hundred and twenty-two herring samples including whole smoked exemplars, smoked fillets, pickled and canned products w...

Ethnic foods are nowadays increasingly consumed by Western citizens. However, deficiencies in traceability and poor hygiene conditions have been often reported for ethnic foods. In this study, seafood products (fish, crustaceans and seaweeds) purchased in Southern Italy from ethnic food stores were analysed to assess their labelling compliance with...

In this study, COI and 16S rRNA genes were used to molecularly identify dried seahorse and pipefish sold on the Chinese market. One hundred and ninety-eight products, including 168 seahorse and 30 pipefish, were collected from dried seafood sellers in Zhanjiang (Guangdong province, China)and analyzed. Overall, the study identified 5 different speci...

In this study, 111 ready-to-eat anchovy products were collected on the Italian market. The products were molecularly identified through a BLAST analysis of a highly informative cytb fragment amplified by a newly designed primer pair for the genus Engraulis spp. and the mislabelling rate was assessed. In addition, the labels were analysed in the lig...

Species substitution, favoured by the high supply chain complexity and the huge number of marketable species, poses economic and health issues and contribute to stocks exploitation. To face this issue, the current EU Regulation no. 1379/2013 imposes to the Member States to publish a list reporting the official designations, corresponding to species...

Taxonomic identification of marine organisms is sometimes hindered by morphological similarities and utilization of wrong criteria. Therefore, the morphological approach often requires the support of molecular tools which usually rely on a comparison of DNA sequences available in free publicly-accessible databases. However, the process can be affec...

Herring is the third most commercialized fish species in the EU and a common host of Anisakis spp. larvae. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence, distribution and viability of Anisakis spp. larvae in different kind of ready to eat (RTE) herring products. One hundred and thirty-five products, consisting of 50 smoked whole specimens and...

European food law states that official checks on goods exchanged within the community should be performed at the place of origin, trusting in the guarantees provided by the supplier Member State. However, spot checks at the destination are also allowed. The Veterinary Offices for Compliance with EU Requirement (UVAC) are uniquely Italian offices im...

A retrospective analysis on human anisakiasis in Italy since its first description in 1996 was performed by conducting a literature search. Inclusion criteria based on the presence of a larva and on parasite identification were applied. Epidemiological data and clinical features were analysed. Particular attention was paid to the source of infectio...

Food Business Operators (FBOs) rely on laboratory analysis to ensure seafood traceability. DNA barcoding and Forensically Informative Nucleotide Sequencing may represent a support within self-checking programs finalized to suppliers’ qualification and products identity certification. The present study aimed at verifying the usefulness of a decision...

Several studies have demonstrated that fish feeds contain significant concentrations of chemical contaminants, many of which can bioaccumulate and bioconcentrate in fish tissues. The serious concern regarding the use of fish meal and fish oil in the the aquaculture industry has led to extensive search of alternative raw materials for aquafeeds. The...

Through the analysis of the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal, this study aimed at highlighting the most relevant noncompliance affecting seafood and explore possible relationships between variables characterizing notified products. Trends in RASFF notifications can be useful to improve controls and audits of official authority...

Several pufferfish species belonging to the Tetraodontidae family are currently present in the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2013 Lagocephalus sceleratus is increasingly reported also along Italian coasts, where other two species of less concern, Lagocephalus lagocephalus and Sphoeroides pachygaster, also occur since a long time. This study represents o...

Pufferfish may be responsible for human intoxications due to the accumulation of a potentially lethal neurotoxin, called tetrodotoxin (TTX). While traditionally some species of pufferfish are consumed in Japan, their marketing is banned in the EU. However, their illegal presence in mislabelled products has been reported. Moreover, some species of t...

The present study aimed at assessing the labelling compliance of seafood products sold on the Bulgarian market in the light of the European legislation and at verifying their identity by DNA barcoding. A preliminary analysis of the official Bulgarian seafood denomination list was conducted. The labels of 97 seafood products collected from Bulgarian...

In this study the occurrence of visible anisakid larvae in semi-preserved anchovy products sold on the Italian market was investigated. Totally, 107 ready to eat products (33 salted-ripened, 49 in oil and 25 marinated) were sampled. Each sample was digested, then the digested material was observed under natural and UV light. Parasites were counted,...

The Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies represent a turning point in the food inspection field, particularly for species identification in matrices composed of a blend of two or more species. In this study NGS technologies were applied by testing the usefulness of the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) in seafood traceability. Sixt...

Food business operators (FBOs) are required to implement hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) procedures to manage risks associated with products they handle. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge on zoonotic parasites associated with raw seafood of 23 FBOs responsible for sushi restaurants. The survey, carried o...

Molecular data have shown that jellyfishes are more geographically restricted and evolutionarily diverged than previously thought. We examined genetic variation and divergence within the meroplanktonic barrel jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo in the Mediterranean Sea; specific sampling areas were the northern Adriatic, western Mediterranean and Tunisian c...

Squids, cuttlefish and octopus are used for the preparation of traditional products sold on the Chinese market without a specific denomination. In this study DNA barcoding and phylogenetic distance analysis of COI and 16S rRNA genes' fragments were used to characterize the most commonly processed species in dried whole, grilled shredded and salted...

In the European Union, slaughter without stunning is allowed for religious slaughter to obtain halal and kosher meat. Especially in the case of Jewish slaughtering, cuts which are not deemed as kosher are sold to regular market without any specific labelling. This survey, conducted in Tuscany in 2016, aimed to quantify the carcasses rejected in rel...

The importation of fishery products into the European Union (EU) is constantly rising. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey on labeling non-compliances on fishery products imported from non-EU/extra-European countries, in collaboration with the veterinary staff of the Italian Ministry of Health Border Inspection Post of Livorno-Pisa (BIP)-...

Few studies applying NGS have been conducted in the food inspection field, particularly on multispecies seafood products. A preliminary study screening the performance and the potential application in NGS analysis of 14 “universal primers” amplifying 16SrRNA, cytb and COI genes in fish and cephalopods was performed. Species used in surimi preparati...

The European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), one of the most important pelagic fish resources in the Mediterranean Sea, is frequently infected by anisakid larvae. Food Business Operators (FBOs) should use appropriate sampling plans and analytical methods to avoid commercialization of massively infected batches and reduce the risk of transmission...

New dietary habits have favored an ever growing popularity of Eastern country cooking style and in particular of sushi. Even though the Reg. (EU) 1379/2013 does not apply to restaurants and caterers, the Reg. (EU) 1169/2011 establishes that all the information they provided to the final consumer have to meet the transparency requirements as regards...