{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]],"date-time":"2025-12-18T09:49:10Z","timestamp":1766051350106,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,17]],"date-time":"2025-12-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765929600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study documents an outbreak of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) on a commercial meat rabbit farm in Italy. Following the observation of increased mortality in kits and severe enteric symptoms across all age groups, SE was first isolated in early March 2024. A diagnostic and epidemiological investigation was subsequently undertaken to characterize the anatomo-histopathological features in deceased rabbits and to identify the source and transmission dynamics of the infection. Between March and December 2024, a total of 1550 rectal swabs from live rabbits, 60 environmental samples, and 168 carcasses were collected and subjected to microbiological analysis. SE-positivity rates ranged from 8.4% to 36.3%, depending on the sample type considered. Co-infections with Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus spp. were also detected. Gross and histological lesions in SE-positive rabbits included fibrinonecrotizing enterocolitis, hepatosplenomegaly, and renal damage such as suppurative nephritis and tubulorrhexis. Despite the implementation of enhanced biosecurity protocols, SE re-emerged over time and across different pens. Given the zoonotic potential of SE, the outbreak described underscores the need for rabbit-specific Salmonella control programs to safeguard both animal and public health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15243642","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]],"date-time":"2025-12-18T09:15:21Z","timestamp":1766049321000},"page":"3642","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Unveiling a Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in an Italian Meat Rabbit Farm: Histopathological Features and Epidemiological Investigation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9857-1298","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giulia","family":"Graziosi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell\u2019Emilia, BO, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0355-3324","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Letizia","family":"Cirasella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e Dell\u2019Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 47122 Forl\u00ec, FC, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2085-3516","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Caterina","family":"Lupini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell\u2019Emilia, BO, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0931-8421","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giulia","family":"D\u2019Annunzio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e Dell\u2019Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 41122 Modena, MO, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6232-0857","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena","family":"Catelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell\u2019Emilia, BO, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Claudio","family":"Romboli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Operating Unit of Animal Health and Hygiene of Livestock Production, Department of Public Health, Azienda Unit\u00e0 Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) della Romagna, 47122 Forl\u00ec, FC, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Caterina","family":"Siclari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e Dell\u2019Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 47122 Forl\u00ec, FC, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Simona","family":"Perulli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e Dell\u2019Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 47122 Forl\u00ec, FC, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2730-2362","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Fiorentini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e Dell\u2019Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 47122 Forl\u00ec, FC, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0874-6910","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanni","family":"Tosi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e Dell\u2019Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 47122 Forl\u00ec, FC, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6254-675X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patrizia","family":"Bassi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e Dell\u2019Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 40127 Bologna, BO, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5830-3694","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giulia","family":"Mescolini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Operating Unit of Animal Health and Hygiene of Livestock Production, Department of Public Health, Azienda Unit\u00e0 Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) della Romagna, 47122 Forl\u00ec, FC, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"FAOSTAT (2024, January 21). 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