Metrics details
the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak to be a pandemic
the understandable concern that mosquitoes could transmit the virus began to increase among the general public and public health organisations
We have investigated the vector competence of Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus
the two most common species of vector mosquitoes in Europe
for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Due to the very unusual feeding behaviour of Ae
we also evaluated the role of this mosquito in a potential mechanical transmission of the virus
mosquitoes were allowed to take several infectious blood meals
The mosquitoes were then collected and analysed at 0
albopictus females were allowed to feed for a short time on a feeder containing infectious blood and then on a feeder containing virus-free blood
Both mosquitoes and blood were tested for viral presence
This is the first study to show that the most common species of vector mosquitoes in Europe do not transmit SARS-CoV-2 and that Ae
albopictus is unable to mechanically transmit the virus from a positive host to a healthy host through host-feeding
this diurnal species does not make a complete meal with a single bite but
it can make short and frequent meals on the same or different hosts
we have assessed the vector competence of the two most common mosquito species in Europe
We also evaluated potential mechanical transmission of the virus through Ae
The study was carried out by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) and the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe)
The mosquitoes used in the experimental infections were from long-established laboratory colonies of Cx
albopictus maintained at the ISS Insectary
and cages containing 80 females of each species were set up
the mosquitoes were starved for 12 h before the experimental infection by depriving them of the sucrose solution which they normally fed on
The infection experiment was performed in a Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory (BSL3) cabinet at 28 °C and a relative humidity of about 70%
Female mosquitoes were allowed to feed for 120 min through a pig intestine membrane covering a glass feeder containing the blood that was maintained at 37°C by a warm water circulation system
albopictus were allowed in parallel to take an uninfected blood meal; these mosquitoes were subsequently monitored during the study
to verify the survival of mosquito populations under experimental conditions
Experiments at IZSVe were performed on Ae
albopictus and followed the same protocol adopted by ISS with slight modifications
the virus was diluted 1:20 to achieve a final concentration of 106 PFU/ml in defibrinated sheep blood and a different artificial feeder device was used (Hemotek Inc.
Two cages of 80 females from long-established laboratory colonies of Ae
albopictus from the Insectary of Entostudio Srl (Ponte San Nicolò
After the meal only fully engorged females were selected in a glove box and then transferred and maintained in a climate chamber (26 ± 1 °C; 70% relative humidity; 14/10-h light/dark cycle) with a 10% sucrose solution
About 6–12 mosquitoes of both species were individually analysed at each Institute on 0
specimens of each mosquito species were tested to confirm the ingestion of viral particles; at 3
each mosquito was individually examined by separating the body from the legs and wings
Mosquito bodies were investigated to evaluate the infection rate (IR)
calculated as the number of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive bodies compared to the total number of females tested
Legs and wings were tested to assess the dissemination rate (DR)
calculated as the number of samples with SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive legs and wings (pooled together) among infected mosquitoes
The samples were exchanged between the two Institutes for cross-analysis to strengthen the molecular analysis and make the results more reliable
The mechanical transmission test was performed using the same membrane feeding system and under the same conditions as described above
on a feeder containing infectious blood at a concentration of 1.2 × 106 PFU/ml
the feeder was removed and replaced immediately afterwards with a feeder containing 3 ml of virus-free blood
and the mosquitoes were allowed to complete the meal until they became replete
the blood was collected and analysed for the viral presence
The engorged female mosquitoes were killed and stored at − 80°C for subsequent analysis
The blood was subjected to RNA extraction and amplification by qRT-PCR using both protocols
Viral titers in Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens bodies analysed at different days post‐infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
The results of the mechanical transmission analysis did not highlight the presence of viral genome in the virus-free blood on which the Ae
albopictus mosquitoes completed the meal immediately after feeding partially on a feeder containing infectious blood
The engorged mosquitoes were individually analysed by qRT-PCR
The viral titer detected in individual mosquitoes was variable
ranging from 6.32x102 to 3.44x101 PFU equivalents
depending on ingested viral particles by mosquitoes during the disturbed infectious blood meal
pipiens larvae and adults born from eggs deposited by potentially infected mosquitoes revealed that there was no vertical transmission of the virus
We also investigated the possible mechanical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by the Ae
a mosquito species with a diurnal and peculiar trophic activity which
can take short and frequent meals on the same or different hosts
Aedes albopictus females that had partially fed on the infectious blood and which were disturbed but soon afterwards were allowed to complete their meal with virus-free blood were all positive for the viral genome
confirming the ingestion of viral particles by the mosquitoes
virus-free blood was analysed and no viral genome was detected
This result suggests that mosquitoes which are partially engorged with a first infectious blood meal are unable to mechanically release the virus immediately thereafter upon biting an uninfected host
our findings provide additional and definitive scientific evidence that SARS-CoV-2 cannot replicate and spread in mosquitoes
through direct ingestion of an infectious blood meal
This study also shows for the first time that Ae
albopictus is unable to mechanically transmit the virus to a healthy host after first feeding on a SARS-CoV-2-positive host
even in the hypothetical case of very high viremia
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie
Clinical and virologic characteristics of the first 12 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States
Zheng S, Fan J, Yu F, Feng B, Lou B, Zou Q, et al. Viral load dynamics and disease severity in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Zhejiang province, China, January–March 2020: retrospective cohort study. BMJ. 2020;369:m1443. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1443
Detectable 2019-nCoV viral RNA in blood is a strong indicator for the further clinical severity
Exploring the possibility of arthropod transmission of HCV
Identification of hepatitis C virus in the common bed bug—a potential
Detection of H5N1 avian influenza virus from mosquitoes collected in an infected poultry farm in Thailand
SARS-CoV-2 does not replicate in Aedes mosquito cells nor present in field-caught mosquitoes from Wuhan
Huang YS, Vanlandingham DL, Bilyeu AN, Sharp HM, Hettenbach SM, Higgs S. SARS-CoV-2 failure to infect or replicate in mosquitoes: an extreme challenge. Sci Rep. 2020;10:11915. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68882-7
Riccardo F, Bolici F, Fafangel M, Jovanovic V, Socan M, Klepac P, et al. West Nile virus in Europe: after action reviews of preparedness and response to the 2018 transmission season in Italy, Slovenia Serbia and Greece. Glob Health. 2020;16:47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00568-1
Mechanical transmission of lumpy skin disease virus by Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
Mechanical transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by mosquitoes
The assessment of insecticidal impact on the malaria mosquito's vectorial capacity
from data on the proportion of parous females
Fortuna C, Remoli ME, Di Luca M, Severini F, Toma L, Benedetti E, et al. Experimental studies on comparison of the vector competence of four Italian Culex pipiens populations for West Nile virus. Parasites Vectors. 2015;8:463. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-1067-z
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) realtime rRT-PCR panel primers and probes. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/rt-pcr-panel-primer-probes.html
Corman VM, Landt O, Kaiser M, Molenkamp R, Meijer A, Chu DK, et al. Detection of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by real-time RT-PCR. Euro Surveill. 2020;25(3):2000045. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.3.2000045
and vaccines for novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Molecular and serological investigation of 2019-nCoV infected patients: implication of multiple shedding routes
The biology of mosquitoes volume 1: development
Janeh M, Osman D, Kambris Z. Damage-induced cell regeneration in the midgut of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Sci Rep. 2017;7:44594. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44594
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The authors thank Franco Mutinelli for his support in BLS3 IZSVe (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie)
Marina Sbattella and Ambrogio Carlei for technical support and Antonio Di Virgilio for veterinary assistance (Istituto Superiore di Sanità)
The study was partially funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
Claudia Fortuna and Fabrizio Montarsi contributed equally to this work
LT conceived and coordinated the study; CF
LT and AA performed the mosquito infection and subsequent sampling; CF and AA processed the mosquitoes and the blood of the mechanical transmission; GM performed the biomelocular analyses on the mosquitoes; CF wrote the manuscript together with MDL; GR read and revised the manuscript
MB and AM performed the mosquito infection and subsequent sampling; SR performed the biomolecular analyses on the mosquitoes; GC critically revised the manuscript
All authors read and approved the final manuscript
The protocol for routine blood mosquito feeding was approved by the Service for Biotechnology and Animal Welfare of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health) and was authorised by the Italian Ministry of Health with Decree 222/2011-B
which was implemented in Italy through European Directive 86/609/EEC on laboratory animal protection
the presence and approval of an Ethical Committee is not required
The animals used in this study were housed and treated in strict accordance with the recommendations in the Legislative Decree 116/92 guidelines
and animal welfare was routinely checked by veterinarians from the Service for Biotechnology and Animal welfare
were from the animal facility of the ISS; blood was collected from the ear vein of the rabbit according to the European legislation for the care and the use of laboratory animals
All efforts were made to minimize animal suffering
and a commercial certified defibrinated sheep blood was used (Batch 19420.1)
very common in Italy (used for making sausages); it can be found in every butcher store or supermarket
We just rinsed it with a saline solution and cut a square portion before use
The authors declare that they have no competing interests
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04578-9
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The exhibition is dedicated to the 9 women and 11 men who inspired the creation of the European Union in which we live today
The main intention of the exhibition is to emphasize how these women and men were convinced that the people of Europe
while remaining proud of their identity and their national history
were determined to overcome the old divisions and build together their common destiny
The aim of the exhibition is to spread the understanding of the European Union and citizenship among European citizens through the knowledge of the common European history
Indirizzi PEC del Comune di Venezia
Call Center Unico
tel. (+39) 041 2747070
On joint initiative of the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padua
Democracy and Peace" of the same University and of the National Coordinating Body of Local Authorities for Peace and Human Rights
100 Municipal Councils of big and small Italian cities - from Sondrio to Ragusa
from Este (Padua) to Ponte San Nicolò (Padua) - have so far adopted a petitionary motion for the international recognition of the human right to peace
Also the Regional Council of Veneto has approved the same petitionary motion
The initiative aims to support the work of the Intergovernmental Group of the UN Human Rights Council that is currently involved in discussing the draft of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace
The Italian Municipalities are showing a direct interest in the debate currently taking place in Geneva due also to the fact that most of their Statutes include a norm which
referring at the same time to the Italian Constitution and to the International Human Rights Law
recognises peace as a fundamental right of individuals and people (the so called “peace and human rights” norm): this situation is still a unique case in the world
the Italian sub-national legislation is preceding the formal process of international legal positivisation on the subject
Strengthened by this original legitimation
and referring to Article 1 of the “United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals
Groups and Organs of Society to promote and protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms”
a delegation of Mayors representing the City Councils that have adopted the above-mentioned petitionary motion will be in Geneva
at the Palais des Nations on Monday 23 June
in order to deliver a copy of the Councils’ deliberations to Ambassador Christian Guillermet
President of the intergovernmental Human Rights Council Working Group
Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations
to the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
The initiative joins the International Campaign for the recognition of the human right to peace
promoted by the Human Rights Centre and the UNESCO Chair "Human Rights
Democracy and Peace" of the University of Padua
by the Franciscan Order of the Sacro Convento di San Francesco di Assisi
by the National Coordinating Body of Local Authorities for Peace and Human Rights
the Peace Roundtable (Tavola della Pace) and the Peace Network PerugiaAssisi
a “Virgin Mary who is called of the Pillar,” a work that has been heavily reworked today
although not to the point of totally obscuring the typical features of Stefano di Benedetto’s art (delicate complexions
The fresco assigned to him is the one on the lower level
and it depicts four saints (including Saint Bartholomew
recognizable by the iconographic attribute of the knife
and hold the jar of ointments that identifies their profession as doctors)
we find a fragmentary Madonna Enthroned with Child
originally facing an anonymous patron on her right
and bordered by several frames decorated with plant motifs and medallions with portraits of Roman emperors
but not only that: an inscription has been brought back to legibility that would place the painting around 1410
a painter active in Padua in the late 14th and early 15th centuries
whose main work is the polyptych in the church of San Fidenzio in Roncaiette di Ponte San Nicolò
the Paduan Madonna represents the apex of the anonymous artist’s career
the moment of closest proximity to the art of Gentile da Fabriano
“Even if the attribution is not confirmed by subsequent analysis,” reads a note
“it would be an important testimony to the Umbrian Renaissance
which is still firmly rooted in late Gothic figurative culture
but which by now preludes Humanism and the art of Mantegna and Donatello
of which important examples had not yet been identified in the Basilica del Santo
early 15th-century painting also comes to be documented with a fresco of high quality.”
studies continue in the Basilica of the Saint
not only on the frescoes in the Chapel of the Madonna Mora (in fact
various diagnostic analyses are allowing scholars to verify the state of conservation of the frescoes and plasters present
partially financed by the CIRCe Center (Interdepartmental Research Center for the Study of Cementitious Materials and Hydraulic Binders)
which has signed an agreement with the Venerable Ark of St
researchers who are part of the Center and the European infrastructure IPERION CH (MOLAB) have collaborated regarding diagnostic techniques on the paintings and plasters
theCNR-ISAC Institute (Padua Unit) regarding environmental monitoring and measurements
and from the Department of Cultural Heritage at UNIPD regarding geophysical and multispectral surveys
“had two main objectives: on the one hand
the in-depth investigation of the visible fourteenth-century surfaces and those covered by the seventeenth-century plaster of the central portion of the eastern part
These investigations were carried out using state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques capable of penetrating to various depths beneath the surface layers
monitoring of the climatic situation of the hall and the state of conservation and degradation of the frescoes
we focused on the two portions of plaster discovered during the works carried out before 1900
which reveal two fragments of a crucifixion
hypothesizing from the two fragments what the structure of the crucifixion and the position of the crucified Christ figure might have been
the investigations focused on the upper part of the wall
and in particular at the height of the false tympanum frescoed in the mid-17th century
where the Franciscan coat of arms is visible
geognostic investigations carried out in depth on the masonry have shown that there is no evidence of openings or infill that would suggest the removal of the original fresco to make room for doors
Based on the investigations carried out with laser interferometry (DHSPI)
it was found that there are numerous points where the visible portions of the fresco extend continuously under the seventeenth-century plaster; moreover
further investigations carried out with very high-frequency imaging (THz imaging) revealed the presence of microstructures referable to a halo with grooves and golden reflector
quite similar to those measured on the halo present in the visible part of the fresco
The area studied should therefore refer to the halo of the head of Christ on the cross
would still be present in the central area of the painting
there are still large portions of the Giottesque fresco yet to be recovered under the surface layer
Below are photos of the frescoes in the Madonna Mora Chapel
the Human Rights Centre will celebrate Human Rights Day 2014
focusing on the issue “We have a right to peace”
at Aula Magna “Galileo Galilei” of the University of Padua
the event will represent a very important and significant moment due to the fact that almost 300 Italian municipalities
provinces and regions have approved the petitionary motion for the international recognition of peace as a fundamental right of individuals and peoples
The ongoing mobilization in Italy has aroused great interest at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe
thanks to the initiative of the Municipality of Strasbourg
the President of the Intergovernmental Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council is conducting informal consultations at the Human Rights Council in Geneva
on the finalisation of the text of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace
The challenge is now to put pressure on the Intergovernmental Working Group to conclude its work by delivering a Document that truly recognizes the human right to peace and the related legal obligations
without being another example of general guidelines on the culture of peace
Among the delegations that have already confirmed their participation
represented by the Municipality of Assisi and by the Sacro Convento of San Francesco
All the mayors who are currently committed to building peace from the bottom and who are trying to make their voice directly heard by the United Nations will play a central role on this occasion
and representatives of non-governmental organisations are also invited to participate in the event
If you want to participate, please complete the following online form to register
The event will be broadcast live on Radio Bue - The web radio of the University of Padua http://www.radiobue.it/
Rector of the University of PaduaMarco Mascia
Director of the Human Rights CentreMaria Luisa Coppola
The strategic importance of the right to peace
Presentation of the proposal addressed to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations
Delegate of the Sacro Convento of San Francesco of Assisi
Video "We have a Right to Peace" Peace March PerugiAssisi
The Cities for Human Rights and Peace
Rovereto; President of the Active citizenship Commission
Human Rights Club of StrasbourgFlavio Lotti
Director of the National Coordination of Local Authorities for Peace and Human Rightsd
President of the Association Beati Costruttori di Pace
Video "Peace Has Your Signature" Peace Without Borders
the Associations and the Civil Service for Peace and Human Rights
student of the Master Degree in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance of the University of PaduaErsilia Filosa and Monica Dario
Regional Delegate of the Civil Service volunteers
Video Students of the University of Padua at the PerugiAssisi
National mourning for Pope Francis affects Liberation celebrations throughout Italy
The recent death of Pope Francis has deeply shaken Italy
leading to a series of changes in the celebrations of April 25
the day that commemorates the Liberation from Nazi-fascism
have decided to cancel or limit traditional events as a sign of respect for the national mourning
This decision has sparked a heated political and social debate
highlighting the different sensitivities present in the country
Municipalities such as Ono San Pietro and Cividate Camuno
have already canceled the parades planned for Liberation Day
Domodossola has also taken a similar measure
including the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement
The controversy has also spread to Romano di Lombardia
The imposed regulation prohibits the performance of musical pieces
thus limiting the expression of a fundamental historical moment for the country
The decision to limit the celebrations has generated mixed reactions
a center-right civic mayor has decided to stop the traditional procession
a center-left council has opted to cancel the celebrations as a sign of respect
the mayor has also reduced the length of the procession and has invited political parties not to display flags
but without the traditional municipal band
a decision that has raised questions about the management of the celebrations at such a delicate moment
The list of municipalities that have decided to modify the celebrations is long and extends along the entire Peninsula
This situation highlights not only the respect for the figure of Pope Francis
but also the different interpretations of mourning and historical memory
The events planned in the State Archives and other public places have been postponed or canceled
a sign that mourning has had a profound impact on every aspect of public life
The issue raises questions about how historical memory and respect for public figures can coexist in a context of celebrating freedom and democracy
Notizie.it is a newspaper registered with the Court of Milan n.68 on 01/03/2018
Impara come descrivere lo scopo dell'immagine (si apre in una nuova scheda)
Lascia vuoto se l'immagine è puramente decorativa