Summer research activities at the Benevento site

The Benevento Research Site, Coordinato dal prof. Luigi Esposito, is continuing the activities of identifying indicators of ecosystem health and biodiversity (WP2). After having communicated to the Italian Ministry of Health and obtained the authorization of the Animal Welfare Body OPBA (WP4 Ethical sustainability), on August 1, 2024 the work team of Partner 10 UNINA continued the operations of collecting biological indicators as foreseen by the OneAquaHealth Sampling protocols.

Supported by competent and authorized operators directed by Dr. Alberto Gentile, samples of fish fauna (with the use of the electro-shocker) and macroinvertebrates were taken. In order to encourage communication and dissemination of the OneAquaHealth project (WP7), the Local Allied LIPU with the architect Marcello Stefanucci and the students of the Master Innovative Systems for the Conservation of Euro-Mediterranean Fauna active at the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production – UNINA participated in the operations. The collected samples (macroinvertebrates) will be sent to the Coordinator OAH Universidad de Coimbra while the Local Allied IZSM will analyze samples of Water (Department of Coordination Environment-Health and Human-Environment Relations, coordinated by dr Mauro Esposito) and fishes (service of diagnostics in ichthyovirology, coordinated by dr Fabio Di Nocera). The UNINA laboratories will work to identify the microbiota of the fish fauna (Laboratory of Microbiology of Food of Animal Origin, coordinated by prof. Nicoletta Murru), any cytopathological lesions (Laboratory of Histology and Veterinary Pathological Cytology, coordinated by prof Manuela Martano) and and oxidative stress (Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, coordinated by Prof. Simona Tafuri). We like to conclude that in a very hot August, research and researchers do not stop and wish everyone a happy holiday.

Author: Luigi Esposito, DVM, PhD, University of Napoli Federico II