Diatheva at the SIDiLV National Congress 2025: advancing veterinary diagnostics in a One Health perspective
From October 15 to 17, 2025, Diatheva took part in the XXIII National Congress of the Italian Society of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics (SIDILV), held at the Saracen Sands Hotel & Congress Centre in Isola delle Femmine (Palermo) and organized in collaboration with the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia.
The event — Italy’s most important scientific meeting entirely dedicated to veterinary diagnostics — brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the network of Zooprophylactic Institutes, and leading university departments.
This year’s edition placed particular emphasis on the concept of Global Health, addressing the growing challenges of zoonotic diseases, climate change, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and environmental sustainability, along with the importance of risk communication and of advanced diagnostic strategies to improve the appropriateness of laboratory testing.
Dedicated sessions led by the Comitato di Appropriatezza diagnostica and the Comitato di Genomica further explored how innovation and standardization in laboratory methodologies can strengthen national surveillance systems.
As underlined by SIDILV President Loredana Baldi, the congress continues to represent not only a place for scientific progress but also a space for collaboration, dialogue, and professional exchange across the Italian veterinary diagnostic community.
Diatheva’s scientific contribution
Within this framework, Elisa Carloni, Diagnostics R&D Senior Specialist at Diatheva, presented the poster “Serological diagnosis of CAE/MV in a One Health perspective: validation and application of the new DIA-check MVV/CAEV ELISA Test”
The study explored the serological diagnosis of caprine arthritis/encephalitis (CAE) and maedi-visna (MV), two chronic infections caused by small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) that affect goats and sheep.
These viruses are mainly transmitted through colostrum and close contact among animals and can cause progressive inflammatory lesions in the lungs, joints, mammary glands, and central nervous system.
Although often asymptomatic, infected animals remain carriers and may spread the infection within herds. In the absence of vaccines or antiviral treatments, early serological diagnosis remains essential for containing viral dissemination and ensuring herd health.
Diatheva’s study focused on validating and applying in the field a new high-performance ELISA method for detecting antibodies against SRLVs. The research — which involved samples collected from over 20 farms across Italy — demonstrated the method’s robustness and diagnostic reliability under real working conditions, with strong agreement observed when compared to results from reference laboratories, including the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in Germany.
By combining analytical rigor and scientific collaboration, the work reflects the company’s commitment to quality, reproducibility, and methodological transparency. Validation activities on caprine samples are currently ongoing, in line with Diatheva’s approach to continuous improvement.
Diagnostics as a driver of One Health
Beyond its scientific value, the study presented by Diatheva underscores how veterinary diagnostics play a pivotal role in achieving the One Health goals.
Early identification of infected animals supports better control of disease transmission, enhances animal welfare, reduces the use of pharmaceuticals, and promotes sustainable livestock management — all contributing to the protection of both human and environmental health.
Participation in SIDILV 2025 therefore reaffirms Diatheva’s commitment to scientific excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering stronger connections between research, diagnostic innovation, and public health.
Why it matters
- Strengthening disease surveillance through validated diagnostic methods.
- Supporting animal health and welfare within sustainable farming systems.
- Translating research into tools that contribute to the broader One Health mission.
Poster reference: “Serological diagnosis of CAE/MV in a One Health perspective: validation and application of the new DIA-check MVV/CAEV ELISA Test” – E. Carloni et al., presented at the XXIII National Congress SIDILV 2025.
