Quality control of drinking water in a degraded environment : experience of the french military health medical service

During foreign operations in a degraded environment, field hygiene, and especially that of drinking water, must be perfectly controlled. A new doctrine imposes a single standard for the quality of water, equivalent to that found in France. When on foreign operations, military staff produces drinking water using appropriate equipment, some of which is new and very efficient. To meet the quantitative and qualitative needs of the troops, water is treated using the traditional clarification and disinfection principles, based on a hazard analysis and a multidisciplinary evaluation of the resources available. The quality of the water is checked by the French military health services, in particular by their veterinary surgeons, who have the required technical knowledge and have access to field laboratories, as well as referral laboratories and experts in France.Dans la situation dégradée des opérations extérieures, l'hygiène en campagne, notamment celle liée à l'eau potable, mérite d'être parfaitement maîtrisée. Une nouvelle doctrine impose pour chaque usage une qualité d'eau unique, équivalente à celle proposée en métropole. La production d'eau est mise en oeuvre en opération extérieure par les armées, grâce à des matériels adaptés dont certains sont nouveaux et très performants. Pour répondre aux besoins quantitatifs et qualitatifs des troupes, le traitement de l'eau potable, basé sur les principes classiques de clarification et de désinfection, est choisi après une analyse des dangers et une étude pluridisciplinaire de la qualité de la ressource. Le contrôle est confié au service de santé des armées, en particulier aux vétérinaires qui disposent, pour assurer cette mission cruciale, d'une formation technique, de laboratoires de terrain, de laboratoires et d'experts référents en métropole

Tsetse fly ecology and risk of transmission of African trypanosomes related to a protected forest area at a military base in the city of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

African trypanosomoses, whose pathogens are transmitted by tsetse flies, are a threat to animal and human health. Tsetse flies observed at the military base of the French Forces in Côte d’Ivoire (FFCI base) were probably involved in the infection and death of military working dogs. Entomological and parasitological surveys were carried out during the rainy and dry seasons using “Vavoua” traps to identify tsetse fly species, their distribution, favorable biotopes and food sources, as well as the trypanosomes they harbor. A total of 1185 Glossina palpalis palpalis tsetse flies were caught, corresponding to a high average apparent density of 2.26 tsetse/trap/day. The results showed a heterogeneous distribution of tsetse at the FFCI base, linked to more or less favorable biotopes. No significant variation in tsetse densities was observed according to the season. The overall trypanosomes infection rate according to microscopic observation was 13.5%. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses confirmed the presence of Trypanosoma vivax and T. congolense forest type, responsible for African animal trypanosomosis. Our findings suggest that there is a risk of introduction and transmission of T. brucei gambiense, responsible for human African trypanosomiasis, on the study site. This risk of transmission of African trypanosomes concerns not only the FFCI base, but also inhabited peripheral areas. Our study confirmed the need for vector control adapted to the eco-epidemiological context of the FFCI base

Vétérinaire des armées en opérations extérieures : défis et perspectives

The missions of military veterinarians in overseas operations are varied, demanding and essential for health protection of the deployed force. The exercise of veterinary skills in a theater of operation is made difficult by the environment in which vets are employed, in security and health contexts that can be very degraded. Carrying out missions in overseas operations requires the acquisition and maintenance of solid skills, which may not usually be associated with the veterinary profession and require additional internal training within the armed forces’ health service. The quality of military veterinarians’ expertise is recognized and sought after in overseas operations. The scope of their missions will be further extended, particularly in the area of field hygiene, thus illustrating a real implementation of the «One Health » concept to protect military personnel from all health risks to which they may be exposed during operations.Les missions des vétérinaires des armées en opérations extérieures sont variées, exigeantes et essentielles pour la protection de la santé de la force déployée. L’exercice des compétences vétérinaires sur un théâtre d’opération est rendu difficile par l’environnement d’emploi, dans des contextes sécuritaires et sanitaires pouvant être très dégradés. L’exécution des missions en opérations extérieures nécessite l’acquisition et le maintien de compétences solides, pouvant ne pas être usuellement rattachées à la profession vétérinaire et nécessitant des compléments de formation interne au sein du service de santé des armées. La qualité de l’expertise des vétérinaires des armées est reconnue et recherchée sur les théâtres d’opérations extérieures. Le périmètre de leurs missions est amené à s’élargir davantage, en particulier dans le domaine de l’hygiène en campagne, illustrant ainsi une véritable mise en oeuvre du concept «One Health / Une seule santé » visant à protéger les militaires de l’ensemble des risques sanitaires auxquels ils sont susceptibles d’être exposés en opérations.Cabre Olivier, Roqueplo Cédric, Watier-Grillot Stéphanie, Dumas Emmanuel, Demoncheaux Jean-Paul. Vétérinaire des armées en opérations extérieures : défis et perspectives. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 173, 2020. pp. 210-217

Detection of Potential Zoonotic Bartonella Species in African Giant Rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and Fleas from an Urban Area in Senegal

International audienceBartonellae are bacteria associated with mammals and their ectoparasites. Rodents often host different species of Bartonella. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Bartonella spp. in African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and their ectoparasites in Dakar, Senegal. In 2012, 20 rats were caught, and their fleas were identified. DNA was extracted from 170 selected fleas and qPCR was carried out to detect Bartonella spp. Subsequently, a Bartonella culture was performed from the rat blood samples and the isolated strains (16S rRNA, rpoB, ftsZ and ITS3) were genotyped. A total of 1117 fleas were collected from 19 rats and identified as Xenopsylla cheopis, the tropical rat flea. Bartonella DNA was detected in 148 of 170 selected fleas (87.1%). In addition, Bartonella strains were isolated from the blood of 17 rats (85%). According to Bartonella gene-sequence-based criteria for species definition, the isolated strains were identified as B. massiliensis (four strains) and two potential new species related to the zoonotic B. elizabethae. In this paper, these potentially new species are provisionally called Candidatus Bartonella militaris (11 strains) and Candidatus Bartonella affinis (two strains) until their description has been completed. Cricetomys gambianus and its fleas could constitute a public health risk in Dakar due to the high prevalence of Bartonella infection reported

Leptospirosis, one neglected disease in rural Senegal

International audienc

Great diversity of Piroplasmida in Equidae in Africa and Europe, including potential new species

International audienc

Tsetse fly ecology and risk of transmission of African trypanosomes related to a protected forest area at a military base in the city of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

African trypanosomoses, whose pathogens are transmitted by tsetse flies, are a threat to animal and human health. Tsetse flies observed at the military base of the French Forces in Côte d’Ivoire (FFCI base) were probably involved in the infection and death of military working dogs. Entomological and parasitological surveys were carried out during the rainy and dry seasons using “Vavoua” traps to identify tsetse fly species, their distribution, favorable biotopes and food sources, as well as the trypanosomes they harbor. A total of 1185 Glossina palpalis palpalis tsetse flies were caught, corresponding to a high average apparent density of 2.26 tsetse/trap/day. The results showed a heterogeneous distribution of tsetse at the FFCI base, linked to more or less favorable biotopes. No significant variation in tsetse densities was observed according to the season. The overall trypanosomes infection rate according to microscopic observation was 13.5%. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses confirmed the presence of Trypanosoma vivax and T. congolense forest type, responsible for African animal trypanosomosis. Our findings suggest that there is a risk of introduction and transmission of T. brucei gambiense, responsible for human African trypanosomiasis, on the study site. This risk of transmission of African trypanosomes concerns not only the FFCI base, but also inhabited peripheral areas. Our study confirmed the need for vector control adapted to the eco-epidemiological context of the FFCI base