Enquête séroépidémiologique de la rhinopneumonie des équidés en Tunisie

Une enquête séroépidémiologique, réalisée sur 789 équidés (400 élevés au Nord-Est de la Tunisie, 389 dans la région du Sahel et du Centre), a permis de détecter, par le test de fixation du complément, des anticorps spécifiques contre le virus de la rhinopneumonie équine. Les résultats ont montré que 15 équidés (1,9 %) étaient séropositifs, avec des taux variables d'anticorps fixant le complément. Ces résultats sont discutés en relation avec ceux obtenus par d'autres auteurs en Tunisie et dans les pays voisins

Cohort Profile: Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study was established to assess the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction, a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and its risk factors in adults (≥40 years) from general populations across the world. The baseline study was conducted between 2003 and 2016, in 41 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean and Oceania, and collected high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry from 28 828 participants. The follow-up study was conducted between 2019 and 2021, in 18 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. At baseline, there were in these sites 12 502 participants with high-quality spirometry. A total of 6452 were followed up, with 5936 completing the study core questionnaire. Of these, 4044 also provided high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. On both occasions, the core questionnaire covered information on respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnoses, health care use, medication use and ealth status, as well as potential risk factors. Information on occupation, environmental exposures and diet was also collected

Seroepidemiological Survey on Equine Viral Arteritis in Two Regions in Tunisia

A seroepidemiological survey was carried out on equine viral arteritis in two regions of Tunisia: Ariana and Kasserine. The authors researched specific antibodies against the arteritis virus by the serum neutralization technique in a sample representative of the horse populations in both areas. The sample concerned 199 horses of which 114 were Thoroughbred Arabian from Ariana area and 85 were Barb from Kasserine area; 72 of them were males and 127 females. Results showed that 51 horses (25.6%) were seropositive. Among them 30 (26.3%) were Arabian horses from Ariana and 21 (24.7%) were Barb horses from Kasserine; the difference was not statistically significant. Twelve males (16.66%) and 39 females (30.7%) were positive; the difference was statistically significant. The results are discussed in relation with those obtained by other authors in Tunisia and neighboring countries

Blood Protein Polymorphism in the Mogod Pony in Tunisia

The Mogod pony is native of Northwest Tunisia. Its physical characteristics make him well adapted for mountain use. Since the beginning of the 20th century, its number has greatly decreased. To reverse this trend, the breed will have to be better characterized, in particular from the genetic angle, as this might help search into possible relationships between the pony and horse breeds in the area. Electrophoretic systems of albumin (Al), group specific component (Gc), postalbumin (Xk), esterase (Es), transferrin (Tf) and protease inhibitor (Pi) were studied in 47 Mogod ponies by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Allelic frequencies of the six systems were as follows: AlA : 0,36 ; AlB : 0,64 ; GcF : 1,00 ; XkK : 1,00 ; EsI : 0,64 ; EsG : 0,18 ; EsF : 0,17 ; EsS : 0,01 ; TfD : 0,41 ; TfF2 : 0,31 ; TfH : 0,12 ; PiL : 0,35 ; PiU : 0,22 ; PiR ; PiS : 0,09. The blood protein polymorphism of the Mogod pony was compared with that of thoroughbred Arabian horses, Barb horses and Arab-Barb horses based on bibliographic data

Cytology and bacteriology of bronchoalveolar lavage on horses suffering from exercice-induced pulmonary haemorrhage

International audienceCytological and bacteriological analyses of bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) from 32 horses suffering from exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) and from 10 healthy horses were performed. The age, sex ratio and the races were similar between the 2 groups. The endoscopic examination revealed a left larynx hemiplegia in 5 diseased animals. Mild to severe inflammatory lesions within bronchus and bronchioles were also seen but haemorrhage signs were only evidenced in 3 horses with EIPH. Although the difference was not statistically significant because of a strong value dispersion, the overage cellular density of BAL was more elevated in diseased horses and the strongest value was observed in this group. The leukocyte formula were similar between the 2 groups; however, 4 EIPH horses exhibited a marked increase of neutrophil counts (> 36%). In addition, hemosiderophages were evidenced by Perls coloration in 72% of diseased animals and in 30% of healthy horses. Potentially pathogen bacteria were isolate from BAL in diseased horses as well as in controls. Theses results suggest that cytological analysis of BALF may be helpful to diagnostic through hemosiderophage detection (although false positives occur in healthy horses) and that an inflammatory response would partially be involved in the aetiology of this syndrome

Contribution to the Study of <em>Rhodococcus equi</em> Infections in Horses in the Northeast of Tunisia

The authors searched by ELISA for antibodies directed against virulent protein VAP A of Rhodococcus equi in 39 horses that displayed Rhodococcus infection-like symptoms, and in 57 healthy foals used as control. Among sick horses and control foals, 35.9 and 17.5% were positive, respectively. No significant differences were found based on sex or breed. But significant differences were found between the various age groups of the studied horses