Toxoplasmosis and Chagas disease : report of severe cases of troops in French Guiana and review on foodborne mode of transmission in Amazonia

In contrast with the usual clinical feature of toxoplasmosis, a cosmopolitan disease, severe cases with visceral disorders have been reported in non-immunocompromised adult patients, particularly in French Guiana. Most of the cases seem to result from the consumption of undercooked game meat or ingestion of non-filtered surface water. In Amazonia, a sylvatic cycle of toxoplasmosis involves large felids as definitive hosts and numerous mammals and birds as intermediate hosts. Atypical strains of Toxoplasma gondii, characterized by increased virulence, are involved in these complex cycles. Although Chagas disease, caused by another protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, has been known for a long time, a new foodborne mode of transmission to man seems to emerge. Several outbreaks have been reported, mainly in Brasil, resulting from the contamination of food items by infected Triatominae or their dejections. When food or water are taken from the natural environment, measures have to be implemented in order to prevent these serious diseases.Contrastant avec la toxoplasmose habituelle, maladie cosmopolite, des formes sévères avec atteinte viscérale sont apparues chez des patients adultes non immunodéprimés, notamment en Guyane française. La consommation de viande de gibier mal cuite ou l'ingestion d'eau de surface non filtrée semblent être à l'origine de la plupart des cas. En Amazonie, un cycle sylvestre de la toxoplasmose s'établit entre les grands félidés hôtes définitifs et de nombreux mammifères et oiseaux, hôtes intermédiaires. Dans ces cycles complexes, circulent des souches atypiques de Toxoplasma gondii, caractérisées par une virulence accrue. Bien que la maladie de Chagas, provoquée par un autre protozoaire, Trypanosoma cruzi, soit connue de longue date, le mode de transmission à l'homme par la voie alimentaire semble émerger. Plusieurs foyers sont rapportés, surtout au Brésil, résultant de la contamination de denrées par des Triatominae infectées ou leurs déjections. Lorsque des ressources en aliments ou en eau sont prélevées dans le milieu naturel, des mesures sont à appliquer pour prévenir l'apparition de ces maladies graves

Are vertebrates reservoir hosts for rickettsia?

Rickettsiae sensu stricto are the bacteria from the genus Rickettsia. Many of them are responsible for human arthropod-borne (fleas, lice, ticks, mites) diseases. One hundred years after having detected rats as reservoirs of Rickettsia typhi, it is important to assemble the current knowledge on the role of vertebrates in the rickettsial epidemiology. For the agent of Mediterranean spotted fever, R. conorii, dogs are thought to be an intermittent reservoir. R. rickettsii, the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, is capable of infecting dogs, although, in this case they are most likely accidental hosts ; wild animals are the more probable reservoirs. R. felis is the cause of emerging spotted fever in humans ; studies showed that opossums in the USA may be its reservoir. Finally, hematophagous arthropods are considered to be the principal vectors and reservoirs for rickettsiae, although vertebrates may be secondary reservoirs in particular ecosystems that favour the persistence of rickettsiae and in which humans may become accidentally infected.Les rickettsies, sensu stricto, sont des bactéries du genre Rickettsia. Elles sont responsables de maladies humaines transmises par des arthropodes (puces, poux, tiques, acariens). Cent ans après la mise en évidence de l’agent du typhus (Rickettsia typhi) ayant comme réservoir le rat, il est important de faire un point des connaissances concernant le rôle des vertébrés dans le cycle des rickettsies. Pour R. conorii, agent de la fièvre boutonneuse méditerranéenne, le chien est considéré comme un réservoir intermittent. R. rickettsii, agent de la fièvre pourprée des montagnes rocheuses, infecte le chien qui joue plus un rôle de sentinelle que de réservoir, celui-ci étant dévolu à des animaux sauvages. Parmi les rickettsioses émergentes, la fièvre boutonneuse à puces due à R. felis fait l’objet d’études en particulier aux États-Unis où l’opossum est suspecté d’être un réservoir. En plus des arthropodes hématophages vecteurs et réservoirs principaux, les vertébrés constituent bien des réservoirs secondaires dans des écosystèmes donnés qui permettent la persistance des rickettsies et dans lesquels l’homme peut s’infecter accidentellement

West Nile Virus in Horses, sub-Saharan Africa

To evaluate the presence and extension of West Nile virus where French soldiers are stationed in Africa, specific antibody prevalence was determined by using ELISA and Western blot. Among 245 horses living in close proximity to the soldiers, seroprevalence was particularly high in Chad (97%) and Senegal (92%)

Coxiella burnetii Infection in Livestock, Pets, Wildlife, and Ticks in Latin America and the Caribbean: a Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Purpose of the Review Q fever , a bacterial zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, is reported very heterogeneously in humans in Latin America. The objective of this study was to review the data on Coxiella burnetii Infection in animals in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent Findings A comprehensive literature review was carried out in the 47 countries and territories of Latin America on various search engines and grouped into four groups: livestock, pets, wildlife, and ticks. Summary Thus, 113 studies were selected between 1950 and 2022. Among the 47 countries, only 25 (53%) had at least one publication related to C. burnetii infection in animals. The most productive country was Brazil (N = 51), followed by French Guiana (N = 21), and Colombia (N = 16). Studies in livestock from 20 countries have shown widely varying country-to-country rates of seroprevalence, ranging from 0 to 67%. Some studies from seven countries, especially French Guiana and Brazil, found antibodies and sometimes positive PCR in dogs and cats, generally in the context of investigations around human clustered cases. Knowledge remained fragmented about infection in wildlife from only five countries (Chile, Colombia, Brazil, French Guiana, and Uruguay). C. burnetii infection was identified by PCR in Chiroptera (7 species), Rodentia (6 species), Suina (2 species), Xenartha (1 species), Cingulata (1 species), and Perissodactyla (1 species). Studies on Coxiella sp. in ticks have been performed in 11 countries, mostly in Brazil, and mainly found Coxiella-like endosymbionts. Thus, data on C. burnetii infection in animals are sparse and incomplete in Latin America and the Caribbean, and more research is warranted

Serological and molecular survey of Leptospira spp. infections in wild boars and red foxes from Southeastern France

International audienceBackground and Aim: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease. Information on the recent prevalence of Leptospira in hunted wild animals is limited, particularly in southeastern France. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the prevalence and diversity of Leptospira spp. among wild boars (Sus scrofa) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from two military camps in Southeastern France. Materials and Methods: Serological analyses were performed using microscopic agglutination tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used to demonstrate Leptospira spp. infection from boar kidney DNA extracts. Results: According to the species, the positive sera were obtained from 18% of 358 boars and 6 % of 64 foxes tested. The prevalence rate is significantly higher (p=0.02) in boars than in foxes. In wild boar, Australis represents the most recorded serogroup (15.9%), followed by Sejroe (2.8%) and icterohaemorhagiae (2.8%). In red fox, icterohaemorhagiae represents the most recorded serogroup (6.25%), followed by Sejroe (1.57%) and Hebdomadis (1.57%). PCR-based detection of Leptospira DNA was positive in 6/62 (9.6%) of the wild boars tested. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the importance of wild boar in the epidemiology of leptospirosis among wildlife in Southeastern France. Due to their predatory behavior and their varied diet, mainly composed of small mammals, red foxes could be considered sentinel animals of environmental contamination with leptospires

Pathogènes, faune sauvage et camps militaires du Sud Est de la France

Wildlife animals are reservoirs for many zoonoses and diseases with zoonotic potential. Military camps are vast protection zones for this wildlife, which has adapted to the activities carried out there. For several decades now, epidemiological surveillance has been carried out by military veterinarians on wild boars and foxes of several military camps in the south-east of France, in partnership with the military hunting companies located in these camps. This surveillance has consisted of punctual and periodic prevalence surveys on several agents of viral zoonoses (e. g. hepatitis E virus), bacterial zoonoses (e. g. Brucella, Rickettsiae, Anaplasmataceae, Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira, mycobacteria, colistin-resistant bacteria) and parasitic zoonoses (e. g. Leishmania infantum, Babesia, Toxoplasma, Trichinella, Spirocerca lupi, Echinococcus) and on several animal species (wild boars, foxes, rodents). Different research methods were applied (serology, PCR, microscopic examination), in collaboration with a network of reference laboratories and partners. An assessment of these different investigations is proposed in this communication. This epidemiological surveillance of wildlife has made it possible to improve the identification of zoonotic agents and the knowledge of the epidemiology of these diseases within military sites. This has enabled military officials to provide appropriate recommendations to prevent the transmission of zoonoses to soldiers present on these sites, in the context of the « One Health » concept.Les animaux de la faune sauvage constituent les réservoirs de nombreuses zoonoses et maladies à potentiel zoonotique. Les camps militaires représentent de vastes zones de protection de cette faune, qui s’est adaptée aux activités qui y sont menées. Depuis plusieurs dizaines d’années, une surveillance épidémiologique est mise en oeuvre par les vétérinaires des armées sur les sangliers et les renards de plusieurs camps militaires du sud-est français, en partenariat avec les sociétés de chasse militaires de ces camps. Cette surveillance a consisté en des enquêtes de prévalence ponctuelles et périodiques portant sur plusieurs agents de zoonoses virales (ex. : virus de l’hépatite E), bactériennes (ex. : Brucella, rickettsies, Anaplasmataceae, Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira, mycobactéries, bactéries résistantes à la colistine) et parasitaires (ex. : Leishmania infantum, Babesia, Toxoplasma, Trichinella, Spirocerca lupi, Echinococcus) et sur plusieurs espèces animales (sangliers, renards, rongeurs). Différentes méthodes de recherche ont été appliquées (sérologie, PCR, examen microscopique), en collaboration avec un réseau de laboratoires de référence et de partenaires. Un bilan de ces différentes enquêtes est proposé dans cette communication. Cette surveillance épidémiologique de la faune sauvage a permis d’améliorer l’identification des agents de zoonoses et les connaissances relatives à l’épidémiologie de ces maladies au sein des sites militaires. Cela a permis de prodiguer au commandement les recommandations adaptées pour prévenir la transmission de ces agents zoonotiques aux militaires présents sur ces sites, en application du concept « une seule santé »Marié Jean-Lou, Watier-Grillot Stéphanie, Roqueplo Cédric, Davoust Bernard. Pathogènes, faune sauvage et camps militaires du Sud Est de la France. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 173, 2020. pp. 231-243

A twenty-year follow-up of canine leishmaniosis in three military kennels in southeastern France

International audienceBackgroundCanine leishmaniosis (CanL) is enzootic in southeastern France, and military working dogs (MWD) posted in this area are highly exposed. To assess the efficiency of prevention, we performed a serological and clinical follow-up of 80 MWD in the Var and Corsica regions during the 20-year period from 1993 to 2012. The systematic and specific prevention of CanL using a deltamethrin-impregnated collar (DMC) was implemented in 2002.FindingsOut of 80 dogs tested annually, the cumulative serological and clinical incidence was 42.5% (34/80) and 21.2% (17/80) respectively, during the first period, and these numbers decreased to 6.2% (5/80) and 2.5% (2/80) during the second period (p ConclusionsThe prevention strategy based on DMC proved highly efficient in our population of MWD, as it effectively controlled the disease. This result is also of interest to public health, as dogs are reservoirs for Leishmania infantum

In Search for Factors that Drive Hantavirus Epidemics

In Europe, hantaviruses (Bunyaviridae) are small mammal-associated zoonotic and emerging pathogens that can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Puumala virus, the main etiological agent carried by the bank vole Myodes glareolus is responsible for a mild form of HFRS while Dobrava virus induces less frequent but more severe cases of HFRS.Since 2000 in Europe, more than 3000 cases of HFRS have been recorded, in average, each year, which is nearly double compared to the previous decade. In addition to this upside long-term trend, significant oscillations occur. Epidemic years appear, usually every 2-4 years, with an increased incidence, generally in localised hot spots. Moreover, the virus has been identified in new areas in the recent years.A great number of surveys have been carried out in order to assess the prevalence of the infection in the reservoir host and to identify links with different biotic and abiotic factors. The factors that drive the infections are related to the density and diversity of bank vole populations, prevalence of infection in the reservoir host, viral excretion in the environment, survival of the virus outside its host, and human behaviour, which affect the main transmission virus route through inhalation of infected rodent excreta..At the scale of a rodent population, the prevalence of the infection increases with the age of the individuals but also other parameters, such as sex and genetic variability, interfere. The contamination of the environment may be correlated to the number of newly infected rodents, which heavily excrete the virus. The interactions between these different parameters add to the complexity of the situation and explain the absence of reliable tools to predict epidemics. In this review, the factors that drive the epidemics of hantaviruses in Middle Europe are discussed through a panorama of the epidemiological situation in Belgium, France and Germany