Comparative Epidemiology of Coronavirus Infections in humans and animals

Coronavirusesare a group of RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the common cold, which can also be caused by other viruses, predominantly rhinoviruses, while more lethal varieties cause Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), or the current pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In cows and pigs Coronaviruses cause diarrhea like the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), while in young calves, the Bovine Coronavirus (BCV) causes severe profuse enteritis. In this review we will go over the microbiology of coronaviruses, their classifications and the different infections caused by it in animals and human

Highly virulent strains of the avian infectious bursal disease virus: Literature review and epidemiological situation

Cette revue se focalise sur le virus très virulent de la bursite infectieuse aviaire (vvIBDV). Ce virus est présent dans le monde entier, causant des pertes économiques considérables représentant une menace pour l'industrie de la volaille. L’émergence des formes aiguës de la maladie a radicalement changé l’épidémiologie de l’IBD. Bien que leur origine soit encore à l’étude, les vvIBDV se sont répandus dans le monde entier de manière explosive mais conservée. Cela pose la question de l’origine des vvIBDV, de la possibilité d’existence de réservoirs et de l'émergence possible de nouvelles lignées distinctes dans l’avenir. Il est devenu évident que les acides aminés dans la région hyper-variable de la protéine virale VP2 constitue une base moléculaire de la variation antigénique, mais aucune mutation qui détermine la pathogénicité n’a été identifiée. Ces marqueurs moléculaires des souches vvIBDV doivent être considérés davantage comme une évolution commune plutôt que marqueurs de virulence. Le seul critère valable pour la classification des souches d’IBDV en tant que «pathotype» doit faire référence à leur virulence clinique. Cet article présente une synthèse des caractéristiques moléculaires, phylogénétiques, épidémiologiques, antigéniques et pathotypiques des souches très virulentes du virus de la bursite infectieuse aviaire. Mots clés: Revue bibliographique, vvIBDV, moléculaire, épidémiologie, phylogénie, pathotypeThis review focuses on the very virulent viral avian infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV). This virus was first described in the United States about 30 years ago, it quickly spread around the world, causing considerable economic losses; after three decades, it still poses a threat to the poultry industry. The emergence of acute forms of the disease has radically changed the epidemiology of IBD. Although their origin is still under study, vvIBDV has spread throughout the world in an explosive but conservative manner. This raises the question of the origin of vvIBDV, the possibility of existence of reservoirs and the possible emergence of new distinct lineages in the future. It has become clear that the amino acids in the hyper-variable region of the VP2 viral protein constitute a molecular basis for antigenic variation, but no mutation that determines pathogenicity has been identified. These molecular markers of the vvIBDV strains should be considered more as a common evolution than as markers of virulence. This article presents a synthesis of the molecular, phylogenetic, epidemiological, antigenic and pathotypic characteristics of the very virulent strains of IBDV. Keywords: Review, vvIBDV, molecular, phylogeny, epidemiology, pathotype

Zootechnical performance study and susceptibility to Avian Influenza virus H9N2 in a breed of crossbred chicken with intermediate growth

La viande de volaille constitue la protéine d’origine animale la plus consommée en raison de son prix abordable par rapport aux autres denrées animales. De ce fait, le secteur avicole connait constamment des progrès améliorant la productivité et la qualité organoleptique des viandes de volaille.  Pour satisfaire aux enjeux de la sécurité alimentaire et l’exigence des citoyens et consommateurs, le présent travail consiste à étudier et comparer les performances zootechniques ainsi que la sensibilité au virus H9N2 de poulet croisé à croissance intermédiaire (I), par rapport à deux races de poulets à croissance rapide (R) et à croissance lente (L). Les résultats de l’étude ont montré des performances zootechniques de la race I à croissance intermédiaire similaire à celles du poulet à croissance rapide R. En effet, le lot témoin I a enregistré un GMH significativement élevé à celui du lot témoin L. L’indice de consommation du lot R et I est 50% plus bas que celui du poulet L. Concernant l’infection expérimentale par le virus H9N2, le groupe de poulet I et R ont présenté les signes cliniques et les lésions macroscopiques les plus sévères et accentués par rapport aux poulets du lot L à croissance lente. Mots clés : infection H9N2, croissance rapide, croissance intermédiaire, performance zootechniquePoultry meat is the most widely consumed animal protein due to its low price compared to other animal products. However, the poultry sector is constantly experiencing progress improving the productivity and organoleptic quality of poultry meat. To responds the challenges of food security and the requirements of citizens and consumers, the present work consists to study the zootechnical performances as well as the sensitivity to the H9N2 virus of cross-breed chicken with intermediate growth (I), compared to two breeds fast growing (R) and slow growing (L) chickens. The results of the study showed zootechnical performances of race I with intermediate growth similar to those of fast growing chicken R. Indeed, the control group I recorded a GMH significantly elevated to that of the control group L. The index consumption of lot R and I is 50% lower than that of chicken L. Concerning the experimental infection with the H9N2 virus, the group of chicken I and R presented the most severe and accentuated clinical signs and gross lesions compared to chickens of the slow breed L. Keywords: infection, H9N2, rapid growth, intermediate growth, slow growth, zootechnical performanc

West Nile Virus Antibodies in Wild Birds, Morocco, 2008

To determine circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) during nonepidemic times, we serosurveyed wild birds of Morocco in 2008. We found antibodies against WNV in 12 (3.5%) birds, against Usutu virus in 1 (0.3%), and against both in 2 (0.6%). High WNV prevalence among juvenile birds suggests local virus circulation among resident birds

MERS coronaviruses from camels in Africa exhibit region-dependent genetic diversity

International audienceMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a zoonotic respiratory disease of global public health concern, and dromedary camels are the only proven source of zoonotic infection. Although MERS-CoV infection is ubiquitous in dromedaries across Africa as well as in the Arabian Peninsula, zoonotic disease appears confined to the Arabian Peninsula. MERS-CoVs from Africa have hitherto been poorly studied. We genetically and phenotypically characterized MERS-CoV from dromedaries sampled in Morocco, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Viruses from Africa (clade C) are phylogenetically distinct from contemporary viruses from the Arabian Peninsula (clades A and B) but remain antigenically similar in microneutralization tests. Viruses from West (Nigeria, Burkina Faso) and North (Morocco) Africa form a subclade, C1, that shares clade-defining genetic signatures including deletions in the accessory gene ORF4b. Compared with human and camel MERS-CoV from Saudi Arabia, virus isolates from Burkina Faso (BF785) and Nigeria (Nig1657) had lower virus replication competence in Calu-3 cells and in ex vivo cultures of human bronchus and lung. BF785 replicated to lower titer in lungs of human DPP4-transduced mice. A reverse genetics-derived recombinant MERS-CoV (EMC) lacking ORF4b elicited higher type I and III IFN responses than the isogenic EMC virus in Calu-3 cells. However, ORF4b deletions may not be the major determinant of the reduced replication competence of BF785 and Nig1657. Genetic and phenotypic differences in West African viruses may be relevant to zoonotic potential. There is an urgent need for studies of MERS-CoV at the animal-human interface

AIMSurv: First pan-European harmonized surveillance of Aedes invasive mosquito species of relevance for human vector-borne diseases

Human and animal vector-borne diseases, particularly mosquito-borne diseases, are emerging or re-emerging worldwide. Six Aedes invasive mosquito (AIM) species were introduced to Europe since the 1970s: Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus, Ae. koreicus, Ae. atropalpus and Ae. triseriatus. Here, we report the results of AIMSurv2020, the first pan-European surveillance effort for AIMs. Implemented by 42 volunteer teams from 24 countries. And presented in the form of a dataset named “AIMSurv Aedes Invasive Mosquito species harmonized surveillance in Europe. AIM-COST Action. Project ID: CA17108”. AIMSurv2020 harmonizes field surveillance methodologies for sampling different AIMs life stages, frequency and minimum length of sampling period, and data reporting. Data include minimum requirements for sample types and recommended requirements for those teams with more resources. Data are published as a Darwin Core archive in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility- Spain, comprising a core file with 19,130 records (EventID) and an occurrences file with 19,743 records (OccurrenceID). AIM species recorded in AIMSurv2020 were Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus, as well as native mosquito species

First molecular evidence of potential Culicoides vectors implicated in bluetongue virus transmission in Morocco

Abstract Background Bluetongue is a non-contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild ruminants. It is transmitted primarily by small hematophagous Diptera belonging to the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). The current study represents the first molecular investigation into the potential role of Culicoides imicola, Culicoides paolae, Culicoides newsteadi, Culicoides spp., and Culicoides circumscriptus as bluetongue virus (BTV) vectors in Morocco. Additionally, the study aimed to evaluate the vectorial activity of midges during the survey seasons. Methods Parous females of these species were captured from several regions of Morocco (6 out of 12) from 2018 to 2021 using Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) traps. A total of 2003 parous female specimens were grouped into 55 batches. The midge body of each batch was dissected into three regions (head, thorax, and abdomen), and these regions were analyzed separately using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results BTV RNA was detected in 45 out of the 55 batches tested, indicating a positivity rate of 81.8%. The RT-qPCR-positive pools of the studied Culicoides species exhibited high levels of BTV positivity in each body part (head, thorax, and abdomen), confirming the successful replication of the virus within midge bodies. The BTV circulation was substantial across all three survey seasons (spring, summer, and autumn). High infection rates, calculated using the minimum infection rate (MIR) and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), were observed during the collection seasons, particularly in autumn and spring, and for all investigated Culicoides species, most notably for C. imicola and C. newsteadi. These increased infection rates underscore the significant risk of Culicoides transmitting the BTV in Morocco. Conclusions The detection of BTV positivity in Culicoides spp. (lacking wing spots that allow their differentiation according to morphological identification keys) suggested that other Culicoides species are competent for BTV transmission in Morocco. The study results indicated, for the first time at the molecular level, that C. imicola and C. newsteadi are the primary potential vectors of BTV in Morocco and that C. paolae and C. circumscriptus are strongly implicated in the propagation of bluetongue at the national level. Graphical Abstrac

Épidémiologie de la rage au Maroc et programmes de lutte contre la maladie

Rabies is the oldest fatal zoonosis causing the death of several thousand people around the world every year. In Morocco, this tragic disease continues to exist in an enzootic state and constitutes a major public health problem. In order to eradicate it, several national control plans have been carried out in recent decades. Unfortunately, this objective has not been achieved nowadays because of a multiplicity of constraints essentially summing up in the insufficiency of the means placed to carry out and without slackening the medical (vaccination) and sanitary (stray dogs killing) actions, in the lack of coordination between the different departments involved and in the insufficiency of parallel actions. In this sense, and in order to avoid the imperfections of previous plans and apply new reinforced scientific measures, which have proven their effectiveness in other countries, a framework partnership and cooperation agreement was signed between the parties concerned, namely the Ministry of the Interior, represented by the General Direction of Local Municipalities, the National Office for Food Sanitary Security (ONSSA), the Ministry of Health and the National Order of Veterinarians of Morocco. The actions covered by the agreement consist essentially in picking up stray dogs and cats throughout the national territory. These animals will be identified, vaccinated against rabies, dewormed and sterilized. Following these interventions and after a period of convalescence within the pounds, these animals will be returned to the places where they were collected in order to respect their familial environment.La rage est la plus ancienne zoonose mortelle ; elle entraine chaque année la mort de plusieurs milliers de personnes à travers le monde. Au Maroc, cette maladie tragique continue à sévir à l’état enzootique et constitue un problème majeur de santé publique. Afin de l’éliminer, plusieurs plans nationaux de lutte contre la rage canine ont été menés durant ces dernières décennies. Malheureusement, leur objectif n’a pas été atteint à ce jour en raison d’une multiplicité de contraintes se résumant essentiellement en l’insuffisance des moyens accordés pour mener à bien et sans relâchement les actions médicales (vaccination des chiens) et sanitaires (abattage des chiens errants), dans le manque de coordination entre les différents Départements impliqués et dans l’insuffisance des actions parallèles. Un accord-cadre de partenariat et de coopération a été signé entre le Ministère de l’Intérieur, représenté par la Direction Générale des Communes locales, l’Office National de la Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (ONSSA), le Ministère de la Santé et l’Ordre National des Vétérinaires du Maroc. Les actions visées par cet accord consistent essentiellement à capturer les chiens et les chats errants dans l’ensemble du territoire national. Ces animaux seront identifiés, vaccinés contre la rage, déparasités et stérilisés. Suite à ces interventions et après une période de remise en état au sein des fourrières, ces animaux seront remis dans les endroits où ils ont été recueillis dans un but de respecter leur environnement familier.Tligui Noursaid, Bouziani Nadia, Khayli Mounir, Fassi-Fihri Ouafaa. Épidémiologie de la rage au Maroc et programmes de lutte contre la maladie. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 173, 2020. pp. 111-116

Etablissement d'un modèle de prédiction de la Bluetongue basé sur les données météorologiques et de télédétection, cas de la région Fès-Meknès

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, arthropod borne viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants. BT is a notifiable disease of huge socio-economic concern and of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal products. However, no study has yet been carried out to propose a tool to anticipate the occurrence of the disease. The objective of this study is to perform a mathematical model for predicting suitable areas for the appearance of bluetongue disease. This model will allow the monitoring and management of this animal disease. The creation of this model is based on epidemiological data collected in the field. These are combined with two other types of data: Remote Sensing (vegetation index, altitude) and climate (temperature, rainfall). The model performed is based on logistic regression. The assumption about its validity was examined by testing many combinations based on modeling and validation on data of 2006 and 2009 in Fès-Meknès region. The validation rates obtained are between 73 % and 80 %. This approach requires, in order to be effectively used as an early warning and risk management tool by animal health decision-makers, an efficient and real-time collection of epidemiological field data.  Keywords: Epidemiology, modeling, bluetongue, Remote Sensing, logistic regression, animal health, prediction.La fièvre catarrhale ovine (ou Bluetongue) est une maladie virale des ruminants domestiques et sauvages qui peut causer des pertes économiques énormes. Ces dernières années, elle a sérieusement impacté la production animale au Maroc. Étant donné qu’il s’agit d’une maladie vectorielle, il est possible de proposer un outil d’anticipation de l’apparition de la Bluetongue en localisant les sites les plus susceptibles d’accueillir le vecteur porteur de cette maladie.  Puisqu’aucune étude dans ce sens n’a été réalisée au niveau national, l’objectif de travail est donc d’établir un modèle mathématique de prédiction des zones favorables à l’apparition de la Bluetongue. Ce modèle aidera au suivi et la gestion de cette maladie animale. L’établissement de ce modèle est basé sur les données épidémiologiques recueillies sur le terrain combinées à deux autres types de données: de télédétection (l’indice de végétation, l’altitude) et climatiques (température, pluviométrie). Le modèle créé dans le cadre de ce travail se base sur la régression logistique. L’hypothèse concernant sa validité a été examinée en testant plusieurs combinaisons basées sur la modélisation et la validation sur des données de 2006 et 2009 de la région Fès-Meknès. L’étude a pu démontrer que la meilleure façon pour modéliser cette maladie est d’alimenter régulièrement le modèle dynamique par les données les plus récentes sur l’apparition de la maladie. Les taux de validation obtenus sont situés entre 73 % et 80 %. Dans la perspective d’améliorer ce travail, Il serait intéressant aussi d’étudier le sens de propagation de cette maladie en introduisant d’autres facteurs comme l’hydrographie, la direction et la vitesse du vent. Mots clés: Épidémiologie, Modélisation, Bluetongue, Télédétection, régression logistique, maladie animale, prédiction, Maroc. &nbsp