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

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

Detection of zoonotic pathogens in animals performed at the University Hospital Institute Méditerranée Infection (Marseille – France)

International audienceAt the University Hospital Institute Méditerranée Infection (IHU, Marseille, France), for almost thirty years, veterinarians have been carrying out epidemiological investigations, together with doctors, on animals living near human cases of zoonoses, on the one hand, and on the other hand, transverse and longitudinal epidemiological surveillance studies on animals which are reservoirs, vectors or sentinels of potentially zoonotic infections,. This article presents the methods adopted and the results obtained from these studies. They have been the subject of 76 peer-reviewed publications relating to wild animals (37 publications) and/or domestic animals (48 publications). These studies were often carried out in the field with veterinarians from the French army's health service (39 publications). They were at the origin of the detection of some thirty zoonotic pathogens in the laboratories of the IHU (64 publications) and/or other French laboratories (18 publications). Our approach is an original embodiment of the “One Health” concept

A cardiac and subcutaneous canine dirofilariosis outbreak in a kennel in central France

International audienc

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

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

Serological Survey of Aujeszky’s Disease in Wild Boar from Southeastern France

International audienceAujeszky’s disease virus (ADV), also known as pseudorabies virus, causes an important neurological infection with a major economic and health impact on animal husbandry. Here, we serologically screened muscle fluid from wild boar (Sus scrofa) for the presence of anti-ADV antibodies. Animals were caught during two hunting seasons (2019–2020 and 2021–2022) from three areas in southeastern France known to be endemic with wild boar populations. A total of 30.33% of the 399 tested animals scored positive for anti-glycoprotein B antibodies directed against ADV using a commercial competitive ELISA test. A significant effect (p-value < 0.0001) of the geographical location and animal age on ADV seroprevalence was observed. The results of this study confirmed the importance of wild boar in the epidemiology of ADV in southeastern France

Evidence of Antibodies against the West Nile Virus and the Usutu Virus in Dogs and Horses from the Southeast of France

International audienceEvery year, the world faces vector-borne diseases including arboviral (arthropod-borne viral) diseases caused by several, possibly fatal flaviviruses. The way they spread is related to a complex episystem involving several elements including vector abundance, animal carriers, and the flavivirus itself, which makes the disease difficult to manage. Here, we serologically screened 556 animals (358 dogs and 198 horses) using ELISA and a serum neutralisation test (SNT) for the anti-IgG antibodies directed against the West Nile (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) viruses. The animals investigated were split into two groups according to their exposure to the risk linked to the abundance of mosquitoes and migratory birds as well as the geographical distribution of arbovirus cases (458 animals from areas exposed to risk and 98 not exposed to risk). Overall, 25/310 dogs (8.1%) and 2/148 horses (1.3%) tested positive for SNT WNV and/or USUV in geographically exposed areas. Animals in unexposed areas were all negative. The geographical distribution of WNV seroprevalence in dogs was the same as the distribution of reported autochthonous human cases. Interestingly, a non-negligible seroprevalence caused by an as yet unidentified flavivirus other than WNV, USUV, or tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was detected in 18.6% (28/150) and 3.7% (4/106) of the investigated dogs and horses from the Hérault department, in the southeast of France, respectively. These data highlight the role of outdoor dogs as suitable sentinels for the evidence of WNV and USUV circulation in each area. In addition, the serological detection of an as yet unidentified flavivirus circulating in the Hérault department deserves greater attention, as this may constitute a serious threat to public and animal health

Human and Animal Dirofilariasis in Southeast of France

International audienceDirofilariasis is one of the oldest known zoonotic infections of humans mainly caused by the filarial parasites of the species Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens, which primarily infect dogs. A five-year survey (2017 to 2021) was conducted among the dog population to assess the molecular prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. in southeast France. Morphological and genetic analysis were performed on filaroids from dogs and one infected woman from the studied area. A total of 12 (13%) dogs scored molecularly positive for Dirofilaria spp. of which nine carried blood microfilariae. Ocular dirofilariasis was detected in a 79-year-old woman with no travel history. Both electron microscopy and molecular sequencing identified the worm in the human case as D. repens. Molecularly, D. repens isolates were identical in the human and dog cases, representing the only genotype reported so far in France. Despite the distribution of this genotype through all Europe, it was grouped separately with the other two European genotypes and with Asian ones. As in almost all previous human cases in France, D. repens parasites were mainly recovered from the ocular region of patients and were geographically concentrated in the southeastern regions. Data demonstrate the sympatric occurrence of D. immitis and D. repens with high risk of infection to human and dog populations in these investigated geographical areas, thereby underlining the urgent need to implement preventive chemoprophylactic strategies and vector control to reduce the risk of these filaroids in dog and human populations

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies seroprevalence in dogs from France using ELISA and an automated western blotting assay

International audienc