Coxiella burnetii Circulation in a Naturally Infected Flock of Sheep: Individual Follow-Up of Antibodies in Serum and Milk.

The control of Q fever, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium, remains a scientific challenge. Domestic ruminants are considered the main reservoir, shedding essentially through parturition products during abortion or birth. Sheep are particularly frequently associated with human outbreaks, but there are insufficient field data to fully understand disease dynamics and to instigate efficient control measures.

Circulation of Coxiella burnetii in a Naturally Infected Flock of Dairy Sheep: Shedding Dynamics, Environmental Contamination, and Genotype Diversity.

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Domestic ruminants are considered to be the main reservoir. Sheep, in particular, may frequently cause outbreaks in humans.

Development and application of an antibody-ELISA to follow up a Trypanosoma evansi outbreak in a dromedary camel herd in France.

An outbreak of trypanosomosis was observed for the first time in metropolitan France in October 2006, when five camels were proved to be infected by Trypanosoma evansi using parasitological methods. The parasite was isolated and used to produce a soluble antigen for antibody-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a protocol derived from a method previously developed for sheep and humans but using protein A conjugate. The animals were treated on three instances, alternatively with melarsomine hydrochloride and quinapyramine and followed up on a monthly basis for 2 years with various diagnostic techniques including parasitological, serological and DNA-based methods.

First outbreak of Trypanosoma evansi in camels in metropolitan France.

The first outbreak of trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma evansi in camels in France was reported on a farm in the Aveyron Department. Five camels were imported from the Canary Islands to the farm in early July 2006, and trypanosomes were observed on a stained blood smear from one of them, which died in October. On further investigations, trypanosomes were observed in the blood of five camels, three of them indigenous to the farm and two that had been imported.

The relationship between nasal myiasis and the prevalence of enzootic nasal tumours and the effects of treatment of Oestrus ovis and milk production in dairy ewes of Roquefort cheese area.

Infection by Oestrus ovis is common in Lacaune dairy ewes of Roquefort cheese area (Aveyron, France). It is believed by local breeders that there is a close relationship between nasal myiasis and the incidence of enzootic nasal tumour. In order to check these anecdotal reports, a serological survey was done on 658 breeding ewes before turn-out and 897 breeding and primiparous (hoggets) ewes at the end of the grazing season.