Duck production systems and highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 in France, 2016-2017.

In winter 2016-2017, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus spread across Europe, causing unprecedented epizootics. France was massively affected, resulting in the culling of over 6 million poultry. Boosted regression tree (BRT) models were used to quantify the association between spatial risk factors and HPAI H5N8 infection in poultry holdings and to generate predictive maps for HPAI infection. Three datasets were combined to build the model: a dataset of the reported outbreaks in poultry, a dataset of the poultry holdings where the virus has not been reported and a set of relevant spatial risk factors, including poultry production and trade, and water bird habitat. Results identified key associations between the 'foie gras' production systems and HPAI H5N8 risk of occurrence and indicate that strengthening surveillance of fattening duck production systems and making the transportation of fattening ducks more secure would be key priority options for HPAI prevention and control.

Spread rate of lumpy skin disease in the Balkans, 2015-2016.

After its introduction in Turkey in November 2013 and subsequent spread in this country, lumpy skin disease (LSD) was first reported in the western Turkey in May 2015. It was observed in cattle in Greece and reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in August 2015. From May 2015 to August 2016, 1,092 outbreaks of lumpy skin disease were reported in cattle from western Turkey and eight Balkan countries: Greece, Bulgaria, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. During this period, the median LSD spread rate was 7.3 km/week. The frequency of outbreaks was highly seasonal, with little or no transmission reported during the winter. Also, the skewed distribution of spread rates suggested two distinct underlying epidemiological processes, associating local and distant spread possibly related to vectors and cattle trade movements, respectively.

Syndromic surveillance of abortions in beef cattle based on the prospective analysis of spatio-temporal variations of calvings.

Our objective was to study the ability of a syndromic surveillance system to identify spatio-temporal clusters of drops in the number of calvings among beef cows during the Bluetongue epizootic of 2007 and 2008, based on calving seasons. France was partitioned into 300 iso-populated units, i.e. units with quite the same number of beef cattle. Only 1% of clusters were unlikely to be related to Bluetongue. Clusters were detected during the calving season of primary infection by Bluetongue in 28% (n = 23) of the units first infected in 2007, and in 87% (n = 184) of the units first infected in 2008. In units in which a first cluster was detected over their calving season of primary infection, Bluetongue was detected more rapidly after the start of the calving season and its prevalence was higher than in other units. We believe that this type of syndromic surveillance system could improve the surveillance of abortive events in French cattle. Besides, our approach should be used to develop syndromic surveillance systems for other diseases and purposes, and in other settings, to avoid "false" alarms due to isolated events and homogenize the ability to detect abnormal variations of indicator amongst iso-populated units.

Preventive vaccination contributes to control classical swine fever in wild boar (Sus scrofa sp.).

Over the last 20 years, oral vaccination implementing a live attenuated vaccine has been experimented in Europe in order to control classical swine fever (CSF) in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa sp.). This has generally led to an enhanced seroprevalence and a decreased viroprevalence at the scale of the whole vaccinated populations, but no quantitative analysis has demonstrated the protective effect of preventive vaccination or intensive baiting. In the present paper we conducted a retrospective analysis at the scale of the municipality, taking into account the local dynamics and possible covariates of infection to test the effect of preventive vaccination and of the baiting effort. To be efficient, vaccination was expected to increase seroprevalence above the level considered as suitable for preventing disease invasion (40-60%) independently of infection, to protect free areas from disease invasion or contribute to control subsequent disease intensity and duration. We also hypothesized that a better baiting effort would be correlated with an improvement of immunisation and disease control. In uninfected municipalities, seroprevalence increased up to 40% after 1 year, i.e., three vaccination campaigns. We observed a significant protective effect of preventive vaccination, especially within municipalities that had been vaccinated at least 1 year before disease emergence and where virus detection did not last more than one quarter. On the other hand, we did not detect a significant effect of the baiting effort on local seroprevalence or disease dynamics, suggesting that the baiting system could be improved. We discuss these results regarding the improvement of management measures and further research perspective.

A community-based survey of posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands.

In this study, the lifetime prevalence of stressful events and current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the general adult population in the Netherlands were examined, and risk groups for PTSD were determined. A representative sample of 2,238 adults (>or=18 years) in the Netherlands completed digital questionnaires by computer-assisted self-interviewing. In total, 52.2% of the population reported at least one stressful event throughout their life. The estimated prevalence of current PTSD in the total population was 3.8%. Rape and physical assault were the stressful events most likely to be associated with PTSD, witness of injury the least likely. Stressful medical events were moderately associated with PTSD. Prevalence of PTSD was elevated among single women and middle-aged men.

Vitamin A, vitamin E and carotenoid status and metabolism during ageing: functional and nutritional consequences (VITAGE PROJECT).

Among the nutritional factors contributing to maintain health during ageing, fat-soluble vitamins (FSV) are crucial to protect against free radical-generated degenerative processes or impaired efficiency of the immune system. However, no sound scientific evidence is able to confirm specific dietary needs in vitamin A, vitamin E and carotenoids for the healthy elderly. VITAGE project aims at providing such evidence by undertaking studies on male volunteers from 3 European countries, aged between 20-75 years. Biomarkers and variables related to status, metabolism and functions will be measured either in steady-state conditions, or during dietary depletion and repletion in FSV. Original, yet already developed, methodologies will provide clear information about the physiological characteristics of vitamin A, vitamin E and carotenoids. Simultaneously, marketing opportunities for FSV-enriched dietetic foods, specifically designed for the elderly will be determined. The scientific and economical evidence obtained in this project will provide the basis to implement a EU nutritional policy towards the elderly and to develop a new sector of dietetic food products.

[Interocular accommodative disparities: asymmetry and/or paresis?]. / Les disparités accommodatives interoculaires: asymétrie et/ou parésie?

Description of interocular accommodative disparities about 3 cases of young patients, whose occupations require an excellent stereopsis in near vision. Is is a paresis, an asynergy or a constitutional asymmetry? In order to delimit this pathology, the accommodative power of each eye has been measured on a reference population including 100 subjects aged 20 to 35 years. The suitable correction of this anomaly, allows an exact compensation and the recovery of a normal functional comfort.