Cryptosporidium parvum infection and associated risk factors in dairy calves in western France.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for Cryptosporidium infection in calf neonates on dairy farms in Normandy. Fecal samples were randomly collected between July 2010 and September 2011 from 968 calves (7-21 days old) on 97 farms. Up to 10 calves were selected and sampled per farm, and feces examined for oocysts by microscopy. C. parvum oocyst shedding was scored semi-quantitatively (0-5). A questionnaire about calf-level care and management was completed, and mortality rates were obtained from the French national registration database (BDNI). Bivariable and multivariable analyses of potential risk factors for C. parvum oocyst shedding were conducted using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models (family=Binomial).Overall, 402 out of 968 calves (41.5%) were positive for oocysts, and 25.1% of animals had a shedding score >2. Seven of the 97 farms (7%) were negative for oocysts in all fecal samples. At the time of collection, 375 calves (39%) had diarrhea, and its prevalence strongly correlated with the score for C. parvum oocyst shedding (p<0.0001). The mortality rate at 90 days was significantly greater for calves with high combined scores of diarrhea and shedding. Factors associated with the shedding of C. parvum were the Normande breed (odds ratio=1.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-2.37), dispensing of colostrum using a bucket (odds ratio=1.37; 95% CI: 1.00-1.89), treatment with halofuginone (odds ratio=0.46; 95% CI: 0.19-1.15) and feeding with fermented milk (odds ratio=0.32; 95% CI: 0.17-0.63). C. parvum is widespread among calves under 21 days old in dairy herds of western France. Shedding of C. parvum is associated with a high incidence of diarrhea and increased risk of mortality in young calves. This study identified some associated calf-level factors, although further investigations are necessary to determine appropriate measures that farmers and veterinary practitioners should take to reduce the prevalence of C. parvum.

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates from high-excreting young dairy calves in dairy cattle herds in Western France.

Ninety-two Cryptosporidium sp.-positive fecal samples of dairy diarrheic or non-diarrheic calves from 30 cattle herds in Normandy (France) were selected. Here, the aim was to investigate the species of Cryptosporidium excreted as well as the subtypes of Cryptosporidium parvum found in 7-17-day-old dairy calves. Excretion levels were comprised between 2 × 10(4) and 4 × 10(7) oocysts per gram of feces. Here, a nested 18S SSU rRNA PCR associated with sequencing was performed for identification of Cryptosporidium species and revealed the presence of C. parvum in most cases (80/82), except for two animals which were infected with Cryptosporidium bovis. Then, C. parvum samples were submitted to gp60 PCR. For 39 samples from 24 different herds, a multilocus analysis based on four mini-microsatellites loci (MM19, MM5, MSF, and MS9-Mallon) were conducted. These results were combined with sequence analysis of the gp60 to obtain multilocus types (MLTs). Here, C. parvum gp60 genotyping identified three subtypes in the IIa zoonotic allele family: IIaA15G2R1 (88%), IIaA16G3R1 (10%), and IIaA19G2R1 (2%), and we identified 12 MLTs. The MS9-Mallon locus was reported as the most polymorphic (five alleles). The most common MLT was MLT 1 with 15 samples in 10 farms: (MS9-M: 298, MSF: 165, MM5: 264, MM19: 462, and gp60 subtype: IIaA15G2R1). When comparing diarrheic and non-diarrheic fecal samples, no difference was seen for distribution of Cryptosporidium species, C. parvum gp60 subtypes, and MLTs. Here, in a range of oocyst excretion of 10(4)-10(7) opg, both in diarrheic and non-diarrheic calves, infection was mainly due to C. parvum and to the zoonotic subtype: IIaA15G2R1.

Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in fresh calf faeces: characteristics of two simple tests and evaluation of a semi-quantitative approach.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of two rapid tests, namely, a faecal smear staining method (Heine staining) and a commercially available immunochromatographic (IC) assay, against a direct immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the diagnosis of Cryptosporidium infections in 917 faecal samples from calves aged <3 weeks. These rapid tests were performed on non-concentrated faeces using a semi-quantitative approach using a 6-point scale (0-5) for Heine staining according to the number of oocysts per microscopic field, and a 4-point scale (0-3) for the IC assay reflecting the intensity of the positive line compared to the control line. Direct IFAT was performed following a diethyl ether concentration and results were expressed as oocysts per g of faeces (opg). Heine staining showed a sensitivity of 76.7% and a specificity of 90.7%. For faecal samples with ≥ 10,000opg, sensitivity increased to 90.0%. The sensitivity of the IC assay was lower (61.8%) but the specificity was 100%. For faeces with ≥ 100,000opg, the sensitivity of the IC assay reached 81%, indicating some limitation for clinical cryptosporidiosis diagnosis. Additional scoring (1-5) of the Heine staining correlated with the corresponding direct IFAT results, particularly for ranges of 1000 to >1,000,000opg. Additional scoring from 1 to 3 according to the thickness of the sample line for the IC test correlated with increasing levels of Cryptosporidium opg measured by IFAT in the range of 10,000 to >1,000,000opg. In conclusion, both Heine staining and the IC test can be reliably used through a simple semi-quantitative scale for grossly quantifying oocyst output in calf faecal samples.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum infections in adult goats and their implications for neonatal kids.

During the kidding season between January and April 2003, 10 farms were selected and divided into two groups of five. The farms in group A had had serious diarrhoeal illness and losses in neonatal kids the previous year, and there were Cryptosporidium parvum infections in kids associated with diarrhoea during the survey. On the farms in group B, there was no history of diarrhoeal disease the previous year and neither C parvum oocysts nor diarrhoea were detected in neonatal kids during the survey. Faecal samples were collected once from 10 adult goats aged between one and seven years on each farm. To assess more accurately the pattern of output of oocysts of C parvum and cysts of Giardia duodenalis by periparturient adult goats, one farm was selected from each group, faecal samples were collected weekly before and after kidding from 12 goats on the farm in group A and from 10 goats on the farm in group B. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of G duodenalis cysts between the group A farms (14 per cent) and the group B farms (12 per cent), and the numbers of cysts excreted ranged from 143 to 400 cysts per gram of faeces (cpg) on the group A farms and 72 to 334 cpg on the group B farms. There was a significant difference (P=0.03) in the prevalence of C parvum oocysts at the group level between the group A farms (20 per cent) and the group B farms (6 per cent). All the adult goats excreted cysts and oocysts at some date around the kidding period; the number of animals excreting cysts of G duodenalis or oocysts of C parvum increased when they gave birth, and seven to 10 times more cysts and oocysts were shed in the three weeks around kidding than in the period more than three weeks from kidding (P<0.001).

Potential source of human exposure to Mycobacterium bovis in Burkina Faso, in the context of the HIV epidemic.

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential sources of human Mycobacterium bovis infection in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. METHODS: A tuberculin survey among 174 cattle was performed. Mycobacteriologic identification in 64 samples of pooled milk, and in 199 tissue samples collected from the slaughterhouse of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, was also done. We retrospectively analyzed the distribution of tuberculosis (TB) cases on 1140 clinical records according to professional occupation and to ethnic group. The frequency of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB was related to potential exposure and route of transmission of M. bovis from animals. RESULTS: Out of six herds (total 170 bovines), only one was free of any positive tuberculin test. Among 199 bovines which had been slaughtered over four consecutive nights, 38 (19%) had morphologic lesions suggestive of TB; 17 (45%) of those were positive for acid-fast bacilli by microscopic examination on one of their lesions, and 20 samples (53%) presented a positive culture for a pathogenic mycobacterium, including M. bovis and M. tuberculosis. In the retrospective analysis, Peuls more frequently had a pulmonary form of disease. This may be related to the route of transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Attention has to be paid to human TB of bovine origin in Burkina Faso. The identification of M. tuberculosis in milk and in tissue samples raises the question of the transmission of TB from humans to cattle.

[Use of Trypanosoma antigen detection ELISA during an epidemiological follow-up in the Sideradougou, Burkina Faso]. / Utilisation du test ELISA de détection des antigènes circulants de trypanosomes dans le cadre d'un suivi épidémiologique dans la zone de Sidéradougou, Burkina Faso.

Plasmas taken during a parasitological survey on bovine trypanosomosis were tested a posteriori with an antigen detection ELISA test. The objective was to evaluate the value of this test for epidemiological monitoring. The results were compared to those obtained using the usual parasitological technique (buffy coat examination). Of the 297 zebu cattle heads studied, 216 came from four villages in the pastoral zone of Sideradougou. A large eradication programme had led to the disappearance of tsetse in the area. Blood samples were taken during the rainy saison (September 1986), at the beginning (January 1987) and at the end (May 1987) of the dry season. The parasitological diagnosis was carried out in the field and plasmas were stored at -20 degrees C. The serological test was performed in August 1993. The incidence rates of bovine trypanosomosis obtained with antigen detection ELISA were low in the center of the zone. These rates decreased proportionally to the distance between the blood sampling area and the limit of the infested area. The results of the parasitological diagnosis were similar except for a village located on the border of the treated zone. The use of antigen detection ELISA confirmed the low incidence of trypanosomosis in the center of the area of Sideradougou following the eradication campaign. It also enables to obtain finer parasitological results pointing out the trypanosome persistence in peripheric zones, more exposed to reinfestations.

[Isolation of pathogenic Mycobacterium strains in cattle slaughtered in the abattoir of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso]. / Isolement de souches de mycobactéries pathogènes chez des bovins abattus à l'abattoir de Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

The major cause of meat rejection at the slaughterhouse of Bobo-Dioulasso is bovine tuberculosis. The objective of this work was to confirm the postmortem diagnosis pronounced at the slaughterhouse using laboratory methods (direct examination following Ziehl-Hielsen staining and isolation of Mycobacterium strains following culture in a Loewenstein-Jensen medium. During the study, 39 pathogenic Mycobacterium strains (38 Mycobacterium bovis and 1 Mycobacterium tuberculosis) out of 100 sampled out suspicious strains, were studied. No Mycobacteria typical of M. farcinogenes was found on direct examination. We were then able to differentiate between bovine tuberculosis and bovine farcy. The results confirm the well-founded decision in the slaughterhouse to discard the meat on the grounds of tuberculosis. The majority of cattle is located in villages around Bobo-Dioulasso and its is therefore highly likely that the disease is enzootic in the area with a fairly high level of infection in animals.

[Absence of interaction between Trypanosoma theileri infections with the diagnosis of animal trypanosomiasis by detection of circulating antigens]. / Absence d'interaction des infections à Trypanosoma theileri avec le diagnostic des trypanosomoses animales par détection des antigènes circulants.

This work presents data gathered at the CIRDES (Centre international de Recherche-Développement sur l'Elevage en Zone subhumide) during epidemiological monitoring. The prevalence levels of Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma congolense and Trypansoma brucei obtained using antigen-detection ELISA were compared in non-infected animals and in animals infected with Trypanosoma theileri. The aim was to investigate whether there were any serological cross-reactions between T. theileri and the pathogenic trypanosomes. The results show that there was no interaction by Trypanosoma theileri with the diagnosis of the pathogenic trypanosomes using antigen-detection ELISA.

[Balint syndrome as a result of a biparietal infarct. Neuropsychological analysis]. / Syndrome de Balint par infarctus biparietal analyse neuropsychologique.

A case of Balint syndrome with bilateral parietal infarction is presented. Analysis shows the tight intrication of visual inattention and psychic gaze palsy. The deficit of visuo-manual adjustment is characterized by a fixed divergence between the target and the point where the patient places his hand, either in ballistic movements (classical optic ataxia), either in pursuit movements; for this reason, a simple disconnexion should not explain the classic optic ataxia. The discretion of aphasia allows the individualization of an anterograde and partially retrograde amnesia.

[Post-traumatic retrograde amnesia]. / Amnesie retrograde post traumatique.

A case of post traumatic retrograde amnesia is described. The patient presented after an initial coma a global amnesia, but the fixation deficit rapidly disappeared, and a severe retrograde amnesia dating back to childhood experience and learning remained the main symptom. Amnesia for remote events was associated with didactic memory deficit and, at a lesser degree, with a verbal memory deficit. Recovery of fixation allowed a progressive relearning. This pattern of impairment was recently related to mesencephalic lesions, but we think that the role of temporal lobe involvement cannot be neglected.

[Oculocephalomotor disorders and bilateral thalamo-subthalamic infarction (author's transl)]. / Troubles oculo-céphalomoteurs et infarctus thalamo-sous-thalamique bilatéral.

A 33-year-old woman on oral contraceptives suddenly developed neurological disorders characterised by decreased alertness, absence of motor and verbal spontaneity, anterograde amnesia with difficulties in verbal and visual learning. She also presented paralysis of upwards and downwards ocular movements affecting mainly saccadic movements while convergence was normal. An initial almost total absence of spontaneous head movements and later an impossibility to carry out downwards movements of the head. This apparently represents a syndrome still not reported in human pathology. The clinical course was favourable. CT scan suggested the presence of a paramedian infarct of the region supplied by the thalamosubthalamic artery of the type II b of Percheron. An analogy is suggested between these disorders of oculocephalomotor behaviour and those observed by Denny-Brown in experimental bilateral retrorubric lesions. The possibility of a lesion in the internal thalamic nucleis and the adjacent subthalamic region is considered.