[Survey of foot and mouth disease in France]. / Le système de surveillance de la fièvre aphteuse en France.

The Foot and Mouth disease is considered a relatively mild disease in susceptible animals but it has a considerable economical impact in France and worldwide due to the huge economical losses that it generates. A system for the prevention of the disease was developed thirty years ago and has since been continuously improved. The current system for the prevention of FMD is based on training and information of all those involved in the surveillance of susceptible animals, over all the national territory, and on the control of imported animals and animal products. This system, developed in close collaboration with the European Commission and the other EU member states, allows control measures to be implemented almost instantaneously, if a case is suspected to avoid spreading of the disease.

Isolation of two H1N2 influenza viruses from swine in France.

Samples collected in 1987 and 1988 in Brittany from influenza-infected swine made it possible to isolate and antigenically characterize two H1N2 recombinant viruses (Sw/France/5027/87 and Sw/France/5550/88). The former virus was cloned and reinoculated to swine to allow reproduction of the disease and reisolation of a strain similar to the original one. The serodiagnostic tests carried out on both the original sera and those from the experimentally infected animals confirmed that the virus was actually type Sw/H1N2.

Capripoxvirus disease in an Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from Saudi Arabia.

Lumpy skin disease caused by a capripoxvirus was observed in a captive-bred female Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) at the National Wildlife Research Center, Taif, Saudi Arabia. Clinical signs included severe general depression with fever, anorexia, greater than 1,000 nodular cutaneous lesions and gradual recovery over 2 mo. The virus was found by electron microscopy and paired sera showed an increasing virus neutralization antibody titer against capripoxvirus. A serologic survey of the herd of 90 oryx showed a low prevalence (2%) of this infection. This report describes the first case of lumpy skin disease in an Arabian oryx.

Collagen and lipid biosynthesis in a case of epitheliogenesis imperfecta in cattle.

An analysis of the dermis and a study of collagen and lipid biosynthesis by fibroblast cultures were carried out in one case of epitheliogenesis imperfecta in a new born calf. This was found to be not only an epidermal disease with fissures and blisters within basal cells on the basement membrane but also a metabolic disease affecting the dermal fibroblasts. These fibroblasts showed a significant decrease in collagen biosynthesis with an increase in the percentage of type III collagen and also a decrease in the biosynthesis of lipids, especially glycerides and cholesterol.

Rapid diagnosis of influenza infection of NP antigen using an immunocapture ELISA test.

An immunocapture ELISA test for the diagnosis of human and animal influenza A and/or B is described. A monoclonal anti-nucleoprotein (NP) antibody was used to capture the NP antigen and the captured antigen was detected by an anti-NP polyclonal rabbit antiserum. Compared with the usual diagnostic method by cultivation in embryonated eggs, this test had a high specificity (97%) and sensitivity when used for diagnosis using clinical nasopharyngeal samples obtained from patients and animals. Immunocapture ELISA permitted an easier reading than the indirect immunofluorescence technique. It also permitted diagnosis in frozen samples (-20 degrees C) or in infected LLCMK2 cells mixed with uninfected nasopharyngeal cells and kept at 20 degrees C for one week. This test can be carried out in 3 h.

[Pathologic consequences of a severe influenza outbreak (swine virus A/H1N1) under natural conditions in the non-immune sow at the beginning of pregnancy]. / Consequences pathologiques d'un episode grippal severe (virus swine A/H1N1) dans les conditions naturelles chez la truie non immune en debut de gestation.

Pathological consequences of a severe outbreak of swine influenza (H1N1 virus) in the non immune sow at the beginning of pregnancy, under natural conditions. A sudden acute outbreak of fever, depression, anorexia and coughing in a group of nulliparous sows from a herd that was currently under epidemiological investigation lead to build a particular disposal of observation. The clinical signs were daily recorded including rectal temperature. Blood was taken from the sows at the beginning of the troubles and 3 weeks later for the detection of Aujesky's disease, coronavirus TGE-like, Influenza viruses A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Viral detection was attempted from nasal swabs and aborted fetuses during the acute phase. The clinical study showed fever reaching near 41 degrees C on most of the pigs and lasting usually from 2 to 5 days. The diagnosis of Influenza (virus swine H1N1) was established both on serology (massive seroconversion) and on the detection of the virus from the nasal swabs and from an aborted fetus. The control of the lungs of sows "not in pig" and culled showed extended lesions of bronchopneumonia and Pasteurella multocida was found. The technical consequences of this severe outbreak of Influenza on reproduction were mainly important at the beginning of pregnancy. Over 13 sows inseminated less than 1 week before the outbreak, only 3 farrowed (respectively 5.5 and 12 piglets); 7 returned to oestrus and 3 "not a pig" at 21 days (echotomography) did not show signs of heat and were culled. Over 8 pregnant sows (1 month of pregnancy), 6 farrowed normal litters and total embryonic resorption occurred in 2 sows. Over 18 pregnant sows (more than 45 days gestation) one aborted.

[Orf: recontamination 8 months after the original infection. Review of the literature apropos of a case]. / Orf: recontamination huit mois après l'infection originelle. Revue de la littérature à propos d'une observation.

Frequent in France among domesticated sheep and goats, contagious pustular dermatitis of the sheep is called Orf when it occurs in man. The authors present a case of recontamination in a woman farmer of the Cher department (Central France), who had been bottle-feeding lambs affected with the zoonosis. This 71-year old woman developed papules, then papulopustules on the ulnar aspect of her hands and wrists (fig. 1). Within a few days, these lesions were 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter and surrounded with a severe inflammatory reaction. Two weeks later, the pustules became encrusted. Electron microscopy of a fragment of lesion demonstrated the virus. Cure was observed after 3 weeks. Eight months later, however, lesions identical with the previous ones appeared on the 4th finger and on the median aspect of the right wrist, corresponding to excoriations caused by nibbling from the lambs. The eruption was accompanied with fever which persisted for one month. In this patient's farm, the disease was present for the first time and affected only 2-month old lambs in the form of numerous papulo-pustules located on the lips and later covered by hard and thick scabs. These lesions were also found on the tongue and palate of some animals (fig. 5), preventing them from taking any food. Vaccination resulted in rapid and dramatic regression of the enzootie. From a more general point of view, the clinical features and epidemiology of the disease are described comparatively in animals and man. The differential diagnosis is dealt with at the end of the article. The literature on the subject is reviewed (151 references).

Infection expérimentale de porcs exempts d'organismes pathogènes spécifiques avec une souche du virus de la grippe porcine (HSW(1)N(1)) et étude de la durée d'excrétion virale.

EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF SPECIFIC PATHOGEN FREE PIGS WITH A SWINE INFLUENZA VIRUS (HSW1N1) AND STUDY OF THE DURATION OF VIRAL SHEDDING: A swine influenza virus (HSW(1)N(1)) isolated from an outbreak with respiratory disorders was experimentally inoculated to two groups of specific pathogen free pigs to study the pathogenicity of this strain and the period of shedding of the virus by the infected pigs. After the infection of the 12 oldest pigs (130 days old) no clinical sign was observed. Pneumonia was observed in three pigs of the 12 infected pigs slaughtered early after inoculation. The lung lesions were moderate and small. After the infection of the 22 seven week old pigs, hyperthermia appeared in 14 pigs and lasted approximately 48 hours. Lesions of pneumonia were seen on the lung of only one pig slaughtered eight days after the infection. The virus had been recovered from nasal swabs, on one pig, 29 days after the experimental infection, but all the contact trials with noninfected specific pathogen free pigs, 30-45 and 60 days after the experimental infection, failed. So, after experimental inoculation, the swine influenza virus weakly multiplied in pigs and its pathogenicity was moderate. In our experimental conditions, the shedding period of the virus was relatively short, less than four weeks. The possible reasons for the clinical reaction variation to the natural or experimental infection are discussed.

Antigenic characterization of influenza A (H1N1) viruses recently isolated from pigs and turkeys in France.

The spread of influenza A viruses from one animal reservoir to another forms an important part of the epidemiological study of influenza. The precise characterization of viral antigens by monoclonal antibodies makes possible an interesting immunological approach to the transfer of strains from one reservoir to another.This work has shown that the recent porcine strains in France, Belgium, and Spain are closely related antigenically, and distinct from the A/sw/NJ/8/76 strain. Their prototype is strain A/sw/Fin/2899/82.An avian strain, A/ty/Brit/46/83, which has caused limited epidemics of reduced egg-laying among turkeys, has a haemagglutinin identical with that of strain A/sw/2899/82.This immunological finding, combined with epidemiological information (geographical location and absence of any influenza antibody in turkey farms in previous years), suggests that the transfer of influenza viruses has taken place in the direction from pig to turkey.

[The persistence of activity of H1N1 (swine) influenza virus in pig breeding units during non-epidemic phases]. / Etude de la persistance d'une activité du virus grippal H1N1 (swine) dans les élevages porcins en dehors des phases épidémiques.

A study is carried on in a group of 16 commercial breeding-finishing units in Brittany (France). The aim of this study is to try to reveal the persistence of activity of the Influenza Virus within these intensive units after an acute epizootic. In each farm two batches of pigs are selected, individually identified and followed from suckling period to slaughter. Serological controls are conducted every month on the same pigs. Both Influenza and Aujeszky's disease antibodies are apprehended. Furthermore nasal swabs and lungs are submitted to analysis for virus isolation purposes and data are collected from each herd for epidemiological studies. Influenza passive H.I. Antibodies rapidly decrease in the piglets. Later a seroconversion is observed in 10% of the investigated piglets. These pigs belong to 4 herds. The conversion happens usually after 3 months of age. All attempts to isolate the virus failed. Special herd conditions may be associated with a persistence of the viral activity inside the units between epizootics: bad demography (unbalance in the breeding stock), inadequate hygiene policy in the fattening house (with permanent arrivals of pigs coming from subsequent batches of sows), a high prevalence of respiratory and specially pulmonary enzootic diseases. A seroconversion against Aujeszky's disease is pointed out in 3 out of the 4 herds concerned with Influenza virus activity suggesting that closely the same conditions may be related both to influenza and Aujeszky's disease virus activity.

[Immunovirologic markers of the risk of influenza A H3N2 among swine]. / Les marqueurs immunovirologiques du risque d'influenza A H3N2 chez les porcs.

A seroepidemiological survey using the radial haemolysis test has been performed on a representative sampling of the pig herds in Brittany. Since 1978, Influenza A H3N2 strains spread in that reservoir giving subclinical infections. We detected antibodies directed against the Influenza prototypes isolated during the human outbreaks from 1973 to 1977. Only one H3N2 virus was isolated in 1980: its antigenic structure was in agreement with the previous serological data. In 1984 outbreaks of swine Influenza A H3N2 occurred. The isolated viruses carried an hemagglutinin antigenically identical to the one of the 1980's strain but the neuraminidase looked clearly different. When studying the specific immune response of the young animals to the influenza infection, it appeared that the hemagglutinin of the 1984's viruses antigenically varied from the 1980's ones in about 2/3 of all the animals. With monoclonal antibodies anti N3 and N2 of the human prototypes we confirmed the data obtained in using the post infection ferret antisera. Monoclonal antibodies directed against the swine H3N2 1984 viruses are in preparation. We have no precise information so far on the mechanism of the antigenic variations.

[Experimental swine influenza. Comparison of the pathogenicity of swine-type wild influenza viruses and strains of human type H3 N2 whose reservoir is swine]. / Grippe porcine expérimentale. Comparaison du pouvoir pathogène entre souches sauvages de virus grippal de type swine et souches de type humain H3 N2 dont le porc est réservoir.

Intra-nasal inoculation of 10-day-old piglets, free of specific pathogenic flora, with swine influenza virus A/H1 N1 and A/H3 N2 produces lesions of viral pneumonia without detectable clinical signs. Following indirect contamination all the strains studied were able to multiply in the respiratory tract; in those cases where no macroscopic lesion was seen, microscopic examination revealed variable modification of the pulmonary tissue depending on the virus causing infection. Influenza virus type H3 N2 are naturally found in many groups of pigs and can therefore play an important role in the respiratory pathology of the hog. Experimental results when compared to findings in the field indicate that the severity of the disease is linked to associated etiological factors as well as to the virulence of the viral strains themselves.

[Epizootic swine influenza on animal farms in Brittany]. / Epizootie de grippe porcine dans les élevages de Bretagne.

Since 1976, seroepidemiological surveys using radial haemolysis and isolation trials from samples collected from pigs at the abattoir showed that Brittany was an important reservoir of swine subclinical infections due to the human Influenza A viruses H3N2. Influenza A H1Sw N1Sw subclinical infections sporadically occurred from 1979 to 1981. In January 1982 an epizootic started in Finistère which spread from west to east. The H1Sw and N1Sw antigens of 28 stains isolated from 1979 to 1982 were studied with ferret and rabbit anti sera and appeared to be variants of the previous strains (1976-1967-1961-1930). A reinforced serological survey in pigs demonstrated that both Influenza A viruses H1Sw N1Sw and H3N2 simultaneously spread in herds. There is no actual prove of recent human infections by A H1Sw N1Sw virus.