Population dynamics of ticks infesting horses in north-west Tunisia.

A preliminary study was carried out to examine the population dynamics of ticks on 24 pure Arabian horses. The horses were monitored monthly over one year in the Ghardimaou region of north-west Tunisia. A total of 120 adult ticks were collected and identified, leading to the estimation of different parasitological indicators. The ticks belonged to a single genus (Hyalomma) and three species: H. scupense (59%), H. marginatum (28%) and H. excavatum (13%) (p < 0.001). The mean infestation prevalence was 29.5%; the highest prevalence was observed for H. scupense (41.7%) (p < 0.05). The mean overall intensity of infestation was0.3 ticks/horse. The highest mean intensity was observed with H. scupense (0.6 ticks/horse) and the highest individual intensity measurement was observed for H. scupense (1.1 ticks/animal). The mean annual abundance of ticks was 0.1 ticks/animal. There was no significant correlation between a horse's age and the number of ticks (p > 0.05), but the proportion of ticks on mares was significantly higher than that on males: 65.0% and 35.0%, respectively (p < 0.05). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study of tick dynamics in North African horses.

Une étude préliminaire a été réalisée afin d'examiner la dynamique des populations de tiques infestant 24 chevaux pur-sang arabes. Les tests ont été effectués une fois par mois pendant un an dans la région de Ghardimaou au nord-ouest de la Tunisie. Autotal, 120 tiques adultes ont été collectées et identifiées, permettant une estimation de différents indicateurs parasitologiques. Toutes les tiques collectées étaient du genre Hyalomma, dont trois espèces ont été identifiées : H. scupense (59 %),H. marginatum (28 %) et H. excavatum (13 %) (p < 0,001). La prévalence moyenne de l'infestation était de 29,5 % et la prévalence la plus élevée correspondait à H. scupense (41,7 %) (p < 0,05). L'intensité globale moyenne de l'infestation était de 0,3 tique/cheval. L'intensité moyenne la plus élevée correspondait à H. scupense (0,6 tique/cheval), espèce qui a également présenté l'intensité individuelle la plus élevée (1,1 tique/animal). L'abondance annuelle moyenne était de 0,1 tique/animal. Aucune corrélation significative n'a été mise en évidence entre l'âge du cheval et le nombre de tiques (p > 0,05), mais la proportion de tiques chez les juments était plus élevée que chez les mâles, respectivement 65,0 % et 35,0 % (p < 0,05). À la connaissance des auteurs, il s'agit de la première étude longitudinale de la dynamique des populations de tiques chez les chevaux en Afrique du Nord.

Los autores describen un estudio preliminar destinado a examinar la dinámica de población de las garrapatas presentes en 24 caballos purasangre árabes de la región de Gardimau (noroeste de Túnez), sometidos a controles mensuales durante más de un año. Tras recoger y tipificar un total de 120 garrapatas adultas, se calcularon distintos indicadores parasitológicos. Todos los ácaros pertenecían a un solo género (Hyalomma) y a tres especies: H. scupense (59%), H. marginatum (28%) y H. excavatum (13%) (p < 0,001). La prevalencia de infestación media era del 29,5%, mientras que la prevalencia más alta observada correspondía a H. scupense (41,7%) (p < 0,05). El promedio general de intensidad de infestación era de 0,3 garrapatas/caballo. La intensidad media más elevada correspondía a H. scupense (0,6 garrapatas/caballo), especie que también deparó la medida más alta de intensidad individual (1,1 garrapatas/animal). El promedio de abundancia anual era de 0,1 garrapatas/animal. No se observó correlación significativa entre la edad del caballo y el número de garrapatas (p > 0,05), pero la proporción de parásitos en las yeguas era significativamente mayor que en los machos: un 65,0% frente a un 35,0%, respectivamente (p < 0,05). Hasta donde saben los autores, se trata del primer estudio longitudinal de la dinámica de poblaciones de garrapatas realizado en caballos norteafricanos.

Dermatological signs in bovine tropical theileriosis (T heileria annulata infection), a review.

Bovine tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection) is an important tick-borne disease in several regions of the world. This paper describes two clinical cases of tropical theileriosis in northern Tunisia with the uncommon sign of skin nodules. The density of nodules was estimated at 15-20 per 10 cm2; they were distributed over the animal's body and were 0.5-2 cm in diameter. Microscopic examination of the skin nodules 18 days after treatment onset showed a perivascular infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages and eosinophils. Nevertheless, no schizonts were observed. Appropriate treatment led to the recovery of one of the two animals with total disappearance of the skin lesions; the other animal died. A review of clinical cases of tropical theileriosis (T. annulata infection) with cutaneous lesions is presented. Various dermatological signs are described in the literature: skin nodules, haemorrhagic lesions, cutaneous gangrene, etc. Most authors reported the presence of schizonts in the nodular lesions. Dermatological involvement in bovine tropical theileriosis should be considered by field veterinarians and should be differentiated from other diseases with dermatological signs.

La theilériose tropicale bovine (infection à Theileria annulata) est une maladie majeure à transmission vectorielle présente dans plusieurs régions du globe. Les auteurs décrivent deux cas cliniques de theilériose tropicale survenus dans le nord de la Tunisie, qui présentaient un tableau peu courant de lésions nodulaires. La densité estimée des nodules était de l'ordre de 15 à 20 nodules pour 10 cm² ; ils mesuraient de 0,5 à 2 cm de diamètre et étaient présents sur toutes les parties du corps de l'animal. L'examen au microscope des nodules cutanés 18 jours après le début du traitement a révélé une infiltration périvasculaire de lymphocytes, macrophages et éosinophiles. En revanche, aucun schizonte n'a été observé. L'administration d'un traitement approprié a éliminé l'infection chez l'un des deux animaux, avec une disparition totale de ses lésions cutanées ; l'autre animal est mort. Les auteurs présentent une synthèse des cas cliniques de theilériose tropicale (infection à T. annulata) s'accompagnant de lésions cutanées. Plusieurs manifestations dermatologiques sont décrites dans la littérature : nodules cutanés, lésions hémorragiques, gangrène cutanée, etc. La plupart des auteurs signalent la présence de schizontes dans les lésions nodulaires. Les manifestations dermatologiques associées à la theilériose tropicale bovine doivent être prises en compte par les vétérinaires de terrain et faire l'objet d'un diagnostic différentiel par rapport à d'autres maladies présentant un tableau dermatologique comparable.

La teileriosis tropical bovina (infección por Theileria annulata) es una importante enfermedad transmitida por garrapatas que afecta a varias regiones del mundo. Los autores describen dos casos clínicos de teileriosis tropical diagnosticados en el norte de Túnez que presentaban un síntoma inhabitual: nódulos cutáneos, con una densidad estimada de 15 a 20 nódulos por cada 10 cm2. Los nódulos, distribuidos por todo el cuerpo del animal, tenían un diámetro de entre 0,5 y 2 cm. El examen microscópico de los nódulos a los 18 días de tratamiento reveló una infiltración perivascular de linfocitos, macrófagos y eosinófilos, pero no se observaron esquizontes. La administración del tratamiento apropiado llevó a la recuperación de uno de los dos ejemplares, con desaparición completa de las lesiones cutáneas, mientras que el otro murió. Los autores pasan revista a una serie de casos clínicos de teileriosis tropical (infección por T. annulata) con presencia de lesiones cutáneas. En la bibliografía están descritos varios casos con síntomas dermatológicos: nódulos cutáneos, lesiones hemorrágicas, gangrena cutánea, etc. La mayoría de los autores señalan la presencia de esquizontes en las lesiones nodulares. Los veterinarios que trabajan sobre el terreno deben tener en cuenta que la teileriosis tropical bovina puede acompañarse de afectación cutánea y distinguir esta enfermedad de otras patologías que provocan síntomas dermatológicos.

Leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum infection) in dogs.

The authors present an overview of canine leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum. This protozoan is transmitted by sandflies and the disease is frequently characterised by chronic evolution. Cutaneous and visceral clinical signs appear as the infection progresses. Lymph node enlargement, emaciation and skin lesions are the main signs observed in the classical forms of the disease. Control is difficult since infected dogs remain carriers for years and may relapse at any time. The mass screening of infected animals and their treatment or euthanasia represent the best way to reduce the prevalence of this disease in endemic regions. Further research is needed to improve the efficiency of the vaccines available to protect dogs against infection. This disease is zoonotic; in humans, clinical cases are reported mainly in elderly people, the young and those whose immune systems have been compromised.

Cross-sectional study of cattle lice infestation in the region of Nabeul in north-east Tunisia.

This cross-sectional study is the first to estimate the prevalence of cattle pediculosis in Tunisia. A total of 39 cattle farms in the region of Nabeul in north-east Tunisia were visited and lice were collected by intensively brushing 789 cattle. The prevalence was estimated to be 20.5% on the farms (8/39) and 4.7% in animals (37/789). Collected parasites were examined under a stereomicroscope and three lice species were identified: Bovicola bovis, Linognathus vituli and Haematopinus eurysternus. Thirty-two animals were infested with the chewing lice B. bovis (4%), three with H. eurysternus (0.4%) and two with L. vituli (0.2%). The infestation prevalence was higher in calves under eight months of age (21.6%)than in adults (0.8%). Decision-makers in animal health should consider this parasitic disease in their control and eradication programmes.

Dynamics of infestation of tracers lambs by gastrointestinal helminths under a traditional management system in the North of Tunisia.

The authors present a survey of gastrointestinal helminths of sheep on permanent pastures in the extreme north region of Tunisia (Mediterranean climate). Dynamic infestation of animals has been monitored by using batches of three tracer lambs introduced each two months during 2004 and 2005. These lambs were kept in the pens of veterinary school of Sidi Thabet (Tunisia) during three months and then necropsied. Faecal and blood samples were took from tracer lambs each two months during the whole period, and from animal flock only during 2004. The main helminth genera encountered were Trichostrongylus spp., Teladorsagia spp., Strongyloides papillosus and Anoplocephalidea; occasionaly were found Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Chabertia, Cooperia, Trichuris and Paramphistomum. The egg count of the ewes and lambs in the flock showed two peaks. For both ewes and lambs there is a gradual increase from January with a peak in May-June. This first peak is considered to be due to acquisition of infective larvae during the rainy and cold season, as evident from the worm burdens of tracer lambs. The second peak was exclusively observed in ewes during late autumn-early winter (November-December); it has two origins: infestation by third larvae stage and the periparturient rise. The worm burdens of tracer lambs showed that there was a gradual accumulation of nematodes from September-October, reaching a peak in March-April; a very low or naught infection is reported during the dry period (July-August). Infection by Anoplocephalidea was higher during the dry season. This study is primordial for a comprehensive control programme implementation against gastrointestinal helminths.

Evaluation of a simple Theileria annulata culture protocol from experimentally infected bovine whole blood.

We have evaluated a new simple technique using whole blood from experimentally infected cattle for the isolation and cultivation of Theileria annulata. The study was carried out on 20 Holstein-Frisian bovines that had been experimentally infected with a virulent lethal dose of Theileria annulata. This technique has been compared to the classical peripheral blood monocyte isolation with Ficoll carried out on 22 experimentally infected Holstein-Friesian calves. The effectiveness of the reference technique was estimated to 86.4%, whilst the effectiveness of the new technique was 100%. Moreover, this new technique leads to time and money saving estimated to € 3.06 per sample. It decreases the contamination risks by reducing the steps of sample manipulation.

Infestation of tracer lambs by Fasciola hepatica in Tunisia: determining periods for strategic anthelmintic treatments.

Ovine fasciolosis causes high morbidity and mortality rates, resulting in large economic losses to the sheep industry in northern Tunisia. The authors surveyed ovine fasciolosis (Fasciola hepatica infestation) in a Barbarine sheep flock in the humid region of Tunisia (Sejnane, Governorate of Bizerte) over two consecutive years, 2004 to 2005. To assess the dynamics of fluke infestation, a total of 36 tracer lambs were introduced into the flock successively, in groups of three, every two months, and their infestations were monitored by coproscopy and necropsy. Coproscopic analysis revealed high mean percentages of infestation of 60% and 65% for flock lambs and ewes, respectively. Similarly, a high percentage of infestations was recorded in the tracer lambs (more than 70%) post mortem. Significant fluctuations in infestation dynamics were observed in the tracer lambs, and three distinct infestation periods were identified: a period of very low, non-constant infestation risk during the warm period (from July to October); a high-risk period from March to June, and a third period with a variable but constant infestation risk (from November to February). Based on these results, the authors propose strategic flukicide treatments with triclabendazole, aimed at reducing mollusc infestation and subsequent pasture contamination by metacercariae, during two main periods: in September and in February, just before the reactivation of the molluscs from aestivation and hibernation, respectively.

Ranking control options for tropical theileriosis in at-risk dairy cattle in Tunisia, using benefit-cost analysis.

An economic evaluation of various control programmes against Theileria annulata infection was conducted on a sample of 49 Tunisian dairy farms where clinical cases of tropical theileriosis had been recorded during the summer. Indicators of morbidity and the prevalence of infection, as well as production and demographic indicators (recorded in the present survey ortaken from secondary sources), were used to rank the potential costs and benefits of various control programmes for tropical theileriosis over a time horizon of 15 years. Three options were considered, i.e. vaccination with a local attenuated cell-line vaccine; partial barn upgrading, based on first roughcasting then smoothing all the walls of the animal premises (inner and outer surfaces); and applying acaricides to control the vector tick population on the cattle. The most important loss from this disease, representing between 22% and 38% of the overall losses, is the loss in milk yield from carriers of T. annulata. Upgrading barns produced the highest mean benefit-cost ratio (1.62 to 3.71), while the ratios for vaccination and acaricides ranged from 0.20 to 1.19 and 0.32 to 0.88, respectively. However, the benefit-cost ratio of vaccination increased (from 1.65 to 5.41), when the costs due to carrier state infection, which vaccination does not prevent, were ignored. Upgrading barns is a sustainable eradication policy against tropical theileriosis, based on a single investment, and is environmentally friendly. This control option should be encouraged by national Veterinary Authorities in regions where tropical theileriosis is transmitted by a domestic endophilic tick.

Symptoms of Canine Leishmaniosis in Tunisian Dogs.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a fatal disease caused by Leishmania infantum which is a zoonotic protozoan transmitted to humans from dogs through sandflies. In Tunisia, there is a lack of knowledge on CanL risk and protective factors that limits the possibilities to design control strategies. In this study, 269 dogs suffering from CanL that were presented by their owners to the clinic of the National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet (Tunisia), were examined. Male dogs were more infected than female dogs (sex-ratio = 1.53). The age distribution in dogs has a normal distribution; mostly animals less than 4 years old (48.7%) gets affected by this disease. The majority of the animals were German Shepherded (14.4%) followed by Staffordshire (12.6%) and Rottweiler (9.6%). Most of the dogs live outdoor (87%), did not receive any acaricidal treatment (88.5%) and were not dewormed (70.3%). Poor body condition (73.2%), depilation (69.1%), lymph node enlargement (67.3%) and lethargy (60.2%) were the most frequent symptoms. Further studies need to be carried out to establish the presence of a relation between the zymodems and the clinical typology of CanL. It is also important to know if these disparities were due to differences in the canine population under study, to inherent differences in susceptibility to the disease or to a genetic diversity of the parasite.

La leishmaniose viscérale canine est une maladie fatale due à Leishmania infantum qui est un protozoaire zoonotique transmis aux humains par les chiens par l'intermédiaire de phlébotomes. En Tunisie, il y a un manque d'informations sur la leishmaniose viscérale canine, les facteurs de risque et de protection, limitant les possibilités de développement de stratégies de contrôle. Les auteurs ont examiné 269 chiens présentés par leurs propriétaires en consultation à la clinique de l'École nationale de médecine vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet (Tunisie), présentant une leishmaniose viscérale canine en Tunisie. Les chiens mâles étaient plus infectés que les chiens femelles (sex-ratio = 1,53). La distribution de l'âge des chiens est en cloche, la maladie a concerné principalement les animaux âgés de moins de 4 ans (48,7 %). La majorité des animaux étaient de race berger allemand (14,4 %), suivis par les Staffordshire bull-terrier (12,6 %) et les rottweilers (9,6 %). La majorité des chiens vivaient à l'extérieur (87 %), ne recevaient pas de traitements acaricides (88,5 %) et n'étaient pas vermifugés (70,3 %). Le mauvais état général (73,2 %), la dépilation (69,1 %), l'hypertrophie des nœuds lymphatiques (67,3 %) et la léthargie (60,2 %) étaient les symptômes les plus fréquents. Des études ultérieures sont nécessaires pour établir une relation entre les zymodèmes et la typologie clinique de la leishmaniose viscérale du chien. Il serait intéressant également de savoir si ces disparités étaient dues à une différence de la population canine étudiée, à une différence de la sensibilité des chiens ou à une diversité génétique du parasite.

First Molecular Identification and Genetic Characterization of Theileria lestoquardi in Sheep of the Maghreb Region.

Theileria lestoquardi is the most prominent Theileria species in small ruminants that causes malignant theileriosis of sheep in Africa and Asia. In the present survey, blood samples and ticks were collected in Kebili (southern Tunisia) from 166 Queue Fine de l'Ouest sheep. Giemsa-stained blood smears, immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and PCR were performed. The DNA was extracted from blood and analysed by PCR targeting 18S rRNA gene of Theileria spp. and then sequenced. A total number of 140 ticks were collected from a total number of 166 sheep during the four seasons. The ticks belonged to two genera and 4 species; the most frequent tick was Hyalomma excavatum 84.3% (118/140) and then Rhipicephalus spp. 15.7% (22/140). Only two animals had positive Giemsa-stained blood smears, and they were also positive by IFAT. The amplicons had 99.3 and 99.6% homology with the BLAST published T. lestoquardi amplicons. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. lestoquardi in small ruminants within the Maghreb region.

[Epidemiological, clinical and parasitological data about canine leishmaniasis in Tunisia]. / Données epidémiologiques, cliniques et parasitologiques sur la leishmaniose générale canine en Tunisie.

Epidemiological, clinical and parasitological data concerning canine leishmaniasis were collected in two Tunisian populations of dogs, different in breed and life style: 23 rural dogs and 26 dogs of European breeds. All were symptomatic and lived in the north of Tunisia where human visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum are endemic. Leishmaniasis has been confirmed in all dogs by serology or/and by parasitic identification. Significant differences concerning age and symptoms suggest a higher susceptibility to infection in European imported breeds. In fact individuals of this population were significantly younger; 81% were less than 5 years old whereas 57% of the autochthonous rural dogs were more than 5 years old with 31% of them being older than 9 (p = 0.014). In spite of their young age, 75% of imported breeds presented an affection of their general state with more frequent cutaneous symptoms than the rural dogs (96% versus 69%, p = 0.02). Isoenzyme typing of 31 strains, obtained from the two populations, from different sites (blood, lymph nodes, spleen) has only identified the zymodeme Leishmania infantum MON-1. This stresses the need of more investigations to determine reservoirs of the other enzymatic variants identified in humans in Tunisia and Mediterranean basin.

First report of Babesia divergens in Tunisia.

Babesia divergens of bovine origin was isolated, for the first time in Tunisia, from a cow of a local breed (Bos taurus) from a locality in the north-west of the country. Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were used for the isolation of the parasite which was inoculated into a splenectomised Friesian calf that developed a babesiosis, thus confirming the presence of the parasite.

Cattle infestation by Hyalomma ticks and prevalence of Theileria in H. detritum species in Tunisia.

Seventy-four cattle, from three farms endemic for tropical theileriosis in the north of Tunisia, were studied for tick populations from June 1991 to June 1992. Ticks were removed from cattle twice a month in the summer and every month the rest of the year. They were identified and assessed for Theileria infection. A total of 5083 Hyalomma adult ticks were collected and the major species found was H. detritum (84.3%). The activity of this species is limited between June and August with a peak in numbers observed at the end of June and the beginning of July. Amongst the 2356 Hyalomma ticks dissected, no evidence of salivary gland infection was found in either H. m. marginatum or H. a. excavatum. However, 12.4% (277/2230) of H. d. detritum dissected ticks were infected with Theileria species and amongst these, 62% had one to two sporoblasts in their salivary glands (range 1-91). The prevalence, but not the intensity, of infection was greater in females than in male ticks, and the cases of tropical theileriosis followed the peak of infected females. This suggests that female ticks have a more important role in theileriosis transmission than male ticks. A significantly lower number of adult H. detritum were collected from calves, at their first tick season, than from adult cattle. Finally, this study showed that the infestation level of cattle by H. d. detritum and the prevalence of Theileria-infection in these cattle varied between the three farms studied.

Distribution and ecology of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting livestock in Tunisia: an overview of eighth years field collections.

Ticks (Ixodidae) play a significant role as vectors of pathogens of domestic animals in Tunisia. The major losses caused by ticks are related to transmission of protozoan parasites. These include agents of tropical theileriosis and babesiosis in ruminants. Since 1991, we conducted research studies on tick population of livestock in Tunisia. This overview reports a synthesis on tick distribution, their biology and their role as vectors of pathogens in domestic animals, particularly cattle. During the whole period of the study about 15,000 tick specimens were collected from different zones of the country. A total of 14 species were identified. Hyalomma detritum detritum was the most abundant and important (vector of Theileria annulata) species infesting cattle. Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma impeltatum were collected on domestic ruminants in the arid and desertic zones. Hyalomma marginatum marginatum and Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum were widespread and found on livestock hosts. Ixodes ricinus, vector of Babesia divergens and Borrelia burgdorferi sl, colonises mainly the humid zone. Boophilus annulatus and Rhipicephalus bursa infesting cattle, sheep and goats were found in the sub-humid and semi-arid zones. Haemaphysalis sulcata and Hae. punctata were collected in humid and sub-humid zones on cattle and sheep. Rhipicephalus turanicus were collected in different regions, on different animal species. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, tick of dogs, were often collected on livestock. Only few specimens of Hyalomma marginatum rufipes and Hyalomma franchinii were collected.

Tropical theileriosis in Tunisia: epidemiology and control.

In Tunisia, tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection of cattle) is one of the major diseases affecting cattle in the summer. Each year about 2,500 clinical cases are recorded in the country, mainly in pure-bred animals. An attempt was made in the North of Tunisia to estimate the direct cost related to clinical cases of TT. In the endemic regions, three states of endemicity were described according to cattle age categories at highest disease risk: (i) endemic stability, (ii) low endemic instability, (iii) high endemic instability. The characterisation of these endemic situations, which are conditioned by the levels of the vector tick population and the quantitative aspects of the infection in ticks, are highly relevant for the development of a live attenuated cell line vaccine against TT targeting the cattle population at disease risk in Tunisia. A research programme was set up to develop the attenuation of four local parasite stocks. Two cell lines infected with two distinct T. annulata stocks were tested in the field on pure-bred animals of different age groups from regions with high disease incidence. The vaccination with each of the two cell lines showed a high efficacy. However significant differences in vaccine reactions rates were observed between the two attenuated cell lines emphasising the importance of achieving an optimal balance between protection and vaccine tolerance particularly in pure-bred lactating cows.

Piroplasmids of livestock in Tunisia.

Several species of piroplasms of livestock are present in Tunisia; some of them are of high veterinary importance. This paper reviews the species already reported in Tunisia on the basis of clinical observations, parasitological routine diagnostic and serological surveys, as well as those considered as potentially present according to epidemiological argumentations. The genus Theileria includes four species reported in Tunisia: T. annulata, T. buffeli, T. ovis, and T. equi. The ovine malignant theileriosis agent, T. lestoquardi, appears to be absent in Tunisia. Five species belonging to the genus Babesia were reported in the country, namely B. hovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens, B. caballi, and B. ovis. Furthermore, two more species, B. major and B. motasi, are potentially present in zones where their vectors of the genus Haemaphysalis occur.

Detection of natural infections with Theileria annulata on calves at first theileriosis season: comparison of the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) and blood smears.

The Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) remains so far the most commonly used test for sero-epidemiological investigations on tropical theileriosis (infection of cattle with Theileria annulata). The present studies evaluated the ability of both IFAT with schizont antigen (schizont IFAT) and blood smears to detect infected animals just after the theileriosis season. This evaluation was performed on a group of 89 calves of known infection status for T. annulata at first disease season, from farms with endemic stability for tropical theileriosis. An additional retrospective group of 84 cattle free of infection was also used for the estimation of the specificity of the schizont IFAT. The sensitivity and the specificity of schizont IFAT were 88.9% (64/72) and 97% (98/101), respectively. Blood smears showed a lower sensitivity of 63.9% (46/72). The agreement between the two detection techniques and the infection status of the animals, evaluated by the Kappa coefficient, was 0.85 and 0.64 for IFAT and blood smears, respectively.

[Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection of sheep slaughtered in the governorate of Sousse on the occasion of the Muslim sacrifice feast (Eid Al-Adha) and analysis of risk factors]. / Détection de l'infection par Toxoplasma gondii des ovins abattus dans le gouvernorat de Sousse (centre-est de la Tunisie) à l'occasion de la fête musulmane du sacrifice (Aïd Al-Adha) et analyse des facteurs de risque.

During the Muslim feast of Sacrifice (Eid Al-Adha), DNA of Toxoplasma gondii was screened in the heart apex of 70 sheep belonging to different households in Sousse region (North-East of Tunisia) by nested PCR.DNA of T. gondii was identified in 5.7% of the samples. To study different risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii transmission that can be present especially for this occasion, a questionnaire was established. It revealed that the majority of households (92.9%) slaughtered a sheep aged less than 1 year old. Moreover, 2% of the study population consumed undercooked meat. This study showed also that the majority of meat handlers did not respect the hygiene rules, since 91% of them did not wash their hands after handling and before preparing or consuming food. The presence of the definitive host (cats) is considered among the factors that increase the risk of Toxoplasma infection. It was recorded in 14% of the households with the presence of elements that increases the risk as defecating in the house and eating raw meat during Eid Al-Adha feast. Our results show that the risk factors of Toxoplasma infection increase during this occasion; it requires the establishment of a sanitary education programme during this feast.

[First serological study of the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) in Tunisia]. / Première étude sérologique de la prévalence d'Anaplasma phagocytophilum chez le dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius) en Tunisie.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Sera of 226 healthy dromedaries from three regions of Tunisia (Sidi Bouzid, Bouficha and Douz) were tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). The overall infection rate was estimated at 29.2%. The study of risk factors showed that region, age, gender, presence of ticks and types of breeding had no influence on the seroprevalence of A. phagocytophilum. This study indicates for the first time in Tunisia that dromedary may be involved in the natural cycle of A. phagocytophilum.

[Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Tunisian sheep]. / Prévalence d'infection des ovins par Toxoplasma gondii en Tunisie.

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in 527 sheep from 4 governorates of Tunisia by Elisa (350 animals) and PCR (177 animals). The seroprevalence in sheep was estimated to be 1.8% (N = 166) in the governorate of Siliana (North Tunisia) and 19% (N = 184) in the governorate of Kasserine (Central Tunisia) with a commercial Elisa kit. T. gondii DNA was extracted from the apex of the heart in 25.5% (N = 106) of sheep from the Sidi-Bouzid governorate (Central Tunisia) and 12.7% (N = 71) from the Ben-Arous governorate (North Tunisia). There was no statistically significant difference between different age categories' prevalence within each locality. Our results indicate that T. gondii infection is frequent in Tunisian sheep. The implementation of a national control programme against toxoplasmosis should not neglect sheep as a frequently infected intermediate host.