Cross-resistance to moxidectin and ivermectin on a meat sheep farm in France.

Resistance to ivermectin and moxidectin was explored by a faecal egg count reduction test in two sheep flocks with suspected anthelmintic resistance. The FECRT confirmed one suspicion, with a mean percentage of reduction in egg excretion within the treated groups of 0% for ivermectin (CI 95%: -228 to 58) and 13% for moxidectin (CI 95%: -152 to 70). This was further explored by a controlled efficacy test. An experimental infection of 18 naïve lambs was set up using infective larvae isolated from this flock (5000 L3/lamb). Compared to the control group, abomasal worm burdens (Teladorsagia circumcincta) were reduced by 90% [CI 95%: 81.5-94.8] and 85% [CI 95%: 72.4-92.2] after ivermectin (p<0.05) and moxidectin (p<0.05) treatment respectively. Again, compared to the control group, there was a reduction for intestinal strongyles (Trichostrongylus colubriformis) of 100% and 99% [CI 95%: 97.5-99.7] for ivermectin and moxidectin respectively. No difference was found between the efficacy of moxidectin and ivermectin. Pharmacokinetic values indicated that the strongyles were submitted to anthelmintic concentrations usually lethal to them. This trial demonstrated the first multiple resistance of ovine strongyles in France.

[Plague in southern Netherlands during the Middle Ages and modern times. Complaint about the status of the disease in its socioeconomic context]. / Pest in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden tijdens de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden. Een status quaestionis over de ziekte in haar sociaal-economische context.

In this contribution the latest insights with regard to the demographic impact of plague in the Netherlands are discussed, although is remains difficult to clearly distinguish this factor from other causes of mortality. When, how and why did the plague reappear in Europe after several centuries of absence to become endemic for the next three centuries? When and why did it disappear in Western Europe in the seventeenth century? The first epidemics of plague probably were not as catastrophic in the Netherlands as they were in many other parts of Europe, which is remarkable since the Netherlands was, together with Northern Italy, the most populous region of Europe. The explanation is to be found in the general socioeconomic context, that was in many regards better than in the neighbouring regions. The 'crisis of the late Middle Ages' was not as deep in the Netherlands as elsewhere: a relationship demography--economy is therefore probable. Nevertheless, mortality was high, partly because of plague, but also because of other diseases--for which the common term pestilentia was in use. Some unique statistical data for Flanders illustrate this mortality from the late Middle Ages onward. The succession of mortality leading to a high average mortality rate was more important than accidental mortality, that could have a spectacular but often not long-lasting impact.

[Regionalization of the total mortality of young girls in Belgium between 1890 and 1910]. / La régionalisation de la surmortalité des jeunes filles en Belgique entre 1890 et 1910.

In this article we describe the evolution of mortality and differential mortality between the sexes in Belgium from birth till the 20th birthday during the period 1890-1910. Excess female mortality occurred especially between the ages of 5 and 20 and had a favourable development during the period of observation: in 1910 the phenomenon was not as general as in 1890, but it still existed in 21 of the 41 districts, with variable intensity. Excess female mortality declined more rapidly in the South than in the North of the country. We noted on the other hand that the intensity of the phenomenon was not related to the level of mortality: tuberculosis, a related cause to excess female mortality, dropped clearly during this period, consequence of better working conditions and a better standard of living. The analysis of excess female mortality in areas with a different system of production showed the importance of the position of girls (and boys) in the production process towards the explanation of the spatial variation of excess female mortality. The female disadvantage was most important in rural and textile areas due to the intensity and the nature of the labour of girls in these regions.