Questionnaire analysis of BSE cases in France detected by active surveillance and the reasons for non-notification.

A mandatory reporting system (MRS) was set up in France in December 1990 to detect animals showing clinical signs of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Since June 2000, four active surveillance programmes dedicated to fallen stock and slaughtered cattle have been implemented to reinforce the MRS. The clinical status of the cases detected through these programmes was investigated to understand why the MRS had failed to detect them. Up to September 1, 2002, 181 cases had been analysed (126 fallen stock and 55 slaughtered cattle). Almost all the fallen stock cases were animals which had been showing clinical signs, and two thirds of them had shown signs which should have led to a suspicion of BSE. No clinical signs had been reported for two thirds of the slaughtered cattle cases and 10 (8 per cent) of the fallen stock cases.

Epidemiologic and genomic study of rotavirus strains infecting young children and calves in the same rural environment.

The epidemiological profile of rotavirus infection in young calves and young children form the same rural environment in France was studied during autumn-winter 1983-1984. Viruses were isolated from calves on each farm and were identified by their electropherotype for 8 out of the 9 farms under study. Among 13 children regularly checked on 9 farms for 25 weeks, 7 were found to be rotavirus positive. Nevertheless, no transfer of virus between child and bovine was documented by the electropherotype migration. In the case of the calves, the predominance of the Ib IIa IIIe IVa electropherotype at 5 of the 9 farms is similar to the epidemiological situation observed among newborn in some maternity wards.