Longitudinal Analysis of Patterns and Correlates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Women From Preconception to Postpartum: The Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Longitudinal changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior patterns from preconception to postpartum are not fully characterized. We examined changes and baseline sociodemographic/clinical correlates of PA and sedentary behavior in women from preconception to postpartum. METHODS: The Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes cohort recruited 1032 women planning pregnancy. Participants completed questionnaires at preconception, 34 to 36 weeks gestation, and 12 months postpartum. Repeated-measures linear regression models were used to analyze changes in walking, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), screen time, and total sedentary time, and to identify sociodemographic/clinical correlates associated with these changes. RESULTS: Of the 373 women who delivered singleton live births, 281 provided questionnaires for all time points. Walking time increased from preconception to late pregnancy but decreased postpartum (adjusted means [95% CI]: 454 [333-575], 542 [433-651], and 434 [320-547] min/wk, respectively). Vigorous-intensity PA and MVPA decreased from preconception to late pregnancy but increased postpartum (vigorous-intensity PA: 44 [11-76], 1 [-3-5], and 11 [4-19] min/wk, MVPA: 273 [174-372], 165 [95-234], and 226 [126-325] min/wk, respectively). Screen time and total sedentary time remained consistent from preconception to pregnancy but decreased postpartum (screen: 238 [199-277], 244 [211-277], and 162 [136-189] min/d, total: 552 [506-598], 555 [514-596], and 454 [410-498] min/d, respectively). Individual characteristics of ethnicity, body mass index, employment, parity, and self-rated general health significantly influenced women's activity patterns. CONCLUSION: During late pregnancy, walking time increased, while MVPA declined significantly, and partially returned to preconception levels postpartum. Sedentary time remained stable during pregnancy but decreased postpartum. The identified set of sociodemographic/clinical correlates underscores need for targeted strategies.

Survey on Trypanosoma spp. infection of dogs in Gabon and its epidemiological implications for sleeping sickness.

This survey screened native dogs (Canis familiaris) in Gabon (Africa) for trypanosome infection. A total of 376 apparently healthy dogs, divided into two populations, were examined. The first group included 252 semi-domesticated dogs inhabiting 16 villages of the Ogooué-Ivindo Province, a rural inland area in northeast Gabon, and the second group 124 dogs belonging to protection companies or families from Libreville (n = 113) and Port-Gentil (n = 11), in the coastal area of Gabon. Both study areas include active or former foci of sleeping sickness in Gabon. Molecular testing (polymerase chain reaction) was performed on blood samples from dogs in both groups. All dogs were negative for T. congolense ("savanna type" and "forest type"). Eighteen dogs (4.7%), however, tested positive for T. brucei s.l.: 3% (8/252) were from the Ogooué-Ivindo Province, and 8% (10/124) from the coastal area. These animals may be potential reservoirs of the parasite T. brucei gambiense, responsible for human African trypanosomiasis. This hypothesis, as well as the role of the dog as a sentinel of human infection by T. brucei gambiense, should be investigated in further studies.

Epidemiological investigation of a human leptospirosis case reported in a suburban area near Marseille.

Leptospirosis has been re-emerging in both developed and developing countries, including in Europe, where the phenomenon has notably been associated with urban transmission. In this work, we describe an epidemiological investigation that demonstrated a case of human infection due to peri-urban transmission of Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae in southeastern France.

Prevalence of Capillaria hepatica in non-commensal rodents from a forest area near Dijon, France.

Capillaria hepatica is a zoonotic parasite (nematode) found in the liver of many mammals, especially rodents, worldwide. In this study, 94 non-commensal rodents were trapped in a forest area near Dijon, France, including 65 Apodemus spp. and 29 Myodes glareolus. Pathology was studied on the liver of each rodent. Histological lesions consisting of chronic multifocal granulomatous hepatitis due to both eggs and adult forms of the parasite were observed in the liver of eight M. glareolus and one Apodemus spp. The global prevalence of 9.6 % was significantly higher in M. glareolus (27.6 %) compared to Apodemus spp. (1.5 %) living in the same ecosystem. No significant difference in the infection rate was found between males and females of M. glareolus. Gross pathological lesions compatible with capillariasis were observed in four of nine rodents. These results raise the role of wild rodents in the maintenance of capillariasis in nature, and their possible role in the transmission to humans.

[Epidemiological aspects of West Nile virus infection in Morocco]. / Aspects épidémiologiques de l'infection à virus West-Nile au Maroc.

Morocco has undergone three outbreaks of West Nile fever. The first, in 1996, began with a case in a horse herd in Benslimane (central region) and spread to neighboring cities (in the central and northwestern regions). The next two outbreaks appeared after identical 7-year epidemiological latency periods (in 2003 and 2010) in the same area and season. The only human case, which was fatal, occurred during the 1996 outbreak. The West Nile virus strains circulating in Morocco are closely related to other western Mediterranean strains and are characterized by high virulence in horses.

Survey of Canine Dirofilaria immitis Infection in New Caledonia.

Canine dirofilariosis is a frequent parasitic disease in New-Caledonia. A survey of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection among dogs from the cities of Tontouta, Nandaï and Nouméa, was performed in March 2009 using two antigen test kits; the microwell ELISA test: DiroCHE (Synbiotics Europe) and the Rapid Immuno Migration (RIM) test: WITNESS DIROFILARIA (Synbiotics Europe). Blood samples were collected from 64 dogs: 49 strays and 15 military working dogs. The military dogs received a permanent chemoprophylaxis (moxidectin). In 11 stray dogs, both tests were positive (22.4%). All the military dogs were negative, showing efficiency of chemoprophaxis. Results were discrepant in 6 dogs, negative with one test and doubtful with the other. Antigen heartworm test kits are available and reliable diagnostic tools. They are useful to evaluate the efficiency of chemoprophylaxis and to detect infected animals in order to treat them and to prevent the spreading of the disease.

[Detection of Leptospira organisms in Rattus rattus of two islands in the Mozambique Channel: Europa and Juan-de-Nova]. / Mise en évidence de la présence de leptospires chez le rat (Rattus rattus) sur deux îles du canal du Mozambique: Europa et Juan-de-Nova.

Europa and Juan-de-Nova are two little coral islands in the Mozambique Channel. They are only occupied by a troop detachment of 15 men, who exercise the French sovereignty and maintain the island. During these activities, the men work in dampness and they can encounter rats. The aim of this survey is to show presence of leptospirosis in these islands by testing rat kidney by specific PCR. The results found a positive specimen on each island (2/52) indicating a previously unknown presence of Leptospira organisms in these islands.

[Toxoplasmosis: a survey on meat products in Côte d'Ivoire]. / Toxoplasmose: à propos d'une enquête sur la viande en Côte d'Ivoire.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis that can cause severe problems under certain circumstances. Before the advent of the last-generation anti-retroviral drugs, estimation predicted that 50% of HIV-infected patients would develop toxoplasmosis (mainly central nervous system forms). It is the first clinical manifestation of AIDS in 20% of patients. This report describes an epidemiological survey on the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in bushmeat and pork in the Côte d'Ivoire. The purpose was to determine how the parasite circulates among wild and domestic animals and to evaluate the risk of transmission to humans after ingestion of these meats. Fifteen samples of bushmeat were purchased on markets in 6 different cities. A total of 91 single samples of fresh pork raised at three different modern breeding facilities were collected from a slaughterhouse in Abidjan. Serological testing was performed on muscle fluid using an ELISA test (Pourquier Toxoplasma kit). No bushmeat sample was positive. Global seroprevalence in pork samples was 8.8% [range, 8.2-9.37]. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis measured in pork samples produced at modern livestock breeding facilities was lower than values reported in samples produced by traditional breeding in Africa. This finding suggests that the use of modern techniques excluding rodents (good hygiene) can reduce animal contamination. Curing (heat and smoking) may account for the absence of Toxoplasma antibodies in bushmeat. Public information campaigns concerning the risk of consuming meat containing cysts as well as raw vegetables contaminated with oocysts are needed to prevent transmission of toxoplasmosis.

[These infectious diseases imported with food]. / Ces maladies infectieuses importées par les aliments.

People are sometimes frightened by food scares and foodstuffs are increasingly suspected of containing dangerous substances or infectious agents, as a result of the unprecedented development of the industry and food trade in the world. Rightly or wrongly, imported food is held responsible for the greatest risks. Importing an infectious disease along with food can be a source of danger, involving multiple agents, mainly bacterial (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli, Listeria...), but also parasitic (Toxoplasma gondii, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Trichinella spp...), and viral (Norovirus, hepatitis A virus), as well as non conventional communicable agents and mycotoxins. Prevention of food risks means enforcing international regulations on the part of the 149 member states of the WTO, increasing vigilance with regard to illegal imports of food, systematically investigating collective food-borne outbreaks, and finally implementing controls according to the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) method.

OSH and globalisation, challenges for today.

Globalisation is a phenomenon that concerns all countries in the world at every level: economic, of course, but also political and cultural. It is hard to see any alternative to the dominant market economy model, which is asserting itself as the only way towards wealth and value creation. And within this model, it is free enterprise, generating jobs and boosting consumption, that is the unequivocal model of development for the world's economies. How can we then address the question of occupational safety and health (OSH) within the context of globalisation? How can we ensure that worker protection is not relegated to the status of a secondary concern? Safety and health inequalities between countries are such that it seems difficult to state without being hypocritical that OSH is already a value in the globalised world. The number of occupational accidents and diseases remains at a disturbingly high level, especially in developing countries. The sectors most affected are traditionally heavy industry, agriculture, mining and construction. In these sectors, there is so much economically and financially at stake that the obligation to protect workers' health is often viewed as a constraint, at odds with the requirement of immediate profitability. I sincerely believe that the prevention of occupational risks really has a different meaning depending on whether you work in an SMU or a large corporation. And, of course, depending on whether you live in a country with a high level of social protection, or one where social insurance is considered a luxury only for the richest. And the globalisation of trade is tending to further increase this gap. We have therefore elected to state that occupational safety and health "cannot be taken for granted" in a globalised world and that there are challenges facing all those, whether officials in institutions or managers of a business, who believe that working in a decent environment is a non negotiable demand.

Assay of fipronil efficacy to prevent canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in endemic areas.

Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of fipronil for the prevention of Ehrlichia canis transmission to dogs by Rhipicephalus sanguineus in two endemic areas situated in Africa (Dakar and Djibouti). We carried out controlled trials in kennels for 1 year on 248 dogs, mainly police dogs and military working dogs. Eight groups were studied in a multi-centre study. Fifty five fipronil treated dogs were located in two separated kennels (G3, 37 dogs in Djibouti and G8, 18 dogs in Dakar). G1 (66 dogs) and G2 (60 dogs) were untreated control groups located in Djibouti, whereas G4 (32 dogs), G5 (13 dogs), G6 (18 dogs) and G7 (4 dogs) were the control groups located in Dakar. The epidemiological status of each group is known. G1 and G2 dogs were not kept in kennels, whereas G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8 dogs were housed in equivalent kennels. Tick infestation, clinical status and Ehrlichia seroprevalence were assessed during 1 year (duration of the study). Dog treated with fipronil showed neither canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) nor tick infestations. In all groups of untreated control animals, R. sanguineus tick infestations were frequent, particularly in kennels (G5, G6 and G7) as well as morbidity and mortality due to CME. E. canis infection rates were low for fipronil treated animals: 2.7% (1/37) for G3 and 5.5% (1/18) for G8 group. Among control animals, seroprevalence was maximum (100%) in dogs kept in kennels (G5, G6 and G7 groups) and high among native dogs in Djibouti (G1 group): 69.7% (46/66) and in Dakar (G4 group): 50% (16/32). Dogs belonging to expatriate citizens (G2 group) were less likely to be infected: 21.7% (13/60). The comparison of serological results among French army dogs and French citizen dogs that were introduced in Djibouti for an average of 10 months shows a statistically significant (P<0.001) difference. Among fipronil treated animals (G3 group), 2 dogs out of 55 seroconverted (3.6%) compared to 13 out of 60 dogs (21.7%) in the control G2 group. The results of our study indicate the preventative efficacy of a fipronil monthly treatment to avoid CME in endemic areas. Epidemiological data concerning animals that live in the same endemic areas are an example of the serious consequences (in terms of mortality and morbidity) that are related to the absence of efficient methods for tick-control. In order to protect dogs that are in transit in endemic areas against tick-transmitted diseases, the use of an adapted acaricide product is recommended.