Three-day fever.

Three-day fever is a viral disease caused by an Ephemerovirus of the family Rhabdoviridae, transmitted by arthropod vectors. It is common in tropical and sub-tropical regions, where it affects mainly domestic cattle and buffaloes, especially in intensive dairy or fattening production systems. It is of economic importance because it reduces milk production and fertility and causes abortion. The disease is generally benign. It manifests in several susceptible subjects simultaneously, with a sudden episode of fever accompanied by muscle involvement with arthritis, stiffness of the limbs, and lameness, followed by rapid recovery. The presence of a serofibrinous exudate in the joints is indicative of the disease. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult in the absence of pathognomonic signs. Epidemiological factors (proliferation of arthropod vectors), associated with a short-lived fever and the presence of many immature neutrophils, point strongly to three-day fever. In the absence of any specific treatment, the symptoms are treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Medical prophylaxis currently uses live attenuated vaccines, pending the development of recombinant vaccines, which are giving promising results.

Outbreaks of African horse sickness in Senegal, and methods of control of the 2007 epidemic.

Since first being detected in Nigeria in January 2007, African horse sickness virus serotype 2 (AHSV-2) has spread throughout the northern hemisphere, and was first reported in Senegal. A retrospective study was conducted from December 2009 to April 2010 using data collected in the field combined with information available at the Direction of Veterinary Services. The epidemic started in the Dakar region with two outbreaks in March and June 2007, respectively, and spread in several parts of the country between July and November 2007. During this period, 232 outbreaks and 1137 horse deaths were reported. The epidemic was controlled by mass vaccination using a polyvalent-attenuated vaccine. This retrospective study was conducted with various assumptions of AHSV-2 introduction, and provides recommendations for implementing an early warning surveillance system for African horse sickness in Senegal.

[Antibioresistance of Escherichia coli strains isolated from raw chicken meat in Senegal]. / Resistance aux antibiotiques des souches d'Escherichia coli isolees de la viande de poulet de chair au Senegal.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli and others pathogens bacteria can be transferred from animals to humans through consumption of contaminated food and foods products and thus present a public health risk. The increase in E. coli resistance to commonly used antimicrobials both in the public health and veterinary sectors is one of the major threats of health care worldwide. The present study was undertaken to estimate the antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolates from raw chicken meat in Dakar. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Levying of skin and muscle have been carried out on 120 chicken carcasses bought from 13 sale points and 23 flocks beetween November 2003 and April 2004. 102 Escherichia coli strains have been isolated, among which, 90 were tested for their susceptibilities to 16 selected antibiotics by agar diffusion method. RESULTS: All Escherichia coli strains (100%), were resistant to one or more antibiotic; 60 strains (66.66%) being resistant to more than five antibiotics. Those frequently encountererd are: ampicillin, trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfametoxazole, tetracycline, sulfonamides, streptomycin, nalidixic acid. Multiple resistances to 12 antibiotics were also observed. The lowest resistances were noted with gentamicin (3.33%) and neomycin (5.56%). CONCLUSION: This study showed the significance of chicken meat as source of Escherichia coli strains with a simple or multiple resistance to various antibiotics tested. Further studies are necessary in order to determine bacterium mechanisms of resistance.

[Antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli strains isolated from raw chicken meat in Senegal]. / Resistance aux antibiotiques des souches d'Escherichia coli isolees de la viande de poulet de chair au Senegal.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli and others pathogens bacteria can be transferred from animals to humans through consumption of contaminated food and foods products and thus present a public health risk. The increase in E. coli resistance to commonly used antimicrobials both in the public health and veterinary sectors is one of the major threats of health care worldwide. The present study was undertaken to estimate the antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolates from raw chicken meat in Dakar. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Levying of skin and muscle have been carried out on 120 chicken carcasses bought from 13 sale points and 23 flocks beetween November 2003 and April 2004. 102 Escherichia coli strains have been isolated, among which, 90 were tested for their susceptibilities to 16 selected antibiotics by agar diffusion method. RESULTS: All Escherichia coli strains (100%), were resistant to one or more antibiotic; 60 strains (66.66%) being resistant to more than five antibiotics. Those frequently encountererd are: ampicillin, trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfametoxazole, tetracycline, sulfonamides, streptomycin, nalidixic acid. Multiple resistances to 12 antibiotics were also observed. The lowest resistances were noted with gentamicin (3.33%) and neomycin (5.56%). CONCLUSION: This study showed the significance of chicken meat as source of Escherichia coli strains with a simple or multiple resistance to various antibiotics tested. Further studies are necessary in order to determine bacterium mechanisms of resistance.

Animals, public health and the example of cowpox.

Public attitudes towards animals are often contradictory. In developed countries where the problem of food security has been solved to a large degree, public concern is concentrated on food safety and animal welfare, along with a debate on the social status of both domestic and wild animals. Zoonoses are often the focal point of these concerns. In developing countries (which often have the greatest biodiversity), wildlife constitutes an uncontrollable source of often unknown zoonoses. The authors attempt to analyse the link between animals and public health. Special attention is given to the example of cowpox, a disease which has been recognised as a zoonosis for more than two centuries but the epidemiology of which has recently been rediscovered.

[Cost analysis of an official campaign for animal disease control: the example of Senegal in 1996]. / Analyse des coûts d'une campagne officielle de prophylaxie animale: l'exemple du Sénégal en 1996.

A realistic estimation of the cost of government campaigns to control rinderpest and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia is essential in order to determine profitable fees for private veterinarians with a health mandate in Senegal. A cost analysis of a vaccination campaign, organised by the Veterinary Services in Senegal between 1995 and 1996, involving 547,735 cattle, was conducted. Revenue and total costs were 50 CFA francs and 110 +/- 37 CFA francs per head, respectively. Staff-related costs accounted for 39.41% +/- 7.62% of the total cost. The gross and net margins corresponded to the average subsidies of 42 +/- 27 CFA francs and 60 +/- 37 CFA francs, respectively. Simulations showed better relative efficiency for private veterinarians who vaccinate at a price of between 97 and 84 CFA francs per head. Economies of scale varied from 8 to 13 CFA francs per head when the vaccination team increased the number of animals initially vaccinated (16,000 head) by 25% and 44%, respectively. This indicates that a fee of 125 CFA francs per head should guarantee the profitability of compulsory vaccination for private veterinarians.

Rift Valley fever epizootic in small ruminants in southern Mauritania (October 1993): risk of extensive outbreaks.

Following the 1987 Rift Valley fever (RVF) epizootic/epidemic in southern Mauritania, RVF antibody prevalence in small ruminants decreased significantly from 1988 to 1992. In October 1993, at the end of the rainy season, an active RVF virus transmission was detected in several locations of southern Mauritania in small ruminants, in association with an increase of abortions. RVF IgM and IgG antibodies were recorded respectively in 65/390 (16.67%) and 73/390 (18.72%) animals. RVF IgM antibody prevalence was significantly higher in the > or = 2 years old group (26.02%) than in the 0.5- < 2 year old group (7.20%) (p = 0.01). The enzootic maintenance of RVF virus is discussed, as well as the risks of extension by traditional nomadic movements of herds.

[Epidemiology of bovine brucellosis in Mali: serologic investigation and initial isolation of strains of Brucella abortus]. / Epidémiologie de la brucellose bovine au Mali: enquête sérologique et isolement des premières souches de Brucella abortus.

The authors report the results of an epidemiological survey of bovine brucellosis in Mali, based on a relatively representative sample of 1,000 serum samples from 236 herds. The prevalence of infection in the herds, established by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was 53% +/- 6.4. The proportion of animals infected was 23.3% +/- 2.5, falling to 22% when compared with the basic serum pool of 9,466 samples. This rate was relatively high in stationary herds in the semi-arid, sub-humid and arid zones. Four strains of Brucella abortus were isolated from cattle bearing hygromas.

[Serologic response in dogs after a mass primary antirabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) at Pikine Dakar (Senegal)]. / Réponse sérologique des chiens après une primo-vaccination antirabique de masse (vaccin inactivé adjuvé) à Pikine Dakar (Sénégal).

Mass antirabic vaccination campaign, allowed in 1987, the immunization of 514 pet dogs against rabies at Pikine, a suburban area of Dakar. Dogs received one subcutaneous dose of inactivated tissue culture rabies vaccine (RABISIN, Rhône Mérieux France). Mean antibodies titles in ELISA on days 30, 180 and 360 after vaccination, are respectively 4.78; 1.55 and 0.25 IU/ml. In the same time the proportions of protected animals are 74%, 81% and 7%. This results is compared with those obtained in other countries. The rapid decrease of antibodies suggest the role of poor general health of animals such as malnutrition, infections, external and internal parasitemia.

[Bacteria associated with diarrheic episodes in young camels in Niger]. / Bactéries associées à des épisodes diarrhéiques chez les chamelons au Niger.

During diarrhoeic episodes of young camels in Niger, bacteria such as Salmonella enteritidis, E. Coli, Staphylococcus sp., Clostridium perfringens and other bacteria were isolated from stool samples. Bacteria roll in this pathology is discussed, and a treatment is proposed, compared with antibiogram results.

[Epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in west Africa. 1. Serological investigation of small ruminants in Niger]. / Epidémiologie de la fièvre de la Vallée du Rift en Afrique de l'ouest. 2. Enquête sérologique chez les petits ruminants au Niger.

A serosurvey of Rift Valley Fever virus infection conducted among 557 sheep and 643 goats from Niger in 1986 points out that 2.8% of the 1,200 animals tested had RVF virus reacting antibodies. The circulation of the virus is demonstrated, as well for another phlebovirus related to RVF virus, the strain Arumowot.

[Socio-ethnology and role of the dog in the Pikine district (suburban zone of Dakar - Senegal)]. / Socio-ethnologie et rôle du chien dans le département de Pikine (zone suburbaine de Dakar-Sénégal).

During a mass campaign in 1987, the authors vaccinated about 500 dogs in the Pikine district. The dogs were kept for security reasons. Religion was not a limiting factor to dog ownership, but ethnic influences meant that those from Casamance (Manjaks, Diolas,. . . )--although a minority meant that among the population--bred more dogs than the Wolof majority. Most of the dog population is of local and young (average age 29 months). Males are preferred over females. The dogs belong to youths or adolescents who are without means and can neither feed the dogs correctly nor look after them when they fall sick. This individual poverty explains why the dogs are not vaccinated and why they scavenge for survival, thus contacting permanent strays, walking real reservoirs of rabies virus! The affection felt by young people for dogs makes them choice targets for transmission of the virus to man.

[Epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in western Africa. I. Serologic survey in domestic ruminants of Burkina Faso]. / Epidémiologie de la fièvre de la Vallée du Rift en Afrique de l'ouest. I. Enquête sérologique chez les ruminants domestiques au Burkina Faso.

A serosurvey of Rift valley fever virus infection has been conducted among 2,410 domestic ruminants (sheep, goats and cattle) from Burkina Faso in 1985, 1986 and 1987. An active circulation of virus was demonstrated and 26.7% of the total animal tested had Rift valley fever virus reacting antibodies. An epizootic was demonstrated retrospectively for 1987 and appears to correspond to the RVF outbreak observed in the same type of sahelian environment during the same year in Mauritania. Analogous ecoclimatic and environmental risk factors are discussed. Others phleboviruses such as Arumowot, Gordil, Saint-Floris, Gabek Forest and Odrenisrou seem to be active in some areas but no evidence of pathogenesis for domestic ruminants was demonstrated.