Estimation of the frequency of Q fever in sheep, goat and cattle herds in France: results of a 3-year study of the seroprevalence of Q fever and excretion level of Coxiella burnetii in abortive episodes.

A study was carried out, from 2012 to 2015, in 10 French départements to estimate the serological prevalence of Q fever and the frequency of abortive episodes potentially related to Coxiella burnetii in a large sample of cattle, sheep and goat herds. The serological survey covered 731 cattle, 522 sheep and 349 goat herds, randomly sampled. The frequency of abortive episodes potentially related to C. burnetii was estimated by investigating series of abortions in 2695 cattle, 658 sheep and 105 goat herds using quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses and complementary serological results when needed. The average between-herd seroprevalence was significantly lower for cattle (36·0%) than for sheep (55·7%) and goats (61·0%) and significantly higher for dairy herds (64·9% for cattle and 75·6% for sheep) than for meat herds (18·9% for cattle and 39·8% for sheep). Within-herd seroprevalence was also significantly higher for goats (41·5%) than for cattle (22·2%) and sheep (25·7%). During the study period, we estimated that 2·7% (n = 90), 6·2% (n = 48) and 16·7% (n = 19) of the abortive episodes investigated could be 'potentially related to C. burnetii'in cattle, sheep and goat herds, respectively. Overall, strong variability was observed between départements and species, suggesting that risk factors such as herd density and farming practices play a role in disease transmission and maintenance.

Cattle herd typology for epidemiology, surveillance, and animal welfare: Method and applications in France.

Depending on the objectives (economic, sociology, epidemiology…), many different methods and data are used to classify cattle herds. The use of different and not well defined herd classifications makes it difficult to compare the results of studies between but also within countries. Our aim was to develop a simple and flexible, yet objective herd typology, that is adapted to epidemiological and animal welfare issues, as well as surveillance needs, and that can be implemented at any time and for any cattle herd. We therefore based our approach on the information recorded in the mandatory national cattle register available in European countries. By combining demographic data, in the French context, we defined nine groups of herds: dairy breeder herds, dairy breeder-fattener herds, beef(-suckler) breeder herds, beef(-suckler) breeder-fattener herds, mixed breeder herds, mixed breeder-fattener herds, fattener herds, very small herds, and herds with "other" production. This typology has been extensively field tested in France over the past four years by a wide range of users and, despite its perfectibility, was found to have very high accuracy. It is thus currently used for zoo-technical as well as research purposes. We hope that this flexible approach can be adapted to the livestock context of other countries where a national livestock register is available.

Emergence of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 1 in French Corsica Island in September 2013.

Since 2000, French Corsica Island has been exposed to the emergence of three different BT virus (BTV) serotypes: serotype 2 in 2000 and 2001, serotype 4 in 2003 and serotype 16 in 2004. Between 2005 and August 2013, no outbreaks have been reported in the French Island. At the beginning of September 2013, sheep located in the south of the island showed clinical signs suggestive of BTV infection. Laboratory analyses identified the virus as BTV serotype 1. Phylogenetic studies showed that the sequences of this strain are closely related to the BTV-1 strain that was circulating in the Mediterranean basin and in Sardinia in 2012.