Epidemiology and pathogenicity of M. equirhinis in equine respiratory disorders

Mycoplasmas are pathogens involved in respiratory disorders of various animal hosts. In horses, Mycoplasma (M.) equirhinis is the species most frequently detected in clinical respiratory specimens, with a prevalence of 12-16%, but its clinical implication in equine respiratory disorders remains unclear. Here we screened 1948 clinical specimens for the presence of M. equirhinis. The samples were both tracheal washes (TW) and bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) collected by veterinarians in France in day-to-day work between 2020 and 2022. The samples were associated with a standardized form that served to collect key general and clinical information, such as horse age, breed, and living environment. M. equirhinis was detected using a combination of culture and post-enrichment PCR. Other diagnostic data included virology and bacteriology as well as neutrophil counts, when available. Prevalence of M. equirhinis was examined as a function of a clinical score based on four significant clinical signs (nasal discharge, cough, dyspnoea, and hyperthermia). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was run to identify risk factors for the presence of M. equirhinis, and comparative prevalence analysis was used to test for association with other bacteria and viruses. TW and BAL were analysed independently, as we found that TW samples were associated with a higher prevalence of M. equirhinis. As prevalence remained steady whatever the clinical score, M. equirhinis cannot be considered a primary pathogen. M. equirhinis was more frequently isolated in thoroughbreds and trotters and in horses living exclusively stabled compared to other horses or other living environments. M. equirhinis was never detected in BAL specimens with a 'normal' neutrophil count, i.e. 5%, suggesting it could be associated with an inflammatory response, similar to that observed in equine asthma. Prevalence of M. equirhinis was shown to increase in the presence of other bacteria such as Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zoo) or viruses, and S. zoo load was higher in M. equirhinis-positive samples, suggesting a potential increase of clinical signs in the event of co-infection.

Neuropsychological assessment in pediatric epilepsy surgery: A French procedure consensus

Neuropsychological assessment is a mandatory part of the pre- and post-operative evaluation in pediatric epilepsy surgery. The neuropsychology task force of the ILAE - French Chapter aims to define a neuropsychological procedure consensus based on literature review and adapted for French practice. They performed a systematic review of the literature published between 1950 and 2023 on cognitive evaluation of individuals undergoing presurgical work-up and post-surgery follow-up and focused on the pediatric population aged 6-16. They classified publications listed in the PubMed database according to their level of scientific evidence. The systematic literature review revealed no study with high statistical power and only four studies using neuropsychological scales in their French version. Afterwards, the experts defined a neuropsychological consensus strategy in pediatric epilepsy surgery according to the psychometric determinants of cognitive tests, specificity of epilepsy, surgery context, French culture and literature reports. A common French neuropsychological procedure dedicated to pediatric epilepsy surgery is now available. This procedure could serve as a guide for the pre- and post-surgical work-up in French centers with pediatric epilepsy surgery programs. The main goal is to anticipate the functional risks of surgery, to support the postoperative outcome beyond the seizure-related one, while taking into consideration the plasticity and vulnerability of the immature brain and allowing the possibility of collaborative studies.

One Health surveillance of West Nile and Usutu viruses: a repeated cross-sectional study exploring seroprevalence and endemicity in Southern France, 2016 to 2020

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), two closely related flaviviruses, mainly follow an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes and birds, but also infect humans and other mammals. Since 2010, their epidemiological situation may have shifted from irregular epidemics to endemicity in several European regions; this requires confirmation, as it could have implications for risk assessment and surveillance strategies.AimTo explore the seroprevalence in animals and humans and potential endemicity of WNV and USUV in Southern France, given a long history of WNV outbreaks and the only severe human USUV case in France in this region.MethodsWe evaluated the prevalence of WNV and USUV in a repeated cross-sectional study by serological and molecular analyses of human, dog, horse, bird and mosquito samples in the Camargue area, including the city of Montpellier, between 2016 and 2020.ResultsWe observed the active transmission of both viruses and higher USUV prevalence in humans, dogs, birds and mosquitoes, while WNV prevalence was higher in horses. In 500 human samples, 15 were positive for USUV and 6 for WNV. Genetic data showed that the same lineages, WNV lineage 1a and USUV lineage Africa 3, were found in mosquitoes in 2015, 2018 and 2020.ConclusionThese findings support existing literature suggesting endemisation in the study region and contribute to a better understanding of USUV and WNV circulation in Southern France. Our study underlines the importance of a One Health approach for the surveillance of these viruses.

Molecular assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi prevalence in horses and ticks on horses in southeastern France

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi that is potentially emerging in non-endemic countries. We conducted a descriptive study to investigate EP prevalence and spatial distribution in an endemic region: the Camargue and the Plain of La Crau in France. In spring 2015 and 2016, we carried out sampling at stables (total n = 46) with a history of horses presenting chronic fever or weight loss. Overall, we collected blood from 632 horses, which were also inspected for ticks; these horses had been housed in the target stables for at least 1 year. We obtained 585 ticks from these horses and described land use around the stables. Real-time PCR was employed to assess T. equi and B. caballi prevalence in the horses and in the ticks found on the horses. For the horses, T. equi and B. caballi prevalence was 68.6% and 6.3%, respectively. For the ticks found on the horses, prevalence was 28.8% for T. equi and 0.85% for B. caballi. The most common tick species were, in order of frequency, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. sanguineus sl., Hyalomma marginatum, Haemaphysalis punctata, and Dermacentor sp. Horses bearing Rhipicephalus ticks occurred in wetter zones, closer to agricultural areas, permanent crops, and ditches, as well as in drier zones, in the more northern countryside. Compared to horses bearing R. bursa, horses bearing R. sanguineus sl. more frequently occurred near the Rhone River. Prevalence of T. equi in the ticks was as follows: Hyalomma marginatum (43%), Dermacentor sp. (40%), R. bursa (33%), R. sanguineus sl. (19%), and Haemaphysalis punctata (17%). In contrast, B. caballi only occurred in Dermacentor sp. (20%) and R. bursa (1%).

Social cognition in epilepsy: State of the art and perspectives

INTRODUCTION

The neuropsychology of epilepsy has been a major area of study for almost a century and cognitive impairments are an integral part of the new definition of epilepsy. Among such impairments, social cognition (SC) dysfunctions are of relatively recent interest. SC abilities refer to the body of knowledge and processes involved in establishing satisfying and appropriate social interactions. In particular, they allow the recognition of emotions in others, emotional experiences which are suitably adapted to social situations, and the ability to infer mental states in oneself and others.

METHODS

An overeview was conducted of the available data within the literature, with the objective of presenting the SC disorders associated with certain types of epilepsy and the possible risk factors already explored i.e., localisation of epileptic focus, age of onset/duration of the disease, and effects of treatments including surgery. Studies investigating the potential repercussions of these disorders on patients' daily life have also been included.

RESULTS

Social cognition disorders are an integral part of the cognitive disorders traditionally described in epilepsy. Indeed, a growing number of studies highlight the increased prevalence of SC disorders in various domains, and some patients appear to be more at risk than others. These disorders could be a major determining factor in the deterioration of patients' quality of life (QOL), particularly patients' support and social integration. This highlights the importance of assessing and managing these disorders in patients with epilepsy (PWE). Perspectives in the field of research and clinical practice are also evoked, such as exploring the links between disruptions in SC abilities and treatments, or developing specific tools for assessment and rehabilitation within the context of epilepsy.

French neuropsychological procedure consensus in epilepsy surgery

INTRODUCTION

Neuropsychological assessment is an integral component of the surgical procedure in patients with epilepsy. As no French consensus for neuropsychological assessment was available, the main goal of this work was to define French neuropsychological procedure consensus in regard to literature review.

METHOD

A panel of expert in neuropsychology was created within the framework of the French League Against Epilepsy. A systematic search of publications from 1950 to 2017 listed in PubMed database was conducted leading to a classification of articles according to their level of scientific evidence. French neuropsychological procedure consensus was then carried out with an expert panel of expert.

RESULTS

Low scientific evidence of neuropsychological data was reported. A panel of expert proposed a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment procedure including the exploration of intellectual efficiency, long-term memory, short-term and working memory, attention, executive functions, processing speed and motor skills, language, visual processing, praxis, psychobehavioral, and social cognition.

DISCUSSION

A common procedure for assessing cognitive and psychobehavioral function is now available in patients with epilepsy undergoing surgical evaluation have been established, they may help to improve the quality of care and the patient experience. This work highlights the need of furthers investigations and the necessity to develop specific tools with normative data.

Seroprevalence of horses to Coxiella burnetii in an Q fever endemic area

Coxiella burnetii can infect many animal species, but its circulation dynamics in and through horses is still unclear. This study evaluated horse exposure in an area known to be endemic for ruminants and humans. We assessed antibody prevalence in horse serum by ELISA, and screened by qPCR horse blood, ticks found on horses and dust from stables. Horse seroprevalence was 4% (n = 335, 37 stables) in 2015 and 12% (n = 294, 39 stables) in 2016. Of 199 horses sampled both years, 13 seroconverted, eight remained seropositive, and one seroreverted. Seropositive horses were located close to reported human cases, yet none displayed Q fever-compatible syndromes. Coxiella DNA was detected in almost 40% of collected ticks (n = 59/148 in 2015; n = 103/305 in 2016), occasionally in dust (n = 3/46 in 2015; n = 1/14 in 2016) but never in horse blood. Further studies should be implemented to evaluate if horses may be relevant indicators of zoonotic risk in urban and suburban endemic areas.

An Integrative Eco-Epidemiological Analysis of West Nile Virus Transmission

West Nile disease, caused by the West Nile virus (WNV), is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease affecting humans and horses that involves wild birds as amplifying hosts. The mechanisms of WNV transmission remain unclear in Europe where the occurrence of outbreaks has dramatically increased in recent years. We used a dataset on the competence, distribution, abundance, diversity and dispersal of wild bird hosts and mosquito vectors to test alternative hypotheses concerning the transmission of WNV in Southern France. We modelled the successive processes of introduction, amplification, dispersal and spillover of WNV to incidental hosts based on host-vector contact rates on various land cover types and over four seasons. We evaluated the relative importance of the mechanisms tested using two independent serological datasets of WNV antibodies collected in wild birds and horses. We found that the same transmission processes (seasonal virus introduction by migratory birds, Culex modestus mosquitoes as amplifying vectors, heterogeneity in avian host competence, absence of 'dilution effect') best explain the spatial variations in WNV seroprevalence in the two serological datasets. Our results provide new insights on the pathways of WNV introduction, amplification and spillover and the contribution of bird and mosquito species to WNV transmission in Southern France.

One particular Anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotype infects cattle in the Camargue, France

Background

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a zoonotic tick-borne pathogen responsible for granulocytic anaplasmosis, a mild to a severe febrile disease that affects man and several animal species, including cows and horses. In Europe, I. ricinus is the only proven vector for this pathogen, but studies suggest that other tick genera and species could be involved in its transmission. Our objective was to assess the presence and genetic diversity of A. phagocytophilum in domestic animals and different tick species from the Camargue region, located in the south of France.

Methods

A total of 140 ticks and blood samples from 998 cattle and 337 horses were collected in Camargue and tested for the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA by msp2 quantitative real-time PCR. Molecular typing with four markers was performed on positive samples.

Results

Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was detected in 6/993 (0.6%) cows, 1/20 (5%) Haemaphysalis punctata, 1/57 (1.75%) Rhipicephalus pusillus, and was absent in horses (0%). All cattle A. phagocytophilum presented a profile identical to an A. phagocytophilum variant previously detected in Dermacentor marginatus, Hyalomma marginatum, and Rhipicephalus spp. in Camargue.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that one particular A. phagocytophilum variant infects cattle in Camargue, where I. ricinus is supposed to be rare or even absent. Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus spp. and Hyalomma spp., and possibly other tick species could be involved in the transmission of this variant in this region.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2305-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Control of lice infestation in horses using a 10 mg/mL deltamethrin topical application

Background

Two open-controlled studies evaluated the tolerance and the efficacy of a 10 mg/mL deltamethrin-based pour-on solution (Deltanil®; Virbac, France) in treating (study 1) and preventing (study 2) natural Damalinia equi infestations in horses. In study 1, seven adult horses received 10 mL of the solution from mane to tail head on day 0 (D0). Four adult horses, living separately, served as non-treated controls. All were naturally infected. Lice burden was recorded by counting the number of live parasites, bilaterally, over seven anatomic regions. Lesional score was based on alopecia, crusts, papules/pustules, nodules/plaques, scales and wounds, each assessed on a 0–3 scale. Evaluation was performed on D0 and subsequently weekly until D56 in treated horses and on D0 and D56 in control horses. In study 2, six adult horses free of parasites were similarly treated on D-2 and D30. Two adult horses, naturally infested with D. equi and left untreated, were mixed with the treated horses from D0 to D60. Evaluation was performed similarly to study 1 on all horses, fortnightly until D60.

Results

No adverse event was recorded in either study. In study 1, parasite and lesional scores of control horses were maintained on D56. Parasite scores of the treated horses were reduced by 98% on D7 and 100% from D15 to D56 (mean [SD]: D0 44 [58.4]). Lesional score in treated horses was reduced by 24, 82, 47, 91, 96, 93, 93 and 100% on D7, 15, 21, 28, 35, 42, 50 and 56, respectively (mean [SD]: D0 3.1 [1.8]).

In study 2, the lice populations remained high in the two control horses throughout the study (max mean [SD]: D0 159 [151.3], min D45 34 [39.6]). On treated animals, all parasite counts were negative except on D15 (one louse found). The protection rate was 99.7% on D15 and 100% from D30 to D60.

Conclusions

A single application of the 10 mg/mL deltamethrin preparation was effective and safe in the treatment and in the prevention of lice infestation in these horses. It was also effective in preventing new infestations for one month.

West Nile virus epidemiology and factors triggering change in its distribution in Europe

West Nile virus (WNV) has historically been considered among the least virulent members of the Japanese serogroup complex (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus). The WNV natural cycle involves birds as the main amplifying hosts and several species of mosquito as vectors. Many outbreaks occurred during the past decade, causing severe human encephalitis in the Old World, and the virus has become established in many European countries. Emergence of WNV is difficult to predict and even more difficult to prevent. In this review, the latest information on the epidemiology, transmission dynamics and clinical aspects of WNV is presented, with particular focus on specific factors likely to trigger changes in the distribution of the disease in Europe, such as climate changes and their consequences on the potential vectors of WNV or bird migration routes. The control of some anthropogenic and environmental factors could help prevent extension and re-emergence of WNV epidemics.

Land cover, landscape structure, and West Nile virus circulation in southern France

The transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) is strongly influenced by environmental factors. In France, two endemic areas for WNV have been identified: Camargue and Var. The objective of our study was to test whether landscape characteristics could be associated with the risk of endemic circulation of WNV in these two ecologically different areas. Equine serological data collected during outbreaks in Var (2003) and Camargue (2004) were used. Both areas were marked out in cells of 5 km(2), and data were aggregated for each cell. Sixteen cells, classified as "high" level viral circulation, and 28 cells, classified as "low" level viral circulation were used for the analysis. The Corine Land Cover database (European Environment Agency) was used to evaluate, for each geographic cell, the area covered by 12 land cover classes, as well as the value of 5 landscape metrics (patch richness and density, edge density, the Shannon's diversity index, and interspersion and juxtaposition index (IJI). Multivariate linear generalized regression showed that IJI as well as the surface covered by heterogeneous agricultural areas were significantly higher in high level WNV circulation cells than in low level ones (p = 0.01 and 0.05 respectively). Both variables are indicators of a complex spatial biotope configuration that may favor the co-existence of competent vectors and reservoir hosts: the structure of the landscape thus appeared as a key element in WNV circulation. An internal validation was performed and the model was used to compute a risk map for the French Mediterranean coast. Cells with a probability > 0.8 of having a high level of viral circulation were found near Aix-en-Provence, Beziers, and Perpignan, areas where no serological study has yet been conducted. Equine cases reported in 2006 were all located in the neighborhood of cells having a > 0.8 probability for high WNV circulation status.

[An epidemiological survey of equine anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in southern France]

Anaplasmosis is caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and transmitted by Ixodes spp. ticks. According to some reports the disease can be introduced into disease-free zones by migrating birds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of A. phagocytophilum in horses in the Camargue. Data concerning 424 horses were gathered and the sera were tested for A. phagocytophilum and for piroplasmoses using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a complement fixation test, respectively. The seroprevalence rates were 11.3 % for A. phagocytophilum, 64.4 % for Theileria equi and 19.7% for Babesia caballi. Stallions were less likely to produce antibodies against A. phagocytophilumthan were females or geldings (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3; p = 0.021). The presence of swallows increased the risk of infections in stables (OR = 5.18; p = 0.011). Spatial analysis showed the existence of groups of infected stables along canals and rivers (p = 0.008). These results suggest an emergence of A. phagocytophilum in the Camargue.