Buffalopox: an emerging and re-emerging zoonosis

Outbreaks of buffalopox or pox-like infections affecting buffaloes, cows and humans have been recorded in many parts of the world. Since the first outbreak in India, a large number of epidemics have occurred. Unlike in the previous years, generalized forms of the disease are now rare; however, there are severe local forms of the disease affecting the udder and teats, leading to mastitis thereby undermining the productivity of milk animals. The causative agent buffalopox virus (BPXV) is a member of the Orthopoxvirus, and is closely related to Vaccinia virus (VACV), the type-species of the genus. Earlier studies with restriction fragment length polymorphism and recent investigations involving sequencing of the genes that are essential in viral pathogenesis have shown that BPXV is phylogenetically very closely related to VACV and may be considered as a clade of the latter. The review discusses the epidemiology, novel diagnostic methods for the disease, and molecular biology of the virus, and infers genetic relationships of BPXV with other members of the genus.     

Tularaemia: A challenging zoonosis

In recent years, several emerging zoonotic vector-borne infections with potential impact on human health have been identified in Europe, including tularaemia, caused by Francisella tularensis. This remarkable pathogen, one of the most virulent microorganisms currently known, has been detected in increasingly new settings and in a wide range of wild species, including lagomorphs, rodents, carnivores, fish and invertebrate arthropods. Also, a renewed concern has arisen with regard to F. tularensis: its potential use by bioterrorists. Based on the information published concerning the latest outbreaks, the aim of this paper is to review the main features of the agent, its biology, immunology and epidemiology. Moreover, special focus will be given to zoonotic aspects of the disease, as tularaemia outbreaks in human populations have been frequently associated with disease in animals.     

Trichinellosis: a worldwide zoonosis

Trichinella spp. are some of the most widespread parasites infecting people and other mammals all over the world, regardless of climate. This paper attempts to describe the present status of trichinellosis worldwide and to determine if and why trichinellosis is emerging or re-emerging. The global prevalence of the disease is difficult to evaluate but as many as 11 million people may be infected. More than 10000 cases of human trichinellosis were reported by the International Commission on Trichinellosis from 1995 to June 1997 and about 10000 porcine infections were reported by the Office International des Epizooties in 1998. The disease is particularly worrisome in the Balkans, Russia, the Baltic republics, in some parts of China and Argentina. Horsemeat-related outbreaks have been reported in France and Italy and have involved about 3000 patients in the past 25 years. The emergence of trichinellosis in some countries is explained by a better knowledge of the disease (formerly often misdiagnosed as influenza), modifications of consumer habits, re-forestation in Europe and increase of wild game, importation of meats from countries where trichinellosis is endemic and failure of veterinary control due to human error or to social upheavals. This disease linked to meat-consumption which is theoretically easy to prevent by adequate cooking, freezing and veterinary controls, should deserve the attention of all persons involved in public health and it could be eradicated at least from domestic pigs.     

Leptospirosis. A re-emerging zoonotic disease.

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging infectious disease that occurs in dogs in urban and rural environments. It is caused by a filamentous spiral bacterium that has a predilection for renal tubules. Acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, and hemorrhagic diathesis are the most common clinical signs. Treatment with antibiotics and supportive care can manage a high percentage of cases successfully. Newer vaccines developed in response to the change in frequency of certain serovars may decrease the incidence of clinical disease. Leptospirosis affects a wide variety of species and is zoonotic.     

From the discovery of the Malta fever's agent to the discovery of a marine mammal reservoir, brucellosis has continuously been a re-emerging zoonosis

Brucellosis is not a sustainable disease in humans. The source of human infection always resides in domestic or wild animal reservoirs. The routes of infection are multiple: food-borne, occupational or recreational, linked to travel and even to bioterrorism. New Brucella strains or species may emerge and existing Brucella species adapt to changing social, cultural, travel and agricultural environment. Brucella melitensis is the most important zoonotic agent, followed by Brucella abortus and Brucella suis. This correlates with the fact that worldwide, the control of bovine brucellosis (due to B. abortus) has been achieved to a greater extent than the control of sheep and goat brucellosis (due to B. melitensis), these latter species being the most important domestic animals in many developing countries. The long duration and high cost of treatment of human brucellosis reduces the efficacy of the therapy. There is no human vaccine for brucellosis and the occurrence of brucellosis is directly linked to the status of animal brucellosis in a region. In this context, the Word Health Organization has defined the development of a human vaccine, besides the implementation of control and eradication programs in animals, as a high priority. The pathogenicity for humans of B. suis biovars 1, 3 and 4 is well established, whereas B. suis biovar 2 seems to be less pathogenic. Indeed, although hunters and pig farmers have repeatably experienced infectious contact with B. suis biovar 2 (found in wild boar and outdoor-rearing pigs in Europe), isolation of B. suis biovar 2 from human samples have only been seldom reported. Marine mammal brucellosis, due to two new proposed Brucella species i.e. B. cetaceae and B. pinnipediae, represents a new zoonotic threat but the pathogenicity for humans of the different Brucella species found in cetaceans and pinnipeds still has to be clearly established.     

Anthrax undervalued zoonosis

Anthrax is a non-contagious disease, known since ancient times. However, it became a matter of global public interest after the bioterrorist attacks in the U.S.A. during the autumn of 2001. The concern of politicians and civil authorities everywhere towards this emergency necessitated a significant research effort and the prevention of new bioterrorist acts. Anthrax is primarily a disease that affects livestock and wildlife; its distribution is worldwide; and it can represent a danger to humans but especially more so when it occurs in areas considered to be free and in atypical seasons and climatic conditions. The atypicality of the phenomenon may lead health workers to misdiagnose and, consequently, an inappropriately manage of affected carcasses with a consequent and inevitable increase in the risk of human infection. This article emphasises the importance of paying increasing attention to this zoonosis. The biggest risk is its underestimation.     

新型人畜共患病——附红细胞体病

附红细胞体病 (Ｅｐｅｒｙｔｈｒｏｚｏｏｎｏｓｉｓ :简称附红体病 )是由附红细胞体 (Ｅｐｅｒｙｔｈｒｏｚｏｏｎ ;简称附红体 )引起的一种人畜共患传染病 ,以贫血、黄疸和发热为特征。本病最早发现于 1 92 8年 ,但过去因其对非摘脾动物很少有致病性而长期被人们所忽视 ,直到 1 950年确定猪的黄疸性贫血是由附红体所引起 ,才逐渐被重视起来。目前本病已广泛分布于世界许多国家和地区。我国于 1 981年首先在家兔中发现附红体 ,相继在牛、羊、猪等家畜中查到附红体 ,以后在人群中也证实了附红体感染的存在。近年来 ,特别是 1 993年以来 ,随…     

Borna disease: a possible emerging zoonosis

The Borna disease virus (BDV) causes a disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in several vertebrate species. The progress made over the last 30 years in molecular biology has allowed us to identify the unique characteristics of the virus, such as its persistence in the CNS and the way it is expressed. This has allowed scientists to classify this pathogenic agent in a new family of RNA viruses. BDV affects a very large spectrum of hosts and is responsible for a disease characterised by behavioural anomalies. The large range of intra- or inter-specific symptoms of this disease (from persistence of the virus without clinical symptoms to CNS destruction) make epidemiological studies very difficult. Different diagnostic tools have allowed the detection of this infectious agent in different species around the world (central Europe, USA, UK, Japan, Iran, etc.). The disease can be fatal for sheep and horses (its primary natural hosts) and can infect other species such as rats, cattle, dogs, cats or pigeons. In human beings, BDV could be responsible for certain psychiatric disorders. In France, the limited number of epidemiological studies that have been conducted up until now (in veterinary and medical fields) does not allow scientists to ascertain whether the disease is present in France or not. Due to the suspected large geographical distribution of this infectious agent, however, we could expect the presence of BDV in France.     

非洲猪瘟——威胁全球猪业的重要疾病重现江湖:免疫应答

本文是《非洲猪瘟——威胁全球猪业的重要疾病重现江湖》的第三部分,主要介绍与抗非洲猪瘟病毒感染的保护作用相关的免疫应答。     

Campylobacter enteritis in dogs and cats: A ‘new’ zoonosis

The subject is introduced by a brief historical resumé and account of campylobacter enterocolitis in man. Published figures on the prevalence of campylobacters in normal dogs and cats show a wide range. It is highest (49% dogs, 45% cats) in immature animals, particularly strays or those living in kennels, and lowest (<1.6% dogs and cats) in adult animals living in households. Several studies have shown no significant difference between the prevalence in normal animals and those suffering from diarrhoea, but two surveys did show such a difference. It seems that while most animals are unaffected by infection with campylobacters, a few suffer an illness like that seen in man. Longitudinal studies to determine incidence — as opposed to prevalence — of infection are required. A small proportion of human infections are acquired from dogs. These are usually puppies that are themselves suffering from diarrhoea. Only four infections associated with cats (all kittens with diarrhoea) have been reported. Contact is invariably close and the victims are often small children. The application of simple hygienic measures should prevent such infections.     

非洲猪瘟——威胁全球猪业的重要疾病重现江湖:基本概况

近期,非洲猪瘟(African Swine Fever,ASF)已经从撒哈拉以南的非洲国家传播到南高加索地区、俄罗斯联邦部分地区和东欧。在新一轮流行病学事件中,此次流行的ASF与其在非洲的情况有相似性,但仍有重要的差异,包括野猪的实际影响。更好地了解这种新形势能够有效地控制该病,并阻止该病的进一步传播。本文将会对这些不同情境进行比较,并讨论非洲猪瘟病毒(African Swine Fever Virus,ASFV)毒株发病机理的最新信息、动物对感染的免疫应答以及疫苗的研发前景等。本文还将讨论现有知识的差异和未来控制展望。     

Bovine dermatophilosis,A re-emerging pandemic disease in zimbabwe

To determine the current distribution of bovine dermatophilosis in Zimbabwe, participatory rural appraisals were held at 36 locations in six districts. Results showed that bovine dermatophilosis is no longer confined to Hwange-Lupane area, but is now endemic in Gokwe, Sanyati, Kwekwe, and Kadoma. Virgin outbreaks of the disease were preceded by the appearance of Amblyomma variegatum ticks within an area. Spreading to new geographical areas (cited above) occurred during the liberation struggle (1975/79), droughts (1992/93, 1995/96), and of late, the land re-distribution exercise (2000–2002). Immediately after the war (1980/82), both the ticks and the disease were first cited in Gokwe whereas prior to that (1922–1980), both were confined to Hwange-Lupane area in the northwestern parts of Zimbabwe. Transmission from Gokwe to Sanyati, and from Sanyati to Chenjiri, occurred during the droughts of 1992/93 and 1995/96 respectively. In all the cases, the spreading of dermatophilosis was secondary to reduced tick control on cattle. The presence of dermatophilosis in the highveld (Kwekwe, Kadoma), a prime cattle production zone for the country, is a major threat to livestock production. These results have policy implications for tick and tick-associated diseases (dermatophilosis) control strategies for Zimbabwe.     

非洲猪瘟——威胁全球猪业的重要疾病重现江湖:发病机制和疫苗研发

本文是《非洲猪瘟——威胁全球猪业的重要疾病重现江湖》的第二部分,主要介绍非洲猪瘟病毒东欧分离株的试验性发病机制和疫苗研发情况。     

Brucellosis

Extract

Madam:- There is current discussion on the low leverl of this disease and the best way to finally eliminate it from New Zealand. Lest it be thought that the way is easy, the following case may make us all aware that the task is to be taken seriously. I was involved in July 1985 when a farmer complained concerning a company Leptospira vaccine.     

Toxoplasmosis - a waterborne zoonosis

Humans become infected with Toxoplasma gondii mainly by ingesting uncooked meat containing viable tissue cysts or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts from the feces of infected cats. Circumstantial evidence suggests that oocyst-induced infections in humans are clinically more severe than tissue cyst-acquired infections. Until recently, water-borne transmission of T. gondii was considered uncommon but a large human outbreak linked to contamination of a municipal water reservoir in Canada by wild felids and the widespread infection by marine mammals in the USA provide reasons to question this view. The present paper reviews information on the biology of oocyst-induced infections of T. gondii in humans and animals and examines possible importance of transmission by water.