A survey of the transmission of infectious diseases/infections between wild and domestic ungulates in Europe

in Veterinary Research (2011)

Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxocara canis in urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Brussels, Belgium

in Preventive Veterinary Medicine (2007), 80(1), 65-73

During the last decades, European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been implicated in the transmission of several viral or parasitic pathogenic agents to domestic animals and humans. In urban areas, risks ... [more ▼]

During the last decades, European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been implicated in the transmission of several viral or parasitic pathogenic agents to domestic animals and humans. In urban areas, risks of zoonoses transmission are likely to increase as a result of a higher rate of intra and inter-species contacts. Foxes occur on 35% of the Brussels-Capital Region area and local densities reach up to 4 family groups per square kilometre. According to the directive 2003/99/ECC, a first survey for the presence in foxes of Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxocara canis was conducted in Brussels from 2001 to 2004. None of 160 foxes were found to be infected with E. multilocularis and 24 of 134 foxes were found to be infected with T canis. Considering numbers of examined foxes, the sensitivity and the specificity of tests used for diagnosis, the 95% credibility intervals for the true prevalence of E. multilocularis and T canis were estimated in a Bayesian framework to be 0 to 1.87% (median value of 0%) and 12.7 to 26% (median value of 18.7%), respectively. For T canis, a significantly higher risk to be a carrier occurs in cubs and a significantly lower risk in adults. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Evaluation des risques liés à la présence d’Echinococcus multilocularis et de Toxocara canis dans la population vulpine en région bruxelloise

in Epidémiologie et Santé Animale (2006), 50

During the last decades, European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been implicated in the transmission of several viral or parasitic pathogenic agents to domestic animals and humans. In urban areas, risks ... [more ▼]

During the last decades, European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been implicated in the transmission of several viral or parasitic pathogenic agents to domestic animals and humans. In urban areas, risks of zoonoses transmission are likely to increase as a result of a higher rate of intra- and inter-species contacts. Foxes occur on 35% of the Brussels-Capital Region area and local densities reach up to 4 family groups per km². According to the directive 2003/99/ECC, a first survey for thepresence in foxes of Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxocara canis was conducted in Brussels from 2001 to 2004. None of 160 foxes were found to be infected with Echinococcus multilocularis and 24 of 134 foxes were found to be infected with Toxocara canis. Considering numbers of examined foxes, the sensitivity and the specificity of tests used for diagnosis, the 95% credibility intervals for the true prevalence of carriage of Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxocara canis were estimated in a Bayesian framework to be 0% to 1.87% (median value of 0%) and 12.7% to 26% (median value of 18.7.%) respectively. For Toxocara canis, a significantly higher risk to be a carrier occurs in cubs and a significantly lower risk in adults. [less ▲]

Population-level retrospective study of neurologically expressed disorders in ruminants before the onset of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Belgium, a BSE risk III country.

in Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2005), 43(2), 862-9

A retrospective epidemiological study (n = 7,875) of neurologically expressed disorders (NED) in ruminants before the onset of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy epidemic (years studied, 1980 to 1997 ... [more ▼]

A retrospective epidemiological study (n = 7,875) of neurologically expressed disorders (NED) in ruminants before the onset of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy epidemic (years studied, 1980 to 1997) was carried out in Belgium. The archives of all veterinary laboratories and rabies and transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) epidemiosurveillance networks were consulted. For all species, a significantly higher number of NED with virological causes (rabies) was reported south of the Sambre-Meuse Valley. During the period 1992 to 1997, for which the data were complete, (i) the predicted annual incidence of NED varied significantly as a function of species and area (higher numbers in areas where rabies was present) but was always above 100 cases per million, and (ii) the mean incidence of suspected TSE cases and, among them, those investigated by histopathological examination varied significantly as a function of species and area. The positive predictive value of a presumptive clinical diagnosis of NED ranged from 0.13 (game) to 0.63 (sheep). Knowledge of the positive predictive value permits the definition of a reference point before certain actions (e.g., awareness and training campaigns) are undertaken. It also shows the usefulness of a systematic necropsy or complementary laboratory tests to establish an etiological diagnosis. TSE analysis of a small, targeted historical sampling (n = 48) permitted the confirmation of one case and uncovered another case of scrapie. The results of the present study help to develop and maintain the quality of the worldwide clinical epidemiological networks for TSE, especially in countries that in the past imported live animals, animal products, and feedstuffs from countries with TSE cases. [less ▲]

Echinococcus multilocularis in Wallonia (Southern Belgium): spatial distribution of carriage by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and preliminary results in the Musk rat (Ondatra zibethicus), a potentially important intermediate host

Poster (2003)

Echinococcus multilocularis in Wallonia (Southern Belgium): spatial distribution of carriage by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and preliminary results in the Musk rat (Ondatra zibethicus), a potentially important intermediate host

Conference (2003)

The carriage of Echinococcus multilocularis by the red fox in southern Belgium

Conference (2002)

Epidemiologische bewaking van boviene spongiforme encefalopathie in Belgïe: Jaaroverzicht voor 1998

in Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift (2000), 69

In 1998 werden 6 runderen tussen de 54 en 71 maanden ouderdom, afkomstig van de provincies West-Vlaanderen (3 gevallen), Oost-Vlaanderen (2 gevallen) en Luik (1 geval), gediagnostiseerd als gevallen van ... [more ▼]

In 1998 werden 6 runderen tussen de 54 en 71 maanden ouderdom, afkomstig van de provincies West-Vlaanderen (3 gevallen), Oost-Vlaanderen (2 gevallen) en Luik (1 geval), gediagnostiseerd als gevallen van boviene spongiforme encephalopathie (BSE). De hypotheses betreffende de oorsprong van de infectie op zijn de volgende : het optreden van sporadische gevallen zonder duidelijk definieerbare oorzaak; de mogelijke kruiscontaminatie tussen voeder voor monogastrische dieren met daarin dierlijk meel en voeder voor herkauwers waarin geen dierlijk meel is verwerkt en dit tijdens het fabricatieproces, de stockage, het transport of de distributie; het gebruik van dierlijk beendermeel in het voeder voor runderen geproduceerd voor de ban (van kracht vanaf 27/7/1994). Algemeen kan men dus stellen dat in België de aanwezigheid van gecontamineerd diermeel als risicofactor voor BSE niet kan worden uitgesloten. De oorsprong van deze diermelen kon nog niet gedetermineerd worden. [less ▲]

The distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis carriage in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the south of Belgium

Poster (1999)

Infestation du renard roux (Vulpes vulpes) par Echinococcus multilocularis dans la Province de Luxembourg (Belgique) : résultats de l'enquête effectuée entre 1993 et 1995

in Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire (1997), 141