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Ticks are major vectors of various pathogens of health importance, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. The problems associated with ticks and vector-borne pathogens are increasing in mountain areas, particularly in connection with global climate change. We collected ticks (n = 2,081) from chamois and mouflon in 4 mountainous areas of France. We identified 6 tick species: Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. sanguineus s.l., Haemaphysalis sulcata, H. punctata and Dermacentor marginatus. We observed a strong variation in tick species composition among the study sites, linked in particular to the climate of the sites. We then analysed 791 ticks for DNA of vector-borne pathogens: Babesia/Theileria spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. ovis, and Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Theileria ovis was detected only in Corsica in Rh. bursa. Babesia venatorum (2 sites), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (B. afzelii and B. garinii; 2 sites) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3 sites) were detected in I. ricinus. Anaplasma ovis was detected at one site in I. ricinus and Rh. sanguineus s.l. SFG Rickettsia were detected at all the study sites: R. monacensis and R. helvetica in I. ricinus at the 3 sites where this tick is present; R. massiliae in Rh. sanguineus s.l. (1 site); and R. hoogstraalii and Candidatus R. barbariae in Rh. bursa in Corsica. These results show that there is a risk of tick-borne diseases for humans and domestic and wild animals frequenting these mountain areas.

Ticks are important vectors of several human and animal pathogens. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of important tick-borne infections in questing ticks from an area in Southwestern France (Hautes-Pyrénées) inhabited by Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) experiencing high tick burden. We examined adult and nymph ticks collected by the flag dragging method from 8 to 15 sites in the Pic de Bazès during the years 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. PCR assays were conducted on selected ticks for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Randomly selected positive samples were submitted for sequence analysis. A total of 1971 questing ticks were collected including 95 males, 101 females and 1775 nymphs. All collected ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus. Among them, 696 ticks were selected for pathogen detection and overall prevalence was 8.4% for B. burgdorferi s.l.; 0.4% for Babesia spp.; 6.1% for A. phagocytophilum; 17.6% for Rickettsia spp.; and 8.1% for SFG Rickettsia. Among the sequenced pathogens, we detected in this population of ticks the presence of Babesia sp. EU1 and Rickettsia helvetica, as well as Rickettsia monacensis for the first time in France. The detection of these pathogens in the Pic de Bazès highlights the potential infection risks for visitors to this area and the Pyrenean chamois population.

Microbial infections that affect reproduction are poorly studied in wildlife because reproductive disorders usually go unnoticed. However, such infections are a major concern in domestic ungulates, which raises the question of their influence on reproductive success and population dynamics of wild ungulates. Three bacterial abortive infections are frequent in domestic ruminants: salmonellosis caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Abortusovis, enzootic abortion caused by Chlamydophila abortus, and Q fever caused by Coxiella burnetii. They induce abortions and neonatal mortality in sheep (Ovis aries L., 1758), goat (Capra hircus L., 1758), and cattle (Bos taurus L., 1758). However, little information is known about these bacteria in wild ungulates, particularly in mountain ungulates that may share alpine pastures with infected domestic ruminants. We investigated the relationship between female serological status against Salmonella, Chlamydophila, and Coxiella and her reproductive success. From 1986 to 2003, the reproductive and serological statuses of 125 female chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra (L., 1758)) aged 2-10 years were available. Reproductive success was the lowest for 2-year-old females and for females born at the highest density. Moreover, we showed for the first time in a wild ungulate population that females with high titer in antibodies against Salmonella experienced a decrease in their reproductive success. Titers in antibodies against Chlamydophila and Coxiella were not related to the reproductive success of female chamois. Les infections bacteriennes affectant la reproduction sont peu etudiees chez la faune sauvage ou les troubles reproducteurs passent souvent inapercus. Pourtant ces infections ont des consequences importantes chez les ongules domestiques, ce qui pose la question de leur effet sur le succes reproducteur et la dynamique des populations d'ongules sauvages. Trois infections bacteriennes induisant avortement et mortalite neonatale, la salmonellose due a Salmonella enterica Abortusovis, la chlamydophilose abortive provoquee par Chlamydophila abortus et la fievre Q due a Coxiella burnetii, sont courantes chez les ovins (Ovis aries L., 1758), caprins (Capra hircus L., 1758) et bovins domestiques (Bos taurus L., 1758). Peu d'information est disponible concernant ces bacteries chez les ongules sauvages, notamment chez les ongules de montagne qui peuvent paturer les memes pelouses alpines que des ruminants domestiques infectes. En etudiant de 1986 a 2003 les statuts reproducteurs et serologiques de 125 femelles chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra (L., 1758)) agees de 2 a 10 ans, nous avons recherche si le succes reproducteur dependait du titre serologique vis-a-vis de Salmonella, Chlamydophila et Coxiella. Les femelles de 2 ans et celles nees les annees ou la densite etait elevee ont un plus faible succes reproducteur. Nous avons montre pour la premiere fois dans une population d'ongules sauvages que les femelles avec un titre serologique eleve vis-avis de Salmonella une annee donnee ont un plus faible succes reproducteur cette annee-la. Aucun lien n'a ete mis en evidence entre les titres en anticorps vis-a-vis de Chlamydophila et Coxiella et le succes reproducteur des femelles chamois. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Parasitism, as well as predation and competition, is now recognized as a natural component of ecosystems (Hudson et al. 2002); however, all parasites do not receive equal attention. Interest [...]

In the presence of an atrophic endentulous mandible, the stability of the mandibular denture is related to the quality of the osteomucosal support and the muscles surrounding it. A new procedure for vestibuloplasty is described that combines a periosteal flap and a gingival graft. Titanium impacted posts are used for fixation and the stabilization of the flap and graft. This clinical report presents the results for 12 patients. Clinical appraisal indicates that the technique appears to improve the anteroposterior stability of the mandibular denture, increasing the attached mucosa and offering better long-term results. The management of the gingival and muscular environment can improve the peri-implant area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamics of host-pathogen interaction is key to the management of epidemics. A pestivirus belonging to the border disease virus group 4 emerged around 2001 in Pyrenean chamois ( Rupicapra pyrenaica) in Spain and France. The virus had significant demographic impact in some populations, but it was less harmful and more endemic in other places. The determinants of these local variations are still unclear. Here, we documented empirical evidence of self-clearance of the virus in a chamois population in France. This population has regularly been counted, and chamois were trapped and harvested each year, providing unique demographic and epidemiologic surveys of the population since 1984 and 1994, respectively. The virus was detected using direct (PCR) and indirect (antibody) testing. We showed that virus transmission declined in 2011-12 and likely ceased in 2013, leading to a decline in antibody prevalence since 2014. Self-clearance may be due to limited exchanges with other populations, decrease in population size after an epizootic, and herd immunity. The age structure of captured animals shifted to younger age classes after virus self-clearance, suggesting a return to a colonizing population structure. The possible consequences of virus re-entry are discussed. This observation suggests that pestivirus dynamics occurs at the scale of the metapopulation of Pyrenean chamois. Local self-clearance and re-emergence may help explain the variation of virus dynamics at the local scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of multilayer structures using plates and shells is not able to quantify the singular stresses distribution, especially the local overstresses near the boundaries. This critical design parameter is taken into account by 3D FEA models, which are not used for systematic computations due to a very long calculation time. The software CLEOPS (Composites Local Effects Of Plates and Shells) is developed by MEDYSYS (MEchanics and DYnamics of SYStems) to address this problem for composite laminates and their bonded assemblies involved in aerospace or defense industry. It is used as a postprocessor of Finite Element computations on plates and shells to calculate the 3D stresses within multilayer structures subjected to mechanical plane or bending loadings. The edge effects are computed at the mesoscale based on a semi-analytical asymptotic method with one-dimensional finite elements in the through-thickness direction. The software includes quadratic failure criteria in order to evaluate the delamination initiation and anticipate whether the laminates can withstand a fatigue load. The calculation of the stiesses distribution near the edges of multilayer structures and the fatigue delamination are key issues developed in this article. Results provided by CLEOPS are compared to 3D FEA results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is characterized by a complex epidemiology. The risk of infection for humans depends on their contact with infective oocysts in a contaminated environment and on the amount of tissue cysts located within consumed meat. Unfortunately, the prevalence of tissue cysts is largely unknown for game species. Although herbivorous game species are a source of infection for humans, the level of infection found in wildlife can also be used to estimate environmental contamination. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and analyze its temporal dynamics in one population of chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra), one of mouflon ( Ovis gmelini musimon), and two of roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus) in France, surveyed during a period of 6 to 28 years. Taking into account individual risk factors, we specifically analyzed the relationship between T. gondii prevalence and meteorological conditions that may influence oocyst survival. Serum samples from 101 chamois, 143 mouflons, and 1155 roe deer were tested for antibodies against T. gondii using the modified agglutination test (MAT), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay, or both. Using MAT with a threshold of 1:6, seroprevalence was 14.7% in mouflon, 16.8% in chamois, and 43.7% in roe deer. In mouflon and roe deer, seroprevalence was positively correlated with age and/or body mass, in accordance with the hypothesis that antibodies have long-term persistence. In roe deer, seropositivity differed between the two populations and changed linearly over time between 1983 and 2010, increasing by a factor 1.75 every 10 years. Moreover, in this species, the highest prevalences were found during dry and cold years or during warm and moist years, depending on the population. Our results suggest that the risk for people to acquire infection through game meat increases over time, but with high variability according to the population of origin and meteorological conditions of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study conducted by researchers Coralie Pulido, Claire Martin and Philippe Gibert from Unité Pathologie des Ruminants and Unité Sanitaire de la Faune in France, to use experimental infection in the investigation of the pathology induced by border disease virus in pregnant chamois from the Pyrenees Mountains. It offers information on the assessment of clinical signs, serology and viremia. It examines the discontinuation of pregnancies and deaths of the animals.

An efficient immunity is necessary for host survival, but entails energetic costs. When energy is limited, immunocompetence and body condition should co-vary positively among individuals and, depending on body condition, individuals should allocate more either in innate immunity or in adaptive response. We tested whether immune phenotype depends on body condition in large mammals, using data from two contrasted populations of roe deer Capreolus capreolus in France. Roe deer living at Chizé, a forest with poor habitat quality, were expected to show lower values for body condition and immune parameters than roe deer at Trois Fontaines, a forest with high habitat quality. From 285 blood samples collected between December 2009 and March 2011, we measured seven metabolic parameters and ten immunological parameters. A Principal Component Analysis showed that all indicators of body condition co-varied positively and were lowest at Chizé. Several immunological indicators correlated to body condition and differed between Trois Fontaines and Chizé. However, high body condition was not associated to a high average level of immunocompetence, but instead to high levels of indicators of acute inflammatory innate response, while low body condition was associated to high levels of monocytes and lymphocytes, possibly reflecting adaptive immunity. Limited data suggest that the difference between populations was not related to the presence of specific parasite species, however parasite exposure and stress have to be investigated to gain a more complete understanding of the determinants of immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Actualités Odonto-Stomatologiques is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Actualités Odonto-Stomatologiques is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study was undertaken to qualitatively analyze patients’ profiles and to identify the sociodemographic and oral health factors associated with emergency visits to the public dental service in Montpellier, France. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the dental care service at Montpellier Hospital. Socioeconomic and clinical variables were compared between the patients using the emergency dental care service and those utilizing the general dental services, which were by appointment. An evaluation of the results indicated that younger patients and people from lower socioeconomic groups used the emergency dental service more frequently. Unemployed people (OR = 1.60) and manual workers (OR = 1.86) were also more likely to use this service. The need for treatment of caries was significantly higher in the group that used the emergency service. It appeared that the two groups of patients had different attendance behavior and showed significantly different socioeconomic and oral health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a Culicoides-borne pathogen infecting both domestic and wild ruminants. In Europe, the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) (RD) is considered a potential BTV reservoir, but persistent sylvatic cycle has not yet been demonstrated. In this paper, we explored the dynamics of BTV1 and BTV8 serotypes in the RD in France, and the potential role of that species in the re-emergence of BTV8 in livestock by 2015 (i.e., 5 years after the former last domestic cases). We performed 8 years of longitudinal monitoring (2008–2015) among 15 RD populations and 3065 individuals. We compared Culicoides communities and feeding habits within domestic and wild animal environments (51,380 samples). Culicoides diversity (>30 species) varied between them, but bridge-species able to feed on both wild and domestic hosts were abundant in both situations. Despite the presence of competent vectors in natural environments, BTV1 and BTV8 strains never spread in RD along the green corridors out of the domestic outbreak range. Decreasing antibody trends with no PCR results two years after the last domestic outbreak suggests that seropositive young RD were not recently infected but carried maternal antibodies. We conclude that RD did not play a role in spreading or maintaining BTV in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental care unit waterlines (DCUWs) consist of complex networks of thin tubes that facilitate the formation of microbial biofilms. Due to the predilection toward a wet environment, strong adhesion, biofilm formation, and resistance to biocides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major human opportunistic pathogen, is adapted to DCUW colonization. Other nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli, such as members of the genus Achromobacter, are emerging pathogens found in water networks. We reported the 6.5-year dynamics of bacterial contamination of waterlines in a dental health care center with 61 dental care units (DCUs) connected to the same water supply system. The conditions allowed the selection and the emergence of clones of Achromobacter sp. and P. aeruginosa characterized by multilocus sequence typing, multiplex repetitive elements-based PCR, and restriction fragment length polymorphism in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial susceptibility. One clone of P. aeruginosa and 2 clones of Achromobacter sp. colonized successively all of the DCUWs: the last colonization by P. aeruginosa ST309 led to the closing of the dental care center. Successive dominance of species and clones was linked to biocide treatments. Achromobacter strains were weak biofilm producers compared to P. aeruginosa ST309, but the coculture of P. aeruginosa and Achromobacter enhanced P. aeruginosa ST309 biofilm formation. Intraclonal genomic microevolution was observed in the isolates of P. aeruginosa ST309 collected chronologically and in Achromobacter sp. clone A. The contamination control was achieved by a complete reorganization of the dental health care center by removing the connecting tubes between DCUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterium Mycoplasma agalactiae is responsible for contagious agalactia (CA) in small domestic ruminants, a syndrome listed by the World Organization for Animal Health and responsible for severe damage to the dairy industry. Recently, we frequently isolated this pathogen from lung lesions of ibexes during a mortality episode in the French Alps. This situation was unusual in terms of host specificity and tissue tropism, raising the question of M. agalactiae emergence in wildlife. To address this issue, the ibex isolates were characterized using a combination of approaches that included antigenic profiles, molecular typing, optical mapping, and whole-genome sequencing. Genome analyses showed the presence of a new, large prophage containing 35 coding sequences (CDS) that was detected in most but not all ibex strains and has a homolog in Mycoplasma conjunctivae, a species causing keratoconjunctivitis in wild ungulates. This and the presence in all strains of large integrated conjugative elements suggested highly dynamic genomes. Nevertheless, M. agalactiae strains circulating in the ibex population were shown to be highly related, most likely originating from a single parental clone that has also spread to another wild ungulate species of t he same geographical area, the chamois. These strains clearly differ from strains described in Europe so far, including those found nearby, before CA eradication a few years ago. While M. agalactiae pathogenicity in ibexes remains unclear, our data showed the emergence of atypical strains in Alpine wild ungulates, raising the question of a role for the wild fauna as a potential reservoir of pathogenic mycoplasmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is characterized by a complex epidemiology. The risk of infection for humans depends on their contact with infective oocysts in a contaminated environment and on the amount of tissue cysts located within consumed meat. Unfortunately, the prevalence of tissue cysts is largely unknown for game species. Although herbivorous game species are a source of infection for humans, the level of infection found in wildlife can also be used to estimate environmental contamination. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and analyze its temporal dynamics in one population of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), one of mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon), and two of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in France, surveyed during a period of 6 to 28 years. Taking into account individual risk factors, we specifically analyzed the relationship between T. gondii prevalence and meteorological conditions that may influence oocyst survival. Serum samples from 101 chamois, 143 mouflons, and 1155 roe deer were tested for antibodies against T. gondii using the modified agglutination test (MAT), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay, or both. Using MAT with a threshold of 1:6, seroprevalence was 14.7% in mouflon, 16.8% in chamois, and 43.7% in roe deer. In mouflon and roe deer, seroprevalence was positively correlated with age and/or body mass, in accordance with the hypothesis that antibodies have long-term persistence. In roe deer, seropositivity differed between the two populations and changed linearly over time between 1983 and 2010, increasing by a factor 1.75 every 10 years. Moreover, in this species, the highest prevalences were found during dry and cold years or during warm and moist years, depending on the population. Our results suggest that the risk for people to acquire infection through game meat increases over time, but with high variability according to the population of origin and meteorological conditions of the year.