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In-depth knowledge on the mechanisms that maintain infection by a zoonotic pathogen in an animal reservoir is the key to predicting and preventing transmission to humans. The Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV), the most prevalent orthohantavirus in Western Europe, causes a mild form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in humans. In France, this endemic illness affects the north-eastern part of the country. We conducted a 4-year capture-mark-recapture study in a bank vole population, combined with molecular analyses, to explore the epidemiological situation of PUUV in Alsace, a French region where human cases have occurred, but for which no studies have been conducted on this reservoir host. PUUV-infected bank voles were detected in the 2 years that showed high bank vole density with a prevalence of 4%. The individual PUUV sequences identified in this study were similar from year to year and similar to other French sequences. On a very small spatial scale, the distribution of seropositive bank voles was very heterogeneous in time and space. The short distances travelled on average by bank voles resulted in spatial clusters of seropositive rodents, which spread only very gradually throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports the results of serosuvey for West Nile virus (WNV) in horses performed by animal health authorities in southern France. Human and equine cases of WNV infection were reported at the beginning of October 2003 on the French Mediterranean coast. After receiving reports of clinical cases, the serosurvey was conducted. Findings show a contrast between a high IgG seroprevalence and a low proportion of IgM-positive sera. In horses, the WNV neutralizing and IgM antibodies are known to appear at approximately the same time.

The article discusses the result of a study which provides serological evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) in the great white pelican. The serological results reveal the likely susceptibility of the great white pelican to natural WNV infection. This is the first evidence of antibodies to WNV in non-American species of pelican.