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The French National Animal Health Surveillance Platform (NAHSP) was created in 2011. This network of animal health stakeholders was set up to improve surveillance efficiency for all health risks that threaten animal health, as well as zoonoses affecting human health. The NAHSP steering committee decides on the strategies and program of activities. It is composed of 11 institutions from both public and private sectors (policy-makers, scientific institutions, and representatives of farmers, veterinarians, hunters, and laboratories). A coordination teamguarantees the implementation of the programand facilitates the activities of different working groups (WGs). Each WG is composed of technical experts with scientific, legal, and field knowledge from the sectors of animal health (livestock, companion animals, and wildlife), human health, and environmental health. Some WGs focus on a specific disease or health indicator, such as African swine fever or cattle mortality, while others cover cross-cutting topics, such as epidemic intelligence (EI), or specialize in aiding epidemiological investigations, such as the Q fever WG. The NAHSP stands out for its innovative approach because it is based on the concepts of consensus-building among participants, fostering collaboration, and embracing interdisciplinarity. Each proposal designed to improve surveillance is jointly developed by all the stakeholders involved, thereby ensuring its sustainability and acceptability among stakeholders. This process also has added value for decision-makers. As a pioneer platform, the NAHSP inspired the creation of two additional national surveillance platforms in 2018, one for plant health and the other for food chain safety. Both are organized in the same way as the NAHSP, which created a framework to place the emphasis on a One Health approach. For instance, four WGs are common to the three national surveillance platforms. This article aims to present this innovative approach to improve surveillance efficiency that could be of interest to other European countries or that could be rolled out at the European level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Schmallenberg virus (SBV) emerged in Europe in 2011 and caused a widespread epidemic in ruminants. In France, SBV emergence was monitored through a national multi-stakeholder surveillance and investigation system. Based on the monitoring data collected from January 2012 to August 2013, we describe the spread of SBV in France during two seasons of dissemination (vector seasons 2011 and 2012) and we provide a large-scale assessment of the impact of this new disease in ruminants. Results SBV impact in infected herds was primarily due to the birth of stillborns or deformed foetuses and neonates. Congenital SBV morbidity level was on average moderate, although higher in sheep than in other ruminant species. On average, 8% of lambs, 3% of calves and 2% of kids born in SBV-infected herds showed typical congenital SBV deformities. In addition, in infected herds, farmers reported retrospectively a lower prolificacy during the vector season, suggesting a potential impact of acute SBV infection during mating and early stages of gestation. Conclusions Due to the lack of available control and prevention measures, SBV spread quickly in the naive ruminant population. France continues to monitor for SBV, and updated information is made available online on a regular basis [http://www.plateforme-esa.fr/]. Outbreaks of congenital SBV are expected to occur sporadically from now on, but further epidemics may also occur if immunity at population level declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, a national surveillance plan to monitor congenital Schmallenberg virus (SBV) outbreaks was set up in January 2012, and has shown that SBV had become widespread throughout the country since mid-2011. However, the number of SBV-infected farms cannot accurately be estimated through congenital SBV reporting alone. Therefore, GDS France (National Animal Health Farmers' Organization) conducted serological investigations in cattle and sheep holdings in several departments in spring 2012 to assess SBV exposure in 2011. A serological study was also conducted in the department of Saône-et-Loire (southern Burgundy) to establish an accurate local overview of circulation of virus in 2011 among cattle. The study was conducted following guidelines elaborated by the French Platform for animal health surveillance. Results indicated differences in within-herd seroprevalence between cattle herds and sheep herds in departments where outbreaks of congenital SBV were reported in early 2012 and a great heterogeneity in seroprevalence between areas (even between areas geographically close to each other). In departments which had been severely affected in early 2012, the overall impact of SBV infection in cattle herds during the 2012-2013 calving season will probably be low. On the other hand, given the low proportion of immunised ewes in sheep SBV outbreaks, sheep flocks which were already affected in early 2012 may once again face congenital cases of SBV [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the responses of French transport services' buyers to environmental initiatives, thereby contributing to understanding the impact of governmental sustainable freight policies, including the FRET21 programme launched in 2015 by the French government. Using a multiple case study design involving 10 pilot companies, the heterogeneous data collection (semi-structured interviews, access to internal documents, direct observations, programme participants brainstorming) has been carried out with the assistance of French transportation services purchasing managers from Carrefour, Coca-Cola, Saint-Gobain, Renault, Fleury Michon, Air Products, Henaff, Ferrero and Orrion. Our study reveals the voluntary participation of the companies to reduce their CO 2 emissions related to their freight operations, regardless of company size or their sector of activity. Furthermore, the environmental sensitivity of the shippers stems more from an internal dynamic, be it supportive employees or top management, rather than the obligation to calculate their CO 2 emissions. Although the FRET21 charter enhances substantially intra- and inter-organisational collaboration, especially between carriers, ADEME - the French Environmental Protection Agency - and shippers, environmental issues do not yet constitute a decisive criterion in carrier selection by shippers. This paper is original in its research area since very few studies in the existing literature explore the application of a sustainable freight transportation programme, scrutinising the successes and failures encountered in its application. Our study contributes to the green freight transportation field in two ways: by providing appropriate recommendations to help spread the sustainable freight programme to other shippers in France, but also by providing public and private entities worldwide with managerial insights and relevant guidance to influence shippers' responsiveness in the direction of sustainable freight. The study also stresses the need of having transparent tools and a standard method to measure freight CO 2 emissions, thereby supporting shippers in their sustainable freight endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that investigates the impact of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), caused by Orthobunyavirus, on sheep flocks in France. The French local animal health organization Groupements de défense sanitaire (GDS France) conducted a preliminary assessment on sheeps that were positive of SBV. Moreover, GDS found that healthy lambs accounted for 54,939, while 8,395 were dead 12 hours after they were born and 1,214 had deformities.

The first outbreak of trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma evansi in camels in France was reported on a farm in the Aveyron Department. Five camels were imported from the Canary Islands to the farm in early July 2006, and trypanosomes were observed on a stained blood smear from one of them, which died in October. On further investigations, trypanosomes were observed in the blood of five camels, three of them indigenous to the farm and two that had been imported. On the basis of microscopical examination (morphological criteria and measurements) and serological results based on the card agglutination Tevansitest and PCR typing, the parasites were identified as Tevansi. After treatment with melarsomine, the infected camels rapidly became negative by parasitological tests and were negative two to four months later by serological tests. The parasite was probably transmitted by tabanids and Stomoxys calcitrans, which were abundant in July to September 2006. No parasites were observed in other animals on the farm or on neighbouring farms, but some of the sheep on these farms were positive by PCR or serology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction et objectifs: Suite à la publication de recommandations européennes en 2007, le comité des anti-infectieux de l’hôpital a diligenté une évaluation des prescriptions d’antibiotiques chez les patients au cours d’une neutropénie fébrile. Ces recommandations préconisent en 1re intention une monothérapie par bêtalactamine (BL) et limitent l’utilisation des glycopeptides (GP) et des aminosides (AG). Matériels et méthodes: Étude prospective menée de février à août 2008 dans 5 services, chez des patients traités pour une hémopathie maligne, présentant une neutropénie fébrile chimio-induite. Les principales données relevées sont les suivantes : pathologie sous-jacente, numération des neutrophiles, température, données microbiologiques, antibiothérapie. Résultats: La durée médiane de neutropénie est de 11 jours (3-30). La durée médiane totale de l’antibiothérapie est de 13 jours (4-33). Sur les 50 épisodes de traitements évalués, les principales 1res lignes prescrites sont : monothérapie par BL à large spectre dans 8 cas (16 %), BL+AG dans 11 cas (22 %), BL+GP 12 fois (24 %), BL+fluoroquinolone 2 fois (4 %) et BL+AG+GP dans 10 cas (20 %). L’association ceftazidime-vancomycine (Vn) est prescrite dans 14 cas (28 %). Selon les recommandations, l’utilisation de Vn en 1re ligne (n = 23) n’est pas justifiée dans 13 % des cas. La durée médiane de traitement par AG (46 % des prescriptions) est de 2 jours (1-6). Le délai médian de modification de l’antibiothérapie de 1re ligne est de 4 jours (1-20). Conclusion: En 1re ligne, l’utilisation d’une BL en monothérapie n’est observée que dans 16 % des cas ; le recours à la Vn est très fréquent (46 %) associée le plus souvent avec la ceftazidime. Les AG sont prescrits dans moins de la moitié des cas et pour une courte durée. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction et objectifs: Suite à une 1re enquête sur les prescriptions de FQ en 2005, un plan d’action a été mis en place, combinant retour d’information dans les services, élaboration et diffusion d’une plaquette de recommandations et conseils quotidiens en antibiothérapie dans les services, par le référent anti-infectieux. Des évaluations régulières sont faites depuis l’initiation du projet. Matériels et méthodes: Trois enquêtes un jour donné évaluant l’indication et les modalités d’utilisation des FQ ont été réalisées : en février 2005 avant le début du plan d’action, janvier 2007 et décembre 2008. Résultats: La prévalence des prescriptions de FQ chez les patients hospitalisés étaient de 9,7 % (1er audit), 6,2 % (2e) et 4,1 % (3e). La plupart des patients étaient traités pour hémopathies malignes ou cancers solides. Les doses unitaires étaient adaptées dans 90 % des cas pour les 3 enquêtes. Le rythme d’administration était correct dans 92, 93 et 95 % des prescriptions en 2005, 2007 et 2008 respectivement. L’utilisation de la voie intraveineuse (IV) était de 45 % en 2005, 27 % en 2007 et 35 % en 2008 et jugée non justifiée dans 27 % des cas en 2005, 37,5 % en 2007 et 25 % en 2008. Les FQ étaient prescrites en probabiliste dans 74 % des cas en 2005, 50 % en 2007 et 63 % en 2008. Les indications étaient jugées inappropriées ou discutables dans 42 % des cas en 2005, 50 % en 2007 et 35 % en 2008. La consommation globale des FQ dans l’établissement a diminué de 35 % entre 2005 et 2008 et celle de l’ensemble des antibiotiques de 18 % pendant la même période. Conclusion: Le plan d’action mené par le référent anti-infectieux a contribué à la diminution substantielle et durable de la consommation des FQ. L’utilisation des FQ en empirique reste cependant élevée et l’optimisation des posologies doit être poursuivie. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The bovine brucellosis clinical surveillance system implemented in France aims to detect early any case of bovine brucellosis, a disease of which the country has been declared free since 2005. It relies on the mandatory notification of every bovine abortion. Following the spread of the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in France in 2012 and 2013, and the implementation in 2012 of a clinical surveillance programme of Q fever based on abortion notifications in ten pilot départements, our objective was to study whether these two events influenced the brucellosis clinical surveillance system. The proportion of notifying farmers was analyzed over each semester from June 1, 2009 to June 30, 2013 according to the size and production type of herds, SBV status of départements and the implementation of the Q fever surveillance. Our analysis showed a slight increase in the proportion of notifying farmers as départements became infected by SBV, and after the implementation of Q fever surveillance (during the first semester of 2013). These variations might be explained by an increase in abortion occurrence (congenital deformities in newborns, due to SBV) and/or by an increase in farmers' and veterinarians' awareness (due to the spread of SBV and the implementation of the Q fever surveillance). These results highlight the difficulties in interpreting variations in the proportion of notifying farmers as a consequence of an increase in abortion occurrence. As bovine abortion surveillance can play an important role in the early warning for several diseases, there is a need to explore other ways to monitor abortions in cattle, such as syndromic surveillance using the dates of artificial insemination or calving data., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An epidemiological study was conducted in Orne (France) on randomly selected dairy herds (42 herds including 1,924 cows and heifers, which were at least 15 months old). The aim was primarily to estimate the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection from two blood samples per cow, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for N. caninum (one positive result indicating infection). The second aim was to test the association between some individual and herd factors and N. caninum seropositivity with a logistic model including a random term effect. The prevalence was estimated at 5.6% (107 seropositive animals). At least 27 of the 42 herds had one seropositive cow or heifer. The intra-herd seroprevalence varied from 1.1 to 8% for 18 positive herds (66.7%). Dogs were present in 36 farms and 104 of the 107 seropositive animals were exposed to them. The factors associated with individual seropositivity were the presence of cats (OR = 0.17; P < 0.001), dogs (OR = 4.35; P = 0.02), rabbits and/or ducks (OR = 2.10; P = 0.04), long calving periods (12 months) (OR = 0.44; P = 0.007), tethered housing (OR = 2.50; P = 0.01), somatic cell counts (200-400 x 10(3) cells/mL) (OR = 0.24; P < 0.001) and pond water supply (OR = 2.43; P = 0.04). In conclusion, the animal and intra-herd seroprevalences were low in dairy cows from Normandy, France.

To help livestock production groups to rationalise health decisions, and at the request of the Association for the certification of livestock health (Association pour la certification de la santé animale en élevage: ACERSA), an economic study was conducted to assess the possible cost-effectiveness of the eradication of bovine virus diarrhoea in France. The study was performed using a fictitious average region comprising 235,000 cattle belonging to 3,300 farms, which corresponds to one-eighty-fifth of the total cattle population of France. In the first phase of the study, the cost of the disease in this region was estimated to be approximately six million French francs (US$989,937) per year. Subsequently, the cost of an eradication strategy based on the inspection of all animals when introduced into a herd, the screening of permanently-infected immunotolerant animals (IPI) and the elimination of these animals, was evaluated at nearly eleven million francs (US$1,814,884) during the first year. Theories were then formulated regarding the time required to achieve eradication (twenty years) and to reduce the epidemiological parameters (development curve of the eradication of IPI animals and of animals which had given positive results to serological tests). The reduction in the cost of the disease as a result of the eradication policy was then simulated in accordance with the evolution of the epidemiological parameters. Finally, the cost of controlling the disease, together with the residual cost of the disease, were compared with the cost of the disease without control measures. This demonstrated that such an eradication policy would, in theory, only begin to become cost-effective after approximately fifteen years. In view of the long period required to achieve cost-effectiveness, the considerable complexity of implementing an eradication programme and imponderables (particularly concerning virus spread), the recommendation of such a course of action to cattle-breeder groups is questionable. This research demonstrates that a relatively simple economic approach can serve as a useful decision-making aid.