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Biomedical subjects

J Blancou

Publications and source records attributed to J Blancou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Surveillance and prevention of animal rabies in the world].

The author examines in turn methods and results for surveillance and control of rabies in animals. Surveillance is essentially carried out by collecting laboratory results from diagnoses of rabies in animals through direct immunofluorescence in the sample or after mouse inoculation or inoculation in cell cultures. Due to technical and financial constraints, the results collected are usually insufficient in number, particularly in developing countries. Surveillance of rabies is thus often based on data obtained from a non-target species (human beings). Disease prophylaxis varies according to whether rabies is found in wildlife or domestic animals. In both cases, there is at present a tendency to abandon methods of sanitary prophylaxis by reducing the number of vector-animals (fox, stray dogs, cats, bats, etc.), and instead to introduce medical prophylaxis by preventive vaccination. As a result, oral vaccination has already given spectacular results in the fight against rabies in foxes, and could also be used for dogs. The author specifies the conditions for applying this vaccination.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Transmission of rabies virus: importance of the species barrier].

The authors describe experimental inoculations of different animal species with either the wild-type rabies virus or the modified one through in vivo or in vitro passages. With these experiments, it was possible to determine the 50% lethal dose of these viruses for these species, and to thus quantify the importance of the species barrier that opposes, in particular, the transmission of vulpine rabies to cats and dogs (respectively 10(5) and 10(6) times more resistant than foxes). Studies were also undertaken on the influence of the inoculation route and that of serial passages of the virus in vivo or in vitro on the importance of resistance to rabies. The epidemiological consequences of the existence of a species barrier, its nature and variability, are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[International organization of the campaign against anthropozoonoses].

After briefly defining the scope of his presentation, the author will describe the respective roles of the different international, national and regional organization in the surveillance of anthropozoonoses. He will then restate the objectives of international control of anthropozoonoses, i.e. limit spread by strictly restricting exportations of animals and animal products (International Animal Health Code of the International Epizooties) and reduce disease incidence by coordinating the application of regional regulatory measures. The presentation will be fully illustrated by tables and examples from the field. In conclusion the author will emphasize the need for standardization of international control of anthropozoonoses to prevent possible spread as a result of greater free trade in the world.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Experience with veterinary vaccines in warm climates.

After a short description of the African laboratories manufacturing veterinary vaccines, the authors explain the main constraints for the use, in the field, of veterinary vaccines in warm climates. The need to respect the cold chain from the supplier of vaccines to the recipient animal is emphasised. In the Ivory Coast, during national vaccination campaigns, it has been proved that the quality of the rinderpest and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia vaccines is satisfactory when there is no disruption in the cold transport services. The data of this survey are exposed. In the framework of a project entitled "Thermostable rinderpest Vaccine, Transfer of Technology", a thermostable vaccine has been developed. It is manufactured in different African laboratories and integrated in some Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC) vaccination programmes. On the other hand, the prospects offered by new thermotolerant attenuated vaccines against Newcastle disease are exposed. Finally, the authors present an outlook on the development of thermoresistant veterinary vaccines, such as those produced by genetic engineering, in particular with pox virus vectors.

Africa↗
PubMed1996

[Infectious pathology of Canidae and Felidae in zoological parks].

The Canidae (36 species) and Felidae (34-37 species) are two families of carnivores represented by numerous exotic species in zoos or wildlife reserves. To some extent, the diseases of these species are similar to those of dogs and cats, and are therefore relatively well known. However, there are differences in sensitivity to infectious agents, treatments and vaccines. Canidae and Felidae may also act as carriers or even vectors of zoonoses, such as leptospirosis, rabies, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis and tuberculosis. Due to their behaviour patterns and morphological adaptations, these species are capable of transmitting various opportunistic infections by biting or scratching. These characteristics mean that Canidae and Felidae are difficult to keep in captivity, and require special health precautions, particularly protection from contact with stray carnivores.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Early methods of surveillance and control for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia.

From the many existing documents on the history of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, it is possible to describe the practical measures adopted for disease surveillance and control from ancient times until the 19th century. Surveillance was based on diagnosis, post-mortem examination, animal inoculation and also on knowledge of the conditions under which infection occurred: aetiology, pathogenesis, mode of infection, susceptible species, virulent material, incubation period, etc. The historical facts are assembled and compared, with comments on each of these points. Control was based upon the application of health control measures or vaccination. A study of these two procedures makes it possible to compare their efficacy and to describe the principal steps in their implementation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Vaccines against anthrax in animals, from Louis Pasteur to our day].

The authors outline the history of vaccination against anthrax in animals, from the end of the 19th century to the present time. The three main steps in the production of specific vaccines are described in detail: production of vaccines from live, encapsulated bacteria, followed by vaccines from live, unencapsulated bacteria and, finally, subunit vaccines. Advantages and disadvantages of these three types of vaccine, some of which are still in use today, are described and discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The role of international and regional organisations in the regulation of veterinary biologicals.

The authors discuss the role played by international and regional organisations in the registration and testing of veterinary biological products. International organisations which contribute significantly to this field include the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)--through the work of the Standards Commission and the publication of the Manual of standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines--, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO)--through the work of the Joint FAO/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture in standardising enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques, as well as through WHO Expert Committees. In Europe, the most important regional organisations are the European Commission and the European Pharmacopoeia. In the Americas, the most significant contribution is made by the two specialised institutes of the Pan American Health Organisation (namely INPPAZ [Pan American Institute for Food Protection and Zoonoses] and PANAFTOSA [Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Centre]), and by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture. In Africa, PANVAC (the Pan-African Veterinary Vaccine Centre) continues to perform valuable work in testing veterinary vaccines. For the industrialised countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is involved in the regulation of biotechnology products and in standardising "good laboratory practice' for vaccine manufacture. A table is presented which summarises and compares the respective roles of these organisations in the harmonization of licensing and testing procedures, the distribution of reference reagents, vaccine testing and the creation of vaccine banks.

Africa↗
PubMed1995

History of disinfection from early times until the end of the 18th century.

The author describes and analyses the methods of disinfection in use until the end of the 18th century, i.e. before the scientific demonstration of the role of pathogenic microorganisms. These methods are classified into three categories: chemical (by derivatives of sulphur, mercury, copper, and also by alkalis and acids), physical (heating, fumigation, filtration, etc.) and biological (burial). The author concludes that, despite their empiricism, these methods were of great value to those responsible for controlling diseases of animals, as in some cases they were able to eradicate diseases while still ignorant of the causal mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Efficacy of the administration of serum amd vaccine for the antirabies treatment of experimentally-infected sheep].

The objectives of this study were to examine the humoral immune response of sheep to experimental infection with an isolate of rabies virus from a fox, to analyse the efficacy of vaccination as a method of post-infection treatment, and to find a suitable animal model to evaluate new procedures for human vaccination following infection. A total of 47 sheep were used. Initially, 26 sheep received an intramuscular injection of a suspension of virus (titre: 10(6.8) 50% lethal dose for mice by the intracerebral route). Half of the sheep were subsequently treated using a vaccine on the day of infection and at 3, 7, 14 and 30 days post-infection. The remaining half comprised the unvaccinated controls. This vaccination protected seven of thirteen sheep, while nine of the thirteen controls died. Subsequently, 21 sheep were inoculated under the same conditions as in the previous trial. The animals were divided into three groups of seven animals each. The first group was vaccinated in the same way as described above. The second group received an injection of anti-rabies immunoglobulin of human origin (26.3 IU/kg of body weight), followed by the course of vaccine treatment 24 hours later. The remaining group acted as unvaccinated controls. Of the seven sheep given vaccine alone, four were protected, while all seven animals given immunoglobulin and vaccine were protected. Six of the seven untreated controls died. In this study, no apparently-healthy carriers of rabies virus were created by any of the treatments used, nor was there any shortening of the incubation periods. Additional observations were made concerning incubation periods and the course of the disease, as well as symptoms, lesions and the presence of rabies virus in various nerve centres and salivary glands of the experimental sheep.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Assay of oral vaccination of dogs against rabies in Tunisia with the vaccinal strain SADBern.

The possibility of immunizing dogs orally against rabies, using SADBern, an attenuated strain, was tested on dogs in the field in Tunisia. This strain induced high neutralizing antibody titres and conferred to all vaccinated dogs total resistance against a challenge with a Maghrebian strain. However, an excretion of virus of vaccinal origin was observed in one dog, hampering the use of SADBern in dogs. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates for the first time that dogs in developing countries, especially those which are inaccessible to parenteral vaccination, could be efficiently immunized against rabies by the oral route.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Early methods for the surveillance and control of rabies in animals.

From the many existing documents on the history of rabies in animals, it is possible to describe with precision the practical measures adopted for the surveillance and control of rabies in animals from antiquity until the 18th century. Surveillance is based on clinical diagnosis, post-mortem examination, animal inoculation and knowledge of the conditions under which infection occurred: aetiology, pathogenesis, susceptible species, virulent material, mode of infection, incubation period, etc. The historical data are assembled and compared, with comments on each of these points. Control is based on the application of general disease control measures and attempts at vaccination and treatment. A study of these procedures enables a comparison of their efficacy and a description of the major steps which led to (or delayed) the work of Louis Pasteur.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Early methods for the surveillance and control of glanders in Europe.

From the many existing documents on the history of glanders, it is possible to detail the practical measures adopted for disease surveillance and control from antiquity until the 19th century, principally in European countries. Surveillance is based on clinical diagnosis, post-mortem examination, animal inoculation and knowledge of the conditions under which infection occurred: aetiology, pathogenesis, susceptible species, virulent material, mode of infection, incubation period, etc. The historical data are assembled and compared, with comments on each of these points. Control is based on the application of general disease control measures and attempts at vaccination and treatment. A study of these procedures enables a comparison of their efficacy and a description of the major steps in their implementation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Ancient methods of surveillance and control of rinderpest].

Using the many documents available on the history of rinderpest, it is possible to accurately describe the practical measures adopted for rinderpest surveillance and control from Antiquity to the 19th Century. Surveillance was based on clinical diagnosis, post-mortem examination, animal inoculation, and also on the knowledge of the conditions under which infection occurred: aetiology, pathogenesis, susceptible species, virulent material, mode of infection, incubation period, etc. The historical facts are assembled and compared, with comments on each of these points. Control was based upon the application of general disease control measures, attempts at vaccination, and treatment. A study of these procedures makes it possible to compare their efficacy and describe the major steps of their implementation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Field diagnostic kits: a solution for developing countries?

An exact assessment of the animal health situation in a country is an essential element in formulating eradication and control programmes, and in regulating international trade in animals and animal products from that country. Due to a lack of human and technical resources, Veterinary Services in developing countries often lack precise knowledge on disease occurrence. Since the collection and transmission of reliable information on animal diseases in developing countries are major concerns of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), a project aimed at improving this situation was implemented with international financial support. This project involved the development by the Centre for the Application of Methodology for the Diagnosis of Animal Diseases (CAMDA) of field kits for the diagnosis of the main diseases present in tropical Africa: rinderpest, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). Several tests already exist, such as complement deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA)-specific probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for rinderpest and PPR, DNA probes and PCR for CBPP, capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the agglutination test and the immunobinding peroxidase test for CCPP, etc. With specific reference to these examples, the various problems faced by the OIE and CAMDA are reviewed.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Recent developments in the epidemiology and prevention of rabies].

Rabies is one of the oldest known diseases and man has been combatting it for many centuries. In many parts of the world, however, especially in the developing countries, success in controlling the disease will remain limited. Sanitary prophylaxis of rabies has reached its limit due to two factors: the difficulty of confining or eliminating all the vector animals, and the growing public opposition to the use of such measures. Medical prophylaxis can be undertaken in two ways: vaccination by the parental route or oral vaccination. The former has reached its limit in many developing countries, where its high cost is considered to outweigh the benefit to public health. Oral vaccination, on the other hand, has achieved spectacular success in Europe, where it is being used to progressively eliminate fox rabies. This technique could applied to dogs as soon as the scientific and technical prerequisites have been clearly defined.

Animals↗