%0 Report %D 2024 %T Bulletin n°4 - BELHEALTH %A Sabine Drieskens %A Camille Duveau %A Lize Hermans %A Gwendoline Nélis %E Rana Charafeddine %E Lydia Gisle %E Stefaan Demarest %E Marc Dispas %E Helena Bruggeman %K Mental health %K psychotropic drugs %K sleep %K worries %I Nélis Gwendoline %C Brussels %P 13 %8 15/03/2024 %G eng %M . %0 Report %D 2024 %T Bulletin n°4 - BELHEALTH - FR %A Sabine Drieskens %A Camille Duveau %A Lize Hermans %A Gwendoline Nélis %E Stefaan Demarest %E Rana Charafeddine %E Lydia Gisle %E Marc Dispas %E Helena Bruggeman %K inquiétudes %K psychotropes %K santé mentale %K sommeil %I Nélis Gwendoline %C Brussels %P 13 %8 15/03/2024 %G eng %M . %0 Report %D 2024 %T Bulletin n°4 - BELHEALTH - NL %A Sabine Drieskens %A Camille Duveau %A Lize Hermans %A Gwendoline Nélis %E Stefaan Demarest %E Lydia Gisle %E Rana Charafeddine %E Marc Dispas %E Helena Bruggeman %K Geestelijke gezondheid %K psychotrope medicijnen %K slaap %K zorgen %I Nélis Gwendoline %C Brussels %P 13 %8 15/03/2024 %G eng %M . %0 Report %D 2023 %T Bulletin n°3 - BELHEALTH %A Helena Bruggeman %A Gwendoline Nélis %E Lydia Gisle %E Rana Charafeddine %E Stefaan Demarest %E Marc Dispas %K Burnout %K Mental health %I Nélis Gwendoline %C Brussels %P 13 %8 26/10/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Bulletin n°3 - BELHEALTH - FR %A Gwendoline Nélis %A Helena Bruggeman %E Stefaan Demarest %E Rana Charafeddine %E Lydia Gisle %E Marc Dispas %K Burnout %K santé mentale %I Nélis Gwendoline %C Brussels %P 13 %8 26/10/2023 %G eng %0 Report %D 2023 %T Bulletin n°3 - BELHEALTH - NL %A Helena Bruggeman %A Gwendoline Nélis %E Stefaan Demarest %E Lydia Gisle %E Rana Charafeddine %E Marc Dispas %K Burn-out %K Geestelijke gezondheid %I Nélis Gwendoline %C Brussels %P 13 %8 26/10/2023 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J Emerg Infect Dis %D 2023 %T Combined Phylogeographic Analyses and Epidemiologic Contact Tracing to Characterize Atypically Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H3N1) Epidemic, Belgium, 2019. %A Steven Van Borm %A Geraldine Boseret %A Simon Dellicour %A Mieke Steensels %A Virginie Roupie %A Frank Vandenbussche %A Elisabeth Mathijs %A Aline Vilain %A Michèle Driesen %A Marc Dispas %A Andy W Delcloo %A Philippe Lemey %A Ingeborg Mertens %A Marius Gilbert %A Bénédicte Lambrecht %A Thierry van den Berg %K Animals %K Belgium %K Chickens %K Contact Tracing %K Epidemics %K Influenza in Birds %K Phylogeny %K Phylogeography %K Poultry Diseases %X

The high economic impact and zoonotic potential of avian influenza call for detailed investigations of dispersal dynamics of epidemics. We integrated phylogeographic and epidemiologic analyses to investigate the dynamics of a low pathogenicity avian influenza (H3N1) epidemic that occurred in Belgium during 2019. Virus genomes from 104 clinical samples originating from 85% of affected farms were sequenced. A spatially explicit phylogeographic analysis confirmed a dominating northeast to southwest dispersal direction and a long-distance dispersal event linked to direct live animal transportation between farms. Spatiotemporal clustering, transport, and social contacts strongly correlated with the phylogeographic pattern of the epidemic. We detected only a limited association between wind direction and direction of viral lineage dispersal. Our results highlight the multifactorial nature of avian influenza epidemics and illustrate the use of genomic analyses of virus dispersal to complement epidemiologic and environmental data, improve knowledge of avian influenza epidemiologic dynamics, and enhance control strategies.

%B Emerg Infect Dis %V 29 %8 2023 Feb %G eng %N 2 %R 10.3201/eid2902.220765 %0 Journal Article %J Emerging Infectious Diseases %D 2023 %T Combined Phylogeographic Analyses and Epidemiologic Contact Tracing to Characterize Atypically Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H3N1) Epidemic, Belgium, 2019 %A Steven Van Borm %A Geraldine Boseret %A Simon Dellicour %A Mieke Steensels %A Virginie Roupie %A Frank Vandenbussche %A Elisabeth Mathijs %A Aline Vilain %A Michèle Driesen %A Marc Dispas %A Andy W. Delcloo %A Philippe Lemey %A Ingeborg Mertens %A Marius Gilbert %A Bénédicte Lambrecht %A Thierry van den Berg %B Emerging Infectious Diseases %V 29 %8 Jan-02-2023 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.3201/eid2902.220765 %0 Government Document %D 2023 %T De overeenkomst ‘psychologische zorg’ binnen de geestelijke gezondheidszorg. Overzicht van het gebruik van terugbetaalde geestelijke gezondheidszorg en de beantwoorde en onbeantwoorde noden in België %A Clara Noirhomme %A Marc Dispas %A Pierre Smith %K Geestelijke gezondheid %K kwaliteit van zorg %K psychologische zorg %X

In januari 2024 wordt een nieuwe overeenkomst psychologische zorg ondertekend tussen het
RIZIV en de netwerken voor geestelijke gezondheidszorg. Hiermee wordt het werk voortgezet
dat in 2019 was gestart. Het belangrijkste doel van de overeenkomst is psychologische
zorg toegankelijker te maken, zowel financieel als op het vlak van de organisatie van de
zorg. Dit is dus een goed moment om de balans op te maken van de eerste jaren van uitvoering
van deze overeenkomst en van haar plaats in het landschap van de terugbetaalde
geestelijke gezondheidszorg. Daarom schetst deze studie vooreerst de stand van zaken van
de geestelijke gezondheidszorg in België, zowel in termen van behoeften (BELHEALTHenquête
van Sciensano), als in termen van zorgaanbod en het gebruik ervan (CM-analyse).
De resultaten van de BELHEALTH-enquête van februari 2023 wijzen op een hoog niveau van
onbeantwoorde psychologische noden (unmet needs) in de Belgische bevolking, vooral bij
financieel kwetsbaren, vrouwen en jongeren. Het stigma dat aan geestelijke gezondheid
kleeft en de problemen van financiële toegankelijkheid vormen nog al te vaak hinderpalen
voor de toegang tot de zorg. Een CM-analyse toont dan weer aan dat de ambulante psychiatrische
diensten verzadigd zijn en dat heel vaak psychotrope geneesmiddelen gebruikt
worden zonder enige andere vorm van opvolging.
Op basis van deze inventaris van de behoeften en van het bestaande aanbod van geestelijke
gezondheidszorg, analyseren we vervolgens de reikwijdte van de nieuwe overeenkomst psychologische
zorg en formuleren we enkele hypothesen over de evolutie van het gebruik ervan.

%B Gezondheid & Samenleving %V 7 %8 10/2023 %G eng %0 Government Document %D 2023 %T La convention « soins psychologiques » dans le paysage des soins de santé mentale. État des lieux de l’utilisation des soins de santé mentale remboursés et des besoins rencontrés et non-rencontrés en Belgique %A Clara Noirhomme %A Marc Dispas %A Pierre Smith %K qualité des soins %K santé mentale %K soins psychologiques %X

En janvier 2024, une nouvelle convention soins psychologiques sera signée entre l’INAMI et
les réseaux de santé mentale en continuité avec le travail entamé en 2019. L’objectif principal
de la convention est de rendre les soins psychologiques plus accessibles : tant du point de vue
financier que du point de vue de l’organisation des soins. Il est donc l’occasion de faire le
point sur les premières années de mise en oeuvre et sur la place de cette convention dans le
paysage des soins de santé mentale remboursés. Pour ce faire, cette étude dresse tout
d’abord un bilan de la situation en matière de santé mentale en Belgique : non seulement
en termes de besoins (enquête BELHEALTH de Sciensano), mais également en termes d’offre
de soins et de son utilisation (analyse de la MC). Les résultats de l’enquête BELHEALTH, réalisée
en février 2023, mettent notamment en avant un haut niveau de besoins psychologiques
non rencontrés dans la population belge, principalement chez les personnes en situation de
précarité financière, les femmes et les jeunes. La stigmatisation de la santé mentale et les
problèmes d’accessibilité financière sont des freins à l’accès aux soins qui restent encore trop
courants. L’analyse de la MC, quant à elle, permet d’observer la saturation de l’offre psychiatrique
ambulatoire et le fait que les médicaments psychotropes sont très souvent utilisés sans
autre forme de suivi.

%B Santé & Société %V 7 %8 10/2023 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J Preventive Veterinary Medicine %D 2020 %T Combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to determine viability of a potential Salmonella Typhimurium vaccination program in pigs in Belgium %A Mickael Cargnel %A D. Maes %A L. Peeters %A Marc Dispas %B Preventive Veterinary Medicine %V 184 %8 Jan-11-2020 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105132 %0 Journal Article %J Transbound Emerg Dis %D 2017 %T Schmallenberg Virus in Belgium: Estimation of Impact in Cattle and Sheep Herds. %A Poskin, A %A Estelle Méroc %A Isabelle Behaeghel %A Riocreux, F %A Couche, M %A Van Loo, H %A Bertels, G %A Delooz, L %A Quinet, C %A Marc Dispas %A Yves Van der Stede %K Abortion, Veterinary %K Animals %K Belgium %K Bunyaviridae Infections %K Cattle %K Cattle Diseases %K Disease Outbreaks %K Orthobunyavirus %K Sheep %K Sheep Diseases %K Stillbirth %X

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) emerged during summer 2011. SBV induced an unspecific syndrome in cattle and congenital signs (abortions, stillbirths and malformations) in domestic ruminants. To study the impact of SBV in Belgium, a phone survey was conducted upon September 2012. Hereto two groups of cattle farmers (A and B) and two groups of sheep farmers (C and D) were randomly selected. Farms from groups A (n = 53) and C (n = 42) received SBV-positive result at RT-PCR in the Belgian National Reference Laboratory (NRL). Farms from groups B (n = 29) and D (n = 44) never sent suspected samples to NRL for SBV analysis but were however presumed seropositive for SBV after the survey. Questionnaires related to reproduction parameters and clinical signs observed in newborn and adult animals were designed and addressed to farmers. As calculated on a basis of farmers' observations, 4% of calves in group A and 0.5% in group B were reported aborted, stillborn or deformed due to SBV in 2011-2012. The impact as observed by sheep farmers was substantially higher with 19% of lambs in group C and 11% in group D that were reported aborted, stillborn or deformed due to SBV in 2011-2012. Interestingly, abortions or stillbirths were not clear consequences of SBV outbreak in cattle farms, and the birth of a deformed animal was an essential condition to suspect SBV presence in cattle and sheep farms. This study contributes to a better knowledge of the impact of the SBV epidemic. The results suggest that SBV impacted Belgian herds mostly by the birth of deformed calves, stillborn lambs and deformed lambs. This work also demonstrates that the birth of a deformed calf or lamb was a trigger for the farmer to suspect the presence of SBV and send samples to NRL for further analyses.

%B Transbound Emerg Dis %V 64 %P 264-274 %8 2017 Feb %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26302467?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1111/tbed.12367 %0 Journal Article %J Prev Vet Med %D 2015 %T Evaluation of a hierarchical ascendant clustering process implemented in a veterinary syndromic surveillance system. %A Isabelle Behaeghel %A Veldhuis, Anouk %A Ren, Libo %A Estelle Méroc %A F. Koenen %A Pierre Kerkhofs %A Yves Van der Stede %A Barnouin, Jacques %A Marc Dispas %K Algorithms %K Animals %K Belgium %K Bluetongue %K Cattle %K Cattle Diseases %K Cluster Analysis %K Epidemiological Monitoring %K Goat Diseases %K Goats %K Models, Theoretical %K Sensitivity and Specificity %K Sheep %K SOFTWARE %X

Syndromic surveillance is considered as one of the surveillance components for early warning of health-related events, as it allows detection of aberrations in health indicators before laboratory confirmation. "MoSS-Emergences 2" (MoSS-E2), a tool for veterinary syndromic surveillance, aggregates groups of similar clinical observations by hierarchical ascendant classification (HAC). In the present study, this HAC clustering process was evaluated using a reference set of data that, for the purpose of this evaluation, was a priori divided and defined as Bluetongue (BTV) positive cases (PC) on the one hand and BTV negative cases (NC) on the other hand. By comparing the clustering result of MoSS-E2 with the expected outcome, the sensitivity (the ability to cluster PC together) and specificity (the ability to exclude NC from PC) of the clustering process were determined for this set of data. The stability of the classes obtained with the clustering algorithm was evaluated by comparing the MoSS-E2 generated dendrogram (applying complete linkage) with dendrograms of STATA® software applying average and single linkage methods. To assess the systems' robustness, the parameters of the distance measure were adjusted according to different scenarios and obtained outcomes were compared to the expected outcome based on the a priori known labels. Rand indexes were calculated to measure similarity between clustering outcomes. The clustering algorithm in its default settings successfully segregated the reference BTV cases from the non-BTV cases, resulting in a sensitivity of 100.0% (95% CI: 89.0-100.0) and a specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 80.0-100.0) for this set of data. The different linkage methods showed similar clustering results indicating stability of the classes (Rand indexes of respectively 0.77 for average and 0.75 for single linkage). The system proved to be robust when changing the parameters as the BTV cases remained together in meaningful clusters (Rand indexes between 0.72 and 1). The configurable MoSS-E2 system demonstrated its suitability to identify meaningful clusters of clinical syndromes.

%B Prev Vet Med %V 120 %P 141-51 %8 2015 Jun 15 %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25890820?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.03.002 %0 Journal Article %J J Antimicrob Chemother %D 2013 %T Characterization of methicillin-resistant non-Staphylococcus aureus staphylococci carriage isolates from different bovine populations. %A Vanderhaeghen, Wannes %A Vandendriessche, Stien %A Florence Crombé %A Nemeghaire, Stéphanie %A Marc Dispas %A Denis, Olivier %A Hermans, Katleen %A Haesebrouck, Freddy %A Butaye, Patrick %K Animals %K Carrier State %K Cattle %K DNA, Bacterial %K Genotype %K Methicillin Resistance %K Microbial Sensitivity Tests %K Molecular Typing %K Nasal Mucosa %K Phylogeography %K polymerase chain reaction %K Staphylococcal Infections %K staphylococcus %X

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at investigating bovine non-Staphylococcus aureus staphylococci for their role as a potential reservoir for methicillin resistance.

METHODS: Nasal swab samples were collected from 150 veal calves on 15 veal farms, 100 dairy cows on 10 dairy farms and 100 beef cows on 10 beef farms. Suspected staphylococcal isolates were investigated by PCR for the presence of the classic mecA and mecA(LGA251). Methicillin-resistant non-S. aureus staphylococci (MRNAS) were genotypically identified and were characterized by broth microdilution antimicrobial susceptibility testing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing.

RESULTS: The MRNAS (n = 101) carriage rate was estimated as 30.29% (95% CI 6.14%-74.28%) in veal calves, 13.1% (95% CI 1.28%-63.72%) in dairy cows and 24.8% (95% CI 11.97%-44.42%) in beef cows. Carriage rates were not significantly different between the three populations (P > 0.05). mecA(LGA251) was not detected. Most (n = 80) MRNAS were identified as Staphylococcus sciuri, Staphylococcus lentus or Staphylococcus fleurettii. Resistance to aminoglycosides, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin antimicrobials, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin was frequently detected. Two linezolid-resistant MRNAS from veal calves carried the multidrug-resistance gene cfr. SCCmec cassettes of type III predominated (n = 46); another 40 SCCmec cassettes harboured a class A mec complex without identifiable ccr complex; type IVa, type V and several other non-typeable cassettes were detected in low frequencies, especially in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis.

CONCLUSIONS: The SCCmec types predominating in bovine MRNAS differ from those mostly detected in livestock-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains. Yet, the detection of cfr and the high level of other antimicrobial resistances suggest a potentially important role of bovine MRNAS as a reservoir for resistance determinants other than SCCmec.

%B J Antimicrob Chemother %V 68 %P 300-7 %8 2013 Feb %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23090977?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/jac/dks403 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Vet Res %D 2012 %T Assessment of the long-term effect of vaccination on transmission of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in cattle herds hyperimmunized with glycoprotein E-deleted marker vaccine. %A Ampe, Bart %A Duchateau, Luc %A Speybroeck, Niko %A Berkvens, Dirk %A Dupont, Alain %A Pierre Kerkhofs %A Thiry, Etienne %A Marc Dispas %K Animals %K Antibodies, Viral %K Cattle %K Female %K Herpesvirus 1, Bovine %K Immunization, Secondary %K Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis %K Male %K Risk Factors %K Time Factors %K Vaccines, Inactivated %K Viral Proteins %K Viral Vaccines %X

OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term effects and risk factors for the efficacy of hyperimmunization protocols against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) during a longitudinal field study of dairy and dairy-beef mixed farms.

ANIMALS: Approximately 7,700 cows from 72 farms.

PROCEDURES: Farms were assigned to 3 treatment groups (hyperimmunization groups [HIGs] 1 and 2, which were hyperimmunized with glycoprotein E [gE]-deleted marker vaccines, and a nonintervention group [NIG]). Cattle in HIG 1 were initially vaccinated with an attenuated vaccine, whereas cattle in HIG 2 were initially vaccinated with an inactivated-virus vaccine. Cattle in both HIGs received booster inoculations with inactivated-virus vaccines at 6-month intervals. The risk for gE seroconversion was compared among experimental groups via a shared frailty model with a piecewise constant baseline risk to correct for seasonal and secular effects.

RESULTS: Risk for gE seroconversion significantly decreased over time for the HIGs, compared with the NIG. Seasonal changes in the risk of gE seroconversion were detected, with a higher risk during winter periods, compared with grazing periods. No significant difference was detected between HIGs 1 and 2. The only significant risk factor was the number of buildings for cattle on a farm; the higher the number of buildings, the lower the risk for gE seroconversion. Prevalence of IBR decreased over time in both HIGs but remained constant or increased in the NIG.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hyperimmunization via repeated administration of attenuated and inactivated-virus gE-deleted marker vaccines as well as inactivated-virus vaccines may provide a method for control of IBR.

%B Am J Vet Res %V 73 %P 1787-93 %8 2012 Nov %G eng %N 11 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23106465?dopt=Abstract %R 10.2460/ajvr.73.11.1787 %0 Journal Article %J Microb Drug Resist %D 2012 %T Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among pigs in Belgium. %A Florence Crombé %A Willems, Glenda %A Marc Dispas %A Hallin, Marie %A Denis, Olivier %A Suetens, Carl %A Gordts, Bart %A Struelens, Marc %A Butaye, Patrick %K Animal Husbandry %K Animals %K Anti-Bacterial Agents %K Bacterial Typing Techniques %K Belgium %K Drug Resistance, Bacterial %K Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus %K Microbial Sensitivity Tests %K prevalence %K Staphylococcal Infections %K Swine %K Swine Diseases %X

The prevalence, distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Belgian pig farms has been investigated. To that end, nasal samples were collected from 1,500 pigs on 50 farms randomly selected over Belgium. Both closed (breeding or farrow-to-finish) and open (fattening) farms were included. Within closed farms different age groups were investigated. A total number of 663 (44%) pigs belonging to 34 (68%) farms carried MRSA. According to their management practice, MRSA was detected on 94% of the open farms and 56% of the closed farms. Focusing on the in-herd prevalence among fattening pigs for both management systems, a significantly higher rate was found in open farms (72%) compared to closed farms (26%). Within the closed farms, piglets (41%) showed a higher MRSA prevalence than sows (26%) and fattening pigs (26%). All strains tested were ST398 and showed mainly spa-type t011, as commonly found on pig herds in Europe. Less dominating spa-types were t034, t567, and t2970. The MRSA strains carried two SCCmec-types, type IVa or V. All 643 MRSA strains were resistant to tetracycline and additional resistances to trimethoprim (97%), lincosamides (73%), macrolides (56%), aminoglycosides (48%), and fluoroquinolones (32%) were found. Multiresistance (defined as resistance to four or more non-β-lactam antimicrobial classes) was found in 63% of the tested strains. In conclusion, a high prevalence of MRSA was found in Belgian pig farms, with the highest prevalence in open farms. In accordance with other European countries, age-related and management-related differences in MRSA prevalence were observed that should be considered when control strategies are outlined.

%B Microb Drug Resist %V 18 %P 125-31 %8 2012 Apr %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22088147?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1089/mdr.2011.0138 %0 Journal Article %J Vet Microbiol %D 2012 %T Species and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) diversity among methicillin-resistant non-Staphylococcus aureus staphylococci isolated from pigs. %A Vanderhaeghen, Wannes %A Vandendriessche, Stien %A Florence Crombé %A Marc Dispas %A Denis, Olivier %A Hermans, Katleen %A Haesebrouck, Freddy %A Butaye, Patrick %K Animals %K Bacterial Proteins %K Belgium %K Chromosomes, Bacterial %K Methicillin Resistance %K Penicillin-Binding Proteins %K polymerase chain reaction %K staphylococcus %K Staphylococcus aureus %K Sus scrofa %X

While methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 is known to be widespread in pig farms, few studies have investigated the species diversity and SCCmec types of methicillin-resistant non-S. aureus staphylococci (MRNAS) residing in the nose of pigs. We examined nasal swab samples of 200 pigs originating from 10 Belgian pig farms previously found positive for MRSA ST398. Suspected staphylococcal isolates were subjected to a 16S rRNA-mecA-nuc PCR. Confirmed MRNAS were genotypically identified to the species level and investigated with a SCCmec typing PCR. MRNAS (n=72) were detected on all 10 farms and were carried by 29.5% of the pigs. Seven MRNAS species were found: Staphylococcus epidermidis (38.9%), Staphylococcus sciuri (18.1%), Staphylococcus pasteuri (18.1%), Staphylococcus rostri (12.5%), Staphylococcus warneri (8.3%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (2.7%) and Staphylococcus hominis (1.4%). SCCmec cassettes were of type IVa (29.2%), type IVc (25%), type III (22.2%), type V (5.6%) or could not be assigned to any of the known types (NT types) (18.1%). Five distinct NT types were found. The predominance of methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE) in our samples is remarkable, as MRSE is mainly associated with humans. The finding of three different SCCmec elements (IVa, V, NT type 1) in MRNAS that also prevail or predominate in MRSA ST398 shows that MRNAS might be an important SCCmec reservoir for MRSA in pigs. Yet, the occurrence of multiple other SCCmec types illustrates that further studies are required to understand the presence and spread of SCCmec in methicillin-resistant staphylococci from animals.

%B Vet Microbiol %V 158 %P 123-8 %8 2012 Jul 06 %G eng %N 1-2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22333287?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.01.020 %0 Journal Article %J Emerg Infect Dis %D 2009 %T Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 in swine farm personnel, Belgium. %A Denis, Olivier %A Suetens, Carl %A Hallin, Marie %A Boudewijn Catry %A Ramboer, Ilse %A Marc Dispas %A Willems, Glenda %A Gordts, Bart %A Butaye, Patrick %A Struelens, Marc J %K Agriculture %K Animals %K Belgium %K Clothing %K Humans %K Methicillin Resistance %K Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus %K Risk Factors %K Skin Diseases, Bacterial %K Staphylococcal Infections %K Swine %X

We assessed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in persons on 49 swine farms in Belgium. Surveys showed that 48 (37.8%) persons carried MRSA ST398 and 1 (0.8%) had concurrent skin infection. Risk factors for carriage were MRSA carriage by pigs, regular contact with pigs and companion animals, and use of protective clothing.

%B Emerg Infect Dis %V 15 %P 1098-101 %8 2009 Jul %G eng %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19624929?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3201/eid1507.080652 %0 Journal Article %J Vaccine %D 2007 %T Delivery of DNA vaccines by agarose hydrogel implants facilitates genetic immunization in cattle. %A Toussaint, J F %A Dubois, A %A Marc Dispas %A Paquet, D %A Letellier, C %A Pierre Kerkhofs %K Animals %K Cattle %K Cattle Diseases %K Delayed-Action Preparations %K Diffusion %K Drug Implants %K Excipients %K Feces %K Herpesvirus 1, Bovine %K Hydrogels %K Immunization %K Immunization Schedule %K Inflammation %K Neutralization Tests %K Osmotic Pressure %K Plasmids %K Sepharose %K Vaccination %K Vaccines, DNA %K Viral Vaccines %X

The present study demonstrates the interest of two slow-release systems as vaccination tools in cattle. Two experiments show that a first intradermal administration of one DNA vaccine dose combined with the slow-release of a second dose conduct to a priming of the bovine herpesvirus 1-specific immune response similar to the one generated by two discrete administrations 4 weeks apart. The first experiment demonstrates the efficacy of the slow-release system with well-characterized Alzet osmotic pumps, whereas the second experiment extends the same concept with innovative agarose hydrogel implants. These latter implants are cheaper and more convenient than the osmotic pumps or repeated intradermal administrations since they contribute to an efficient priming of the immune response in a single manipulation of the animals.

%B Vaccine %V 25 %P 1167-74 %8 2007 Jan 26 %G eng %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17084488?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.10.021 %0 Journal Article %J Vet Res %D 2005 %T Genetic immunisation of cattle against bovine herpesvirus 1: glycoprotein gD confers higher protection than glycoprotein gC or tegument protein VP8. %A Toussaint, Jean-François %A Coen, Laurent %A Letellier, Carine %A Marc Dispas %A Gillet, Laurent %A Vanderplasschen, Alain %A Pierre Kerkhofs %K Animals %K Antibodies, Viral %K Capsid Proteins %K Cattle %K Cell Line %K Glycoproteins %K Herpesvirus 1, Bovine %K Herpesvirus Vaccines %K Time Factors %K Vaccines, DNA %K Viral Envelope Proteins %X

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) has frequently been used as a model for testing parameters affecting DNA immunisation in large animals like cattle. However, the selection of target antigens has been poorly studied, and most of the experiments have been conducted in mice. In the present study, we demonstrated in cattle that a DNA vaccine encoding BoHV-1 glycoprotein gD induces higher neutralising antibody titres than vaccines encoding BoHV-1 gC. Additionally, we show that a DNA vaccine encoding a secreted form of gD induces a higher immune response than a vaccine encoding full-length gD. However, the enhanced immunogenicity associated with the secretion of gD could not be extended to the glycoprotein gC. The current study also describes for the first time the development and the evaluation of a DNA vaccine encoding the major tegument protein VP8. This construct, which is the first BoHV-1 plasmid vaccine candidate that is not directed against a surface glycoprotein, induced a high BoHV-1 specific cellular immunity but no humoral immune response. The calves vaccinated with the constructs encoding full-length and truncated gD showed a non-significant tenfold reduction of virus excretion after challenge. Those calves also excreted virus for significantly (p < 0.05) shorter periods (1.5 days) than the non-vaccinated controls. The other constructs encoding gC and VP8 antigens induced no virological protection as compared to controls. Altogether the DNA vaccines induced weaker immunity and protection than conventional marker vaccines tested previously, confirming the difficulty to develop efficient DNA vaccines in large species.

%B Vet Res %V 36 %P 529-44 %8 2005 Jul-Aug %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15955279?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1051/vetres:2005015 %0 Journal Article %J Vaccine %D 2005 %T Prime-boost strategies combining DNA and inactivated vaccines confer high immunity and protection in cattle against bovine herpesvirus-1. %A Toussaint, J F %A Letellier, C %A Paquet, D %A Marc Dispas %A Pierre Kerkhofs %K Animals %K Antibodies, Viral %K Cattle %K Glycoproteins %K Herpesviridae Infections %K Herpesvirus 1, Bovine %K Herpesvirus Vaccines %K Immunization, Secondary %K Time Factors %K Vaccines, DNA %K Vaccines, Inactivated %X

DNA vaccines have frequently been associated with poor efficacy in large animals. In the present study, one administration of an inactivated marker vaccine to cattle considerably boosted both humoral and cellular arms of the immune response primed with Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) DNA vaccines encoding glycoprotein D (gD) or gC+gD. Calves vaccinated according to the DNA prime-inactivated boost also showed significantly enhanced virological protection as compared to controls. The 4-logarithms reduction of virus shedding observed in primed-boosted animals was comparable to the one previously reported in calves immunized twice with marker vaccines. Intradermal immunization of cattle with DNA vaccines promoted a Th2-biased immune response but also primed a cellular component that was further boosted by the inactivated vaccine. Individual IgG2 titers of vaccinated calves were significantly correlated to IFN-gamma production. The immunization protocol described in the present study demonstrates the complementarity between DNA and conventional marker vaccines.

%B Vaccine %V 23 %P 5073-81 %8 2005 Oct 17 %G eng %N 43 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16024138?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.06.006 %0 Journal Article %J Vet Rec %D 2003 %T Isolation of a glycoprotein E-deleted bovine herpesvirus type 1 strain in the field. %A Marc Dispas %A Schynts, F %A Lemaire, M %A Letellier, C %A Vanopdenbosch, E %A Thiry, E %A Pierre Kerkhofs %K Animals %K Cattle %K Cattle Diseases %K Gene Deletion %K Genotype %K Herpesviridae Infections %K Herpesvirus 1, Bovine %K Phenotype %K Viral Envelope Proteins %K Viral Proteins %K Viral Vaccines %K Virus Shedding %X

During a field trial to evaluate the efficacy of repeated vaccinations with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) marker vaccines, a glycoprotein E (gE)-negative BHV-1 strain was isolated from the nasal secretions of two cows, eight months after vaccination with a gE-negative live-attenuated vaccine, initially given intranasally, then intramuscularly. The strain isolated was characterised using immunofluorescence, restriction analysis and PCR. All the techniques used identified the isolated virus as a gE-negative BHV-1 phenotypically and genotypically identical to the Za strain used as a control.

%B Vet Rec %V 153 %P 209-12 %8 2003 Aug 16 %G eng %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12956298?dopt=Abstract %0 Journal Article %J Prev Vet Med %D 2000 %T Prevalence of bovine herpesvirus-1 in the Belgian cattle population. %A Boelaert, F %A Biront, P %A Soumare, B %A Marc Dispas %A Vanopdenbosch, E %A Vermeersch, J P %A Raskin, A %A Dufey, J %A Berkvens, D %A Pierre Kerkhofs %K Animals %K Antibodies, Viral %K Belgium %K Cattle %K Herpesviridae Infections %K Herpesvirus 1, Bovine %K Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis %K Random Allocation %K Seroepidemiologic Studies %K Vaccination %X

The national bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) seroprevalence (apparent prevalence) in the Belgian cattle population was determined by a serological survey that was conducted from December 1997 to March 1998. In a random sample of herds (N=556), all cattle (N=28478) were tested for the presence of antibodies to glycoprotein B of BHV-1. No differentiation could be made between vaccinated and infected animals, because the exclusive use of marker vaccines was imposed by law only in 1997 by the Belgian Veterinary Authorities. Twenty-one percent of the farmers vaccinated continuously against BHV-1. In the unvaccinated group, the overall herd, individual-animal and median within-herd seroprevalences were estimated to be 67% (95% confidence interval (CI)=62-72), 35.9% (95% CI=35.0-36.8) and 33% (quartiles=14-62), respectively. Assuming a test sensitivity and specificity of 99 and 99.7%, respectively, the true herd, individual-animal and median within-herd prevalence for the unvaccinated group of herds were estimated to be 65, 36 and 34%, respectively. The true herd prevalence for dairy, mixed and beef herds were respectively, 84, 89 and 53%; the true individual-animal prevalence for those types of herds were, respectively, 35, 43 and 31%; whereas, the true median within-herd prevalences were 36, 29 and 38%.

%B Prev Vet Med %V 45 %P 285-95 %8 2000 Jun 12 %G eng %N 3-4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10821966?dopt=Abstract %0 Report %D 0 %T Bulletin n° 2 - BELHEALTH - EN %A Gwendoline Nélis %A Helena Bruggeman %A Stefaan Demarest %A Lydia Gisle %A Rana Charafeddine %A Finaba Berete %A Elise Braekman %A Marc Dispas %A Sabine Drieskens %A Lize Hermans %A Pierre Smith %A Johan Van der Heyden %G eng