Exemples d’émergences récentes des maladies vectorielles en Europe : la fièvre catarrhale ovine et Schmallenberg. Cas de la peste équine pour la filière équine

Abstract

Examples of recent emergences of arthropod-borne diseases in europe : bluetongue and Schmallenberg. case of african horse sickness for the equine industry. Up to 1998, Bluetongue (BT) was regarded as an exotic disease in Europe. In 2006 and 2007, its unexpected spread in Northern Europe has underlined the emergence potential of vector-borne diseases. Impressively, since 2008, nine BT virus serotypes (out of 26 currently described) have been reported in Europe. African Horse Sickness (AHS) is an arthropod-borne disease which only affects the Equidae but which shares many similarities with BT : similar endemic zones in Africa, structure, transmission routes, preventive and control methods, identical or comparable insect vectors (Culicoides). Moreover, at the end of 2011, a novel orthobunyavirus (the Schmallenberg virus – or SBV –), also transmitted by Culicoides midges, was identified in Germany and subsequently spread to all Europe. This paper will describe the analogies between BT, SBV disease and AHS and considering the experience gained through BT and SBV epizootics in Europe, will underline the prevention methods, the strengths and weaknesses of the European systems in facing the probable reemergence of AHS in Europe or France.