A study of traditional animal health care practices in Passoré province of Burkina Faso led to the characterization of 24 diseases, together with their local names, causes of their appearance, and their treatment. Most (95%) of the medicinal recipes used to treat affected animals were based on plants.

This study was designed to evaluate the association of potential zoonotic gastroenteritis in children, and specifically giardiasis, salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis, with environmental risk factors in rural areas of Quebec. Notified cases of gastroenteritis in children of 0-4 years of age reported in the period of 1999 through 2006 from municipalities in southern Quebec with <100,000 inhabitants were investigated. Negative binomial regression models accounting for overdispersion and adjusted for clustering were used to estimate relative risks (RR) associated with livestock densities and drinking water quality. Analyses revealed that, during this period, 2500 cases of gastroenteritis were reported in children of 0-4 years, including 819 cases of giardiasis, 690 of salmonellosis and 852 of campylobacteriosis. The incidence rate associated with all potential zoonotic agents reported was 163 cases/100,000 children-years and this was statistically associated with cattle density: RR Quartile 4/Quartile 1 (Q4/Q1) = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.43-2.58. When estimated specifically for each pathogen, incidence rates of giardiasis (RR Q4/Q1 = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.11-2.87), salmonellosis (RR Q4/Q1 = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.15-2.33) and campylobacteriosis (RR Q4/Q1 = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.60-3.68) were also associated with cattle density, with a monotonic increase of RR with increasing animal density. Giardiasis incidence was also positively associated with a poor drinking water quality, although no statistically significant association was found. Our results suggest that, in rural Quebec, bacterial and parasitic enteric infections in young children may be zoonoses related to environmental risk factors and especially cattle production.

Background Increasingly, there has been recognition that siloed approaches focusing mainly on human health are ineffective for global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) containment efforts. The inherent complexities of AMR containment warrant a coordinated multisectoral approach. However, how to institutionalize a country’s multisectoral coordination across sectors and between departments used to working in silos is an ongoing challenge. This paper describes the technical approach used by a donor-funded program to strengthen multisectoral coordination on AMR in 11 countries as part of their efforts to advance the objectives of the Global Health Security Agenda and discusses some of the challenges and lessons learned. Methods The program conducted a rapid situational analysis of the Global Health Security Agenda and AMR landscape in each country and worked with the governments to identify the gaps, priorities, and potential activities in multisectoral coordination on AMR. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) Joint External Evaluation tool and the WHO Benchmarks for International Health Regulations (2005) Capacities as principal guidance, we worked with countries to achieve key milestones in enhancing effective multisectoral coordination on AMR. Results The program’s interventions led to the achievement of key benchmarks recommended actions, including the finalization of national action plans on AMR and tools to guide their implementation; strengthening the leadership, governance, and oversight capabilities of multisectoral governance structures; establishing and improving the functions of technical working groups on infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship; and coordinating AMR activities within and across sectors. Conclusion A lot of learning still needs to be done to identify best practices for building mutual trust and adequately balancing the priorities of individual ministries with cross-cutting issues. Nevertheless, this paper provides some practical ideas for countries and implementing partners seeking to improve multisectoral coordination on AMR. It also demonstrates that the WHO benchmark actions, although not intended as an exhaustive list of recommendations, provide adequate guidance for increasing countries’ capacity for effective multisectoral coordination on AMR in a standardized manner.

Cattle of the Sahel Zebu peuhl breed from traditionally managed livestock herds in a representative area of north soudanese savana (with 400-900 mm of rainfall/year from May to September) located in the central land of Burkina Faso, were monitored over 12 months for tick and blood parasite. Two species of ticks were found: Amblyomma variegatum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes. H. m. rufipes was found on cattle all year round with a highest infestation rate in June characterized by means of 10 +/- 4.72 male and 3 +/- 2.43 female ticks per animal. A variegatum appeared on cattle at the beginning of the rainy season in May and quickly reached its highest infestation rate in June with means of 36 +/- 3.67 male and 16 +/- 1.54 female ticks per animal. Thereafter, the infestation rate progressively decreased to reach almost zero in October at the end of the rainy season. There were three preferred body sites for attachment: the axilla area, the area of the scrotum or the udder and the teats depending on the sex of the animal, and the anal area. No blood parasites were found in blood smears. However, a higher prevalence rate of dermatophilosis was noticed on highly infested animals during the rainy season as well as wounds on teats leading to decreased milk production and feeding of calves. Effort should be done to fight against ticks of Amblyomma genus at the period of the year where they are most numerous. Manual removal of ticks could be practiced, making certain to completely detach all mouthparts of the ticks. Complete removal of ticks will avoid wounds and secondary bacterial infections as well as myiasis. During the period of highest prevalence, the rainy season, acaricides could be applied on animal either by dipping the animals or spraying on the predilection sites of the ticks which are the axilla, the scrotum or the udder and the teats, depending on the gender of the animal, and around the anus.