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Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease endemic in several tropical and subtropical countries. However, in the summer of 2013, an unexpected outbreak of urogenital schistosomiasis occurred in Corsica, with more than 120 local people or tourists infected. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the epidemiology of urogenital schistosomiasis in Corsica, aiming to elucidate the origin of the outbreak. We did parasitological and malacological surveys at nine potential sites of infection. With the snails found, we carried out snail–parasite compatibility experiments by exposing snails to schistosome larvae recovered from the urine of a locally infected Corsican patient. Genetic analysis of both mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer) DNA data from the Schistosoma eggs or miracidia recovered from the infected patients was conducted to elucidate the epidemiology of this outbreak. We identified two main infection foci along the Cavu River, with many Bulinus truncatus snails found in both locations. Of the 3544 snails recovered across all sites, none were naturally infected, but laboratory-based experimental infections confirmed their compatibility with the schistosomes isolated from patients. Molecular characterisation of 73 eggs or miracidia isolated from 12 patients showed infection with Schistosoma haematobium, S haematobium–Schistosoma bovis hybrids, and S bovis. Further sequence data analysis also showed that the Corsican schistosomes were closely related to those from Senegal in west Africa. The freshwater swimming pools of the Cavu River harbour many B truncatus snails, which are capable of transmitting S haematobium-group schistosomes. Our molecular data suggest that the parasites were imported into Corsica by individuals infected in west Africa, specifically Senegal. Hybridisation between S haematobium and the cattle schistosome S bovis had a putative role in this outbreak, showing how easily and rapidly urogenital schistosomiasis can be introduced and spread into novel areas where Bulinus snails are endemic, and how hybridisation could increase the colonisation potential of schistosomes. Furthermore our results show the potential risk of schistosomiasis outbreaks in other European areas, warranting close monitoring and surveillance of all potential transmission foci. WHO, ANSES, RICET, and the Ministry of Health and Consumption.

Impregnation of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) with 10% w/w aqueous solution of different additives made from the reaction of glycerol or polyglycerol with glycidyl methacrylate or maleic anhydride followed by thermal modification at 150, 200 or 220 degrees C under inert conditions was investigated to evaluate potential synergies between chemical and thermal treatments. Treated and untreated wood were analysed to evaluate mass changes and bulking values after treatments, resistance of treatment to leaching, wettability, anti-swelling efficiency, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), decay resistance against Coriolus versicolor and termite resistance against Reticulitermes flavipes. Results revealed that synergic effects between a combination of light chemical modification and thermal treatments can be observed at higher temperature treatments (200 and 220 degrees C), improving wood dimensional stability (approximately 80%), decay, and termite resistance properties. However, MOE and MOR values decreased by approximately 30% and 60%, respectively. Treated samples resulting from the combination of chemical and thermal treatment performed at 220 degrees C present improved durability against the termites R. flavipes.

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