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25/04/2023

Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife

Laboratory Director: Elodie Monchatre-Leroy

Deputy Director: Franck Boué

Address: Bâtiment H - Technopôle Agricole et Vétérinaire – Domaine de Pixérécourt - CS 40009 - 54220 MALZEVILLE, France

Email: contact.lrfsn@anses.fr

Team: 40 people, spread out across two units and an experimental station

Activités Recherche

Research activities of the Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife

Boîte de Petri

Reference activities of the Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife

Surveillance

Surveillance activities of the Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife

Publications

Publications of the Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife

The laboratory's missions

The Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife studies pathogens circulating in wildlife, in particular zoonotic ones (able to be transmitted from animals to humans), with an approach that focuses on selected pathogens or animal species. This vast topic is studied according to three strands: surveillance, study of eco-epidemiology, and prevention and control. These strands feed into each other, and some projects may be at the intersection of several strands. 

A significant part of the laboratory's work focuses on animal rabies. At the national level, the objective is to maintain France's rabies-free status for non-flying mammals (such as dogs and foxes) and to monitor bats for lyssaviruses, a group of viruses that includes rabies. At the international level, the laboratory provides its expertise and takes part in rabies elimination programmes around the world.

It also specialises in the study of other zoonotic agents circulating in wildlife, at the interface with humans, and domestic and farm animals. In particular, it works on parasites of the genus Echinococcus sp. responsible for cystic echinococcosis or hydatid disease; on the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis responsible for bovine tuberculosis; and on tick-borne encephalitis virus, orthohantaviruses and coronaviruses. Its tasks on these pathogens include surveillance, research and/or reference activities.

To know more about the Laboratory

>> See the leaflet (PDF)

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The laboratory's units 

The laboratory's scientific activities are shared between two units, the Lyssavirus Unit and the Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology of Wildlife Unit, as well as with an experimental station devoted to wild carnivores:

Experimental station

The experimental station supports the laboratory units but also carries out its own projects. It capitalises on its expertise and technical strengths on wild carnivores and rodents to explore the role of wildlife in zoonoses and the transmission of pathogens to domestic animals. In particular, it works on the mechanisms of transmission, the crossing of the species barrier and the immune response of wild animal species.

Partnerships

The laboratory is involved in multiple partnerships that change according to the topics. Cooperation ranges from regional to international.

Regional partners

National partners

European and international partners