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Reference activities

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ANSES’s services

To carry out its research and reference missions, ANSES relies on a network of nine laboratories on 16 sites across the country, in close contact with France’s agricultural and food production centres.

These laboratories undertake work in three major areas, covering animal health and welfare, chemical and microbiological food safety, and plant health. They have achieved international recognition in their various fields of expertise, including epidemiology, microbiology, antimicrobial resistance and physico-chemical contaminants and toxins.

The laboratories play a vital role in qualifying health hazards through their expert appraisals, epidemiological surveillance, alerts and technical and scientific support, and by coordinating networks of laboratories conducting field analyses, through which they collect data. In particular, the 600 scientists and technicians from ANSES laboratories are engaged in research to identify major pathogens in animal health and plant health and to develop approaches for identifying biological, physical and chemical contaminants in food and water.

These reference and research activities position ANSES at the heart of institutional networks focused on animal health and welfare, plant health and food safety. The Agency entertains direct links with the field, which are essential for carrying out surveillance and issuing alerts, enabling it to respond more rapidly during the resurgence or emergence of new pathogens and contaminants in France.

>> See ANSES’s scientific priorities for 2019–2022 to guide its research and reference activities (PDF, in French)

Laboratory news

Transmission of pathogens between pollinators
Une abeille
03/06/2024

Transmission of pathogens between pollinators

A study carried out in eight European countries confirms that pathogens can be transmitted from one species of pollinating insect to another. The health of wild pollinators can therefore be affected when a contaminated colony of honeybees is established nearby. Unlike in previous studies, the results did not show any significant effect of the type of crop grown in bee foraging areas.
Discovery of triple resistance to antiparasitic drugs in equines
Des chevaux dasn un pré
27/05/2024

Discovery of triple resistance to antiparasitic drugs in equines

For the first time in France, a single farm has been found infested with digestive parasites known as cyathostomins, or small strongyles, resistant to all three classes of antiparasitic drugs authorised for equines. They were discovered as part of a study carried out by an ANSES team on a racehorse stud farm.
Towards the integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance
Surv1health
22/05/2024

Towards the integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major health problem for both humans and animals. In France, the use of antibiotics and the distribution of resistant bacteria are covered by several surveillance schemes that do not consistently or sufficiently collaborate with one another. The Surv1Health project, which has just been completed, aimed to identify ways of breaking down silos in the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and making it more useful as part of the ‘One Health’ approach.
The main Mycoplasma bovis subtype in France actually conceals two lineages
Mycoplasma bovis
11/03/2024

The main Mycoplasma bovis subtype in France actually conceals two lineages

A study of Mycoplasma bovis , a bacterium that is pathogenic for cattle, has revealed the presence of two lineages in France, whereas the population of bacteria of the main circulating subtype was previously thought to be homogeneous. This discovery will help improve surveillance of this bacterium.
Improving identification of a fungal pathogen of citrus to prevent it from arriving in Europe
Des citrons contaminés par la maladie des taches noires des agrumes
23/01/2024
News

Improving identification of a fungal pathogen of citrus to prevent it from arriving in Europe

The Mycology Unit of ANSES's Plant Health Laboratory has developed a PCR test to distinguish the fungus responsible for citrus black spot from that of a recently discovered related species. This test will improve the ability to detect this pathogenic fungus, thus preventing it from being introduced into Europe.