Patterns of disease

Readings

• Thrusfield M (2005) Veterinary Epidemiology. Blackwell Science, London. Chapter 5 (determinants of disease).
• Thrusfield M (2005) Veterinary Epidemiology. Blackwell Science, London. Chapter 6 (transmission and maintenance of infection).
• Thrusfield M (2005) Veterinary Epidemiology. Blackwell Science, London. Chapter 7 (ecology of disease).
• Thrusfield M (2005) Veterinary Epidemiology. Blackwell Science, London. Chapter 8 (patterns of disease).
• Thrusfield M (2005) Veterinary Epidemiology. Blackwell Science, London. pp 67 - 74 (disease mapping).

Presentations

1. Methods of disease transmission and maintenance of infectious diseases with examples.
2. Host factors and disease occurrence with examples.
3. Use of geographical information systems with examples of their application to animal health.
4. Patterns of disease in time.

Exercises

1. Discuss and analyse the factors that have contributed to the development of emerging diseases and their importance eg SARS, avian influenza, Nipah, West Nile virus or another topical disease.

2. Discuss the Reed-Frost model - application, advantages and limitations.

Example examination questions

1. Select a topical disease for three (3) of the four options below. Explain how features of the epidemiology of each disease you have selected are relevant to its control, management or eradication. Briefly describe the essential features and application of path models for causation (2005 written).

   • A food-borne zoonotic disease of wildlife or companion animals.
   • A parasitic disease of wildlife or companion animals.
   • A congenital disease of animals.
   • A viral disease of production animals.

2. Briefly describe the essential features and application of:

   • Time series analysis.
   • Geographic information systems (2003 written).

3. Briefly describe the essential features and application of Reed-Frost models (2002 written).

4. Write brief notes to demonstrate your understanding of herd or population immunity.

5. Using examples, write brief notes on methods of disease transmission (2002 written).

6. Write brief notes to demonstrate your understanding of temporal patterns of disease (2001 written).

Additional reading

• Sergeant E et al. (2004) Epidemiological Problem Solving, Ausvet Series in Epidemiological Skills for Animal Health Professionals, pp 25 - 29.
• Epidemiological Skills in Animal Health, PGFVS Proceedings 143. pp 161 - 175 (ecology of disease), pp 239 - 254 (patterns of disease).
• McGinn et al. (1996) Geographic information systems for animal health management and disease control. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 11: 1917 - 1921.
• Sanson R et al. (1991) Geographic information systems: their application in animal disease control. Revue Scientifique Et Technique Office International Des Epizooties 10: 19 - 195.
• Jackson R et al. (2005) Epidemiology of the 2003 - 2005 Epidemic of Avian Influenza H5N1 in Asia. In: Proceedings of the Food Safety & Biosecurity and Epidemiology Branches of the NZVA, pp 87 - 99.
• Daszak P et al. (2000) Emerging Infectious Diseases of Wildlife - Threats to Biodiversity and Human Health. Science 287: 443 - 449.
• Morse S (1995) Factors in the Emergence of Infectious Diseases. Emerging Infectious Diseases 1: 7 - 15.
• Annonymous (1995) Global Aspects of Emerging and Potential Zoonosis: a WHO perspective. Emerging Infectious Diseases 3: 223 - 228.