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Sparkes J, Körtner G, Ballard G, Fleming PJ. Spatial and temporal activity patterns of owned, free-roaming dogs in coastal eastern Australia. Prev Vet Med 2022; 204:105641. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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2
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Rupprecht CE, Mani RS, Mshelbwala PP, Recuenco SE, Ward MP. Rabies in the Tropics. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2022; 9:28-39. [PMID: 35371908 PMCID: PMC8960221 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-022-00257-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Rabies is an ancient yet still neglected tropical disease (NTD). This review focuses upon highlights of recent research and peer-reviewed communications on the underestimated tropical burden of disease and its management due to the complicated dynamics of virulent viral species, diverse mammalian reservoirs, and tens of millions of exposed humans and animals – and how laboratory-based surveillance at each level informs upon pathogen spread and risks of transmission, for targeted prevention and control. Recent Findings While both human and rabies animal cases in enzootic areas over the past 5 years were reported to PAHO/WHO and OIE by member countries, still there is a huge gap between these “official” data and the need for enhanced surveillance efforts to meet global program goals. Summary A review of the complex aspects of rabies perpetuation in human, domestic animal, and wildlife communities, coupled with a high fatality rate despite the existence of efficacious biologics (but no therapeutics), warrants the need for a One Health approach toward detection via improved laboratory-based surveillance, with focal management at the viral source. More effective methods to prevent the spread of rabies from enzootic to free zones are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Rupprecht
- LYSSA LLC, Atlanta, GA USA
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL USA
| | - Reeta S. Mani
- Department of Neurovirology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research in Rabies, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka India
| | - Philip P. Mshelbwala
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Sergio E. Recuenco
- Facultad de Medicina San Fernando, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Michael P. Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW Australia
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3
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Analyses of Contact Networks of Community Dogs on a University Campus in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8120299. [PMID: 34941826 PMCID: PMC8704209 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8120299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-roaming dogs have been identified as an important reservoir of rabies in many countries including Thailand. There is a need for novel insights to improve current rabies control strategies in these countries. Network analysis is commonly used to study the interactions between individuals or organizations and has been applied in preventive veterinary medicine. However, contact networks of domestic free-roaming dogs are mostly unexplored. The objective of this study was to explore the contact network of free-roaming dogs residing on a university campus. Three one-mode networks were created using co-appearances of dogs as edges. A two-mode network was created by associating the dog with the pre-defined area it was seen in. The average number of contacts a dog had was 6.74. The normalized degree for the weekend network was significantly higher compared to the weekday network. All one-mode networks displayed small-world network characteristics. Most dogs were observed in only one area. The average number of dogs which shared an area was 8.67. In this study, we demonstrated the potential of observational methods to create networks of contacts. The network information acquired can be further used in network modeling and designing targeted disease control programs.
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Warembourg C, Fournié G, Abakar MF, Alvarez D, Berger-González M, Odoch T, Wera E, Alobo G, Carvallo ETL, Bal VD, López Hernandez AL, Madaye E, Maximiano Sousa F, Naminou A, Roquel P, Hartnack S, Zinsstag J, Dürr S. Predictors of free-roaming domestic dogs' contact network centrality and their relevance for rabies control. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12898. [PMID: 34145344 PMCID: PMC8213792 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92308-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Free roaming domestic dogs (FRDD) are the main vectors for rabies transmission to humans worldwide. To eradicate rabies from a dog population, current recommendations focus on random vaccination with at least 70% coverage. Studies suggest that targeting high-risk subpopulations could reduce the required vaccination coverage, and increase the likelihood of success of elimination campaigns. The centrality of a dog in a contact network can be used as a measure of its potential contribution to disease transmission. Our objectives were to investigate social networks of FRDD in eleven study sites in Chad, Guatemala, Indonesia and Uganda, and to identify characteristics of dogs, and their owners, associated with their centrality in the networks. In all study sites, networks had small-world properties and right-skewed degree distributions, suggesting that vaccinating highly connected dogs would be more effective than random vaccination. Dogs were more connected in rural than urban settings, and the likelihood of contacts was negatively correlated with the distance between dogs' households. While heterogeneity in dog's connectedness was observed in all networks, factors predicting centrality and likelihood of contacts varied across networks and countries. We therefore hypothesize that the investigated dog and owner characteristics resulted in different contact patterns depending on the social, cultural and economic context. We suggest to invest into understanding of the sociocultural structures impacting dog ownership and thus driving dog ecology, a requirement to assess the potential of targeted vaccination in dog populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Warembourg
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | | | | | - Danilo Alvarez
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Monica Berger-González
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Terence Odoch
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ewaldus Wera
- Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang), West Timor, Indonesia
| | - Grace Alobo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Enos Madaye
- Institut de Recherche en Elevage pour le Développement, N'Djaména, Chad
| | - Filipe Maximiano Sousa
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Abakar Naminou
- Institut de Recherche en Elevage pour le Développement, N'Djaména, Chad
| | - Pablo Roquel
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Sonja Hartnack
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jakob Zinsstag
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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5
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Crozet G, Lacoste ML, Rivière J, Robardet E, Cliquet F, Dufour B. Management practices of dog and cat owners in France (pet traveling, animal contact rates and medical monitoring): Impacts on the introduction and the spread of directly transmitted infectious pet diseases. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:1256-1273. [PMID: 33787076 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A number of owner practices among the pet dog and cat population can influence the dynamics of directly transmitted infectious dog and cat diseases, including zoonotic ones. To better depict these management practices, which include pet traveling, contact rates with other companion animals and their medical monitoring (which herein includes prevention aspects), we surveyed 2,122 dog- and/or cat-owning French households through an anonymous online questionnaire. Trips with dogs within the European Union (EU) were frequent, while cats travelled less frequently within the EU and both cats and dogs travelled less frequently outside the EU. Recurrent illegal trips with dogs and cats (non-compliant with regulatory measures) were observed in a context of non-systematic pet border controls. We found that a large proportion of dogs are taken for walks in metropolitan France, with frequent intraspecific contacts (1.4 contacts/day on average), but only a minority (1.4%) of dogs were allowed to roam freely. On the other hand, 59.7% of cat owners allowed their cats to roam freely. We classified pet owners according to different profiles, some of which may be considered 'at risk' for directly transmitted infectious pet diseases. Indeed, one dog owner profile and one cat owner profile depict 'spreaders' of pet diseases (high connectivity with other individuals, little medical monitoring but no traveling) and another dog owner profile describes a potential 'introducer' and 'spreader' of pet diseases (foreign travel, high connectivity with other individuals, and intermediate medical monitoring). While these 'at risk' profiles represent only a minority of French pet owners, they should be better characterized to reinforce targeted prevention designed to minimize the risk of (re)introduction and (re)emergence of directly transmitted infectious dog and cat diseases in France, especially when considering zoonoses with a significant potential impact, such as rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Crozet
- Anses, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale USC EPIMAI, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Marie-Laure Lacoste
- Anses, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale USC EPIMAI, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Julie Rivière
- Anses, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale USC EPIMAI, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Emmanuelle Robardet
- Nancy OIE/WHO/EU Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, Anses, Malzéville, France
| | - Florence Cliquet
- Nancy OIE/WHO/EU Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, Anses, Malzéville, France
| | - Barbara Dufour
- Anses, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale USC EPIMAI, Maisons-Alfort, France
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6
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Ward MP, Brookes VJ. Rabies in Our Neighbourhood: Preparedness for an Emerging Infectious Disease. Pathogens 2021; 10:375. [PMID: 33804778 PMCID: PMC8003993 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious disease (EID) events have the potential to cause devastating impacts on human, animal and environmental health. A range of tools exist which can be applied to address EID event detection, preparedness and response. Here we use a case study of rabies in Southeast Asia and Oceania to illustrate, via nearly a decade of research activities, how such tools can be systematically integrated into a framework for EID preparedness. During the past three decades, canine rabies has spread to previously free areas of Southeast Asia, threatening the rabies-free status of countries such as Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and Australia. The program of research to address rabies preparedness in the Oceanic region has included scanning and surveillance to define the emerging nature of canine rabies within the Southeast Asia region; field studies to collect information on potential reservoir species, their distribution and behaviour; participatory and sociological studies to identify priorities for disease response; and targeted risk assessment and disease modelling studies. Lessons learnt include the need to develop methods to collect data in remote regions, and the need to continuously evaluate and update requirements for preparedness in response to evolving drivers of emerging infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
| | - Victoria J. Brookes
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia;
- Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University), Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia
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7
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Warembourg C, Wera E, Odoch T, Bulu PM, Berger-González M, Alvarez D, Abakar MF, Maximiano Sousa F, Cunha Silva L, Alobo G, Bal VD, López Hernandez AL, Madaye E, Meo MS, Naminou A, Roquel P, Hartnack S, Dürr S. Comparative Study of Free-Roaming Domestic Dog Management and Roaming Behavior Across Four Countries: Chad, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Uganda. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:617900. [PMID: 33748208 PMCID: PMC7970034 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.617900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs play a major role in public health because of potential transmission of zoonotic diseases, such as rabies. Dog roaming behavior has been studied worldwide, including countries in Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, while studies on dog roaming behavior are lacking in Africa. Many of those studies investigated potential drivers for roaming, which could be used to refine disease control measures. However, it appears that results are often contradictory between countries, which could be caused by differences in study design or the influence of context-specific factors. Comparative studies on dog roaming behavior are needed to better understand domestic dog roaming behavior and address these discrepancies. The aim of this study was to investigate dog demography, management, and roaming behavior across four countries: Chad, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Uganda. We equipped 773 dogs with georeferenced contact sensors (106 in Chad, 303 in Guatemala, 217 in Indonesia, and 149 in Uganda) and interviewed the owners to collect information about the dog [e.g., sex, age, body condition score (BCS)] and its management (e.g., role of the dog, origin of the dog, owner-mediated transportation, confinement, vaccination, and feeding practices). Dog home range was computed using the biased random bridge method, and the core and extended home range sizes were considered. Using an AIC-based approach to select variables, country-specific linear models were developed to identify potential predictors for roaming. We highlighted similarities and differences in term of demography, dog management, and roaming behavior between countries. The median of the core home range size was 0.30 ha (95% range: 0.17-0.92 ha) in Chad, 0.33 ha (0.17-1.1 ha) in Guatemala, 0.30 ha (0.20-0.61 ha) in Indonesia, and 0.25 ha (0.15-0.72 ha) in Uganda. The median of the extended home range size was 7.7 ha (95% range: 1.1-103 ha) in Chad, 5.7 ha (1.5-27.5 ha) in Guatemala, 5.6 ha (1.6-26.5 ha) in Indonesia, and 5.7 ha (1.3-19.1 ha) in Uganda. Factors having a significant impact on the home range size in some of the countries included being male dog (positively), being younger than one year (negatively), being older than 6 years (negatively), having a low or a high BCS (negatively), being a hunting dog (positively), being a shepherd dog (positively), and time when the dog was not supervised or restricted (positively). However, the same outcome could have an impact in a country and no impact in another. We suggest that dog roaming behavior is complex and is closely related to the owner's socioeconomic context and transportation habits and the local environment. Free-roaming domestic dogs are not completely under human control but, contrary to wildlife, they strongly depend upon humans. This particular dog-human bound has to be better understood to explain their behavior and deal with free-roaming domestic dogs related issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Warembourg
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ewaldus Wera
- Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang), West Timor, Indonesia
| | - Terence Odoch
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Petrus Malo Bulu
- Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang), West Timor, Indonesia
| | - Monica Berger-González
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Danilo Alvarez
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | | | - Filipe Maximiano Sousa
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Laura Cunha Silva
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Grace Alobo
- Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang), West Timor, Indonesia
| | - Valentin Dingamnayal Bal
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Enos Madaye
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Maria Satri Meo
- Animal Health Division, Agricultural Department of Sikka Regency, Flores, Indonesia
| | - Abakar Naminou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Pablo Roquel
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Sonja Hartnack
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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8
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Warembourg C, Wera E, Odoch T, Bulu PM, Berger-González M, Alvarez D, Abakar MF, Maximiano Sousa F, Cunha Silva L, Alobo G, Bal VD, López Hernandez AL, Madaye E, Meo MS, Naminou A, Roquel P, Hartnack S, Dürr S. Comparative Study of Free-Roaming Domestic Dog Management and Roaming Behavior Across Four Countries: Chad, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Uganda. Front Vet Sci 2021. [PMID: 33748208 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.617900/full#b11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs play a major role in public health because of potential transmission of zoonotic diseases, such as rabies. Dog roaming behavior has been studied worldwide, including countries in Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, while studies on dog roaming behavior are lacking in Africa. Many of those studies investigated potential drivers for roaming, which could be used to refine disease control measures. However, it appears that results are often contradictory between countries, which could be caused by differences in study design or the influence of context-specific factors. Comparative studies on dog roaming behavior are needed to better understand domestic dog roaming behavior and address these discrepancies. The aim of this study was to investigate dog demography, management, and roaming behavior across four countries: Chad, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Uganda. We equipped 773 dogs with georeferenced contact sensors (106 in Chad, 303 in Guatemala, 217 in Indonesia, and 149 in Uganda) and interviewed the owners to collect information about the dog [e.g., sex, age, body condition score (BCS)] and its management (e.g., role of the dog, origin of the dog, owner-mediated transportation, confinement, vaccination, and feeding practices). Dog home range was computed using the biased random bridge method, and the core and extended home range sizes were considered. Using an AIC-based approach to select variables, country-specific linear models were developed to identify potential predictors for roaming. We highlighted similarities and differences in term of demography, dog management, and roaming behavior between countries. The median of the core home range size was 0.30 ha (95% range: 0.17-0.92 ha) in Chad, 0.33 ha (0.17-1.1 ha) in Guatemala, 0.30 ha (0.20-0.61 ha) in Indonesia, and 0.25 ha (0.15-0.72 ha) in Uganda. The median of the extended home range size was 7.7 ha (95% range: 1.1-103 ha) in Chad, 5.7 ha (1.5-27.5 ha) in Guatemala, 5.6 ha (1.6-26.5 ha) in Indonesia, and 5.7 ha (1.3-19.1 ha) in Uganda. Factors having a significant impact on the home range size in some of the countries included being male dog (positively), being younger than one year (negatively), being older than 6 years (negatively), having a low or a high BCS (negatively), being a hunting dog (positively), being a shepherd dog (positively), and time when the dog was not supervised or restricted (positively). However, the same outcome could have an impact in a country and no impact in another. We suggest that dog roaming behavior is complex and is closely related to the owner's socioeconomic context and transportation habits and the local environment. Free-roaming domestic dogs are not completely under human control but, contrary to wildlife, they strongly depend upon humans. This particular dog-human bound has to be better understood to explain their behavior and deal with free-roaming domestic dogs related issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Warembourg
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ewaldus Wera
- Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang), West Timor, Indonesia
| | - Terence Odoch
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Petrus Malo Bulu
- Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang), West Timor, Indonesia
| | - Monica Berger-González
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Danilo Alvarez
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | | | - Filipe Maximiano Sousa
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Laura Cunha Silva
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Grace Alobo
- Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang), West Timor, Indonesia
| | - Valentin Dingamnayal Bal
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Enos Madaye
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Maria Satri Meo
- Animal Health Division, Agricultural Department of Sikka Regency, Flores, Indonesia
| | - Abakar Naminou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Pablo Roquel
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Sonja Hartnack
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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9
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Farthing TS, Dawson DE, Sanderson MW, Lanzas C. Accounting for space and uncertainty in real-time location system-derived contact networks. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4702-4715. [PMID: 32551054 PMCID: PMC7297745 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Point data obtained from real-time location systems (RTLSs) can be processed into animal contact networks, describing instances of interaction between tracked individuals. Proximity-based definitions of interanimal "contact," however, may be inadequate for describing epidemiologically and sociologically relevant interactions involving body parts or other physical spaces relatively far from tracking devices. This weakness can be overcome by using polygons, rather than points, to represent tracked individuals and defining "contact" as polygon intersections.We present novel procedures for deriving polygons from RTLS point data while maintaining distances and orientations associated with individuals' relocation events. We demonstrate the versatility of this methodology for network modeling using two contact network creation examples, wherein we use this procedure to create (a) interanimal physical contact networks and (b) a visual contact network. Additionally, in creating our networks, we establish another procedure to adjust definitions of "contact" to account for RTLS positional accuracy, ensuring all true contacts are likely captured and represented in our networks.Using the methods described herein and the associated R package we have developed, called contact, researchers can derive polygons from RTLS points. Furthermore, we show that these polygons are highly versatile for contact network creation and can be used to answer a wide variety of epidemiological, ethological, and sociological research questions.By introducing these methodologies and providing the means to easily apply them through the contact R package, we hope to vastly improve network-model realism and researchers' ability to draw inferences from RTLS data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor S. Farthing
- Department of Population Health and PathobiologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
| | - Daniel E. Dawson
- Department of Population Health and PathobiologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
| | - Michael W. Sanderson
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and PathobiologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineCenter for Outcomes Research and EpidemiologyKansas State UniversityManhattanKSUSA
| | - Cristina Lanzas
- Department of Population Health and PathobiologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCUSA
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10
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de Melo SN, da Silva ES, Barbosa DS, Teixeira-Neto RG, Lacorte GA, Horta MAP, Cardoso DT, Werneck GL, Struchiner CJ, Belo VS. Effects of Gender, Sterilization, and Environment on the Spatial Distribution of Free-Roaming Dogs: An Intervention Study in an Urban Setting. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:289. [PMID: 32537462 PMCID: PMC7266977 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Information concerning the factors affecting the circulation and distribution of free-roaming dogs is crucial in developing control actions and limiting the spread of zoonoses. The present study analyzes the influence of gender, sterilization, and environment on the spatial distribution of free-roaming dogs in urban settings. Animals were captured/recaptured in seven consecutive morning sampling efforts conducted at 2-monthly intervals in control and intervention areas in a medium-size town in southeastern Brazil. Capture locations were georeferenced and captured animals were microchipped before being released at their original capture sites. Dogs captured in the intervention area were subjected additionally to surgical sterilization prior to release. Home range (HR) areas were calculated by applying the minimum convex polygon method to dogs that had been captured at least three times. Land coverage zones were determined from satellite images and overlaid on maps of the study areas along with the locations of 22 commercial food outlets. HR areas showed a global mean of 448 m2 and a median of 28 m2, values that were smaller than those reported previously for dogs in rural regions. The median HR of females (64.m2) was higher than that of males (15 m2), while median HRs of animals in the control and intervention areas were similar (27 and 28.5 m2, respectively). Variability of HR was high, although animals with small HRs predominated. Free-roaming dogs grouped primarily in urbanized and transitional regions, and their spatial distribution was positively correlated with locations of commercial food outlets. While sterilization did not influence HR size, the search for food was a key factor in determining mobility and spatial aggregation of free-roaming dogs. Our findings are pertinent in understanding the ecology of free-roaming dogs in urban environments and will be applicable to strategies aimed at promoting animal welfare and preventing the dissemination of zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eduardo Sergio da Silva
- Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - David Soeiro Barbosa
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Gustavo Augusto Lacorte
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Minas Gerais, Campus Bambuí, Bambuí, Brazil
| | | | - Diogo Tavares Cardoso
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Loureiro Werneck
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudio José Struchiner
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Escola de Matemática Aplicada, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Silva Belo
- Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
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11
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Abstract
Domestic dogs display complex roaming behaviours, which need to be captured to more realistically model the spread of rabies. We have previously shown that roaming behaviours of domestic dogs can be categorised as stay-at-home, roamer and explorer in the Northern Peninsular Area (NPA), Queensland, Australia. These roaming behaviours are likely to cause heterogeneous contact rates that influence the speed or pattern of rabies spread in a dog population. The aim of this study was to define contact spatial kernels using the overlap of individual dog utilisation distributions to describe the daily probability of contact between pairs of dogs exhibiting these three a priori roaming behaviours. We further aimed to determine if the kernels lead to different predicted rabies outbreaks (outbreak duration and number of rabid dogs) by incorporating the spatial kernels into a previously developed rabies spread model for the NPA. Spatial kernels created with both dogs in a pair being explorers or one dog explorer and one dog roamer (who roamed away from their residence) produced short but large outbreaks compared with spatial kernels with at least one stay-at-home dog. Outputs from this model incorporating heterogeneous contacts demonstrate how roaming behaviours influence disease spread in domestic dog populations.
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12
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Maher EK, Ward MP, Brookes VJ. Investigation of the temporal roaming behaviour of free-roaming domestic dogs in Indigenous communities in northern Australia to inform rabies incursion preparedness. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14893. [PMID: 31624301 PMCID: PMC6797733 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51447-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Australia is canine rabies free but free-roaming, domestic dog populations in remote northern communities are at risk of an incursion due to proximity to rabies-endemic south-east Asia. Unrestricted contact between dogs could facilitate rabies spread following an incursion, and increase the impact on both dogs and people. Whilst dog vaccination is the foundation of rabies prevention, control strategies could be enhanced by understanding the temporal pattern of roaming and associated risk factors, so that movement restrictions can be targeted. Global positioning system datasets from 132 dogs in eight Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) of Australia were analysed using regression methods. The influence of risk factors (including age, sex, location, season and hour of day) on dogs' distance from their residences were assessed. Dogs roamed furthest in the NPA and during the dry season. Daily peaks in mean roaming distance were observed at 1000-1100 hrs and 1700-1800 hrs in the Torres Strait, and 1700-1800 hrs in the NPA. These findings demonstrate that understanding community-specific temporal roaming patterns can inform targeted movement restrictions during an outbreak of rabies in remote communities in northern Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K Maher
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
| | - Michael P Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia.
| | - Victoria J Brookes
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia
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13
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Brookes VJ, Dürr S, Ward MP. Rabies-induced behavioural changes are key to rabies persistence in dog populations: Investigation using a network-based model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007739. [PMID: 31545810 PMCID: PMC6776358 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine rabies was endemic pre-urbanisation, yet little is known about how it persists in small populations of dogs typically seen in rural and remote regions. By simulating rabies outbreaks in such populations (50-90 dogs) using a network-based model, our objective was to determine if rabies-induced behavioural changes influence disease persistence. Behavioural changes-increased bite frequency and increased number or duration of contacts (disease-induced roaming or paralysis, respectively)-were found to be essential for disease propagation. Spread occurred in approximately 50% of model simulations and in these, very low case rates (2.0-2.6 cases/month) over long durations (95% range 20-473 days) were observed. Consequently, disease detection is a challenge, risking human infection and spread to other communities via dog movements. Even with 70% pre-emptive vaccination, spread occurred in >30% of model simulations (in these, median case rate was 1.5/month with 95% range of 15-275 days duration). We conclude that the social disruption caused by rabies-induced behavioural change is the key to explaining how rabies persists in small populations of dogs. Results suggest that vaccination of substantially greater than the recommended 70% of dog populations is required to prevent rabies emergence in currently free rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J. Brookes
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
| | - Michael P. Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
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14
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Hudson EG, Brookes VJ, Dürr S, Ward MP. Modelling targeted rabies vaccination strategies for a domestic dog population with heterogeneous roaming patterns. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007582. [PMID: 31283780 PMCID: PMC6638970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Australia is currently canine rabies free. However, communities located on the northern coastline-such as the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), Queensland-are at risk of an incursion due to their large populations of susceptible free-roaming dogs and proximity to rabies-infected Indonesian islands. A rabies-spread model was used to simulate potential outbreaks and evaluate various disease control strategies. A heterogeneous contact structure previously described in the population of interest-explorer dogs, roamer dogs and stay-at-home dogs-was incorporated into the model using six spatial kernels describing contacts between dog roaming categories. Twenty-seven vaccination strategies were investigated based on a complete block design of 50%, 70% and 90% coverage for each of the three roaming categories to simulate various targeted vaccination strategies. The 27 strategies were implemented in four population structures in which the proportion of dogs in each category varied-explorer dominant, roamer dominant, stay-at-home dominant and a field population (based on field estimates of population structure). The overall vaccination coverage varied depending on the subpopulation targeted for vaccination and the population structure modelled. A total of 108 scenarios were simulated 2000 times and the model outputs (outbreak size and duration) were compared to Strategy 14 (a standard recommended overall 70% vaccination coverage). In general, targeting explorer dogs-and to a lesser extent roamer dogs-produced similar outbreaks to Strategy 14 but with a lower overall vaccination coverage. Similarly, strategies that targeted stay-at-home dogs required a higher vaccination coverage to produce significantly smaller and shorter outbreaks. This study provides some theoretical evidence that targeting subpopulations of dogs for vaccination based on their roaming behaviours (and therefore risk of rabies transmission) could be more efficient than blanket 70% vaccination campaigns. Such information can be used in preparedness planning to help improve control of a potential rabies incursion in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G. Hudson
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
| | - Victoria J. Brookes
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
| | - Salome Dürr
- Charles Sturt University, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia
| | - Michael P. Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia
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15
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McIntyre KM, Calvo-Artavia FF, Dórea FC, Nielsen LR. SVEPM 2018 - Classic problems, future focus, and engagement of stakeholders in veterinary epidemiology and economics, Society of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Conference, Tallinn, Estonia, 21st-23rd March 2018. Prev Vet Med 2019; 167:46-47. [PMID: 31027720 PMCID: PMC7133874 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K Marie McIntyre
- Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, UK; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK.
| | - Francisco F Calvo-Artavia
- Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, UK; Animal Health Division, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Fernanda C Dórea
- Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, UK; Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Liza Rosenbaum Nielsen
- Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, UK; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 15, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, 1870, Denmark
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