Research
Research activities within the Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group focus on livestock, equine and companion animal epidemiology, and members of the Group are currently involved in over 30 research projects spanning four continents; Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Research themes include antibiotic resistance, emerging diseases, livestock health and production, welfare and behaviour.
The Group has a number of partners across the world. University partners include Berkeley, Bristol and Kasetsart. Research institutes include the Institute of Animal Health, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, CIRAD and Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute. Government organisations include Defra, DARDNI, EFSA, AB/CRC, FAO, ILRI, IFPRI and OIE. The Group also has partnerships in industry with BPEX and RCVS.
Current projects
Avian Influenza
- Investigations of AI epidemiology in Vietnam
- Improved decision making during AI outbreaks
- Optimising of AI monitoring in wild birds
- EPIAAF Survey
- Modelling of control strategies for H5N1 in live bird markets
Livestock in UK and Europe
- Aetiology, pathogenesis and immunology of PMWS in pigs: genetic-environmental interactions
The overall aim of this project is to determine the genetic and environmental factors that cause wasting disease in pigs, thereby identifying novel preventive or therapeutic treatments to improve the health and welfare of growing pigs. The project focus principally on Post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The scientific objectives are: i) to elucidate the multi-factorial aetiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of PMWS on commercial UK farms using a cross-sectional study and to assess the potential benefits of preventive measures using epidemiological models; ii) to determine the cellular and/or genetics components of porcine circovirus type 2, PCV2, and secondary pathogens of PMWS that affect immune defences through in vitro experiements; and iii) to develop and in vivo model of PMWS in order to understand the biological mechanisms that affect the pathogenesis of the syndrome. The commercial objectives are: i) to improve the health and welfare of growing pigs, thereby raising the competitiveness of British pig industry, ii) to undertake a comprehensive programme of knowledge transfer to the British pig industry about PMWS and its prevention and treatment; iii) to develop new biological and/or pharmaceutical products that may be used to prevent or control PMWS; and iv) to develop a new diagnostic test for PCV2 suitable for use by veterinarians and others in Britain.
For further information and results, please consult BPEX research and development website at the following link:
http://www.bpex.org.uk/PracticalAdvice/ResearchAndDevelopment/PMWSinPigs.aspx
- Assessment of tailored farm-level biosecurity strategies for suckler farms in England and Wales
- Salmonella infection in UK breeding pigs
- Avian Intestinal Spirochaetosis; molecular diagnosis, non antimicrobial control and its economic evaluation
- ASFRISK - Evaluating and controlling risk of African Swine Fever in EU
- Control of paratuberculosis
- Use of evidence in decision making by farmers to optimise impact of research in infectious disease
- Investigation of the epidemiology of PRRS in England to provide a basis for surveillance and control programmes
- An update and proposal for continuation of diagnostic testing of respiratory disease in pigs
- Development of a generic approach to evaluate animal health surveillance systems in Great Britain
- Swine Influenza initiative: Epidemiological and phylogenetic investigations of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in pigs and occupational risks
Livestock in developing countries
- Control of Rinderpest/PPR in Africa
- PPR epidemiology, transmission, host range and pathogenicity of virus in West Africa
- African swine fever virus: Development of vaccines and epidemiological investigations
- Epidemiological survey of highly pathogenic PRRSV variant in southern Cambodia and Eastern Vietnam: a seriological and molecular study to analyse the presence and provenance of new viral strains in the region
- Empowering communities to improve livestock health and strengthen household livelihoods of poor in contrasted ecological zones in southern Bolivia
- Herd health of smallholders in Bolivia
- Rift Valley Fever: a mathematical and spatial modelling approach to understanding disease dynamics
Companion animals
- VEctAR (Veterinary Electronic Animal Record)
VEctAR, Veterinary Electronic Animal Record, is the RVC's companion animal disease surveillance project collecting data from practices via their practice management systems (PMSs). It is a collaborative project and includes VEPH staff, colleagues working in the QMHA, software designers, as well as colleagues at Sydney University. For further information see http://www.rvc.ac.uk/VEctAR
- Prevalence and risk factors associated with colonisation with multi-drug resistant E. coli on admission to veterinary intensive care unit
- Alfaxalone: old drug, new trick – population pharmacokinetics for clinical cases
- MRSA in companion animals and association with human healthcare sector
- MRSA carriage amongst companion animals
- Efficacy of Antimicrobials for the Treatment of Canine Pyoderma in the UK
- Incidence of myocardial injury during routine general anaesthesia in dogs estimated by elevation of cardiac troponin I (cTnI)
- Evaluation of prevalence of anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) in population of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers in UK
- Tail Injury in dogs and its association with docking of tails in UK
- Diagnostic value of transverse sectioning in the evaluation of skin biopsy specimens from alopecic dogs
- Man’s best friend: risk factors for canine cancer and their co-habiting owners
- Online surveillance of inherited and acquired disorders in dogs and cats
- The efficacy of antimicrobials for the treatment of canine pyodermia
Equines
- Epidemiology of joint injuries in Thoroughbreds in training
- Health and welfare of working horses in Lesotho
- Equine obesity in the UK
- Equine genetics research
- Recognising and assessing pain in donkeys
Veterinary Public Health
- MRSA ST398 in pigs and risk for public health (www.fp7-pilgrim.eu)
- Optimising surveillance systems for safe food production
- Economic assessment of surveillance programmes of Switzerland
- Investigation of inappropriate antimicrobial usage in companion animals
- Veterinary public health network in Latin America
- Infectious diseases prepardness analysis and resources mapping across human and animal health sectors in Southern Africa
- Development of an audio-visual resource to enhance the teaching of veterinary public health
- Building an agri-health discipline to link agricultural and health research
Animal Health Economics
- Cost-effectiveness analysis of HPAI surveillance activities in Egypt
- Review of the Albanian livestock and cost benefit analysis of priority zoonotic diseases
Animal welfare
- Advancing animal welfare science: Welfare assessment and early life programming
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