Epidemiology of respiratory infections in cattle populations in South Africa

Bovine respiratory diseases (BRD) and its related pathogens have a detrimental effect on the economy and welfare of cattle in livestock operations worldwide. BRD is a disease complex characterised by infection with bacterial pathogens, such as Mycobacterium bovis, and viral pathogens such as Bovine respiratory syncytial virus. The epidemiology of bovine respiratory disease remains largely ambiguous, particularly in developing areas where livestock provide the economic backbone of many communities. In this study, we will provide a clear epidemiological understanding of bovine respiratory disease at a wildlife-livestock interface in a rural South African community. We will characterise the seasonality and co-infection dynamics of pathogens associated with BRD and consider infection in the context of spill-over/spill-back events with nearby African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) populations. To do this, we will diagnose viral and bacterial pathogens from a longitudinal, cohort study. We will use statistical and mathematical modelling methods to analyse the data and to explore the consequences co-infection for disease spread and control.