Is multistrain infection by Dichelobacter nodosus important in the severity of footrot and in the management of disease?
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Veterinary Medicine and Sci
Abstract
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Technical Summary
Footrot, caused by Dichelobacter nodosus (Dn), costs the UK sheep industry >£80million pa: 98% of flocks have footrot and 3 million ewes are diseased pa. The current licensed vaccine includes 9/10 Dn FimA serogroups, offering 60% efficacy for 4 months. As vaccines contain fewer serogroups efficacy increases; flocks often have several serogroups.
Dn isolates are defined as benign or virulent based on specific virulence genes. Disease is also defined as benign or virulent, however, disease and isolate virulence are not well correlated: virulent isolates are detected in benign disease and vice versa. We propose that confusion has arisen because culturable isolates rather than whole community Dn have been studied and because isolate virulence has not been studied in longitudinal studies where disease dynamics would inform on temporal relationships between virulence of bacteria and disease.
Recent work in our group indicated that Dn load drives pathogenesis and that flocks with no disease still have detectable Dn. We hypothesise that total load and the whole community of virulent and benign Dn strains are key to understanding disease dynamics and to identify effective flock specific managements that provide resilience to disease. We will study total community, FimA and virulence of Dn using non-culture techniques: PCR, qPCR, MLVA fingerprinting and high-throughput sequencing. We will combine lab results with disease and management data from 3 epidemiological studies and use competing risks models to elucidate strain and virulence factors that drive disease progression and severity. A framework of stochastic mathematical models will be used to simulate optimal control strategies including the role of varying number of serogroups / vaccine. Should our hypothesis be correct then in 3-5 years the sheep industry will have a strategy to control footrot using a combination of flock specific vaccine together with other managements to reduce load and increase resilience.
Dn isolates are defined as benign or virulent based on specific virulence genes. Disease is also defined as benign or virulent, however, disease and isolate virulence are not well correlated: virulent isolates are detected in benign disease and vice versa. We propose that confusion has arisen because culturable isolates rather than whole community Dn have been studied and because isolate virulence has not been studied in longitudinal studies where disease dynamics would inform on temporal relationships between virulence of bacteria and disease.
Recent work in our group indicated that Dn load drives pathogenesis and that flocks with no disease still have detectable Dn. We hypothesise that total load and the whole community of virulent and benign Dn strains are key to understanding disease dynamics and to identify effective flock specific managements that provide resilience to disease. We will study total community, FimA and virulence of Dn using non-culture techniques: PCR, qPCR, MLVA fingerprinting and high-throughput sequencing. We will combine lab results with disease and management data from 3 epidemiological studies and use competing risks models to elucidate strain and virulence factors that drive disease progression and severity. A framework of stochastic mathematical models will be used to simulate optimal control strategies including the role of varying number of serogroups / vaccine. Should our hypothesis be correct then in 3-5 years the sheep industry will have a strategy to control footrot using a combination of flock specific vaccine together with other managements to reduce load and increase resilience.
Planned Impact
Please see attached documents from the lead (University of Warwick)
People |
ORCID iD |
Jasmeet Kaler (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bellet C
(2015)
Preventative services offered by veterinarians on sheep farms in England and Wales: Opinions and drivers for proactive flock health planning.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
Dickins A
(2016)
Factors associated with the presence and prevalence of contagious ovine digital dermatitis: A 2013 study of 1136 random English sheep flocks.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
O'Kane H
(2017)
Associations between sheep farmer attitudes, beliefs, emotions and personality, and their barriers to uptake of best practice: The example of footrot.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
Winter J
(2015)
Changes in prevalence of, and risk factors for, lameness in random samples of English sheep flocks: 2004-2013
in Preventive Veterinary Medicine
Witt J
(2018)
Development and assessment of management practices in a flock-specific lameness control plan: A stepped-wedge trial on 44 English sheep flocks.
in Preventive veterinary medicine
Description | A mathematical model on footrot dynamics using bacterial load at the foot level has been developed and published. It is currently being optimised with further environmental and climate parameters to improve our understanding of how disease dynamics change in different environmental conditions and has highlighted the influence of rainfall on disease spread. Papers are in preparation and this section will be updated once results have been published |
Exploitation Route | See the linked award from Warwick |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Dissemination to farmers and vet students. More details on the linked award from University of Warwick |
Sector | Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Cited in Farm Animal Welfare Council |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
Impact | Some evidence that prevalence of lameness in sheep has fallen |
Description | Development of new information on control of footrot and lameness for AHDB Beef & Lamb |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Bulletin sent to all 16000 members of sheep Better Returns Programme in England Written by PhD CASE students and Green Impact - Reduction in the number of sheep becoming lame, better health and productivity, economic gain to farmers |
URL | http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BRP-Focus-on-lameness.pdf |
Description | Lecture to farm animal vet students on management of footrot |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | 70 students attended the talk and heard new information on management of footrot and lameness |
Description | On farm event to 28 farmers of one veterinary practice in worcestershire |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | the 28 farmers had new information on how to manage footrot and lameness in sheep |
Description | Technology exchange event to farmers Feb 2016 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | 67 farmers attended the one day event, 81% stated they would change management of footrot as a result of what they heard |
Description | BBSRC-GCRF |
Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BBSRC-GCRF-IAA/22 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | AHDB |
Organisation | Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We work closely with AHDB Beef & Lamb providing summaries of research that are farmer friendly. Myself and PhD students attend farmer shows and events and talk to farmers. We work with AHDB to prepare knowledge exchange material |
Collaborator Contribution | AHDB are the CASE partner on a number of PhDs supporting industry relevant research on footrot and mastitis in sheep, giving students experience of an SME and talking to farmers to explain research |
Impact | http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/BRP-Reducing-lameness-manual-7-080316.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/brp-Decision-tree-for-lameness-270814.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BRP-Focus-on-lameness.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/brp-Lameness080714.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/BRP-Udder-health-leaflet-181214.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BRP-plus-Understanding-mastitis-in-sheep-180716.pdf |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | AHDB |
Organisation | Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We work closely with AHDB Beef & Lamb providing summaries of research that are farmer friendly. Myself and PhD students attend farmer shows and events and talk to farmers. We work with AHDB to prepare knowledge exchange material |
Collaborator Contribution | AHDB are the CASE partner on a number of PhDs supporting industry relevant research on footrot and mastitis in sheep, giving students experience of an SME and talking to farmers to explain research |
Impact | http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/BRP-Reducing-lameness-manual-7-080316.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/brp-Decision-tree-for-lameness-270814.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BRP-Focus-on-lameness.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/brp-Lameness080714.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/BRP-Udder-health-leaflet-181214.pdf http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BRP-plus-Understanding-mastitis-in-sheep-180716.pdf |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Animal Welfare Research Network (AWRN) |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Department | Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Professor Laura Green is a co-investigator on the AWRN |
Collaborator Contribution | on the organising committee for the network. In 2016, organised a speed dating session at the first event In 2017, speaking on grant writing skills at the annual meeting In 2017, organised for neuroscientists to speak at an interdisciplinary workshop between neurobiology and welfare |
Impact | none |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | 11-12/12/2018 - Presentation on impact of BB/M012980/1 at BBSRC Animal Research Club Final Dissemination Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A presentation was given to 30 BBSRC ARC club members (both industry and academia) on the impact achieved from the BB/M012980/1 grant. This sparked questions and discussions afterwards on our plans for future work and potential for collaboration with academic colleagues. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/microbiology-infection/research/microbial-epidemiolog... |
Description | 22/02/19 Ruminant Health Meeting with colleagues from Universities of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent, Harper Adams and Moredun. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | A final meeting of the 'Understanding Inflammatory Processes in Ovine Footrot to Inform on Rational Vaccine Design' project team (BB/M012085/1 & BB/M011941/1) was held at the University of Nottingham on 22 February 2019 in association with the related ARC Project 'Is Multistrain Infection by Dichelobacter nodosus Important in the Severity of Footrot and Management of Disease?' (BB/M012980/1). The aims of the meeting were to review the outcomes of the research and identify potential future projects. The meeting was attended by a total of 20 investigators, researchers and students who had contributed to the projects. There were 12 presentations, followed by a round-table discussion which focussed on 'knowns' and 'unknowns' of ovine footrot. This generated a number of ideas which were captured and will be used to formulate future funding applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |