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Factors affecting transmission of foot-and-mouth disease virus

Lead Research Organisation: THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE
Department Name: UNLISTED

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Technical Summary

The project is concerned with factors affecting the spread of highly contagious viruses of pigs and ruminants. The focus is on aerosol spread and vaccine-induced protection in relation to foot-and-mouth disease virus. It will exploit our potential to study viruses in their natural hosts and the unique large animal facilities at IAH-Pirbright will be used to investigate the contribution of aerosols, including resuspended fomites, to viral transmission. This will involve the development and investigation of experimental models for measuring aerosol release and infection and laboratory techniques for tracking virus. Close links with mathematical biologists and the UK Meteorological Office will help to model spread dynamics and to identify critical control points for preventing disease transmission through management practices and application of vaccines.

Planned Impact

unavailable

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Vaccine effectiveness: A retrospective outbreak evaluation method was developed and applied to monitor foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine effectiveness in the field in Turkey. A prospective field study confirmed the impact of strain diversity on thresholds for serological protection and the value of a booster in the primary vaccination course. A model combining inferred vaccine effectiveness with Turkish cattle population data showed that the current vaccination programme is inadequate and contributed to a change in policy.

Transmission biology: Shedding of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) by experimentally-infected cattle was correlated with onset of clinical signs and transmission of infection to other cattle. Aerosol sampling was shown to have potential for preclinical diagnosis of FMD whilst the rate of transmission by fomites was too low to be quantified with the study design employed. Using the results of transmission experiments we estimated the basic reproduction number for African swine fever virus (ASFV) to be 2.8 within a pen and 1.4 between pens. This provides quantitative information on transmission parameters for ASFV in domestic pigs, which are required to more effectively assess the potential impact of control strategies. We also demonstrated that infectious ASFV was present in faeces and urine for several days, indicating that ASFV in excretions may be an important route of transmission.
Exploitation Route We have developed approaches for assessing vaccine effectiveness for FMDV that could be applied to other livestock diseases. The results on transmission help inform disease control and surveillance measures.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

 
Description Institute stand at Surrey Vet School open day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Discussion with pupils interested in veterinary medicine (and their parents) about the Institute, its role and livestock disease in general.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2015,2016
 
Description Lecture on dynamics of infectious diseases 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Lecture as part of MSc in Veterinary Microbiology at University of Surrey
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017
 
Description Preclinical detection of foot-and-mouth disease 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Interview with Veterinary Times about work on preclinical detection of foot-and-mouth disease and its potential impact on future control strategies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.vettimes.co.uk/news/pre-clinical-method-a-step-closer-in-fmdv-prevention/