Abstract Surveillance is a critical component of disease control programmes but is often poorly resourced, particularly in developing countries lacking good infrastructure and especially for zoonoses which require combined veterinary and... more
Abstract Surveillance is a critical component of disease control programmes but is often poorly resourced, particularly in developing countries lacking good infrastructure and especially for zoonoses which require combined veterinary and medical capacity and collaboration. Here we examine how successful control, and ultimately disease elimination, depends on effective surveillance.
In northwest Madagascar, from July to December 2000, evidence of nesting was recorded on 111 km of beach, and nesting turtles were tagged. Greens and hawksbills concentrated on different beaches. Levels of activity varied from densely... more
In northwest Madagascar, from July to December 2000, evidence of nesting was recorded on 111 km of beach, and nesting turtles were tagged. Greens and hawksbills concentrated on different beaches. Levels of activity varied from densely nested (280 nests/km), to beaches with no evidence of nesting. To identify beaches important for conservation, an index of direct anthropogenic threats was developed from carapace numbers.
Abstract The transmission of infectious diseases between domestic animals and wildlife populations has many implications for wildlife conservation and the management of protected wildlife areas. Here, the authors discuss these issues with... more
Abstract The transmission of infectious diseases between domestic animals and wildlife populations has many implications for wildlife conservation and the management of protected wildlife areas. Here, the authors discuss these issues with reference to large rangeland ecosystems in Africa, exploring the role that domestic animal health programmes may play in the development of integrated conservation strategies.
The rationale for reducing population density is that rabies transmission is density-dependent, with disease incidence increasing directly with host density. This may be based, in part, on an incomplete interpretation of historical field... more
The rationale for reducing population density is that rabies transmission is density-dependent, with disease incidence increasing directly with host density. This may be based, in part, on an incomplete interpretation of historical field data for wildlife, with important implications for disease control in dog populations. Here, we examine historical and more recent field data, in the context of host ecology and epidemic theory, to understand better the role of density in rabies transmission and the reasons why culling fails to control rabies.
Abstract Early detection of disease outbreaks in human and animal populations is crucial to the effective surveillance of emerging infectious diseases. However, there are marked geographical disparities in capacity for early detection of... more
Abstract Early detection of disease outbreaks in human and animal populations is crucial to the effective surveillance of emerging infectious diseases. However, there are marked geographical disparities in capacity for early detection of outbreaks, which limit the effectiveness of global surveillance strategies.
SUMMARY Landscape epidemiology and landscape genetics combine advances in molecular techniques, spatial analyses and epidemiological models to generate a more real-world understanding of infectious disease dynamics and provide powerful... more
SUMMARY Landscape epidemiology and landscape genetics combine advances in molecular techniques, spatial analyses and epidemiological models to generate a more real-world understanding of infectious disease dynamics and provide powerful new tools for the study of RNA viruses. Using dog rabies as a model we have identified how key questions regarding viral spread and persistence can be addressed using a combination of these techniques.
Understanding how entire ecosystems maintain stability in the face of climatic and human disturbance is one of the most fundamental challenges in ecology. Theory suggests that a crucial factor determining the degree of ecosystem stability... more
Understanding how entire ecosystems maintain stability in the face of climatic and human disturbance is one of the most fundamental challenges in ecology. Theory suggests that a crucial factor determining the degree of ecosystem stability is simply the degree of synchrony with which different species in ecological food webs respond to environmental stochasticity.
Control programmes for vaccine preventable diseases typically operate under logistic constraints such as limited resources and in spatially structured populations where the assumption of homogeneous mixing is invalid. It is unclear,... more
Control programmes for vaccine preventable diseases typically operate under logistic constraints such as limited resources and in spatially structured populations where the assumption of homogeneous mixing is invalid. It is unclear, therefore, how to maximise the effectiveness of campaigns in such populations.
Abstract Herpetofaunal communities of the offshore islands of northern Madagascar are diverse and poorly described. We present diversity, abundance and absolute density estimates of reptile species found across seven islands and... more
Abstract Herpetofaunal communities of the offshore islands of northern Madagascar are diverse and poorly described. We present diversity, abundance and absolute density estimates of reptile species found across seven islands and associated mainland. Our results suggest the presence of a range of species of conservation interest including Zonosaurus tsingy Raselimanana et al. 2000 and Mantella sp. Further surveys and voucher specimens would be necessary to obtain confirmation.
Abstract The ability of influenza A viruses (IAVs) to cross species barriers and evade host immunity is a major public health concern. Studies on the phylodynamics of IAVs across different scales–from the individual to the population–are... more
Abstract The ability of influenza A viruses (IAVs) to cross species barriers and evade host immunity is a major public health concern. Studies on the phylodynamics of IAVs across different scales–from the individual to the population–are essential for devising effective measures to predict, prevent or contain influenza emergence. Understanding how IAVs spread and evolve during outbreaks is critical for the management of epidemics.
Abstract Sudden catastrophic events like fires, hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides and deforestation increase population densities in habitat fragments, as fleeing animals encroach into these refuges. Such sudden overcrowding will trigger... more
Abstract Sudden catastrophic events like fires, hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides and deforestation increase population densities in habitat fragments, as fleeing animals encroach into these refuges. Such sudden overcrowding will trigger transient fluctuations in population size in the refuges, which may expose refuge populations to an increased risk of extinction.
Canine vaccination has been successful in controlling rabies in diverse settings worldwide. However, concerns remain that coverage levels which have previously been sufficient might be insufficient in systems where transmission occurs... more
Canine vaccination has been successful in controlling rabies in diverse settings worldwide. However, concerns remain that coverage levels which have previously been sufficient might be insufficient in systems where transmission occurs both between and within populations of domestic dogs and other carnivores.
VERY few people in Western Europe will ever die from rabies. Rabies is, at most, an inconvenience that means we have to vaccinate pets and put together detailed documentation for pet travel (www. defra. gov. uk). Some of us will also... more
VERY few people in Western Europe will ever die from rabies. Rabies is, at most, an inconvenience that means we have to vaccinate pets and put together detailed documentation for pet travel (www. defra. gov. uk). Some of us will also decide to undergo rabies pre-exposure vaccination before embarking on a holiday to remote parts of Africa or Asia, and will probably mutter about the high costs of vaccination. But what if you live in sub-Saharan Africa?
Effective vaccination campaigns need to reach a sufficient percentage of the population to eliminate disease and prevent future outbreaks, which for rabies is predicted to be 70%, at a cost that is economically and logistically... more
Effective vaccination campaigns need to reach a sufficient percentage of the population to eliminate disease and prevent future outbreaks, which for rabies is predicted to be 70%, at a cost that is economically and logistically sustainable. Domestic dog rabies has been increasing across most of sub-Saharan Africa indicating that dog vaccination programmes to date have been inadequate.
Abstract Evidence in support of a novel lyssavirus was obtained from brain samples of an African civet in Tanzania. Results of phylogenetic analysis of nucleoprotein gene sequences from representative Lyssavirus species and this novel... more
Abstract Evidence in support of a novel lyssavirus was obtained from brain samples of an African civet in Tanzania. Results of phylogenetic analysis of nucleoprotein gene sequences from representative Lyssavirus species and this novel lyssavirus provided strong empirical evidence that this is a new lyssavirus species, designated Ikoma lyssavirus.
Disease transmission, the most critical process underlying infectious disease dynamics, is typically estimated from population patterns of disease incidence. Using extensive detailed data on rabies in Tanzania we estimate transmission... more
Disease transmission, the most critical process underlying infectious disease dynamics, is typically estimated from population patterns of disease incidence. Using extensive detailed data on rabies in Tanzania we estimate transmission from observations of rabid animals. Our individual and population level estimates of R 0 are remarkably consistent and are comparable with estimates from outbreaks of canine rabies from elsewhere in the world. Individual behaviour can explain important epidemiological features including fluctuations ...
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UMI, ProQuest ® Dissertations & Theses. The world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses. Learn more... ProQuest, Transmission dynamics and control of canine rabies. by Hampson, Katie Ruth,... more
UMI, ProQuest ® Dissertations & Theses. The world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses. Learn more... ProQuest, Transmission dynamics and control of canine rabies. by Hampson, Katie Ruth, Ph.D., PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, 2007, 113 pages; 3286117 ...
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Abstract The coast of north-west Madagascar is an important nesting and feeding ground for marine turtles, but little is known about populations in this area. From July to December 2000 we documented nesting activity of, and investigated... more
Abstract The coast of north-west Madagascar is an important nesting and feeding ground for marine turtles, but little is known about populations in this area. From July to December 2000 we documented nesting activity of, and investigated threats to, green Chelonia mydas and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata turtles at three sites along this coast: Nosy Iranja, the Radama Islands, and the Nosy Hara archipelago. Levels of nesting activity varied between sites, with green and hawksbill turtle nesting concentrated in different areas. The principal ...
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Pathogens are important components of the Serengeti that have had a major role in shaping the ecosystem, with direct and indirect impacts on wildlife populations and community structure. As human and domestic animal populations continue... more
Pathogens are important components of the Serengeti that have had a major role in shaping the ecosystem, with direct and indirect impacts on wildlife populations and community structure. As human and domestic animal populations continue to expand into areas surrounding the Serengeti National Park, the transmission of diseases between different populations has become an issue of growing concern, with implications not only for wildlife but also for livestock economies, human health, and land use strategies (fig. 7.1). Failure ...