title: An economic evaluation of various treatments for contagious foot rot in sheep, using decision analysis.
abstract: Two decision analysis models were constructed to identify the cost-effectiveness of treatment and/or prevention regimens for ovine foot rot through a systematic evaluation approach of 2 consecutive phases. The first model evaluated the cost-effectiveness of examining the sheep for foot lesions and the use of 1 of 32 treatment regimens when lesions were present. The second model evaluated the 6 most cost-effective treatment regimens from the first model with or without a preventive measure (in this case, vaccination) to determine the most cost-effective approach to preventing/treating foot rot in a single year. Three prevalence levels of foot rot were used. In addition, 3 levels of reduced production attributable to foot rot were used. Threshold analysis, a form of sensitivity analysis, was used to evaluate allowable variations in the success rates and cost of treatments/prevention where the outcome of the models remains unchanged. Of the 32 treatment regimens tested in this model, the use of 10% zinc sulfate applied to the feet of sheep with foot rot was the most cost-effective regimen, regardless of the prevalence levels of the disease or its impact on productivity. In the second model, the use of vaccination with paring of the feet, as a preventive measure, followed by a treatment of the sheep that were still infected, was less cost-effective than to treat only the sheep with foot lesions and disregard prevention. This was true regardless of the prevalence levels of the disease or its impact on productivity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005535:Foot Rot / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013431:Sulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014611:Vaccination; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019287:Zinc Sulfate
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D013431:Sulfates; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D015032:Zinc