title: A model appropriate to the transmission of a human food-borne pathogen in a multigroup managed herd.
abstract: We describe a model of microparasite transmission within a multigroup managed farming system. The model was formulated to represent transmission of Escherichia coli O157 within a typical UK dairy herd and was used to suggest possible on-farm control strategies. The model includes birth, death, maturation, the dry/lactating cycle and various types of transmission (i.e. direct, pseudovertical (representing direct faecal-oral transmission between dam and calf within the first 48 h) and indirect (via free-living infectious units in the environment)). A combination of numerical and analytical techniques was used to analyse the model. We found that pseudovertical transmission and indirect transmission via infectious units in the 'general' environment can lead to more groups being affected, but otherwise have relatively little effect on the invasion criteria. To reduce infection within the herd, we suggest that efforts be directed at reducing the opportunity for group-specific indirect transmission-particularly within the weaned group.
authors.affiliation: DEFRA Epidemiology Fellowship Unit, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, The University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral CH64 7TE, UK. j.turner@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Begon
authors.forename: Roger G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: Nigel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000382:microbiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D015047:Zoonoses