title: Shared risk factors for multiple livestock diseases: a case study of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis.
abstract: Livestock diseases can result in reduced farm productivity. The bacterial diseases tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis may share some transmission characteristics which, if managed in common, would result in more cost-effective management. Here, we identify risk factors shared between these diseases using a case-control approach and information theoretic modelling. One-hundred cattle farmers in Atlantic Spain were interviewed about farm characteristics and management practices. The risk factor shared between both diseases was intra- and inter-herd contact between cattle. Disease-specific risk factors were the presence of wildlife for TB, and cattle movement between farms for brucellosis. An integrated approach to disease management needs to consider cattle movement and farm biosecurity, reinforced by an education campaign to increase farmer awareness. This would be likely to bring benefits in reducing both diseases and improve the efficiency of any interventions.
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK; SaBio-IREC Wildlife Research Institute (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n., 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain. Electronic address: cel108@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cowie
authors.affiliation: SaBio-IREC Wildlife Research Institute (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n., 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marreos
authors.affiliation: SaBio-IREC Wildlife Research Institute (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n., 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gortázar
authors.affiliation: SaBio-IREC Wildlife Research Institute (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n., 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaroso
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
authors.forename: P C L
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: SERIDA, Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco, 1225, La Olla, Deva, Gijón, Asturias 33394, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balseiro
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001290:Attitude; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002417:Cattle; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: Bovine tuberculosis; Brucellosis; Information theoretic; Livestock disease; Questionnaire; Risk factors