title: Expanding veterinary biosurveillance in Washington, DC: The creation and utilization of an electronic-based online veterinary surveillance system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To enhance the early detection of emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism events using companion animal-based surveillance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Washington, DC, small animal veterinary facilities (n=17) were surveyed to determine interest in conducting infectious disease surveillance. Using these results, an electronic-based online reporting system was developed and launched in August 2015 to monitor rates of canine influenza, canine leptospirosis, antibiotic resistant infections, canine parvovirus, and syndromic disease trends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine of the 10 facilities that responded expressed interest conducting surveillance. In September 2015, 17 canine parvovirus cases were reported. In response, a campaign encouraging regular veterinary preventative care was launched and featured on local media platforms. Additionally, during the system's first year of operation it detected 5 canine leptospirosis cases and 2 antibiotic resistant infections. No canine influenza cases were reported and syndromic surveillance compliance varied, peaking during National Special Security Events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small animal veterinarians and the general public are interested in companion animal disease surveillance. The system described can serve as a model for establishing similar systems to monitor disease trends of public health importance in pet populations and enhance biosurveillance capabilities.
authors.affiliation: CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program, District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: Andrew.Hennenfent@dc.gov.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hennenfent
authors.affiliation: Health Regulation and Licensing Administration, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: vito.delvento@dc.gov.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: DelVento
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: john.davies-cole@dc.gov.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davies-Cole
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: fern.johnson-clarke@dc.gov.
authors.forename: Fern
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Johnson-Clarke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D055877:Biosurveillance / Q000379:methods*; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D017993:Parvovirus, Canine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
keywords: Canine parvovirus; Epidemiology-small animal diseases; OneHealth; Syndromic surveillance; Veterinary public health; Zoonotic disease