The Experts below are selected from a list of 66 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Linda D Highfield - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disease spread models in wild and Feral Animal populations: application of artificial life models.
Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 2011Co-Authors: Michael P Ward, Shawn W Laffan, Linda D HighfieldAbstract:The role that wild and Feral Animal populations might play in the incursion and spread of important transboundary Animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), has received less attention than is warranted by the potential impacts. An artificial life model (Sirca) has been used to investigate this issue in studies based on spatially referenced data sets from southern Texas. An incursion of FMD in which either Feral pig or deer populations were infected could result in between 698 and 1557 infected cattle and affect an area of between 166 km2 and 455 km2 after a 100-day period. Although outbreak size in deer populations can be predicted bythe size of the local deer population initially infected, the resulting outbreaks in Feral pig populations are less predictable. Also, in the case of deer, the size of potential outbreaks might depend on the season when the incursion occurs. The impact of various mitigation strategies on disease spread has also been investigated. The approach used in the studies reviewed here explicitly incorporates the spatial distribution and relationships between Animal populations, providing a new framework to explore potential impacts, costs, and control strategies.
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modelling spread of foot and mouth disease in wild white tailed deer and Feral pig populations using a geographic automata model and Animal distributions
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2009Co-Authors: Michael P Ward, Shawn W Laffan, Linda D HighfieldAbstract:We investigated how the size and distribution of wild deer and Feral pigs – species that might act as potential foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus maintenance hosts – might affect the persistence and spread of FMD. We used a susceptible-latent-infected-recovered geographic-automata model and spatially referenced data from southern Texas, USA. Within this study area, 100 locations were randomly selected and FMD virus spread was simulated (50 simulations each) at each location. As expected, the predicted sizes (km 2 )o f the wild deer outbreaks were highly correlated (rSP > 0.95) with the number of deer at incursion locations, the total number of deer within 2 km of incursion locations, and the minimum and maximum deer herd size within 2 km of incursion locations. However, the predicted sizes of the Feral pig outbreaks were only moderately correlated (rSP 0.63–0.67) with the total, maximum and variance of the number of Feral pigs within 2 km of incursion locations. Lack of continuity within the Feral pig herd distribution across the landscape makes predicting disease spread more difficult than for deer, a more homogenously distributed species. When assessing the potential of wild and Feral Animal species at a locality to act as maintenance hosts of FMD virus, estimates of the population size and distribution might serve as a useful indicator of potential outbreaks in some circumstances.
Michael P Ward - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disease spread models in wild and Feral Animal populations: application of artificial life models.
Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 2011Co-Authors: Michael P Ward, Shawn W Laffan, Linda D HighfieldAbstract:The role that wild and Feral Animal populations might play in the incursion and spread of important transboundary Animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), has received less attention than is warranted by the potential impacts. An artificial life model (Sirca) has been used to investigate this issue in studies based on spatially referenced data sets from southern Texas. An incursion of FMD in which either Feral pig or deer populations were infected could result in between 698 and 1557 infected cattle and affect an area of between 166 km2 and 455 km2 after a 100-day period. Although outbreak size in deer populations can be predicted bythe size of the local deer population initially infected, the resulting outbreaks in Feral pig populations are less predictable. Also, in the case of deer, the size of potential outbreaks might depend on the season when the incursion occurs. The impact of various mitigation strategies on disease spread has also been investigated. The approach used in the studies reviewed here explicitly incorporates the spatial distribution and relationships between Animal populations, providing a new framework to explore potential impacts, costs, and control strategies.
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modelling spread of foot and mouth disease in wild white tailed deer and Feral pig populations using a geographic automata model and Animal distributions
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2009Co-Authors: Michael P Ward, Shawn W Laffan, Linda D HighfieldAbstract:We investigated how the size and distribution of wild deer and Feral pigs – species that might act as potential foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus maintenance hosts – might affect the persistence and spread of FMD. We used a susceptible-latent-infected-recovered geographic-automata model and spatially referenced data from southern Texas, USA. Within this study area, 100 locations were randomly selected and FMD virus spread was simulated (50 simulations each) at each location. As expected, the predicted sizes (km 2 )o f the wild deer outbreaks were highly correlated (rSP > 0.95) with the number of deer at incursion locations, the total number of deer within 2 km of incursion locations, and the minimum and maximum deer herd size within 2 km of incursion locations. However, the predicted sizes of the Feral pig outbreaks were only moderately correlated (rSP 0.63–0.67) with the total, maximum and variance of the number of Feral pigs within 2 km of incursion locations. Lack of continuity within the Feral pig herd distribution across the landscape makes predicting disease spread more difficult than for deer, a more homogenously distributed species. When assessing the potential of wild and Feral Animal species at a locality to act as maintenance hosts of FMD virus, estimates of the population size and distribution might serve as a useful indicator of potential outbreaks in some circumstances.
Shawn W Laffan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disease spread models in wild and Feral Animal populations: application of artificial life models.
Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 2011Co-Authors: Michael P Ward, Shawn W Laffan, Linda D HighfieldAbstract:The role that wild and Feral Animal populations might play in the incursion and spread of important transboundary Animal diseases, such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), has received less attention than is warranted by the potential impacts. An artificial life model (Sirca) has been used to investigate this issue in studies based on spatially referenced data sets from southern Texas. An incursion of FMD in which either Feral pig or deer populations were infected could result in between 698 and 1557 infected cattle and affect an area of between 166 km2 and 455 km2 after a 100-day period. Although outbreak size in deer populations can be predicted bythe size of the local deer population initially infected, the resulting outbreaks in Feral pig populations are less predictable. Also, in the case of deer, the size of potential outbreaks might depend on the season when the incursion occurs. The impact of various mitigation strategies on disease spread has also been investigated. The approach used in the studies reviewed here explicitly incorporates the spatial distribution and relationships between Animal populations, providing a new framework to explore potential impacts, costs, and control strategies.
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modelling spread of foot and mouth disease in wild white tailed deer and Feral pig populations using a geographic automata model and Animal distributions
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2009Co-Authors: Michael P Ward, Shawn W Laffan, Linda D HighfieldAbstract:We investigated how the size and distribution of wild deer and Feral pigs – species that might act as potential foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus maintenance hosts – might affect the persistence and spread of FMD. We used a susceptible-latent-infected-recovered geographic-automata model and spatially referenced data from southern Texas, USA. Within this study area, 100 locations were randomly selected and FMD virus spread was simulated (50 simulations each) at each location. As expected, the predicted sizes (km 2 )o f the wild deer outbreaks were highly correlated (rSP > 0.95) with the number of deer at incursion locations, the total number of deer within 2 km of incursion locations, and the minimum and maximum deer herd size within 2 km of incursion locations. However, the predicted sizes of the Feral pig outbreaks were only moderately correlated (rSP 0.63–0.67) with the total, maximum and variance of the number of Feral pigs within 2 km of incursion locations. Lack of continuity within the Feral pig herd distribution across the landscape makes predicting disease spread more difficult than for deer, a more homogenously distributed species. When assessing the potential of wild and Feral Animal species at a locality to act as maintenance hosts of FMD virus, estimates of the population size and distribution might serve as a useful indicator of potential outbreaks in some circumstances.
Marijke Welvaert - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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aestivation dynamics of bogong moths agrotis infusa in the australian alps and predation by wild pigs sus scrofa
Pacific Conservation Biology, 2018Co-Authors: Peter Caley, Marijke WelvaertAbstract:We document predation of aestivating bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) by wild pigs (Sus scrofa) at a location in the Australian Alps. This is the first known record of pigs preying on bogong moths. Wild pigs are recent colonisers of the region, though already the population appears seasonally habituated to foraging on aestivating moths. This is indicative of adaptation of a Feral Animal undertaking dietary resource switching within what is now a modified ecosystem and food web. The significance of this predation on moth abundance is unclear. Long-term monitoring to compare numbers of moths with historical surveys undertaken before the colonisation by wild pigs will require that they are excluded from aestivation sites. Our surveys in 2014–15 observed bogong moths to arrive about one month earlier compared with a similar survey in 1951–52, though to also depart earlier.
David B Boyle - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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disease and fertility control in wildlife and Feral Animal populations options for vaccine delivery using vectors
Reproduction Fertility and Development, 1994Co-Authors: David B BoyleAbstract:A wide variety of vertebrates have been introduced into Australia during the 200 years of European settlement. Many have become pests causing significant environmental damage and having the potential to act as reservoirs of infectious diseases. Control of vertebrate pest species by fertility control is attractive on Animal welfare grounds. Should exotic Animal diseases become established in any of these Feral Animal populations vaccination would be an essential element in the control or eradication of disease. The only experience to date with vaccination of wildlife or Feral Animals has been the successful control of rabies in foxes in Europe by means of a live, attenuated rabies vaccine and a vaccinia-rabies recombinant vaccine. The feasibility of vaccination for disease control or fertility control in other vertebrate pests will depend on the development and evaluation of several vaccine vector strategies. The choice of vector, based on live viruses or bacteria, naked DNA coding for vaccine antigen or virus-like particles encapsidating genetic material coding for vaccine antigen, will depend on optimization of vector delivery strategies and immunogenicity of the vaccine antigen. Past experience from the vaccination of foxes against rabies suggests that rates of uptake of the vaccine bait and immunogenicity of the vaccine will be crucial factors in determining the success of other vaccines controlling disease or fertility.