One Health

Statutory veterinary disease surveillance generally focuses on food animals with only minimal resources committed to companion animals. However, the close contact between owners and pets suggests that disease surveillance in these species could benefit both animal and human health.

Following a successful pilot, SAVSNET Ltd. was set up as a joint venture between the University of Liverpool (UoL) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) to deliver companion animal health data for research and surveillance. SAVSNET consists of two projects: the first collates results from commercial diagnostic laboratories whilst the second collects data from enrolled veterinary practices for consultations where owners have provided consent by opt-out. Both projects have been approved by the UoL’s Research Ethics Committee and the aims are supported by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the UK’s regulatory body for the veterinary profession.

Applications to use the data are encouraged and are assessed by a panel consisting of BSAVA, UoL and independent members. Data access attracts a nominal fee that is used for long-term sustainability. Currently, SAVSNET data is being used for a wide range of projects by academic collaborators, PhD researchers, undergraduate students and commercial companies.

Objective

SAVSNET—the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network—collects and collates real-time data from veterinary diagnostic laboratories and veterinary practices across the UK to support research and disease surveillance in companion animals.

Anthrax is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a soil-borne, Gram-positive, spore forming bacteria. Bacillus anthracis can infect people who slaughter or eat animals that are infected. Recent reports indicate the incidence of human anthrax has increased steadily over the last several years in Georgia (2007-2012). The Georgian National Animal Health Program has implemented an anthrax control program. The Ministry of Agriculture, the National Food Agency (NFA), and the Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture (LMA) are engaged in diagnosis and control of anthrax in animals. Epidemiological investigation and surveillance are used to determine the origin of anthrax affected animals and their route of migration, however, for successful implementation, proper animal traceability is required. Identification of cattle is one of the components of epidemiological investigation and has been ongoing in Georgia since 2012.

Lyme disease is an emerging disease in Michigan and is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness. The bacterium causing Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans or dogs through the bite of an infected tick. In the spring of 2015, a veterinarian from an island on Lake Michigan began to see locally acquired Lyme disease in pets. In previous years the vector of Lyme disease, Ixodes scapularis, had not been found on the island. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was invited to the island to conduct an environmental investigation and provide health education to local residents.

In human and animal health, conventional approaches to preventing and controlling GI have not reduced the overall disease burden. In order to understand and mitigate shared GI aetiologies between humans and animals it is necessary to develop One Health Surveillance approaches that integrate data-sources contributed to by human and veterinary healthcare. Such approach is described here.

Objective

To describe how a real-time surveillance system for early detection of gastrointestinal disease (GI) outbreaks in small animal and human health is being developed by collecting electronic health records (EHRs) from veterinary practitioners and a telephone-based 24-hour medical triage service in the UK.

Zoonoses account for over 70% of emerging infectious diseases in humans. In recent years, global public health security has been threatened by zoonotic disease emergence as exemplified by outbreaks of H5N1 and H1N1 influenza, SARS, and most recently Ebola. The occurrence of a number of these zoonoses, and their spread to new areas, is related to globalization, environmental changes, and marginalization of populations. This phenomenon holds true for Latin American and the Caribbean countries (LAC), where 70% of the events public health emergencies reported to the WHO from 2007 to 2008 in the Americas were classified as zoonoses or communicable diseases common to humans and animals. Despite this record, there are no national or regional disease burden estimates in LAC for many zoonoses. To start filling this void, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) conducted a survey of LAC countries to collect information on priority emerging and endemic zoonoses, countries prioritization criteria and methodologies, and suggestions to strengthen countries capacities and regional approaches to zoonoses control.

Objective

To take the first step in identifying how American countries can strengthen their capacities to manage zoonoses risks by capturing information regarding their national zoonoses programs and priorities.

Zoonotic diseases are an important cause of human morbidity and mortality; around 75% of recently emerging human infectious diseases are zoonoses. Herein we report the first seroprevalence study to include a range of emerging or re-emerging zoonotic pathogens of economic concern (including: Bacillus anthracis, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella spp., Brucella spp., and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV)) affecting domestic animals (e.g., cattle, sheep, goat, and dog) in Georgia.

Objective

The purpose of this research was to study the seroprevalence of zoonotic diseases among farm animals in the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia.

Anthrax is endemic in the South Caucasus region. There is a lack of understanding of the regional epidemiology of the causative pathogen, Bacillus anthracis, and the trans-boundary factors related to its persistence.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe anthrax foci along the Georgia-Azerbaijan border and to describe control measures in identified areas.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can enhance public health surveillance (PHS) by facilitating the digital exchange of information. Electronic surveillance (e-Surveillance) is the use of electronic systems to empower the digitization of PHS functions of prevention, detection, and response. E-Surveillance maximizes compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005), enables efficient Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, and empowers One Health.

In Africa, e-Health is hindered by donor-funded, short-term projects known as “pilotitus.” Proactive national leadership is required to establish a sustainable e-Surveillance program; an assessment and a strategic plan are the first steps.

Therefore, the One Health e-Surveillance Initiative (OHSI) was conceived and piloted by Public Health Practice, LLC (PHP) and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), with support by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Objective

1) To establish One Health workgroups and conduct an e-Surveillance assessment to inform national strategic planning efforts in pilot countries. 2) To provide evidence for the African Surveillance Informatics Governance Board (ASIGB) to address its mission of establishing e-Surveillance.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic, protozoal infection that is endemic in Georgia, which commonly affects young children. In recent years, the incidence of VL has increased sharply and the geographic distribution has increased. Recently, VL moved to highly populated areas as new foci appeared from 2010-2015, during which, 610 laboratory confirmed cases of VL were registered in Georgia. The majority of cases were found in East Georgia (94.2%) and 5.8% of cases in West Georgia (representing new foci of VL in Georgia).

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in Georgia and to define new control measures.

Newcastle disease (ND) is the most important infectious viral disease of poultry. The world-wide economic loss from it is 2-3 billion USD per year. ND is reportable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). ND is caused by virulent strains of avian Paramyxoviruses belonging to type 1. Industrial poultry farming is rapidly developing in Ukraine. Ornithological fauna of Ukraine includes about four hundred species of birds, 207 of which nest within its borders. The territory of Ukraine transits 3 out of 14 transcontinental global migration flows. The wild birds are the main natural reservoir of ND agents. It is necessary to control the intensity of post-vaccination immunity in poultry and the timing of revaccinations. OIE recommends enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and HI test for these purposes. However, it should be noted that HI test, possessing high specificity and sensitivity, is much cheaper. Therefore, it is the excellent means for ND timely surveillance.

Objective

A test kit for the detection of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) based on haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay has been developed and introduced into practice for the first time in Ukraine.