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Understanding foot-and-mouth disease virus transmission biology: identification of the indicators of infectiousness

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Richard Howey

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

The control of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) outbreaks in non-endemic countries relies on the rapid detection and removal of infected animals. In this paper we use the observed relationship between the onset of clinical signs and direct contact transmission of FMDV to identify predictors for the onset of clinical signs and identify possible approaches to preclinical screening in the field. Threshold levels for various virological and immunological variables were determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and then tested using generalized linear mixed models to determine their ability to predict the onset of clinical signs. In addition, concordance statistics between qualitative real time PCR test results and virus isolation results were evaluated. For the majority of animals (71%), the onset of clinical signs occurred 3-4 days post infection. The onset of clinical signs was associated with high levels of virus in the blood, oropharyngeal fluid and nasal fluid. Virus is first detectable in the oropharyngeal fluid, but detection of virus in the blood and nasal fluid may also be good candidates for preclinical indicators. Detection of virus in the air was also significantly associated with transmission. This study is the first to identify statistically significant indicators of infectiousness for FMDV at defined time periods during disease progression in a natural host species. Identifying factors associated with infectiousness will advance our understanding of transmission mechanisms and refine intra-herd and inter-herd disease transmission models.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Chase-Topping ME, Handel I, Bankowski BM, Juleff ND, Gibson D, Cox SJ, Windsor MA, Reid E, Doel C, Howey R, Barnett PV, Woolhouse MEJ, Charleston B

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Veternary Research

Year: 2013

Volume: 44

Online publication date: 03/07/2013

Acceptance date: 05/06/2013

Date deposited: 04/11/2015

ISSN (print): 0928-4249

ISSN (electronic): 1297-9716

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1297-9716-44-46

DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-46


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
BBSB00549Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

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