Epidemiology 1: Veterinary Epidemiology Foundational Concepts

Question 1

Define epidemiology

Answer 1

study of distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations and the development of strategies to improve health and productivity

Question 2

Explain what the epidemiologic triad is

Answer 2

host, environment, agent

Question 3

What does the balance of the epidemiologic triad depend on?

Answer 3

individuals

Question 4

What are examples of host determinants?

Answer 4

demographics, physiologic state, genetics, immune status, behaviors

Question 5

What are examples of environment determinants?

Answer 5

Climate/weather
vectors
socioeconomic
management
sanitation

Question 6

What are examples of determinant agents?

Answer 6

microparasites
macroparasites
toxins
physical injury

Question 7

What is incidence and how is it calculated?

Answer 7

Rate of occurrence of new cases
new cases/population at risk (during specific time interval)

Question 8

Is incidence or prevalence based only on animals without disease the start of the interval

Answer 8

incidence

Question 9

Measures the risk or probability of BECOMING a case

Answer 9

incidence

Question 10

_________ is important for predicting future impact of disease

Answer 10

incidence

Question 11

How would you calculate prevalence?

Answer 11

current cases/population at risk (at certain point in time)

Question 12

What is the relationship between prevalence and incidence?

Answer 12

prevalence = incidence * duration

Question 13

______ includes new and old cases

Answer 13

prevalence

Question 14

Measures risk of being a case rather than becoming a case

Answer 14

prevalence

Question 15

Which method, prevalence or incidence is used for serologic studies?

Answer 15

prevalence

Question 16

What is the difference between point prevalence and period prevalence?

Answer 16

Point prevalence is # of cases at one point whereas period prevalence is single exam of individuals seen over a period of time

Question 17

What is an epidemic curve?

Answer 17

plot frequency distribution of new cases over time

Question 18

What type of information is summarized in an epidemic curve?

Answer 18

type of temporal pattern (sporadic, endemic, epidemic)
incubation period
state of epidemic
case counts

Question 19

How could cases potentially be connected?

Answer 19

direct contact
respiratory
fecal-oral
foodborne
waterborne
vectorborne
sexual
bloodborne
vertical
xenograft

Question 20

What are the two types of population data?

Answer 20

Measurement (quantitative)
Count (Categorical or qualitative)

Question 21

What are examples of measurement/quantitative data?

Answer 21

weight, hematocrit, BUN, age, survival time, titer

Question 22

What are examples of count/categorical/qualitative data?

Answer 22

breed, sex, pos/neg, old/young, healthy/sick/dead

Question 23

How would you determine the magnitude of the problem and determine if an animal is “normal” or not?

Answer 23

compare to apparently healthy animals (blood sera)

Question 24

When comparing “normal” animals what could some potential reasons be for abnormalities?

Answer 24

Differences in observer, diet, environment/weather

Question 25

What are ways in which a vet can improve health in populations?

Answer 25

Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
Clinical trials

Question 26

Define primary prevention

Answer 26

an action preventing development of disease in an animal who is healthy

Question 27

Define secondary prevention

Answer 27

identifies an animal with disease at a point early enough to prevent symptoms

Question 28

Define tertiary prevention

Answer 28

prevention of complications in animals who have disease