Epidemiology of dog and cat diseases Flashcards
What is surveillance?
One element of epidemiology
Systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of animal health data
To provide:
- Basic information needs
- Assess and manage risk
- Detection and early warning
What is surveillance system?
Several data collection components
- government/private laboratories
- border inspection
- slaughterhouse inspection
- specific disease testing programmes
Types
- passive; laboratory, voluntary submissions
- active; data collected on structured sampling with clear objectives
Challenge for companion animal surveillance
What are the data sources for surveillance and epidemiology for companion animals?
Routine surveillance
Laboratory data
Commercial data sources
Research projects
Electronic health records
- Primary practice
- Referral practice
What is routine surveillance in companion animals?
Routine is limited
APHA surveillance for companion animals? NO
Defra/APHA
- Pet travel scheme
- Notifiable disease
- SAEG, small animal expert group - monitor with existing data sources
VMD - drug usage, adverse events
- About 5000 submissions per year adverse events
- Under-reporting?
What are the types of labs available as data sources?
Government
Commercial/Private
What are the requirements for labs as data sources?
Diseases requiring lab diagnosis
Routine submissions
Good test performance
Denominator?
Linkage to clinical data?
What do government labs like APHA do?
Veterinary and export submissions
e.g. rabies, brucella, leptospirosis
What do labs like SAVSNET, Liverpool do?
Collaboration with private labs
Combine data and provide reporting
What are commercial data sources?
Pet food manufacturers, pfma
Benchmarking data
Pharmaceutical industry
Data from items sold within practices
e.g. leishmania Tx
- PanelVet, france
- Dogs treated and euthanised
What is important to consider when researching epidemiology of cat and dog diseases?
Specific research question
Funding for specific study
To consider:
- Sampling approach
- Data collection method
- Access to data
What are some data sources?
Electronic health records - practice management systems (PMS)
Animal data
- Signalment
- History
- Clinical examination
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Client communication
Professional management data
Business management data
Referral vs first opinion data
What do we know about Electronic Health Records as data sources?
Provide clinical record for prior history/treatment
Facilitate continuity of patient care
Record communication with client
Permanent and secure legal record
Allow business management
Facilitate clinical research/surveillance
Allow clinical audit
What do we know about HER, electronic health records - semi-structured/unstructured?
Around 30% of clinics in the UK
28m animals, small, equine, large
Epidemiological studies:
- Disease surveillance
- Disease studies - frequency/risk factors
- Therapeutics - AM usage
- Breed health
- Geographical distribution
- Exotic species
What are the parts of VeNom coding?
Standard terminology, Open Access
Implemented into PMSs to encourage standard data recording
Companion animals, Equine
- Diagnoses
- Presenting complaint
- Reason for visit
- Procedures
- Diagnostic test
- Species
- Breeds - Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Horses
Practice management systems (PMSs)
- RxWorks, EZVetPro, Vet-One, Teleos, Freedom (Medivet), Helix (VetsNow), Vetspace (PDSA), AT systems
- Referral systems - CRIS. ProVet. RxWorks
What are Large Language Models (LLMs)?
Machine learning model of language
Lots of ‘parameters’
Models - Bert-Large, GPT2, GPT3, GPT4
What is GPT4?
Generative pre-trained transformer fourth generation
Generative = can create new text itself
Trained on web data
More parameters = better performance
Not specially trained for tasks
What are some surveillance applications for GPT-4?
- Disease coding
- Linking text to laboratory diagnoses
What is proportion?
Number of cases / All animals
What is Odds?
Number of cases / Number of non-cases
What is odds ratio (OR)?
Odds of exposure in cases / odds of exposure in controls
Increased or reduced odds if ‘exposed’ or have the risk factor
What does OR>1 mean?
Increased odds
What does OR<1 mean?
Decreased odds
What does OR=1 mean?
No association
What is the life cycle of the Leishmania infantum?
1a. Promastigote
Primary reservoir host: Dog
1b. Amastigote
Vector: Phlebotomine Sand Fly
1c. Parasite dissemination to organs in macrophages
Parasite: Leishmania infantum
- Other unusual modes of transmission
2a. Vertical (other dogs)
2b. Blood transfusion
2c. Venereal transmission
Others: (unproven): Dog to dog (bites, wounds)
