Final Exam Epi Flashcards
Define epidemiology. What are epi’s two main uses?
The study of the frequency, distribution, and determinants of health- related states in populations, and the application of such knowledge to control health problems.
** Epi serves as an investigative tool and diagnostic tool to support preventive action against disease–> aimed to produce information for action
What is health?
A state of complete well being and not merely the absence of disease
What is One Health?
The collaborative effort of multiple disciplines locally, nationally, and globally to atain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment
How is the approach to epi slightly different than the traditional clinical approach?
The unit of concern is the population, as opposed to the individual. The “well” animals are just as important as the sick animal. The aim is prevention, not just treatment.
What disease has Australia successfully eradicated, making AUS the only major exporter in the world to do so? How?
Bovine Tuberculosis
*Recent history of ruminants on the continent
*Geographical isolation
*Strict biosecurity
* National commitment
* adequate compensation to farms for culled stock
* whole herd test and slaughter program
* database of cattle properties and laboratory test results
* prevention of establishment in potential reservoirs
* ongoing abattoir surveillance to demonstrate disease freedom
What does this indicate? Define the terminology.

Propagating Epidemic. An epidemic is the occurrence of a disease affecting a number of individuals in clear excess of what would be expected for the population in a specific region and period of time. An epidemic is about something changing that favours the spread of the disease.
** That is, the disease is clustered in SPACE AND TIME.
e.g. Ebola- movement of people meeting highly susceptible populations- so you get massive spikes.
When does this pattern occur?

Sporadic. The disease occurs infrequently and without a pattern in a population. E.g. Hendra
** The agent is usually maintained in:
- a reservoir host and only infrequently comes in contact with this host
OR
- carriers (hosts with inapparent infection)
** Clinical disease when factors tip the host-agent-environment balance

Endemic. Predictable pattern (long term trends, seasonal variation, cyclical variation). The disease is constantly present in a population in a given region, it is clustered in SPACE but NOT IN TIME. e.g. Ross River Virus- endemic mossie borne virus in Victoria- transmitted from native wildlife reservoirs to humans
** Stable longterm balance between host, agent, and the environment
** Source of major ongoing losses in animal production systems (parasites, mastitis, abortions)
** Environment important- disease in one region and not in another
Explain the importance of epi in veterinary practice
* Epi is about prevention
* Knowledge of disease transmission: Cat transmitting TB to humans and therefore disease control. Advising clients on how to ensure their family remains healthy, other animals in the home, neighbors/ friends animals are unaffected by their sick animal
* Herd immunity- encouraging vaccination in a non-compliant population therefore cutting down on parvo virus, for example
* Evidence based medicine- integrating the best research evidence with clinical expertise and each patients’ unique circumstances– epidemiology is the science underlying evidence based medicine
* Does a causal relationship exist? Is a key question we will answer everday when diagnosing, deciding on treatment, and of course prevention! Most infections have multiple causal components before the injury or disease can occur
What is an EID?
Emerging Infectious Disease
* newly recognized in a population
* known for some time but is rapidly increasing in incidence or range
* Mutation, mixing, and trafficking of pathogens
* Encroachment on wild animal habitats previously untouched– “spill over”
** 60% of EIDs are zoonoses and 72% of these are from wildlife reservoirs

Point source epidemic. Clustered in SPACE AND TIME. e.g. Cholera- one water point contaminated or food borne outbreak at a birthday party (poor food handling practices)
** steep up-slope and gradual down slope because no further susceptible animals at risk
What are the factors that tip the balance towards disease?

What is infectivity?
Ability of an agent to infect. Says nothing about the severity of disease.
What is pathogenicity?
The ability of an agent to produce disease in an infected host. (Virulence and infectivity).
What is virulence? What is the equation?
The ability of an agent to produce severe disease.

What is an EAD?
Emergency Animal Disease. An animal disease that requires an emergency response. It may be:
* Exotic- has penetrated quarantine barriers (e.g. Rabies)
* Emerging- start within Australia, previously unrecognized (e.g. Hendra)
* Re-emerging- known to occur in Australia, but now spreading more widely than previously (e.g. Bluetongue)
What is biosecurity?
Measures to protect populations of people and animals, plants, and ecological systems from infectious disease and other biological threats.
What is the incubation period?
The interval between effective exposure to an infectious agent and the appearance of the first sign of the disease in question.
What is the latent or prepatent period? What two periods is the animal in when in the “danger period?”
The interval between infection to shedding of the infectious organism.
* In the danger period in incubation period and latent period– shedding disease before clinical signs and symptoms

What is the iceberg effect?
Within a population, subclinical/asymptomatic disease is often the big problem. e.g. persistent carriers shedding disease constantly

What is the host?
Animal capable of being infected. Replication/ development of the agent typically occurs in the host.
What is the vector?
Animate object that transmits infection (insects with vector borne viruses)
What is a vehicle of transmission?
Inanmiate object that transmits infection e.g. fomites
What are carriers?
Infected host without clinical signs, potential source for others. The carrier state may be unapparent throughout infection (healthy or asymptomatic carrier) or may occur during the incubation period (an incubatory carrier in the danger period) or recovery phase for an animal with clinically recognizable disease (convalescent carrier).
















































