Integrated epidemiology for vector-borne zoonoses.

Nicola A Wardrop

doi:10.1093/trstmh/trv115

Abstract

The development and application of interventions for the control of vector-borne zoonoses requires broad understanding of epidemiological linkages between vector, animal infection and human infection. However, there are significant gaps in our understanding of these linkages and a lack of appropriate data poses a considerable barrier to addressing this issue. A move towards strengthened surveillance of vectors and disease in both animal and human hosts, in combination with linked human-animal surveys, could form the backbone for epidemiological integration, enabling explicit assessment of the animal-human (and vector) interface, and subsequent implications for spill-over to human populations. Currently available data on the spatial distribution of human African trypanosomiasis allow an illustrative example.

Highlights

The development and application of interventions for the control of vector-borne zoonoses requires broad understanding of epidemiological linkages between vector, animal infection and human infection
Despite increasing emphasis on vector-borne zoonoses (VBZ) epidemiology at the human-animal-vector interface, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the relationships between vector, animal and human populations, and infection within these populations, in the context of disease risk
For many VBZ, we lack knowledge of the factors driving heterogeneity of zoonotic disease risk in animal and human populations and there is a need for greater understanding of the relationship between disease presence in human and animal hosts, and the influence of socio-economic, behavioural and environmental factors on heterogeneous spill-over

Summary

Introduction

The development and application of interventions for the control of vector-borne zoonoses requires broad understanding of epidemiological linkages between vector, animal infection and human infection. The distribution of zoonotic pathogens in reservoir populations, and spill-over to humans, varies according to biotic, abiotic, socioeconomic and behavioural factors.[1,2] Spatial proximity and contact patterns between animals, humans and vectors play a central role in infection risk.

Results

Conclusion