Vaccination control programs for multiple livestock host species: an age-stratified, seasonal transmission model for brucellosis control in endemic settings.

Wendy Beauvais,Imadidden Musallam,Javier Guitian

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1327-6

Wendy Beauvais, Imadidden Musallam + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1327-6

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundBrucella melitensis causes production losses in ruminants and febrile disease in humans in Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere. Although traditionally understood to affect primarily sheep and goats, it is also the predominant Brucella species that affects cows in some endemic areas. Despite this, no licensed vaccine is available specifically for use against B. melitensis in cows. The mainstay of most control programs is vaccination of sheep and goats with a live vaccine, Rev-1. The aim of this study was to investigate how critical vaccination of cows might be, in order to control B. melitensis on a mixed sheep-and-cattle farm.MethodsA dynamic, differential-equation, age-structured, seasonal model with births and deaths, was used to investigate whether vaccination of both sheep and cattle had an impact on time to elimination of brucellosis on an individual mixed species farm, when compared to vaccination of sheep only. The model was a Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered-Susceptible (SEIRS) model with an additional compartment for Persistently Infected (PI) individuals. Transmission parameters were fit based on a nation-wide probabilistic seroprevalence survey in Jordan.ResultsThe model predicted that it would take 3.5 years to eliminate brucellosis (to less than 0.5 % of adult sheep seropositive as a result of infection) on a mixed-species B. melitensis-endemic farm with the median field-study seroprevalence, following vaccination of both sheep and cattle, assuming a vaccine effectiveness of 80 %. Limiting the vaccination to sheep only, increased the time to 16.8 years. Sensitivity analysis showed that the finding that vaccination of cattle was of significant importance, was robust. Vaccine effectiveness had a strong influence on time to elimination.ConclusionsIn the absence of further data, vaccination of cattle should be considered essential in Brucella-endemic settings where mixed small ruminant and cattle flocks predominate. Further evidence that Brucella melitensis predominates in cattle in Jordan, as opposed to Brucella abortus, is needed in order to validate this model. The results may be applicable to other mixed-species settings with similar livestock management practices. These methods may be applied to other pathogens affecting multiple livestock species or with seasonal transmission.

Highlights

Brucella melitensis causes production losses in ruminants and febrile disease in humans in Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere
Eliminating brucellosis from a region can be expected to be an even more lengthy process. Accepting these limitations to the model, the findings suggest that the role of cattle in transmission of B. melitensis in mixed-species endemic settings cannot be ignored, and it is likely that vaccination of small ruminants alone may be futile in many cases, in terms of eliminating the infection
Maximising vaccine coverage and vaccine efficacy is critical to the success of B. melitensis control programs

Summary

Introduction

Brucella melitensis causes production losses in ruminants and febrile disease in humans in Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere. Traditionally understood to affect primarily sheep and goats, it is the predominant Brucella species that affects cows in some endemic areas. Brucellosis, a bacterial zoonosis, is the cause of febrile disease in humans and livestock production losses in many countries worldwide. Control has proved elusive in many areas, where Brucella melitensis, the more pathogenic species for humans and small ruminants (sheep and goats), predominates, such as the Middle East [1, 2]. Brucella spp. are predominantly transmitted via direct contact with abortion and birth fluids of infected animals, and via consumption of unpasteurised milk or dairy products. Transmission via semen is possible [3, 4]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion