NIMBioS Investigative Workshop
Modeling Bovine Tuberculosis
Topic: Modeling the impact of cattle movements on transmission dynamics of bovine tuberculosis (M. bovis) in the United States
Meeting dates: July 7-9, 2009
Organizers:
Colleen Webb (Colorado State Univ., Depts. of Biology and Mathematics)
Agricola Odoi (Univ. of Tennessee, Dept. of Comparative Medicine)
| Agenda (PDF) | Participants | Evaluation report (PDF) |
Objectives. Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious chronic disease found primarily in cattle but has been identified in many other species. The State and Federal Cooperative Bovine TB Eradication program, which began in 1917, has made significant progress decreasing the prevalence of M. bovis in humans and cattle. However, small pockets of M. bovis infection still exist in cattle and wildlife in the United States. In fiscal year 2008, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) spent approximately $31 million depopulating M. bovis affected herds, in addition to costs incurred for surveillance and control activities. In an effort to increase efficiency and effectiveness of TB control in the US, it is important to consider and assess other control strategies.
The use of disease simulation models is one method of exploring control options that could be used as alternatives to whole herd depopulation. Understanding cattle movement patterns as well as the connectivity of the various sectors of the U.S. cattle industry and incorporating these in the models would allow USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) to develop more effective regulations and control strategies for various animal diseases, including bovine TB.
A number of interesting mathematical questions exist at the intersection of statistical and process-based models, and research on these approaches are relevant to the problem of modeling TB transmission. This Investigative Workshop brought together experts from across the globe to discuss cutting-edge approaches to model bovine TB transmission in the United States, with the goal of developing a model that would help inform policy on TB control strategies.
Summary Report. The NIMBioS Investigative Workshop on Bovine Tuberculosis convened July 7-9, 2009 with 37 participants from North America and Europe. Much of the progress in modeling bovine tuberculosis has been in European agricultural systems where cattle movement and disease spread data are quite detailed. This workshop investigated how modeling approaches developed for the European systems might be applied to the U.S. system, which differs quite significantly from the systems in Europe and where available data are not quite as detailed. Workshop organizers and participants plan to form a working group to develop models of cattle movement that would allow prediction of bovine TB spread and investigation of alternative control and eradication plans in the United States at both the state level (in states with high prevalence of bovine tuberculosis) and at the national level.
NIMBioS Investigative Workshops focus on broad topics or a set of related topics, summarizing/synthesizing the state of the art and identifying future directions. Organizers and key invited researchers make up half the 30-40 participants in a workshop, and the remaining 15-20 participants are filled through open application from the scientific community. Open applicants selected to attend are notified by NIMBioS within two weeks of the application deadline. Investigative Workshops have the potential for leading to one or more future Working Groups. Individuals with a strong interest in the topic, including post-docs and graduate students, are encouraged to apply. If needed, NIMBioS can provide support (travel, meals, lodging) for Workshop attendees.
