NIMBioS Investigative Workshop
Modeling Johne's Disease
Topic: Investigating Johne's Disease Epidemiology and Immunology through Mathematical Modeling
Meeting dates: July 6-8, 2011
Location: NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Organizers:
Shigetoshi Eda (Center for Wildlife Health, Univ. of Tennessee Knoxville)
Ynte H. Schukken (Dept. Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell Univ.)
John P. Bannantine (USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit)
Ian A. Gardner (Dept. Medicine and Epidemiology, Univ. of California Davis)
Judith Stabel (USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA)
| Agenda | Presentations | Participants | Evaluation |
Objectives: Johne's disease (JD) in ruminants is caused by intestinal infection with a bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). JD causes reduction of milk production, weight loss, and premature culling of clinically affected animals. In the U.S., JD has been found in 68% of dairy herds and causes an estimated annual loss of $220 million to the U.S. dairy industry. Despite long and intensive national-level efforts for JD control, we are still far from preventing the significant economic impact of this formidable disease. One of the major reasons for the continuing struggle with JD is that there are many unknown factors in JD epidemiology and immunology. For example, we do not properly understand the host immune responses to MAP that lead to persistence and sudden exacerbation of the infection. Another major gap in our knowledge is in understanding the prevalence and importance of latent MAP infections. Since the early 1990s, mathematical modeling approaches have been applied for better understanding of JD epidemiology and for estimation of the cost-benefit of alternative JD control strategies. However, there has not previously been an opportunity to gather a multidisciplinary group of scientists to help facilitate mathematical modeling studies in JD. Further, there has been no mathematical modeling approach for studying the immunology (especially host-pathogen interactions) of JD. This workshop will invite scientists in mathematics, biostatistics, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, immunology, molecular biology, and genetics, to facilitate multi-disciplinary collaborations for better understanding of the epidemiology and immunology of JD.
Central theme: The long-term goal of this workshop is to contribute to the control and ultimate eradication of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the cause of Johne's disease (JD), in dairy herds through application of mathematical modeling approaches for better understanding of JD epidemiology, pathogenesis and immune responses. Specific aims of this workshop are:
- To provide an opportunity to gather diverse groups of scientists for facilitation of interdisciplinary discussions on the mathematical modeling of MAP epidemiology, including the role of latent infections in MAP transmission and management issues,
- To establish an initiative in employing mathematical modeling approaches for studying the immune responses and host-pathogen interactions of MAP infections, and
- To investigate methods for linking the epidemiology and immunology models.
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Summary Report. During the first two days of the three-day workshop, 11 presentations were made on epidemiology and immunology and their mathematical models. Breakout sessions to discuss challenges, opportunities, and future directions for each objective of the workshop followed the presentations. On the last day, two scientific presentations were made, concluding remarks presented for each objective, and a final group discussion was held. In addition, NIMBioS leadership team members and leaders from the Johne's Disease Integrated Program described possible synergies between the two. During the workshop, new mathematical models were proposed, new research opportunities emerged, and future activities/goals were identified. A proposal for a NIMBioS Working Group will be made to continue this initiative.
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.
