Research Output
1 - 10 of 18
Publication
Development of a risk management approach to the containment of a foot and mouth disease outbreak
2002-06, White, Paul, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
Relative effectiveness of irish factories in the surveillance of slaughtered cattle for visible lesions of tuberculosis, 2005-2007
2012, Olea-Popelka, Francisco, Freeman, Zach, White, Paul, et al.
Background: In Ireland, every animal is examined at slaughter for its fitness for human consumption. The aim of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of factories in submitting and subsequently in having suspect lesions confirmed as bovine tuberculosis (TB) lesions during the years 2005-2007. This work provides an update from previously published data for years 2003-2004. During 2005-2007 data were available on 4,401,813 cattle from attested herds (i.e. herds classified free of bovine TB), from which data for potential confounding factors were available for 3,344,057 slaughtered animals at one of the 37 export-licensed factories. Findings: From these animals, 8,178 suspect lesions were submitted for laboratory confirmation. Lesions from 5,456 (66.7%) animals tested as positive, and 269 (3.2%) were inconclusive for bovine TB. Logistic regression was used to determine adjusted submission and confirmation risks for each factory while controlling for confounding factors. Factory rankings based on adjusted and crude risks were similar. The average crude submission risk for all the factories was 25 lesions per 10,000 animals slaughtered, ranging from 0 to 52. The crude confirmation risk varied between 30.3% and 91.3%. Conclusions: Substantial variation in the effectiveness of lesion submission and subsequent confirmation as bovine TB was found among the 37 factories. Compared to previous years (2003-2004), there was an increased bovine TB lesion submission and confirmation risk. Continued monitoring of the effectiveness of slaughter surveillance in Ireland is recommended; emphasis should be placed on efforts to improve bovine TB surveillance in factories with lower rankings.
Publication
A spatial and temporal analysis of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Irish cattle herds, 1996 - 2000
2002-06, Sheridan, Hazel, Lynch, D. (David), McGrath, Guy, White, Paul, Martin, S. Wayne, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
An overview of herd restriction episodes initiated by the disclosure of a tuberculous lesion in cattle from clear herds: 1989 - 1997
1999-09, O'Keeffe, James, White, Paul, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
A model of the relationship of skin increase using the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) and the disclosure of a visible tuberculous-like lesion in cattle
1999-09, O'Keeffe, James, White, Paul, Martin, S. Wayne, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
Risk of tuberculosis cattle herd breakdowns in Ireland: effects of badger culling effort, density and historic large-scale interventions
2014-10, Byrne, Andrew W., White, Paul, McGrath, Guy, O'Keeffe, James, Martin, S. Wayne
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) continues to be a problem in cattle herds in Ireland and Britain. It has been suggested that failure to eradicate this disease is related to the presence of a wildlife reservoir (the badger). A large-scale project was undertaken in the Republic of Ireland during 1997–2002 to assess whether badger removal could contribute to reducing risk of cattle herd breakdowns in four areas. During the period of that 'four area' study, there was a significant decrease in risk in intensively culled (removal) areas relative to reference areas. In the present study, we revisit these areas to assess if there were any residual area effects of this former intervention a decade on (2007–2012). Over the study period there was an overall declining trend in bTB breakdown risk to cattle herds. Cattle herds within former removal areas experienced significantly reduced risk of breakdown relative to herds within former reference areas or herds within non-treatment areas (OR: 0.53; P < 0.001). Increased herd breakdown risk was associated with increasing herd size (OR: 1.92-2.03; P < 0.001) and herd bTB history (OR: 2.25-2.40; P < 0.001). There was increased risk of herd breakdowns in areas with higher badger densities, but this association was only significant early in the study (PD*YEAR interaction; P < 0.001). Badgers were culled in areas with higher cattle bTB risk (targeted culling). Risk tended to decline with cumulative culling effort only in three counties, but increased in the fourth (Donegal). Culling badgers is not seen as a viable long-term strategy. However, mixed policy options with biosecurity and badger vaccination, may help in managing cattle breakdown risk.
Publication
The relationship between the disclosure of tuberculous lesions in attested cattle and the factory, year, month and class of cattle in Ireland 2001–2002
2003-12, Martin, S. Wayne, O'Keeffe, James, White, Paul, Costello, Eamon, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
A relational database for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
1997-09, White, Paul, Griffin, John M.
Publication
Episode classification: bovine tuberculosis 1989 to 1997
1999-09, O'Keeffe, James, White, Paul, Martin, S. Wayne, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
Factors associated with the risk of, and animal-level response to, M. bovis in Irish cattle, 1993–98
2002-06, Martin, S. Wayne, O'Keeffe, James, White, Paul, Edge, Victoria, Collins, John D., Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.