scholarly journals Quantitative decision making in animal health surveillance: Bovine Tuberculosis Surveillance in Belgium as case study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Welby ◽  
Mickael Cargnel ◽  
Claude Saegerman
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
System Sensitivity ◽  
Iteration Model

Introduction: Despite eradication and control measures applied across Europe, bovine tuberculosis (bTB) remains a constant threat. In Belgium, after several years of bTB disease freedom status, routine movement testing, as currently practiced, revealed itself inadequate to detect some sporadic breakdown herds. The aim of this study was to strike the balance between cost and effectiveness of different surveillance system components to identify sustainable alternatives for early detection and substantiation of freedom of bTB while maintaining acceptance of these amongst the different animal health stakeholders. Methods: Stochastic iteration model was built to simulate, first, the expected current surveillance system performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity of detection. These results were then descriptively compared to observed field results. Secondly, the cost and effectiveness of simulated alternative surveillance components were quantified. To measure impact of key assumptions (i.e. regarding diagnostic tests and true prevalence), sensitivity analysis was performed. Results: Discrepancies between the predicted and observed performance of bTB surveillance in Belgium were observed. Secondly, simulated alternatives revealed that targeted IFN-γ as well serological testing with Antibody ELISA towards risk herds would enable increasing the overall cost and effectiveness of the Belgian bTB surveillance system. Sensitivity analysis showed that results remained constant despite modification of some key assumptions. Discussion: Performance of current bTB surveillance system performance in Belgium was questionable. This exercise highlighted that not only sensitivity, but specificity is a key driver for surveillance performance. The quantitative and participative conceptual framework revealed itself a useful tool to allow evidence-based decision making regarding future tuberculosis surveillance in Belgium, as required by the international standards.

scholarly journals Implications of Biosecurity in Food Safety

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-219
Author(s):  
Vijai Pal ◽  
Nagesh Tripathi ◽  
Ajay Kumar Goel
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
World Trade Organisation ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Phytosanitary Measures ◽  
Large Crop

Owing to growing population of world, efforts are being made to maximise food production. Food safety should not be compromised to meet the food requirement of increasing population. Biosecurity is the imperative approach to ensure food safety. This is a holistic approach that interlinks health, environment, security and trade. Increased incidents of foodborne diseases led to promotion of biosecurity as a major priority policy worldwide to curtail such incidents and ensure food safety. Microbial risk management is an essential component of food safety. National biosecurity programmes are essentially required to identify the prospective modes of introduction and spread of a disease in a country or region and to specify the control measures to curtail the risk associated with the disease. International standards for various biosecurity sectors are set mainly by Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organisation for Animal Health and Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, which are implemented through the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, 1995 of World Trade Organisation. Agricultural biosecurity is of utmost importance in the countries that are large crop and animal producers, and these countries are at risk from alien pests and pathogens. Adequate biosecurity programmes are essential in all the countries to protect global environment, agriculture and biodiversity. Developing countries, particularly with large populations aiming maximised food production require stringent biosecurity approaches to provide safe and nutritious food to the people.

scholarly journals How Information Communication Technology Can Enhance Evidence-Based Decisions and Farm-to-Fork Animal Traceability for Livestock Farmers

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
G. Mwanga ◽  
E. Mbega ◽  
Z. Yonah ◽  
M. G. G. Chagunda
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Due to changes in the livestock sector and the rise of consumer demand for comprehensive and integrated food security and safety, there has been a concern on the use of farm data in enhancing animal traceability and decision-making by farmers and other decision-makers in the livestock sector. To ensure high production through effective decision-making and auditable standards, producers are required to have better traceability and record systems. Therefore, this study aimed at (1) reviewing the current recording/data management and animal traceability systems used by small-scale farmers in developing countries and (2) analyzing how data management systems should be designed to enhance efficient decision-making and animal traceability from farm to fork. This study found that, still, a majority of small-scale farmers do not keep records leading to poor decision-making on the farm and policymaking. We also found that those who keep records do not store their data in electronic format, which again poses another challenge in data analysis. Moreover, this study found that the majority of traceability tools used by farmers in developing countries do not meet international standards based on tools they use for tracing animals; farmers were reported to use tools like branding and ear tagging, which provide very little information about the animal. Such tools lack the capability to keep track of useful information about an animal, e.g., information about feeding and animal health. In conclusion, this study recommended a better electronic system to be used at the farm level to facilitate data analysis, hence promoting informed decision-making and adherence to the international animal traceability standards. Otherwise, there is a need for researchers to conduct more studies in developing different analytical models for exploring on-farm data in order to improve the decision-making process by farmers and other stakeholders.

scholarly journals The impact of the number of tuberculin skin test reactors and infection confirmation on the risk of future bovine tuberculosis incidents; a Northern Ireland perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (12) ◽  
pp. 1495-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. H. O'Hagan ◽  
J. A. Stegeman ◽  
L. P. Doyle ◽  
L. A. Stringer ◽  
E. A. Courcier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Tuberculin Test ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Health Database ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCurrently policies enabling cattle herds to regain Official Tuberculosis Free (OTF) status after a bovine tuberculosis (bTB) herd incident vary between individual parts of the British Isles from requiring only one negative single comparative intradermal tuberculin test (SCITT) herd test when bTB infection is not confirmed to needing two consecutively negative SCITT herd tests after disclosure of two or more reactors, irrespective of bTB confirmation. This study used Kaplan–Meier curves and univariable and multivariable Cox Proportional Hazard models to evaluate the effect of the number of SCITT reactors and bTB confirmation on the risk of future bTB herd incident utilising data extracted from the national animal health database in Northern Ireland. Based on multivariable analyses the risk of a future bTB herd incident was positively associated with the number of SCITT reactors identified during the incident period (hazard ratio = 1.861 in incidents >5 SCITT reactors compared to incidents with only one SCITT reactor; P < 0.001), but not with bTB confirmation. These findings suggest that the probability of residual bTB infection in a herd increases with an increasing number of SCITT reactors disclosed during a bTB herd incident. It was concluded that bTB herd incidents with multiple SCITT reactors should be subjected to stricter control measures irrespective of bTB infection confirmation status.

scholarly journals The usability of Jordan stillbirths and neonatal deaths surveillance (JSANDS) system: results of focus group discussions

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousef S. Khader ◽  
Khulood K. Shattnawi ◽  
Nihaya Al-Sheyab ◽  
Mohammad Alyahya ◽  
Anwar Batieha
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Focal Points ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Neonatal Deaths ◽  
Technical Issues

Abstract Background Jordan Stillbirths and Neonatal Deaths Surveillance system (JSANDS) is a newly developed system and is currently implemented in five large hospitals in Jordan. This study aimed at exploring the healthcare professionals’ perception about the usability of JSANDS. Methods A descriptive qualitative approach, using focus group discussions, was adopted. A total of 5 focus groups including 23 focal points were conducted in five participating hospitals in Jordan. Results Data analysis identified nine main issues related to the JSANDS system: the system usefulness, the system performance, data quality, the system limitations, human rights, female empowerment, nurses’ competencies strengthened, the sustainability of the JSANDS, and COVID-19 impact on the system. Users reported that JSANDS data were useful, the system was simple and easy to use, and the data were accurate and complete. However, some users reported that some technical issues need to be enhanced. Conclusions JSANDS was perceived positively by the current users. According to them, it provides a formative and comprehensive data on stillbirths and neonatal deaths and their causes, and therefore, was recommended to be adopted by its users and scaled up.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Mechanism and Its Risk Factors in England’s Cattle Farms

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3451
Author(s):  
Tabassom Sedighi ◽  
Liz Varga
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dynamic Bayesian Network ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Domain Experts ◽  
Actual Experience ◽  
Complex Evaluation ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
Cattle Farms

Controlling bovine tuberculosis (bTB) disease in cattle farms in England is seen as a challenge for farmers, animal health, environment and policy-makers. The difficulty in diagnosis and controlling bTB comes from a variety of factors: the lack of an accurate diagnostic test which is higher in specificity than the currently available skin test; isolation periods for purchased cattle; and the density of active badgers, especially in high-risk areas. In this paper, to enable the complex evaluation of bTB disease, a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) is designed with the help of domain experts and available historical data. A significant advantage of this approach is that it represents bTB as a dynamic process that evolves periodically, capturing the actual experience of testing and infection over time. Moreover, the model demonstrates the influence of particular risk factors upon the risk of bTB breakdown in cattle farms.

scholarly journals Variation in LOD Across SARS-CoV-2 Assay Systems: Need for Standardization

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youvraj Sohni
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Clinical Testing ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Technology Platforms

Abstract Multiple SARS-CoV-2 emergency use authorization (EUA) tests are being used for clinical testing across various clinical testing laboratories for meeting the diagnostic challenges of the ongoing pandemic. However, cross-assay variations in performance characteristics need to be recognized. A better understanding is needed of the clinical implications of cross-assay variation in performance characteristics, particularly in the limit of detection (LOD) of the SARS-CoV-2 assays used for clinical testing. Herein, a snapshot of the diversity of SARS-CoV-2 EUA analytical assay systems including methodologies, assay designs, and technology platforms is presented. Factors affecting the variations in LOD are discussed. Potential measures that may standardize across the various assay systems are suggested. Development of international standards and reference materials for the establishment of performance characteristics may substantially alleviate potential clinical decision-making challenges. Finally, cross-assay variation in LODs among the diverse SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic assays impacts clinical decision-making with multiple assay systems in use and lack of standardization across platforms. International standards in parallel with continued cross-platform studies and collaborative efforts across pertinent healthcare entities will help mitigate some of the clinical decision-making challenges.

scholarly journals Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making and Sensitivity Analysis for Selection of Materials for Knee Implant Femoral Component

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2084
Author(s):  
Raman Kumar ◽  
Rohit Dubey ◽  
Sehijpal Singh ◽  
Sunpreet Singh ◽  
Chander Prakash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Femoral Component ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Multiple Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Multiple Criteria ◽  
Biomedical Science ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Weighted Sum Method ◽  
Selection Of

Total knee replacement (TKR) is a remarkable achievement in biomedical science that enhances human life. However, human beings still suffer from knee-joint-related problems such as aseptic loosening caused by excessive wear between articular surfaces, stress-shielding of the bone by prosthesis, and soft tissue development in the interface of bone and implant due to inappropriate selection of TKR material. The choice of most suitable materials for the femoral component of TKR is a critical decision; therefore, in this research paper, a hybrid multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tactic is applied using the degree of membership (DoM) technique with a varied system, using the weighted sum method (WSM), the weighted product method (WPM), the weighted aggregated sum product assessment method (WASPAS), an evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS), and a technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The weights of importance are assigned to different criteria by the equal weights method (EWM). Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is conducted to check the solidity of the projected tactic. The weights of importance are varied using the entropy weights technique (EWT) and the standard deviation method (SDM). The projected hybrid MCDM methodology is simple, reliable and valuable for a conflicting decision-making environment.

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