Browsing by Author "Cork, Susan Catherine"

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    Identification and Distribution of Tick Species in Cattle in Eastern Bhutan
    (2020-11-04) Namgyal, Jamyang; Cork, Susan Catherine; Checkley, Sylvia L.; Lysyk, Timothy J.; Ribble, Carl S.; Russell, Margaret L.; Cork, Susan Catherine
    Tick infestation is the most reported parasitological problem in cattle in Bhutan. Its negative impacts on the health and production of cattle affect the livelihoods of resource-poor subsistence farmers. However, the current knowledge of tick species diversity, infestation prevalence, geographic distribution, and farmers’ perception on tick prevention and control practices is limited. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to 1) determine the presence, diversity and infestation prevalence of tick species in cattle in two districts of eastern Bhutan using a targeted field survey; 2) model the habitat suitability of selected tick species identified in these two districts using the MaxEnt modeling approach; and 3) assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) among cattle farmers in a selected area of eastern Bhutan. In May and June 2019, 3600 live adult ticks were collected from 240 cattle and morphologically identified to the species level. In June 2019, 246 cattle owners were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Four genera and six species of ticks were found. These were Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini) (70.2%), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides Supino (18.8%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa Neumann (8.2%), Haemaphysalis spinigera Neumann (2.5%), Amblyomma testudinarium Koch (n=7), and an unidentified species of Ixodes (n=1). For all tick species except A. testudinarium and Ixodes sp., the high altitude northeastern part and the low altitude southernmost part of the study area were predicted as areas with a very low probability of tick(s) presence. The KAP study identified only 52% of the farmers with adequate knowledge about ticks as vectors of diseases and 36% with a favorable attitude toward tick control programs. The findings from this research are expected to guide the planning and implementation of effective tick prevention and control measures in Bhutan.
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    Perceptions of Risk Factors and Mitigating Strategies for Water Related Zoonotic Diseases on Small-Scale Integrated Farms in Vietnam
    (2016) Le, Quynh Ba; Hall, David Clement; Cork, Susan Catherine; Schaetzl, Hermann; Checkley, Sylvia L.; Ribble, Carl Steven; Russell, Margaret Leora; Armstrong, Glen Douglas; Fenwick, Stanley Gordon
    Small-scale integrated (SSI) farming is a common agricultural model in Vietnam. However, SSI farmers use contaminated water, have no access to hygienic latrines, and have very limited awareness about water quality or environmental sanitation. There are potential interactions in the context of this model that may result in transmission of water-related zoonotic diseases (WRZD). The government of Vietnam plans to restructure the agriculture system by 2020. Study of the model in the context of water and public health can contribute to shaping the future of Vietnam’s agriculture system. I used a cross-sectional study to develop a socioeconomic profile of SSI farmers, examine their perceptions of risk factors for transmitting WRZD, assess basic microbial and related quality of water used on their farms, and explore factors that are associated with on-farm water quality as well as SSI farmers’ engagement in strategies to reduce transmission of WRZD. Data were collected from 600 SSI farms in two provinces in North and South Vietnam. The typical profile of the participating SSI farmers was a 45 year old married individual with two children, seven years of formal education, low income (c. $1200 p.a.), and nine years farming experience. Most SSI farmers had basic awareness of avian influenza prevention, but very limited awareness of WRZDs such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). Water on the majority of SSI farms had unacceptable levels of E. coli and was significantly associated with SSI farmers’ characteristics and perceptions (e.g., years of farming, number of poultry on a farm, and perceived self-efficacy in managing livestock). SSI farmers’ characteristics and perceptions (e.g., education, income, and perceived self-efficacy in managing livestock) influenced their engagement in strategies to reduce transmission of WRZD. Future research and policies in Vietnamese agriculture need to consider a transdisciplinary approach (e.g., EcoHealth) to increase SSI farmers’ awareness of water public health and their engagement in mitigating strategies for WRZD transmission. Consideration for the health of farmers, animals, and the environment should be interwoven with livestock production and be an equally important part of a holistic integrated SSI farming model.
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    Probability distribution maps for the arbovirus vector Culicoides sonorensis in southern Alberta and Montana under current and future climate scenarios.
    (2013-08-01) Zuliani, Anna; Cork, Susan Catherine; Massolo, Alessandro
    Culicoides sonorensis transmits Bluetongue and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease viruses to ruminants in western North America. This study was conducted to model the current and future distribution of C. sonorensis in Southern Alberta (Canada) and Montana (USA). Data on C. sonorensis, collected from 2002 to 2011, and environmental and climatic variables, chosen based on the ecology of Culicoides spp., were used in the analysis. Under current climatic conditions, the best MaxEnt model selected with the Akaike Information Criterion was built using 50 C. sonorensis presence records and four variables (Elevation, Land Cover, mean Precipitation of May and mean Vapour Pressure Deficit of July). Under future climate scenarios, constructed relying on three Representative Concentration Pathways, a northward expansion of C. sonorensis was predicted by the 2030s and 2050s. Our models can provide information for the development of future vector surveillance and the assessment of disease transmission risk in the region.