Epidemiology For Field Veterinarians

An introduction for veterinarians and other animal health professionals interested in epidemiological methods, this book provides a practical guide for those new to the field - focusing on the principles of epidemiology in real world situations and practical implementation of disease outbreak investigation, for emerging and endemic diseases.

Epizootiology, epizoology, or veterinary epidemiology is the study of disease patterns within animal populations. Veterinary epidemiology deals with the investigation of diseases, productivity and animal welfare in populations. It is used to describe the frequency of disease occurrence and how disease, productivity and welfare are affected by the interaction of different factors or determinants. Today, the veterinary profession is confronted with a different set of problems compared with the middle of last century. Now, veterinarians often have to deal with herds or regions remaining diseased after lengthy disease control campaigns. In addition, it is considered necessary to take into account the economic aspects of disease control through the use of benefit/cost analyses of disease control campaigns. Costly multi-factorial disease complexes such as mastitis or cattle lameness have become quite common. In addition, old, emerging or new diseases with complex aetiologies pose a difficult challenge for the profession. Veterinarians have to respond to the challenges posed by problems such as BSE, FMD and antimicrobial resistance. All these problems require identification, quantification and intensive examination of multiple, directly or indirectly causal, and often interacting, disease determinants. Veterinary epidemiology and evidence-based veterinary medicine provide overlapping sets of tools which can be used to approach these new challenges.

A comprehensive introduction to the role of epidemiology in veterinary medicine This fully revised and expanded edition of Veterinary Epidemiology introduces readers to the field of veterinary epidemiology. The new edition also adds new chapters on the design of observational studies, validity in epidemiological studies, systematic reviews, and statistical modelling, to deliver more advanced material. This updated edition begins by offering an historical perspective on the development of veterinary medicine. It then addresses the full scope of epidemiology, with chapters covering causality, disease occurrence, determinants, disease patterns, disease ecology, and much more. Veterinary Epidemiology, Fourth Edition: ● Features updates of all chapters to provide a current resource on the subject of veterinary epidemiology ● Presents new chapters essential to the continued advancement of the field ● Includes examples from companion animal, livestock, and avian medicine, as well as aquatic animal diseases ● Focuses on the principles and concepts of epidemiology, surveillance, and diagnostic-test validation and performance ● Includes access to a companion website providing multiple choice questions Veterinary Epidemiology is an invaluable reference for veterinary general practitioners, government veterinarians, agricultural economists, and members of other disciplines interested in animal disease. It is also essential reading for epidemiology students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Intended as an introduction for veterinarians and other animal health professionals interested in and wishing to apply epidemiological methods in their day-to-day work, this book provides a practical guide for those new to the field. Its applied focus covers the principles of epidemiology in real world situations and practical implementation of disease outbreak investigation, for both emerging and endemic diseases. Techniques and methods are discussed, supported by case studies and practical examples to illustrate their application. The book is clearly written and accessible, providing readers with practical information and encouraging the development of problem-solving skills. It is an essential handbook for veterinary surgeons and students and those involved in animal health, food safety and epidemiology.

This successful book, now in its third edition, continues to provide a comprehensive introduction to the role of epidemiology in veterinary medicine. Since the publication of the second edition there has been considerable expansion in the application of veterinary epidemiology: more quantitative methods are available, challenges such as the epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe in 2001 have required epidemiological investigation, and epidemiological analyses have taken on further importance with the emergence of evidence-based veterinary medicine. In this edition: Completely revised and expanded chapters; Increased attention given to the principles and concepts of epidemiology, surveillance, and diagnostic-test validation and performance; Many examples are drawn from both large and small animal medicine, and from the developing as well as the developed world This paperback edition includes a new section on risk analysis. Veterinary Epidemiology is an invaluable reference source for veterinary general practitioners, government veterinarians, agricultural economists and members of other disciplines interested in animal disease. It will also be essential reading for undergraduate and intermediate-level postgraduate students of epidemiology.

Are you studying a course in veterinary epidemiology? Do you need a book that explains epidemiology in an understandable way? Dirk Pfeiffer is Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College in London, UK. He has designed and taught international training courses in epidemiology all over the developed and developing world, from Australia to Vietnam. He currently provides scientific expertise to the European Food Safety Authority, the European Commission, DEFRA, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization and various national governments. He has over 20 year’s practical experience in the field and continues to work on some of the most high profile cases of global animal health. Dirk brings his wealth of knowledge to this concise introduction to the subject. This book covers all the core principles you need to know for your epidemiology course, including: The basic epidemiological concepts Understanding and designing epidemiological studies Measuring cause-effect relationships Statistical analysis and bias Sampling methodology Interpreting diagnostic tests The basic concepts of disease control and eradication The book will also be of use to animal health professionals who need an easy-to-understand introduction to the subject

Basic principles. Epidemiologic concepts. Sampling methods. Measurement of disease frequency and production. Studying disease in animal populations. Descriptive epidemiology. Disease causation. Surveys and analytic observational studies. Design of field trials. Theoretical epidemiology: systems analysis and modeling. Animal health economics. Applied epidemiology. Rationale, strategies, and concepts of animal disease control. Monitoring disease and production. Field investigations.

Practical Clinical Epidemiology for the Veterinarianprovides thorough coverage of the fundamentals of epidemiologicalconcepts, situated within the context of daily clinicalpractice. • Examines epidemiology from the lens of dailyclinical practice to offer a truly practical approach • Demonstrates the relevance of epidemiology to clinicalproblems faced in the field using practical examples to clarify theconcepts • Includes clinical cases from all species, with anemphasis on small animal and equine medicine, to demonstrate theconcepts • Uses an easy-to-read approach, with graphs,flowcharts, and tables to promote understanding • Includes access to a companion website with exercisesfor study and review