OBJECTIVE: To identify attributes of zoological institutions and surveillance system factors that were associated with participation in the West Nile Virus Surveillance System for Zoological Institutions in the USA, and to assess the potential effectiveness of zoos as a novel data source for surveillance of emerging infectious zoonoses. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: The number of specimens submitted between August 2001 and December 2006 for West Nile virus testing was determined for each institution. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the distribution of number of specimens submitted and features of the institutions. Student's t-test was used to assess potential associations between institutional and animal collection characteristics and the total number of specimens submitted by each institution. RESULTS: Factors associated with institutional participation include: submitting specimens for specific purposes of serosurvey testing, sentinel surveillance, vaccine titre checks, vaccine effectiveness, submitting specimens for multiple reasons, and communication with public health. CONCLUSION: Understanding how zoo and surveillance system characteristics are associated with participation in this surveillance effort may enhance public health efforts and the design of future zoological surveillance efforts. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
OBJECTIVE: To identify attributes of zoological institutions and surveillance system factors that were associated with participation in the West Nile Virus Surveillance System for Zoological Institutions in the USA, and to assess the potential effectiveness of zoos as a novel data source for surveillance of emerging infectious zoonoses. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: The number of specimens submitted between August 2001 and December 2006 for West Nile virus testing was determined for each institution. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the distribution of number of specimens submitted and features of the institutions. Student's t-test was used to assess potential associations between institutional and animal collection characteristics and the total number of specimens submitted by each institution. RESULTS: Factors associated with institutional participation include: submitting specimens for specific purposes of serosurvey testing, sentinel surveillance, vaccine titre checks, vaccine effectiveness, submitting specimens for multiple reasons, and communication with public health. CONCLUSION: Understanding how zoo and surveillance system characteristics are associated with participation in this surveillance effort may enhance public health efforts and the design of future zoological surveillance efforts. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Authors: V Rodríguez-Prieto; M Vicente-Rubiano; A Sánchez-Matamoros; C Rubio-Guerri; M Melero; B Martínez-López; M Martínez-Avilés; L Hoinville; T Vergne; A Comin; B Schauer; F Dórea; D U Pfeiffer; J M Sánchez-Vizcaíno Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2014-09-12 Impact factor: 4.434
Authors: Keren Cox-Witton; Andrea Reiss; Rupert Woods; Victoria Grillo; Rupert T Baker; David J Blyde; Wayne Boardman; Stephen Cutter; Claude Lacasse; Helen McCracken; Michael Pyne; Ian Smith; Simone Vitali; Larry Vogelnest; Dion Wedd; Martin Phillips; Chris Bunn; Lyndel Post Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-05-01 Impact factor: 3.240