Browsing by Subject "One Health"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Ethno-Epidemiology Of Febrile Illness At The Human Livestock Interface In Uganda
    (2022-01) Mahero, Michael
    Undifferentiated febrile illness is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many resource-limited countries. Effective management of febrile illness in areas of limited resources remains a challenge due to delayed recognition and reporting in addition to lack of adequate diagnostic infrastructure. There is increasing evidence linking Non-Malarial Febrile Illness (NMFI) to contact with animals. However, the syndemic human-livestock interactions that drive these illnesses are complex and poorly understood. The overall goal of this dissertation is to improve our understanding of the role that the hu-man-livestock relationship plays in the occurrence of NMFIs in humans. Understanding the cultural context of the human-livestock relationship in Western Uganda, and under-standing its relationship to NMFI occurrence, could help guide development of novel infectious disease prevention and management strategies consequently reducing infectious disease spillover events in areas that lack diagnostic infrastructure. Toward this end, we employed a sequential mixed method ethno-epidemiological approach, comparing and contrasting two culturally different livestock management systems, agro pastoral and pastoral, present in a cultural mosaic in Western Uganda (Hoima and Kasese Districts). Specifically we hypothesize that there are culturally relevant NMFI “syndromic” case definitions that correlate with specific socio-cultural factors associated with livestock ownership and management, which drive NMFI prevalence, and disproportionately contribute to NMFI clustering along the human-livestock inter-face. The study involved an ethnographic study, two cross-sectional surveys and a Brucella sero-survey. It revealed that perception of illness and associated risk factors was heavily influenced by the predominant livelihood activity of the community. The ordinal odds of febrile illness was positively associated with (a) milking, (b) use of bulls for breeding and (c) participating in fishing/hunting livelihood activities; while control of vectors was negatively associated with the ordinal odds of febrile illness (P<0.05). We also noted that among the Brucella positive households, nearly half reported subjective fever in the preceding year. Among the seropositive individuals, 44% reported diagnosis of malaria to explain their fevers and 31% reported no confirmatory diagnosis. Apparent Brucella herd prevalence in cattle was 8.6% (3.7-18.6; 95% CI), while animal level sero-prevalence was 7.1% (3.3-14.6; 95% CI). None of the goats tested positive.
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    Moving toward sustainability: A look beyond donor-dependent network structures
    (2020-12) Errecaborde, Kaylee
    This dissertation research delves into the rise of the multilateral, multinational Global Health Security Agenda in 2014, and the subsequent global push toward collaborative, “One Health,” governance as a solution to emerging threats at the interface of human, animal and environmental health. Using interpretive methods, the research examines the systems factors that influenced the development of structures for two collaborative networks–Multisectoral, One Health, Coordinating Mechanisms (MCMs)–in Thailand and Vietnam. Two primary questions were addressed: (1) how are MCMs established and institutionalized within national governments, and (2) how do structures frame the boundaries of MCM collaboration, either supporting or challenging efforts toward sustained government networks. In-depth interviews and document analysis of two comparative case studies in Thailand and Vietnam revealed that two systems factors, the influence of international donors and the capacity of MCM member organizations, were interdependent starting conditions for MCM development. These factors created paradoxical tensions that influenced MCM structures at the start of collaboration, creating challenges and opportunities for sustainable networks beyond donor funding. It was observed that MCM leaders, if aware, may be able to manage these interdependent tensions in support of network sustainability. As donor influence and funding is reduced over time, it requires a redistribution of tensions during the process of collaboration to support adapted network structures. The transfer and re-distribution of tensions can occur via new and adapted network policies, the development of transformational funding mechanisms, and leader support for critical connectors–key actors or champions within the network. If leaders are empowered to view the MCM as a dynamic structuration process that requires the balancing and transferring of tensions, they may be better placed to maintain fluid collaborative junctures and sustain new inter-organizational pathways. However, these leaders face considerable challenges, including shifting government positions, reorganization, position vacancies and retirements, all of which create barriers to allowing leaders the competencies–knowledge, skills and attitudes, to manage and support structural adaptation over time. This research provides theoretical and practical insights into the development of sustainable networks that are supported, but not defined, by donor-led conditions at the start of collaboration.
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    Preventing the Zoonotic Transmission of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and Subsequent Development of Post-diarrheal Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome at Animal Contact Venues using a One Health Approach
    (2023) Vachon, Madhura
    Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a group of enteric bacteria that can cause severe illness in people, particularly young children. STEC infection can progress to the development of post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can lead to renal failure and even death in the most severe cases. Ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, and goats, are natural reservoirs of STEC and thus, interacting with these animals can pose a human health risk. The purpose of this dissertation is to consider STEC transmission and subsequent HUS development from animal contact venues as a system connected by elements of human health, animal health, and environmental health and propose ways to mitigate disease risk at these events simultaneously across all three domains.In a series of four chapters, this thesis identifies a relationship between animal exposure and HUS development independent of known risk factors for HUS, analyzes the effect of ruminant exposure setting on HUS development, determines which public health interventions are most effective at maximizing handwashing behavior at agricultural fairs, and offers pilot data measuring serum cortisol levels in Minnesota show cattle along with matched cattle from farm locations that are not for show. The combined findings from these studies a) provide evidence of an otherwise unexplored relationship between ruminant exposure and HUS, b) showcase that all children, regardless of prior farm exposures, have an increased risk of HUS when visiting a farm or other animal contact venue, c) demonstrate the impact that various social influences can have on handwashing behavior and propose ways to improve handwashing at animal contact venues, and d) offer pilot data to inform future research on cattle stress at agricultural fairs and petting zoos.
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    The use of spatiotemporal analytical tools to inform decisions and policy in One Health scenarios
    (2019-02) Kanankege, Kaushi
    The use of spatiotemporal analytical tools to generate risk maps and risk scores that facilitate early detection of health and environmental threats is increasingly popular in many countries and international organizations around the world. The traditional approach of spatial epidemiology focuses on mapping and conducting tests for detection of spatial aggregation of cases, referred to as “clusters”, to determine visual and geographical relational clues, and then ecologic approaches to recognize etiologic signs of disease distribution in relation to explanatory factors. The advances in spatial epidemiology are focused on the application of spatiotemporal findings to inform mitigation measures, use of big data to improve the validity and reliability of case-data based analyses, and eventually to provide risk estimates in a timely manner to support decision and policy in preventive and control measures, while supporting the improvement of existing data collection processes. This study provided a framework for choosing spatiotemporal analytical tools, summarizing the features of tools commonly used in spatial analysis, and discussing their potential use when informing decisions related to One Health scenarios. To this end, three case studies addressing endemic conditions affecting ecosystem health, animal health, and public health in Minnesota were compared. A risk score; an estimate/characterization of the disease spread, and suggestions on risk zones were introduced, using spatiotemporal analytical tools, addressing aquatic invasive species in Minnesota waters, Johne’s disease in dairy cattle, and Anthrax, affecting wildlife, livestock, and humans, respectively. The One Health concept promotes a collaborative approach, through effective communication and cooperation across disciplines and sectors, to solve complex problems that intersect animal, human and environmental health. An essential component in the process is understanding the stakeholder perspectives of the problem. Therefore, the comparison between the case studies focused on the lessons learned through the researcher-stakeholder interactions and identification of the opportunities and challenges in the process. Overall, the work presented through this dissertation, serves as precedent for establishing a protocol of “good practices” when promoting the use of spatiotemporal analytical tools to inform the implementation of scientifically driven risk management and policy solutions to One Health scenarios.