One Health proof of concept: Bringing a transdisciplinary approach to surveillance for zoonotic viruses at the human-wild animal interface.

As the world continues to react and respond inefficiently to emerging infectious diseases, such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome and the Ebola and Zika viruses, a growing transdisciplinary community has called for a more proactive and holistic approach to prevention and preparedness - One Health. Such an approach presents important opportunities to reduce the impact of disease emergence events and also to mitigate future emergence through improved cross-sectoral coordination. In an attempt to provide proof of concept of the utility of the One Health approach, the US Agency for International Development's PREDICT project consortium designed and implemented a targeted, risk-based surveillance strategy based not on humans as sentinels of disease but on detecting viruses early, at their source, where intervention strategies can be implemented before there is opportunity for spillover and spread in people or food animals. Here, we share One Health approaches used by consortium members to illustrate the potential for successful One Health outcomes that can be achieved through collaborative, transdisciplinary partnerships. PREDICT's collaboration with partners around the world on strengthening local capacity to detect hundreds of viruses in wild animals, coupled with a series of cutting-edge virological and analytical activities, have significantly improved our baseline knowledge on the zoonotic pool of viruses and the risk of exposure to people. Further testament to the success of the project's One Health approach and the work of its team of dedicated One Health professionals are the resulting 90 peer-reviewed, scientific publications in under 5 years that improve our understanding of zoonoses and the factors influencing their emergence. The findings are assisting in global health improvements, including surveillance science, diagnostic technologies, understanding of viral evolution, and ecological driver identification. Through its One Health leadership and multi-disciplinary partnerships, PREDICT has forged new networks of professionals from the human, animal, and environmental health sectors to promote global health, improving our understanding of viral disease spillover from wildlife and implementing strategies for preventing and controlling emerging disease threats

Antimicrobial resistance interventions in the animal sector: scoping review

Animals are considered key contributors to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, little is known about the existing AMR interventions in the animal sector. This scoping review examines the existing evidence on AMR interventions aimed at livestock, animal health professionals (AHPs), and farmers, while reviewing their impact, limitations, gaps, and lessons for future use. The scoping review was conducted following guidelines from the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The databases, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and international organisations’ websites (WHO, FAO, WOAH) were searched for articles reporting interventions targeting livestock, farmers, and AHPs. Interventions were categorised based on seven pre-defined primary measures including: change in antimicrobial use (AMU) practices; change in the uptake of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS); change in development of AMR; change in knowledge of appropriate AMU practices, AMR, and AMS; change in attitudes and perceptions concerning AMU, AMR, and AMS; and surveillance strategies. In total, ninety three sources were included: 66 studies, 20 reports, and 7 webpages. The reviewed interventions focused mostly on AMU practices (22/90), AMS uptake (8/90), and reduction of bacterial or resistant strains (30/90). Changes in knowledge (14/90) and attitude (1/90) were less frequently assessed and were often implicit. Most interventions were conducted within a select country (83/90) and 7/90 were at a global level. Only 19% (16/83) of interventions were implemented in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and most were at herd level with many self-reporting changes. Most of the interventions that focused on surveillance strategies (30/83) were implemented in high-income countries (62/83). Only one study investigated the financial implications of the intervention. The study findings provide an overview of existing AMR interventions and insights into the gaps which can be addressed to guide future interventions and research. A focus on developing, implementing and evaluating interventions in LMICs coupled with the use of objective outcome measures (e.g., measurable outcomes vs. self-reporting) will improve our understanding of the impact of interventions in these settings. Finally, assessing the financial benefits of interventions is necessary to inform feasibility and to encourage uptake of interventions aimed at reducing AMR in the animal health sector

Prevalence of pectinate ligament dysplasia and associations with age, sex and intraocular pressure in the Basset hound, Flatcoated retriever and Dandie Dinmont terrier

The aims of this study were to: determine the prevalence of pectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD) in populations of Basset hounds (BH), Flatcoated retrievers (FCR) and Dandie Dinmont terriers (DDT) resident in the UK; investigate possible associations between the degree of PLD and age, sex and intraocular pressure (IOP) and; investigate possible associations between IOP and age and sex. Gonioscopy was performed in both eyes of 198 BH, 170 FCR and 95 DDT and the percentage of iridocorneal angle affected by PLD was estimated and classified as unaffected (0 %), mildly affected (90 %). Rebound tonometry was performed bilaterally in the majority of enrolled dogs.Seventy-six of 198 (38.4 %) BH, 36/170 (21.2 %) FCR and 21/95 (22.1 %) DDT were moderately or severely affected by PLD. The prevalence of PLD was significantly higher in BH than both FCR and DDT. In all breeds there was a significant positive correlation between PLD and age. In the BH only there was a significant association between PLD and sex. In the DDT only there was a weak negative correlation between PLD and IOP and a moderately strong negative correlation between IOP and age.PLD is prevalent and significantly associated with age in all three breeds we investigated. The linear relationship between PLD and age can be explained by the progression of PLD over time which would contribute to the high prevalence of PLD despite widespread screening

Africa-US Integrated Disease Management Consortium: A Model for International Education and International Development

In 2010, the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment, The Association of Public and Land-grantUniversities and Higher Education for Developmentawarded 11 Africa-US Higher Education partnershipgrants of $1.1 million each to universities in Africaand the US to address national and regional prioritiesin sub-Saharan Africa. Each partnership will developcollaborative research and academic programs tobuild the capacity of the African and US institutions toaffect change in Africa. This paper describes one of thepartnerships between North Dakota State University(NDSU) and Makerere University (Mak) in Uganda thataddresses capacity building in integrated managementof transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses inEastern and Central Africa. In addition, NDSU andMak are part of a consortium of twelve North Americanand African institutions of higher learning workingcollaboratively to offer global educational experienceswith an emphasis on animal production and health andfood security. Several components of the aforementionedpartnership will be discussed including: 1) Africa-USPartnerships, the twinning model; 2) global perspectiveof Higher Education training; 3) centers of excellencemodel and the academic-community-public-privatepartnerships framework under the Africa Institute forStrategic Services Development; and 4) the challengesand achievements of the NDSU-Mak partnership

International Infectious Disease Management: A Case Study of Internationalizing Curricula

Global perspectives in agriculture are critical tothe safety of food and agricultural resources, tradeand consumers globally, yet very few opportunitiesexist for their study. North Dakota State Universityand Makerere University in Uganda responded tothis need by developing a joint Master of Scienceand Graduate Certificate in International InfectiousDisease Management and Biosecurity in 2011. Theprogram requires completion of 30 credits with corecourses offered jointly by both institutions. Theprogram is innovative, learner-centered, with studentengagement, empowerment and responsibility. Thereis interdisciplinary learning, problem-based learningand service learning, with cross pollination of teachingmethods from both institutions. Graduates of thisprogram will have a better understanding of internationalagricultural, animal health and biosecurity issues, makingthem much more viable in today’s competitive jobmarket. This unique program within the US and Africaneducational systems is the first US-Africa trans-Atlanticdegree addressing integrated disease management andinternational biosecurity. The following components ofthe aforementioned program will be discussed: programdevelopment; overview of the program; successes;challenges faced; opportunities; and recommendationsfor the way forward in internationalizing curriculum ontwo campuses across continents

Case Study of Experiential Learning through a Training Model at the Science and Policy Interface: The National Animal Health Policy and Food Security Course

Experiential learning provides an opportunity forstudents to bridge classroom and research knowledgeand experiences with the realities of creating solutionsfor difficult policy issues. Experiential learning becomeseven more powerful for capacity building when it involvescultural and geographic diversity and multiple public andprivate institutions. Our next generation of leaders willneed these bridging experiences to address and solveglobal challenges like climate change, food securityand transboundary diseases. These challenges cannoteffectively be solved by individual countries or institutionsand require creating new frameworks and partnershipsthat are transdisciplinary and global. The objectives ofthis paper were 1) to describe an experiential learningexperience through the National Animal Health and FoodSecurity Policy course conducted in Washington DC and2) discuss ways the curriculum of this multi-institutionalcourse could be internationalized and adopted globally.The paper discusses possible ways of internationalizingthis course including: formation of partnerships withinstitutions that are already involved in multi-institutionalglobal courses; involvement of international agencieswhose missions align with the national health andfood security policy course; and signing memoranda ofunderstanding among governments to use this coursefor capacity building for their public servants

Engaging Intergovernmental Organizations in the Training of Students on Global Animal Health, Public Health and Food Security

Collaboration between higher education institutions and intergovernmental organizations is desirable in order to produce professionals with global competences in animal health, public health and food security. The mission of intergovernmental organizations and their strategic plans normally align well with those of higher education institutions, particularly colleges of agriculture and health sciences, making the two actors natural partners. Historically, intergovernmental organizations and higher education institutions have collaborated in several ways including utilizing intergovernmental organizations� information, sharing courses and academic programs, research, and hosting collaborating centers. The objectives of this paper are: 1) To describe a case study of how multiple higher education institutions (Washington State University (lead), University of Minnesota, University of California Davis, North Dakota State University, University of Prince Edward Island, Iowa State University, and Makerere University) engaged collaboratively with several intergovernmental organizations in training graduate students in global policy formulation under the project �Capacity building in Integrated Management of Transboundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses�, 2) To discuss various ways higher education institutions and intergovernmental organizations could engage to affect global animal health, public health and food security. Lessons learned from the multi-institutional collaborative experience are discussed including possible models of engagement between higher education institutions and intergovernmental organizations. The paper summarizes possible ways higher education institutions could engage with Intergovernmental Organizations in the Training of Students on Global Animal Health, Public Health and Food Security

An International Experiential Learning Program: A Study Abroad Experience in Uganda

An international experience helps create anawareness of international perspectives and preparesstudents for a global workforce. Creating an effectivestudy abroad experience requires strong collaborationand active involvement of local and foreign host partnerinstitutions. This paper describes a one month summerstudy abroad experience in Uganda developed jointly byNorth Dakota State University (NDSU) and MakerereUniversity in Kampala, Uganda to offer internationaleducational experiences with an emphasis on animalproduction and health. The elements shared in thispaper include: course overview and objectives; courserequirements, content and evaluation, management andfunding; student participation; the experiential learningexperience in Uganda; impact; benefits; challenges;student comments; and future directions in promotinginternational learning experiences. The course supportsNDSU’s mission to “address the needs and aspirationsof people in a changing world,” its vision to “be globallyidentified as a contemporary metropolitan land grantinstitution” and its core values to “reflect and servegeographically and culturally diverse populations,”“remain committed to serving people globally” and “valuecollaboration with colleges and universities around theworld.” When considering a study abroad experience,students should be encouraged to broaden their choiceof place and include non-traditional destinations such asdeveloping countries in Africa