DISCONTOOLS supplement: Current research gaps for advancing control of infectious diseases in production animals

Abstract

DISCONTOOLS (DISease CONtrol TOOLS) is an open-access database to assist public and private funders of animal health research in identifying research gaps and planning future research. This database is supported by a range of national funders of animal health research in Europe, with industry providing secretariat support. Information in the database is generated by disease-specific expert groups. In this DISCONTOOLS Supplement, contributing experts expanded their gap analyses into review papers for 15 diseases, covering zoonotic, production and epizootic diseases. Across this diverse array of diseases, it is clear that fundamental research on host-pathogen relationships and immune responses remains critical for evidence-based development of novel vaccines, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics to improve animal health. Furthermore, it is also obvious that there is need to better utilize economics and knowledge regarding "human factors" to optimise uptake and use of a broad range of tools and insights.

Regulation of Enteric Infection and Immunity by Dietary Proanthocyanidins

“…Notably, lifestyle factors such as poor diet (high sugar/high fat) and lack of exercise may not only lead to metabolic diseases, such as type 2-diabetes, but may also predispose to opportunistic infections due to dysfunctional mucosal barrier function ( 14 ). Enteric infections are also a major constraint in all livestock production systems, causing billions of dollars in lost production annually and compromising animal welfare and food security ( 15 ). Importantly, rising resistance to antimicrobial drug treatments in both humans and animals has necessitated the need for novel solutions for promoting healthy gut function and disease resistance ( 16 ).…”

Global knowledge gaps in the prevention and control of bovine viral diarrhoea ( BVD ) virus

“…As part of the larger DISCONTOOLS initiative to identify critical gaps in the current research knowledge for 52 animal diseases (O'Brien, Scudamore, Charlier, & Delavergne, ), an international panel of BVD experts, composed of members from academia, government institutes and industry, reviewed the existing scientific literature and identified research knowledge gaps that could help reduce the global burden of BVD. Following the recent DISCONTOOLS supplement, where peer‐reviewed papers on research gaps were produced for 15 infectious diseases in production animals (Charlier & Barkema, ), this manuscript provides a summary of key findings about BVD including (a) genetic diversity, (b) pathogenesis, (c) transmission, (d) diagnostic testing, (e) vaccination and (f) control. Within each section, both the existing knowledge, knowledge gaps and directions for future research are reviewed.…”

“…As part of the larger DISCONTOOLS initiative to identify critical gaps in the current research knowledge for 52 animal diseases (O'Brien, Scudamore, Charlier, & Delavergne, 2016), an international panel of BVD experts, composed of members from academia, government institutes and industry, reviewed the existing scientific literature and identified research knowledge gaps that could help reduce the global burden of BVD. Following the recent DISCONTOOLS supplement, where peer-reviewed papers on research gaps were produced for 15 infectious diseases in production animals (Charlier & Barkema, 2018) Despite the many socio-economic benefits of controlling BVD in cattle production systems and the availability of effective control measures (Lindberg & Alenius, 1999), only a small number of countries have so far attempted national BVD eradication (Ståhl & Alenius, 2012). This suggests problems in translating fundamental BVD science into real-world action against the disease.…”

Construction of generic roadmaps for the strategic coordination of global research into infectious diseases of animals and zoonoses

“…The roadmap incorporates socio‐economic and environmental (including farming system) aspects of disease control. The uptake and implementation of control strategies are dependent on the socio‐economic factors; hence, these are closely linked on the roadmap and need to be considered at an early stage of development (Charlier & Barkema, 2018). The roadmap takes into account disease surveillance, epidemiology and modelling that are linked back to the basic science that generates knowledge on infection status, host range, pathogen genome and also host genetics.…”

“…The roadmap incorporates socio-economic and environmental (including farming system) aspects of disease control. The uptake and (Charlier & Barkema, 2018). The roadmap takes into account disease surveillance, epidemiology and modelling that are linked back to the basic science that generates knowledge on infection status, host range, pathogen genome and also host genetics.…”