Predicting Disease Risk, Identifying Stakeholders, and Informing Control Strategies: A Case Study of Anthrax in Montana

Abstract

Infectious diseases that affect wildlife and livestock are challenging to manage, and can lead to large scale die offs, economic losses, and threats to human health. The management of infectious diseases in wildlife and livestock is made easier with knowledge of disease risk across space and identifying stakeholders associated with high risk landscapes. This study focuses on anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, risk to wildlife and livestock in Montana. There is a history of anthrax in Montana, but the spatial extent of disease risk and subsequent wildlife species at risk are not known. Our objective was to predict the potential geographic distribution of anthrax risk across Montana, identify wildlife species at risk and their distributions, and define stakeholders. We used an ecological niche model to predict the potential distribution of anthrax risk. We overlaid susceptible wildlife species distributions and land ownership delineations on our risk map. We found that there was an extensive region across Montana predicted as potential anthrax risk. These potentially risky landscapes overlapped the ranges of all 6 ungulate species considered in the analysis and livestock grazing allotments, and this overlap was on public and private land for all species. Our findings suggest that there is the potential for a multi species anthrax outbreak on multiple landscapes across Montana. Our potential anthrax risk map can be used to prioritize landscapes for surveillance and for implementing livestock vaccination programs.

Perceptions and Practices towards Anthrax in Selected Agricultural Communities in Arua District, Uganda

“…Other practices observed in this study, such as herding livestock communally, whereby animals share common grazing and watering points, could be facilitating the spread of anthrax. Communal livestock herding also complicates decision making when treatment or vaccination of the animals is envisaged [ 8 , 18 ].…”

Gambaran Umum, Prevalensi, dan Pencegahan Antraks pada Manusia di Indonesia

“…Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) dapat digunakan untuk memprediksi kondisi geografis atau lingkungan yang mendukung persistensi pathogen dan terjadinya wabah termasuk bakteri antraks. 44 Pendekatan ENMs pernah digunakan untuk memprediksi potensi distribusi B. antrachis di lingkungan yang diintepretasikan sebagai landscape yang dilengkapi dengan kondisi biotik dan abiotik yang mendukung bakteri tersebut. 44 Peningkatan kesadaran masyarakat terutama mengenai dampak penyakit antraks dengan metode yang mudah dipahami dan peningkatkan sistem pelaporan kasus oleh petugas juga berperan besar dalam pemberantasan antraks.…”

“…44 Pendekatan ENMs pernah digunakan untuk memprediksi potensi distribusi B. antrachis di lingkungan yang diintepretasikan sebagai landscape yang dilengkapi dengan kondisi biotik dan abiotik yang mendukung bakteri tersebut. 44 Peningkatan kesadaran masyarakat terutama mengenai dampak penyakit antraks dengan metode yang mudah dipahami dan peningkatkan sistem pelaporan kasus oleh petugas juga berperan besar dalam pemberantasan antraks. 20 Penyuluhan dapat dilakukan sebagai salah satu upaya meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat (public awareness) dan sebaiknya didahului dengan survei pengetahuan, sikap, dan praktik untuk menilai persepsi masyarakat mengenai antraks.…”

Predicting the Geographic Distribution of the Bacillus anthracis A1.a/Western North American Sub-Lineage for the Continental United States: New Outbreaks, New Genotypes, and New Climate Data

“…10,11 Although vaccination is available and inexpensive, it is often used as reactionary outbreak control rather than proactive disease prevention 4 in livestock; administration in wildlife is logistically untenable. 12,13 Presently, anthrax continues to occur in the historical enzootic zone of West Texas 14 and the re-emergent zone of southwestern Montana. 15,16 Current anthrax control and management strategies in wildlife focus on surveillance and carcass decontamination during the risk season.…”