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Research article2011Peer reviewed

Network analysis of cattle and pig movements in Sweden: Measures relevant for disease control and risk based surveillance

Nöremark, Maria; Håkansson, Nina; Sternberg Lewerin, Susanna; Lindberg, Ann; Jonsson, Annie; Sternberg Lewerin, Susanna

Abstract

Registration of cattle and pig movements is mandatory in Sweden and all registered movements between farms in the years 2006-2008 were investigated using network analysis. The networks were analysed as monthly and yearly networks, separately per species and with the two species together. Measures that have been previously discussed in relation to outbreaks and disease control were calculated; moreover a measure of the ingoing infection chain was constructed. The ingoing infection chain captures ingoing contacts through other holdings, taking the temporal aspect and sequence of the movements into account. The distribution of the contacts among the holdings was skewed. Many farms had few or no contacts, while others had many, a pattern which has also been described from other countries. The cattle network and the combined network showed a recurring seasonal pattern, while this was not seen in the pig network. The in-degree was not equivalent to the ingoing infection chain; there were holdings with limited direct contacts, but a large number of indirect contacts. The ingoing infection chain could be a useful measure when setting up strategies for disease control and for risk based surveillance as it identifies holdings with many contacts through live animal movements and thus at potentially higher risk for introduction of contagious diseases. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Cattle-transport; Control strategies; Decision support systems; Epidemics; Eradication programs; Modelling; Seasonal dynamics; Network analysis

Published in

Preventive Veterinary Medicine
2011, Volume: 99, number: 2-4, pages: 78-90
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

      SLU Authors

    • UKÄ Subject classification

      Clinical Science

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.12.009

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/46734