ABSTRACT
The need to control transboundary animal disease outbreaks is widely recognised, as is the need for evidence-based decisions regarding which control measures to implement. Key data and information are required to inform this evidence base. To ensure effective communication of the evidence, a rapid process of collation, interpretation and translation is required. This paper describes how epidemiology can provide the framework through which relevant specialists can be engaged to this end, and highlights the central role of epidemiologists, with their unique combination of skills, in this process. It provides an example of an evidence team led by epidemiologists, namely the United Kingdom National Emergency Epidemiology Group, which was established to address this need. It then goes on to consider the different strands of epidemiology, the need for a wide multidisciplinary approach, and the importance of training and preparedness activities to facilitate rapid response.
La nécessité de contrôler les foyers de maladies animales transfrontalières est largement reconnue, tout comme celle de fonder la prise de décisions sur des données probantes pour la mise en oeuvre des mesures de contrôle. Afin de documenter cette base d'éléments probants, il est nécessaire d'obtenir un certain nombre de données et d'informations clés. Un processus rapide de collecte, d'interprétation et de traduction des données doit être mis en place afin de communiquer ces éléments probants de manière efficace. Les auteurs décrivent le cadre que l'épidémiologie peut apporter aux chercheurs pour s'engager sur cette voie ; ils soulignent le rôle central des épidémiologistes dans ce processus, grâce au faisceau unique de compétences dont ils disposent. Ils donnent l'exemple d'une équipe animée par des épidémiologistes travaillant sur les données probantes qui a été mise en place spécifiquement pour répondre à ce besoin : le Groupe national d'épidémiologie d'urgence du Royaume-Uni (National Emergency Epidemiology Group). Les auteurs concluent en menant une réflexion sur les différentes branches de l'épidémiologie, le besoin d'une approche pluridisciplinaire large et l'importance des activités de formation et de préparation pour une réponse rapide.
Hay coincidencia general en que hoy resulta imperativo combatir los brotes transfronterizos de enfermedades animales, al igual que es necesario contar con un sólido fundamento de datos factuales para tomar decisiones sobre las medidas de lucha que conviene implantar. Para generar esta base empírica hay que disponer de un conjunto esencial de datos e información y para comunicarla eficazmente se requiere un rápido proceso de recogida, interpretación y traducción. Los autores explican cómo puede la epidemiología constituir el marco de referencia desde el que trabajen para tal fin los distintos especialistas y destacan la función central que cumplen en este proceso los epidemiólogos, gracias a la singular combinación de competencias que presentan. A modo de ejemplo, describen un equipo dedicado al estudio de datos factuales que fue establecido, bajo la dirección de epidemiólogos, justamente para responder a esta necesidad: el Grupo nacional de respuesta epidemiológica a situaciones de emergencia del Reino Unido (National Emergency Epidemiology Group). Por último, tras detenerse en las distintas vertientes de la epidemiología, inciden en la necesidad de abordar la cuestión desde un planteamiento ampliamente pluridisciplinar y en la importancia que revisten las actividades de formación y preparación para facilitar una respuesta rápida.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Animals , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , United Kingdom/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A crude-oil-degrading Acinetobacter species, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RA57, was isolated by standard enrichment culture techniques on the basis of its ability to utilize the oily sludge found in the vicinity of a local gas station. Strain RA57 was found to contain four plasmids: pSR1 (5.1 kilobases [kb]), pSR2 (5.4 kb), pSR3 (10.5 kb), and pSR4 (20 kb). Both supercoiled and open circular forms of the first three plasmids were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Restriction endonuclease analysis of pSR4 demonstrated that the plasmid contained a circular map. Colonies were isolated at random after growth in the presence of acridine orange and found to fall into two categories: (i) those which had lost the ability to grow on and disperse crude oil in liquid culture and concurrently were cured of pSR4 and (ii) those which retained the ability to both grow on and disperse crude oil and which contained pSR4. Strains from the first class continued to grow on hydrocarbon vapors, indicating that the defect associated with the curing of pSR4 was related to the physical interaction of the cells with the hydrocarbon substrate, rather than to its metabolism. No differences in either adherence to hydrocarbons or production of extracellular emulsifying activity were found between the two classes of mutants. In growth experiments on crude oil in mixed culture with strains which either contained or lacked pSR4, no sparing of the growth defect was observed. The results are consistent with the possibility that pSR4 encodes a factor(s) which is tightly associated with the cell surface.
