[Transmission risk for foot-and-mouth-disease in an animal-densed region in Germany--results from an expert survey]. / Risiken der Ubertragung der Maul- und Klauenseuche in einer viehdichten Region in Deutschland--Ergebnisse einer empirischen Expertenbefragung.

Due to its strong impact on economics and trading the Foot-and-Mouth-Disease (FMD) is one of the most important animal diseases within animal husbandry. Because no recent specific field observation for FMD exists in Germany, the risk assessment needs validated epidemiological models to prepare decision tools for FMD-outbreak management. The aim of this investigation was therefore to prepare a risk assessment for different transmission pathways to use for FMD-models in future. To prepare a FMD-transmission model the risk was assessed within a highly animal densed region in Germany by means of an expert survey. For each transmission pathway an assessment was given in the categories low, medium, high and severe. Some pathways were rated homogenously between the experts, but some were rated heterogeneously. Therefore areas were identified with common rating as well as areas, where further investigations to specify FMD-models are necessary.

[The effect of response behaviour on veterinary epidemiological studies--an analysis based on a cross-sectional study of livestock management of cattle farms in Lower Saxony]. / Einfluss des Antwortverhaltens in veterinärepidemiologischen Studien--Untersuchungen am Beispiel einer Querschnittsstudie zum Bestandsmanagement in Rinder-haltenden Betrieben in Niedersachsen.

Cross-sectional studies are used as an epidemiological instrument in several veterinary investigations. A common means of collecting information is the questionnaire, which is send to diagnostic units like farmers. A common fact is, that not all designated individuals take part. So it is to be clarified, if and in which concern this fact influences the results of an epidemiological study. Considering the example of a cross-sectional study in cattle farms this paper shows, that consistency of Responders and Non-Responders differs significantly. Technical measures to estimate this effect and consequences for the results are shown. Small and medium farms showed a different response rate than big farms before as well as after a mailed reminding letter. Considering the complete return period there was no significantly different response rate between farms of different sizes. Furthermore there are noticeable differences between Responders and Non-Responders concerning parameters like housing or use of commercial feedstuff. Therefore it is implicitly required to send a reminding letter and pursue Non-Responders in researches. Otherwise a biased sample collective is generated.