RVC funded studentship in partnership with The Pirbright Institute, UK

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Source: http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Postgraduate/Research/PhD/Pfeiffer2012.cfm

RVC funded studentship in partnership with The Pirbright Institute (formally The Institute for Animal Health)

Transmission routes for African swine fever virus

Supervisors: Prof. Dirk Pfeiffer (pfeiffer@rvc.ac.uk) & Dr Linda Dixon (The Pirbright Institute)

Department: Veterinary Clinical Sciences

 

African swine fever virus causes a deadly disease in pigs which can be transmitted by different routes including direct contact between pigs or with wild suids, ingestion of infected material and by bites from infected ticks. Although risk factors for infection and spread have been identified, attempts to model the spread of ASFV within and between herds have been hampered due to lack of data on the infectiousness of the different transmission routes. This information is essential for the design of effective and efficient control strategies. The aim of this project is to estimate the effectiveness of different transmission routes and to assess their importance for the spread of disease in a stochastic compartmental disease transmission model. This information is essential for the design of effective and efficient control strategies.

The research will be conducted at both institutions. More details on the project, including how the project will be split across sites, can be found in the further information document below:

Click here for further information on the project (downloadable PDF).

This is a 4 year PhD studentship available to UK and EU applicants eligible for Home fees. The studentship includes a tax free stipend of £15,590 pa (£20,970 pa for qualified veterinarians).

For further details please contact Prof. Dirk Pfeiffer email: pfeiffer@rvc.ac.uk

 

Deadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday 15th October. Interviews to be held Monday 29th October. Click here to apply.

 

References:

  • Costard,S, Wieland,B, De Glanville,W, Jori,F, Rowlands,R, Vosloo,W, Roger,F, Pfeiffer, D, Dixon,L (2009) African swine fever: How can global spread be prevented. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 364, 2683–2696
  • Penrith, M. L., Thomson, G. R., and Bastos, A. D. S. (2004). African swine fever. In 'Infectious Diseases of livestock with special reference to Southern Africa'. (J. A. W. Coetzer and R. C. TustinEds. ) pp. 1088-1119. (Oxford University Press: Cape Town.)
  • King, K , Chapman, D Argilaguet, JM ; Fishbourne, E.,  Hutet, E Cariolet, R Hutchings, G , Oura, CAL, Netherton, CL , Moffat, K , Taylor, G , Le Potier, MF , Dixon, LK , Takamatsu, HH 2011 Protection of European domestic pigs from virulent African isolates of African swine fever virus by experimental immunisation.  Vaccine   29    4593-4600   DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.04
  • Horst, H. S., R. B. M. Huirne, and A. A. Dijkhuizen. 1996. Eliciting the relative importance of risk factors concerning contagious animal diseases using conjoint analysis: a preliminary survey report. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 27:183-195.
  • EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (2010). Scientific Opinion on African Swine Fever. Parma, Italy, EFSA.