About

University roles and responsibilities

  • School of Veterinary Medicine Impact Lead

    Publications

    EVA JANOUSKOVA, Jessica Clark, Olumayowa Kajero, Sergi Alonso, Poppy H L Lamberton, MARTHA ELIZABETH BETSON, JOAQUIN PRADA (2022)Public Health Policy Pillars for the Sustainable Elimination of Zoonotic Schistosomiasis, In: Frontiers in tropical diseases3826501 Frontiers Media

    Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease acquired through contact with contaminated freshwater. The definitive hosts are terrestrial mammals, including humans, with some Schistosoma species crossing the animal-human boundary through zoonotic transmission. An estimated 12 million people live at risk of zoonotic schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi, largely in the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region and in Indonesia. Mathematical models have played a vital role in our understanding of the biology, transmission, and impact of intervention strategies, however, these have mostly focused on non-zoonotic Schistosoma species. Whilst these non-zoonotic-based models capture some aspects of zoonotic schistosomiasis transmission dynamics, the commonly-used frameworks are yet to adequately capture the complex epi-ecology of multi-host zoonotic transmission. However, overcoming these knowledge gaps goes beyond transmission dynamics modelling. To improve model utility and enhance zoonotic schistosomiasis control programmes, we highlight three pillars that we believe are vital to sustainable interventions at the implementation (community) and policy-level, and discuss the pillars in the context of a One-Health approach, recognising the interconnection between humans, animals and their shared environment. These pillars are: (1) human and animal epi-ecological understanding; (2) economic considerations (such as treatment costs and animal losses); and (3) sociological understanding, including inter- and intra-human and animal interactions. These pillars must be built on a strong foundation of trust, support and commitment of stakeholders and involved institutions.

    Joaquín M Prada, Wilma A Stolk, Emma L Davis, Panayiota Touloupou, Swarnali Sharma, Johanna Muñoz, Rocio M Caja Rivera, Lisa J Reimer, Edwin Michael, Sake J de Vlas (2020)Predicting the impact of disruptions in lymphatic filariasis elimination programmes due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and possible mitigation strategies, In: medRxiv Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
    Arnoud HM van Vliet, Siddhartha Thakur, Joaquin M Prada, Jai W Mehat, Roberto La Ragione (2021)Genomic screening of antimicrobial resistance markers in UK and US Campylobacter isolates highlights stability of resistance over an 18 year period, In: bioRxiv Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    Seth Blumberg, Joaquin M Prada, Christine Tedijanto, Michael S Deiner, William W Godwin, Paul M Emerson, Pamela J Hooper, Anna Borlase, T Deirdre Hollingsworth, Catherine E Oldenburg (2021)Forecasting trachoma control and identifying transmission-hotspots, In: Clinical Infectious Diseases72 Oxford University Press US
    NTD Modelling Consortium Schistosomiasis Group, JOAQUIN PRADA (2019)Insights from quantitative and mathematical modelling on the proposed WHO 2030 goal for schistosomiasis, In: Gates Open Research3 Gates Foundation-Open Access
    Jason A Galvis, Joaquin M Prada, Chris M Jones, Gustavo Machado (2020)Transmission and control strategies for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, In: bioRxiv Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    NTD Modelling Consortium discussion group on trachoma, JOAQUIN PRADA (2021)Insights from mathematical modelling and quantitative analysis on the proposed 2030 goals for trachoma, In: Gates Open Research3 F1000 Research Limited London, UK
    NTD Modelling Consortium Lymphatic Filariasis Group, JOAQUIN PRADA (2019)The roadmap towards elimination of lymphatic filariasis by 2030: insights from quantitative and mathematical modelling, In: Gates open research3 Gates Foundation-Open Access
    Jason A Galvis, Cesar A Corzo, Joaquin M Prada, Gustavo Machado (2021)Modelling the transmission and vaccination strategy for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, In: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    Eva Janoušková, Jessica Clark, Olumayowa Kajero, Sergi Alonso, Poppy HL Lamberton, Martha Betson, Joaquín M Prada (2022)Public Health Policy Pillars for the Sustainable Elimination of Zoonotic Schistosomiasis Preprints
    Jessica Clark, Wilma A Stolk, María-Gloria Basáñez, Luc E Coffeng, Zulma M Cucunubá, Matthew A Dixon, Louise Dyson, Katie Hampson, Michael Marks, Graham F Medley, JOAQUIN PRADA (2022)How modelling can help steer the course set by the World Health Organization 2021-2030 roadmap on neglected tropical diseases, In: Gates Open Research5 F1000 Research Limited London, UK
    Thelma Verónica Poggio, José Manuel Gómez, Lorena Analia Boado, Adrián Alberto Vojnov, Edmundo Larrieu, Guillermo B. Mujica, Oscar Jensen, Maria Laura Gertiser, Joaquin M. Prada, Maria-Gloria Basáñez (2022)Immunodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in livestock: Development and validation dataset of an ELISA test using a recombinant B8/2 subunit of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, In: Data in brief42108255pp. 108255-108255 Elsevier Inc

    The accuracy of screening tests for detecting cystic echinococcosis (CE) in livestock depends on characteristics of the host–parasite interaction and the extent of serological cross-reactivity with other taeniid species. The AgB8 kDa protein is considered to be the most specific native or recombinant antigen for immunodiagnosis of ovine CE. A particular DNA fragment coding for rAgB8/2 was identified, that provides evidence of specific reaction in the serodiagnosis of metacestode infection. We developed and validated an IgG Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test using a recombinant antigen B sub-unit EgAgB8/2 (rAgB8/2) of Echinoccocus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) to estimate CE prevalence in sheep. A 273 bp DNA fragment coding for rAgB8/2 was expressed as a fusion protein (∼30 kDa) and purified by affinity chromatography. Evaluation of the analytical and diagnostic performance of the ELISA followed the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) manual, including implementation of serum panels from: uninfected lambs (n = 79); experimentally infected (with 2,000 E. granulosus s.l. eggs each) sheep with subsequent evidence of E. granulosus cysts by necropsy (n = 36), and animals carrying other metacestode/trematode infections (n = 20). The latter were used to assess the cross-reactivity of rAgB8/2, with these animals being naturally infected with Taenia hydatigena, Thysanosoma actinioides and/or Fasciola hepatica. EgAgB8/2 showed cross-reaction with only one serum sample from a sheep infected with Ta. hydatigena out of the 20 animals tested. Furthermore, the kinetics of the humoral response over time in five 6-month old sheep, each experimentally infected with 2,000 E. granulosus s.l. eggs, was evaluated up to 49 weeks (approximately one year) post infection (n = 5). The earliest detectable IgG response against rAgB8/2 was observed in sera from two and four sheep, 7 and 14 days after experimental infection, respectively. The highest immune response across all five animals was found 16 to 24 weeks post infection.

    Chawarat Rotejanaprasert, Pavadee Chuaicharoen, Joaquin M. Prada, Thanawadee Thantithaveewat, Poom Adisakwattana, Wirichada Pan-ngum (2023)Evaluation of Kato-Katz and multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction performance for clinical helminth infections in Thailand using a latent class analysis, In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B378(1887)20220281pp. 20220281-20220281 The Royal Society

    Using an appropriate diagnostic tool is essential to soil-transmitted helminth control and elimination efforts. Kato-Katz (KK) is the most commonly used diagnostic, but recently other tools, such as real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (multiplex qPCR), are starting to be employed more. Here, we evaluated the performance of these two diagnostic tools for five helminth species in Thailand. In the absence of a gold standard, diagnostic performance can be evaluated using latent class analysis. Our results suggest that in moderate to high prevalence settings above 2% multiplex qPCR could be more sensitive than KK, this was particularly apparent for Opisthorchis viverrini in the northeastern provinces. However, for low prevalence, both diagnostics suffered from low sensitivity. Specificity of both diagnostics was estimated to be high (above 70%) across all settings. For some specific helminth infection such as O. viverrini, multiplex qPCR is still a preferable choice of diagnostic test. KK performed equally well in detecting Ascaris lumbricoides and Taenia solium when the prevalence is moderate to high (above 2%). Neither test performed well when the prevalence of infection is low (below 2%), and certainly in the case for hookworm and Trichuris trichiura. Combination of two or more diagnostic tests can improve the performance although the cost would be high. Development of new methods for helminth surveillance at the pre-elimination phase is therefore very important. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Challenges and opportunities in the fight against neglected tropical diseases: a decade from the London Declaration on NTDs’.

    Brian Gardner, Martha Betson, Mark A. Chambers, Francesca M. Contadini, Laura C. Gonzalez Villeta, Marwa M. Hassan, Roberto M. La Ragione, Joaquin M. Prada, Lorenzo A. Santorelli, Nick Selemetas, Mukunthan Tharmakulasingam, Arnoud H. M. Van Vliet, Inaki Deza-Cruz, Giovanni Lo Iacono (2023)Mapping the evidence of the effects of environmental factors on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the non-built environment: Protocol for a systematic evidence map, In: Environment International171107707 Elsevier

    Background Human, animal, and environmental health are increasingly threatened by the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotic treatments commonly contributes to this threat, but it is also becoming apparent that multiple, interconnected environmental factors can play a significant role. Thus, a One Health approach is required for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental dimensions of antibiotic resistance and inform science-based decisions and actions. The broad and multidisciplinary nature of the problem poses several open questions drawing upon a wide heterogeneous range of studies. Objective This study seeks to collect and catalogue the evidence of the potential effects of environmental factors on the abundance or detection of antibiotic resistance determinants in the outdoor environment, i.e., antibiotic resistant bacteria and mobile genetic elements carrying antibiotic resistance genes, and the effect on those caused by local environmental conditions of either natural or anthropogenic origin. Methods Here, we describe the protocol for a systematic evidence map to address this, which will be performed in adherence to best practice guidelines. We will search the literature from 1990 to present, using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection as well as the grey literature. We shall include full-text, scientific articles published in English. Reviewers will work in pairs to screen title, abstract and keywords first and then full-text documents. Data extraction will adhere to a code book purposely designed. Risk of bias assessment will not be conducted as part of this SEM. We will combine tables, graphs, and other suitable visualisation techniques to compile a database i) of studies investigating the factors associated with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment and ii) map the distribution, network, cross-disciplinarity, impact and trends in the literature.

    Emma Louise Taylor, Joaquin Prada, Victor Del Rio Vilas, Eduardo A. Undurraga, Ryan Wallace, Daniel L. Horton (2023)Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Integrated Bite Case Management and Sustained Dog Vaccination for Rabies Control, In: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene109(1)pp. 205-213

    The successful prevention, control, and elimination of dog-mediated rabies is challenging due to insufficient resource availability and inadequate placement. An integrated dog bite case management (IBCM) system plus dog vaccination can help address these challenges. Based on data from the IBCM system in Haiti, we conducted a cost-effectiveness evaluation of a newly established IBCM system plus sustained vaccination and compared it with 1) a no bite-case management (NBCM) and 2) a non–risk-based (NRB) program, where bite victims presenting at a health clinic would receive post-exposure prophylaxis regardless of risk assessment. We also provide cost-effectiveness guidance for an ongoing IBCM system and for sub-optimal dog vaccination coverages, considering that not all cost-effective interventions are affordable. Cost-effectiveness outcomes included average cost per human death averted (USD/death averted) and per life-year gained (LYG). The analysis used a governmental perspective. Considering a sustained 5-year implementation with 70% dog vaccination coverage, IBCM had a lower average cost per death averted (IBCM: $7,528, NBCM: $7,797, NRB: $15,244) and cost per LYG (IBCM: $152, NBCM: $158, NRB: $308) than NBCM and NRB programs. As sensitivity analysis, we estimated cost-effectiveness for alternative scenarios with lower dog-vaccination coverages (30%, 55%) and lower implementation costs. Our results suggest that better health and cost-effectiveness outcomes are achieved with the continued implementation of an IBCM program ($118 per life-year saved) compared with a newly established IBCM program ($152 per life-year saved). Our results suggest that IBCM is more cost-effective than non-integrated programs to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies.

    Joaquin Prada, Panayiota Touloupou, Moses Adriko, Edridah M. Tukahebwa, Poppy H. L. Lamberton, T. Déirdre Hollingsworth (2018)Understanding the relationship between egg- and antigen-based diagnostics of Schistosoma mansoni infection pre- and post-treatment in Uganda, In: Parasites & Vectors11(21)pp. 1-8 BioMed Central

    Background Schistosomiasis is a major socio-economic and public health problem in many sub-Saharan African countries. After large mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns, prevalence of infection rapidly returns to pre-treatment levels. The traditional egg-based diagnostic for schistosome infections, Kato-Katz, is being substituted in many settings by circulating antigen recognition-based diagnostics, usually the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen test (CCA). The relationship between these diagnostics is poorly understood, particularly after treatment in both drug-efficacy studies and routine monitoring. Results We created a model of schistosome infections to better understand and quantify the relationship between these two egg- and adult worm antigen-based diagnostics. We focused particularly on the interpretation of “trace” results after CCA testing. Our analyses suggest that CCA is generally a better predictor of prevalence, particularly after treatment, and that trace CCA results are typically associated with truly infected individuals. Conclusions Even though prevalence rises to pre-treatment levels only six months after MDAs, our model suggests that the average intensity of infection is much lower, and is probably in part due to a small burden of surviving juveniles from when the treatment occurred. This work helps to better understand CCA diagnostics and the interpretation of post-treatment prevalence estimations.

    Edward C Schrom, Joaquin Prada, Andrea L Graham (2017)Immune Signaling Networks: Sources of Robustness and Constrained Evolvability during Coevolution, In: Molecular Biology and Evolution35(3)pp. 676-687 Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Defense against infection incurs costs as well as benefits that are expected to shape the evolution of optimal defense strategies. In particular, many theoretical studies have investigated contexts favoring constitutive versus inducible defenses. However, even when one immune strategy is theoretically optimal, it may be evolutionarily unachievable. This is because evolution proceeds via mutational changes to the protein interaction networks underlying immune responses, not by changes to an immune strategy directly. Here, we use a theoretical simulation model to examine how underlying network architectures constrain the evolution of immune strategies, and how these network architectures account for desirable immune properties such as inducibility and robustness. We focus on immune signaling because signaling molecules are common targets of parasitic interference but are rarely studied in this context. We find that in the presence of a coevolving parasite that disrupts immune signaling, hosts evolve constitutive defenses even when inducible defenses are theoretically optimal. This occurs for two reasons. First, there are relatively few network architectures that produce immunity that is both inducible and also robust against targeted disruption. Second, evolution toward these few robust inducible network architectures often requires intermediate steps that are vulnerable to targeted disruption. The few networks that are both robust and inducible consist of many parallel pathways of immune signaling with few connections among them. In the context of relevant empirical literature, we discuss whether this is indeed the most evolutionarily accessible robust inducible network architecture in nature, and when it can evolve.

    W.A. Stolk, Joaquin Prada, M.E. Smith, P. Kontoroupis, A.S. De Vos, P. Touloupou, M.A. Irvine, P. Brown, S. Subramanian, M. Kloek, E. Michael, T.D. Hollingsworth, S.J. De Vlas (2018)Are alternative strategies required to accelerate the global elimination of lymphatic filariasis? Insights from mathematical models, In: Clinical Infectious Diseases66pp. S260-S266 Oxford University Press

    Background. With the 2020 target year for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) approaching, there is an urgent need to assess how long mass drug administration (MDA) programs with annual ivermectin + albendazole (IA) or diethylcarbamazine + albendazole (DA) would still have to be continued, and how elimination can be accelerated. We addressed this using mathematical modeling. Methods. We used 3 structurally different mathematical models for LF transmission (EPIFIL, LYMFASIM, TRANSFIL) to simulate trends in microfilariae (mf) prevalence for a range of endemic settings, both for the current annual MDA strategy and alternative strategies, assessing the required duration to bring mf prevalence below the critical threshold of 1%. Results. Three annual MDA rounds with IA or DA and good coverage (≥65%) are sufficient to reach the threshold in settings that are currently at mf prevalence

    H.C. Lepper, Joaquin Prada, E.L. Davis, S.A. Gunawardena, T. DÃirdre Hollingsworth (2018)Complex interactions in soil-transmitted helminth co-infections from a cross-sectional study in Sri Lanka, In: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene112(8)pp. 397-404 Oxford University Press

    Background: Co-infection with multiple soil-transmitted helminth (STH) species is common in communities with a high STH prevalence. The life histories of STH species share important characteristics, particularly in the gut, and there is the potential for interaction, but evidence on whether interactions may be facilitating or antagonistic are limited. Methods: Data from a pretreatment cross-sectional survey of STH egg deposition in a tea plantation community in Sri Lanka were analysed to evaluate patterns of co-infection and changes in egg deposition. Results: There were positive associations between Trichuris trichiura (whipworm) and both Necator americanus (hookworm) and Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), but N. americanus and Ascaris were not associated. N. americanus and Ascaris infections had lower egg depositions when they were in single infections than when they were co-infecting. There was no clear evidence of a similar effect of co-infection in Trichuris egg deposition. Conclusions: Associations in prevalence and egg deposition in STH species may vary, possibly indicating that effects of co-infection are species dependent. We suggest that between-species interactions that differ by species could explain these results, but further research in different populations is needed to support this theory. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

    Joaquin Prada, C.J.E. Metcalf, M.J. Ferrari (2018)Improving measles incidence inference using age-structured serological data, In: Epidemiology and Infection146(13)pp. 1699-1706 Cambridge University Press

    Measles is a target for elimination in all six WHO regions by 2020, and over the last decade, there has been considerable progress towards this goal. Surveillance is recognised as a cornerstone of elimination programmes, allowing early identification of outbreaks, thus enabling control and preventing re-emergence. Fever-rash surveillance is increasingly available across WHO regions, and this symptom-based reporting is broadly used for measles surveillance. However, as measles control increases, symptom-based cases are increasingly likely to reflect infection with other diseases with similar symptoms such as rubella, which affects the same populations, and can have a similar seasonality. The WHO recommends that cases from suspected measles outbreaks be laboratory-confirmed, to identify 'true' cases, corresponding to measles IgM titres exceeding a threshold indicative of infection. Although serological testing for IgM has been integrated into the fever-rash surveillance systems in many countries, the logistics of sending in every suspected case are often beyond the health system's capacity. We show how age data from serologically confirmed cases can be leveraged to infer the status of non-Tested samples, thus strengthening the information we can extract from symptom-based surveillance. Applying an age-specific confirmation model to data from three countries with divergent epidemiology across Africa, we identify the proportion of cases that need to be serologically tested to achieve target levels of accuracy in estimated infected numbers and discuss how this varies depending on the epidemiological context. Our analysis provides an approach to refining estimates of incidence leveraging all available data, which has the potential to improve allocation of resources, and thus contribute to rapid and efficient control of outbreaks. © Cambridge University Press 2018 This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

    E. Michael, S. Sharma, M.E. Smith, P. Touloupou, F. Giardina, Joaquin Prada, W.A. Stolk, D. Hollingsworth, S.J. de Vlas (2018)Quantifying the value of surveillance data for improving model predictions of lymphatic filariasis elimination, In: PLoS neglected tropical diseases12(10) NLM (Medline)

    Mathematical models are increasingly being used to evaluate strategies aiming to achieve the control or elimination of parasitic diseases. Recently, owing to growing realization that process-oriented models are useful for ecological forecasts only if the biological processes are well defined, attention has focused on data assimilation as a means to improve the predictive performance of these models.

    M. Atlija, Joaquin Prada, B. Gutierrez-Gil, F.A. Rojo-Vázquez, M.J. Stear, J.J. Arranz, M. Martínez-Valladares (2016)Implementation of an extended ZINB model in the study of low levels of natural gastrointestinal nematode infections in adult sheep, In: BMC Veterinary Research12(1) BioMed Central Ltd.

    Background: In this study, two traits related with resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) were measured in 529 adult sheep: faecal egg count (FEC) and activity of immunoglobulin A in plasma (IgA). In dry years, FEC can be very low in semi-extensive systems, such as the one studied here, which makes identifying animals that are resistant or susceptible to infection a difficult task. A zero inflated negative binomial model (ZINB) model was used to calculate the extent of zero inflation for FEC; the model was extended to include information from the IgA responses. Results: In this dataset, 64 % of animals had zero FEC while the ZINB model suggested that 38 % of sheep had not been recently infected with GIN. Therefore 26 % of sheep were predicted to be infected animals with egg counts that were zero or below the detection limit and likely to be relatively resistant to nematode infection. IgA activities of all animals were then used to decide which of the sheep with zero egg counts had been exposed and which sheep had not been recently exposed. Animals with zero FEC and high IgA activity were considered resistant while animals with zero FEC and low IgA activity were considered as not recently infected. For the animals considered as exposed to the infection, the correlations among the studied traits were estimated, and the influence of these traits on the discrimination between unexposed and infected animals was assessed. Conclusions: The model presented here improved the detection of infected animals with zero FEC. The correlations calculated here will be useful in the development of a reliable index of GIN resistance that could be of assistance for the study of host resistance in studies based on natural infection, especially in adult sheep, and also the design of breeding programs aimed at increasing resistance to parasites. © 2016 The Author(s).

    E.L. Davis, L. Danon, Joaquin Prada, S.A. Gunawardena, J.E. Truscott, J. Vlaminck, R.M. Anderson, B. Levecke, E.R. Morgan, T.D. Hollingsworth (2018)Seasonally timed treatment programs for Ascaris lumbricoides to increase impact—An investigation using mathematical models, In: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases12(1) Public Library of Science

    There is clear empirical evidence that environmental conditions can influence Ascaris spp. free-living stage development and host reinfection, but the impact of these differences on human infections, and interventions to control them, is variable. A new model framework reflecting four key stages of the A. lumbricoides life cycle, incorporating the effects of rainfall and temperature, is used to describe the level of infection in the human population alongside the environmental egg dynamics. Using data from South Korea and Nigeria, we conclude that settings with extreme fluctuations in rainfall or temperature could exhibit strong seasonal transmission patterns that may be partially masked by the longevity of A. lumbricoides infections in hosts; we go on to demonstrate how seasonally timed mass drug administration (MDA) could impact the outcomes of control strategies. For the South Korean setting the results predict a comparative decrease of 74.5% in mean worm days (the number of days the average individual spend infected with worms across a 12 month period) between the best and worst MDA timings after four years of annual treatment. The model found no significant seasonal effect on MDA in the Nigerian setting due to a narrower annual temperature range and no rainfall dependence. Our results suggest that seasonal variation in egg survival and maturation could be exploited to maximise the impact of MDA in certain settings. © 2018 Davis et al.

    Joaquin Prada, C.J.E. Metcalf, S. Takahashi, J. Lessler, A.J. Tatem, M. Ferrari (2017)Demographics, epidemiology and the impact of vaccination campaigns in a measles-free world – Can elimination be maintained?, In: Vaccine35(11)pp. 1488-1493 Elsevier Ltd

    Introduction All six WHO regions currently have goals for measles elimination by 2020. Measles vaccination is delivered via routine immunization programmes, which in most sub-Saharan African countries reach children around 9 months of age, and supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), which target a wider age range at multi-annual intervals. In the absence of endemic measles circulation, the proportion of individuals susceptible to measles will gradually increase through accumulation of new unvaccinated individuals in each birth cohort, increasing the risk of an epidemic. The impact of SIAs and the financial investment they require, depend on coverage and target age range. Materials and methods We evaluated the impact of target population age range for periodic SIAs, evaluating outcomes for two different levels of coverage, using a demographic and epidemiological model adapted to reflect populations in 4 sub-Saharan African countries. Results We found that a single SIA can maintain elimination over short time-scales, even with low routine coverage. However, maintaining elimination for more than a few years is difficult, even with large (high coverage/wide age range) recurrent SIAs, due to the build-up of susceptible individuals. Across the demographic and vaccination contexts investigated, expanding SIAs to target individuals over 10 years did not significantly reduce outbreak risk. Conclusions Elimination was not maintained in the contexts we evaluated without a second opportunity for vaccination. In the absence of an expanded routine program, SIAs provide a powerful option for providing this second dose. We show that a single high coverage SIA can deliver most key benefits in terms of maintaining elimination, with follow-up campaigns potentially requiring smaller investments. This makes post-campaign evaluation of coverage increasingly relevant to correctly assess future outbreak risk. © 2017 The Author(s)

    Siddhartha Thakur, Joaquin M Prada, Jai W Mehat, Roberto M La Ragione, Arnoud Van Vliet (2022)Genomic Screening of Antimicrobial Resistance Markers in UK and US Campylobacter Isolates Highlights Stability of Resistance over an 18-Year Period, In: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy66(5)e0168721

    Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are important bacterial causes of human foodborne illness. Despite several years of reduced antibiotics usage in livestock production in the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US), a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) persists in . Both countries have instigated genome sequencing-based surveillance programs for , and in this study, we have identified AMR genes in 32,256 C. jejuni and 8,776 C. coli publicly available genome sequences to compare the prevalence and trends of AMR in isolated in the UK and US between 2001 and 2018. AMR markers were detected in 68% of C. coli and 53% of C. jejuni isolates, with 15% of C. coli isolates being multidrug resistant (MDR), compared to only 2% of C. jejuni isolates. The prevalence of aminoglycoside, macrolide, quinolone, and tetracycline resistance remained fairly stable from 2001 to 2018 in both C. jejuni and C. coli, but statistically significant differences were observed between the UK and US. There was a statistically significant higher prevalence of aminoglycoside and tetracycline resistance for US C. coli and C. jejuni isolates and macrolide resistance for US C. coli isolates. In contrast, UK C. coli and C. jejuni isolates showed a significantly higher prevalence of quinolone resistance. Specific multilocus sequence type (MLST) clonal complexes (e.g., ST-353/464) showed >95% quinolone resistance. This large-scale comparison of AMR prevalence has shown that the prevalence of AMR remains stable for in the UK and the US. This suggests that antimicrobial stewardship and restricted antibiotic usage may help contain further expansion of AMR prevalence in but are unlikely to reduce it in the short term.

    Edwin Michael, Swarnali Sharma, Morgan E Smith, Panayiota Touloupou, Federica Giardina, Joaquin M Prada, Wilma A Stolk, Deirdre Hollingsworth, Sake J de Vlas (2018)Quantifying the value of surveillance data for improving model predictions of lymphatic filariasis elimination, In: PLoS neglected tropical diseases12(10) Public Library of Science San Francisco, CA USA
    Seth Blumberg, Anna Borlase, Joaquin M Prada, Anthony W Solomon, Paul Emerson, Pamela J Hooper, Michael S Deiner, Benjamin Amoah, T Déirdre Hollingsworth, Travis C Porco (2021)Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, In: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene115(3)pp. 222-228 Oxford University Press
    Jaspreet Toor, Emily R Adams, Maryam Aliee, Benjamin Amoah, Roy M Anderson, Diepreye Ayabina, Robin Bailey, Maria-Gloria Basáñez, David J Blok, Seth Blumberg, JOAQUIN PRADA (2021)Predicted impact of COVID-19 on neglected tropical disease programs and the opportunity for innovation, In: Clinical Infectious Diseases72(8)pp. 1463-1466 Oxford University Press US
    Wilma A Stolk, Joaquin M Prada, Morgan E Smith, Periklis Kontoroupis, Anneke S De Vos, Panayiota Touloupou, Michael A Irvine, Paul Brown, Swaminathan Subramanian, Marielle Kloek (2018)Are alternative strategies required to accelerate the global elimination of lymphatic filariasis? Insights from mathematical models, In: Clinical infectious diseases66 Oxford University Press US
    Joaquín M Prada, Wilma A Stolk, Emma L Davis, Panayiota Touloupou, Swarnali Sharma, Johanna Muñoz, Rocio M Caja Rivera, Lisa J Reimer, Edwin Michael, Sake J de Vlas (2021)Delays in lymphatic filariasis elimination programmes due to COVID-19, and possible mitigation strategies, In: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene115(3)pp. 261-268 Oxford University Press
    William Godwin, Joaquin M Prada, Paul Emerson, P J Hooper, Ana Bakhtiari, Michael Deiner, Travis C Porco, Hamidah Mahmud, Emma Landskroner, T Deirdre Hollingsworth (2020)Erratum to: Trachoma Prevalence After Discontinuation of Mass Azithromycin Distribution, In: The Journal of infectious diseases221(12)pp. 2086-2086 Oxford University Press US
    Emma L Davis, Leon Danon, Joaquín M Prada, Sharmini A Gunawardena, James E Truscott, Johnny Vlaminck, Roy M Anderson, Bruno Levecke, Eric R Morgan, T Deirdre Hollingsworth (2018)Seasonally timed treatment programs for Ascaris lumbricoides to increase impact—an investigation using mathematical models, In: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases12(1) Public Library of Science San Francisco, CA USA
    Anna Borlase, Seth Blumberg, E Kelly Callahan, Michael S Deiner, Scott D Nash, Travis C Porco, Anthony W Solomon, Thomas M Lietman, Joaquin M Prada, T Dèirdre Hollingsworth (2021)Modelling trachoma post-2020: opportunities for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and accelerating progress towards elimination, In: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene115(3)pp. 213-221 Oxford University Press
    Emma Louise Taylor, Katy George, Emily Johnson, Hannah Whitelegg, Joaquin M. Prada, Daniel L. Horton (2023)Quantifying the interconnectedness between poverty, health access, and rabies mortality, In: PLoS neglected tropical diseases17(4)e0011204

    The global 2030 goal set by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths, has undeniably been a catalyst for many countries to re-assess existing dog rabies control programmes. Additionally, the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development includes a blueprint for global targets which will benefit both people and secure the health of the planet. Rabies is acknowledged as a disease of poverty, but the connections between economic development and rabies control and elimination are poorly quantified yet, critical evidence for planning and prioritisation. We have developed multiple generalised linear models, to model the relationship between health care access, poverty, and death rate as a result of rabies, with separate indicators that can be used at country-level; total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and current health expenditure as a percentage of the total gross domestic product (% GDP) as an indicator of economic growth; and a metric of poverty assessing the extent and intensity of deprivation experienced at the individual level (Multidimensional Poverty Index, MPI). Notably there was no detectable relationship between GDP or current health expenditure (% GDP) and death rate from rabies. However, MPI showed statistically significant relationships with per capita rabies deaths and the probability of receiving lifesaving post exposure prophylaxis. We highlight that those most at risk of not being treated, and dying due to rabies, live in communities experiencing health care inequalities, readily measured through poverty indicators. These data demonstrate that economic growth alone, may not be enough to meet the 2030 goal. Indeed, other strategies such as targeting vulnerable populations and responsible pet ownership are also needed in addition to economic investment.

    Jaspreet Toor, Luc E Coffeng, Jonathan ID Hamley, Claudio Fronterre, Joaquin M Prada, M Soledad Castaño, Emma L Davis, William Godwin, Andreia Vasconcelos, Graham F Medley (2020)When, who, and how to sample: designing practical surveillance for 7 neglected tropical diseases as we approach elimination, In: The Journal of infectious diseases221 Oxford University Press US
    Sara R Healy, Eric R Morgan, Joaquin M Prada, Martha Betson (2021)Brain food: rethinking food-borne toxocariasis, In: Parasitologypp. 1-9 Cambridge University Press
    Jessica Clark, Moses Arinaitwe, Andrina Nankasi, Christina L Faust, Adriko Moses, Diana Ajambo, Fred Besigye, Alon Atuhaire, Aidah Wamboko, Lauren Carruthers, JOAQUIN PRADA (2021)Reconciling egg-and antigen-based estimates of Schistosoma mansoni clearance and reinfection: a modelling study, In: Clinical Infectious Diseases Oxford University Press
    Joaquin M Prada, Emma L Davis, Panayiota Touloupou, Wilma A Stolk, Periklis Kontoroupis, Morgan E Smith, Swarnali Sharma, Edwin Michael, Sake J de Vlas, T Déirdre Hollingsworth (2020)Elimination or resurgence: modelling lymphatic filariasis after reaching the 1% microfilaremia prevalence threshold, In: The Journal of Infectious Diseases221 Oxford University Press US
    Luc E Coffeng, Epke A Le Rutte, Johanna Muñoz, Emily R Adams, Joaquin M Prada, Sake J de Vlas, Graham F Medley (2020)Impact of changes in detection effort on control of visceral leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent, In: The Journal of infectious diseases221 Oxford University Press US
    E L Davis, J Prada, L J Reimer, T D Hollingsworth (2021)Modelling the Impact of Vector Control on Lymphatic Filariasis Programs: Current Approaches and Limitations, In: Clinical Infectious Diseases72 Oxford University Press US
    William Godwin, Joaquin M Prada, Paul Emerson, P J Hooper, Ana Bakhtiari, Michael Deiner, Travis C Porco, Hamidah Mahmud, Emma Landskroner, T Déirdre Hollingsworth (2020)Trachoma prevalence after discontinuation of mass azithromycin distribution, In: The Journal of infectious diseases221 Oxford University Press US
    Jason A Galvis, Chris M Jones, Joaquin M Prada, Cesar A Corzo, Gustavo Machado (2021)The between‐farm transmission dynamics of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus: A short‐term forecast modelling comparison and the effectiveness of control strategies, In: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    Epke A Le Rutte, Johanna Muñoz, Emily R Adams, Joaquin M Prada, Sake J de Vlas, Graham F Medley (2019)Impact of changes in detection effort on control of visceral leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent
    Thorsten Stefan, Louise Matthews, Joaquin M Prada, Colette Mair, Richard Reeve, Michael J Stear (2019)Divergent allele advantage provides a quantitative model for maintaining alleles with a wide range of intrinsic merits, In: Genetics212(2)pp. 553-564 Oxford University Press
    Khalil Abudahab, Joaquín M Prada, Zhirong Yang, Stephen D Bentley, Nicholas J Croucher, Jukka Corander, David M Aanensen (2019)PANINI: pangenome neighbour identification for bacterial populations, In: Microbial Genomics5(4) Microbiology Society
    Emma Louise Taylor, Victor Del Rio Vilas, Terence Scott, Andre Coetzer, Joaquin Prada, Gholami Alireza, Nasr A Alqadi, Atika Berry, Bassel Bazzal, Abdelaziz Barkia, Firuzjon Davlyatov, Firoozeh Farahtaj, Khaouther Harabech, Paata Imnadze, Fazia Mahiout, Mohammed Ismael Majeed, Vitalii Nedosekov, Louis Nel, Hassan Rich, Radovan Vodopija, Abderazak Soufi, Nenad Vranjes, Valentina Sanchez Picot, Daniel Leo Horton (2021)Rabies in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa: Building evidence and delivering a regional approach to rabies elimination, In: Journal of infection and public health14(6)pp. 787-794 Elsevier

    The Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa Rabies Control Network (MERACON), is built upon the achievements of the Middle East and Eastern Europe Rabies Expert Bureau (MEEREB). MERACON aims to foster collaboration among Member States (MS) and develop shared regional objectives, building momentum towards dog-mediated rabies control and elimination. Here we assess the epidemiology of rabies and preparedness in twelve participating MS, using case and rabies capacity data for 2017, and compare our findings with previous published reports and a predictive burden model. Across MS, the number of reported cases of dog rabies per 100,000 dog population and the number of reported human deaths per 100,000 population as a result of dog-mediated rabies appeared weakly associated. Compared to 2014 there has been a decrease in the number of reported human cases in five of the twelve MS, three MS reported an increase, two MS continued to report zero cases, and the remaining two MS were not listed in the 2014 study and therefore no comparison could be drawn. Vaccination coverage in dogs has increased since 2014 in half (4/8) of the MS where data are available. Most importantly, it is evident that there is a need for improved data collection, sharing and reporting at both the national and international levels. Journal of Infection (2021) With the formation of the MERACON network, MS will be able to align with international best practices, while also fostering international support with other MS and international organisations. (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

    Emma Louise Taylor, Elsa Gladys Aguilar-Ancori, Ashley C. Banyard, Isis Abel, Clara Mantini-Briggs, Charles L. Briggs, Carolina Carrillo, Cesar M. Gavidia, Ricardo Castillo-Neyra, Alejandro D. Parola, Fredy E. Villena, Joaquin Prada, Brett W. Petersen, Nestor Falcon Perez, Cesar Cabezas Sanchez, Moises Sihuincha, Daniel G. Streicker, Ciro Maguina Vargas, Ana Maria Navarro Vela, Marco A. N. Vigilato, H Fan, Rodney Willoughby, Daniel Leo Horton, Sergio E. Recuenco (2022)The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative, a hope for resolving zoonotic neglected tropical diseases in the One Health era, In: International health15(2)pp. 216-223 Oxford Univ Press

    Background Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect populations living in resource-limited settings. In the Amazon basin, substantial numbers of NTDs are zoonotic, transmitted by vertebrate (dogs, bats, snakes) and invertebrate species (sand flies and triatomine insects). However, no dedicated consortia exist to find commonalities in the risk factors for or mitigations against bite-associated NTDs such as rabies, snake envenoming, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis in the region. The rapid expansion of COVID-19 has further reduced resources for NTDs, exacerbated health inequality and reiterated the need to raise awareness of NTDs related to bites. Methods The nine countries that make up the Amazon basin have been considered (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela) in the formation of a new network. Results The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative (ATBRI) has been created, with the aim of creating transdisciplinary solutions to the problem of animal bites leading to disease in Amazonian communities. The ATBRI seeks to unify the currently disjointed approach to the control of bite-related neglected zoonoses across Latin America. Conclusions The coordination of different sectors and inclusion of all stakeholders will advance this field and generate evidence for policy-making, promoting governance and linkage across a One Health arena.

    SARA REBECCA HEALY, Eric R Morgan, JOAQUIN PRADA, MARTHA ELIZABETH BETSON (2022)First report demonstrating the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs on vegetables grown in community gardens in Europe, In: Food and Waterborne Parasitology27e00158 Elsevier Inc

    Toxocara canis and T. cati are zoonotic roundworm parasites of dogs, cats and foxes. These definitive hosts pass eggs in their faeces, which contaminate the environment and can subsequently be ingested via soil or contaminated vegetables. In humans, infection with Toxocara can have serious health implications. This proof-of-concept study aimed to investigate the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs on ‘ready-to-eat’ vegetables (lettuce, spinach, spring onion and celery) sampled from community gardens in southern England. The contamination of vegetables with Toxocara eggs has never been investigated in the UK before, and more widely, this is the first time vegetables grown in community gardens in Europe have been assessed for Toxocara egg contamination. Sixteen community gardens participated in the study, providing 82 vegetable samples fit for analysis. Study participants also completed an anonymous questionnaire on observed visits to the sites by definitive hosts of Toxocara. Comparison of egg recovery methods was performed using lettuce samples spiked with a series of Toxocara spp. egg concentrations, with sedimentation and centrifugal concentration retrieving the highest number of eggs. A sample (100 g) of each vegetable type obtained from participating community gardens was tested for the presence of Toxocara eggs using the optimised method. Two lettuce samples tested positive for Toxocara spp. eggs, giving a prevalence of 2.4% (95% CI =1.3–3.5%) for vegetable samples overall, and 6.5% (95% CI = 4.7–8.3%; n = 31) specifically for lettuce. Questionnaire data revealed that foxes, cats and dogs frequently visited the community gardens in the study, with 88% (68/77) of respondents reporting seeing a definitive host species or the faeces of a definitive host at their site. This proof-of-concept study showed for the first time the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs on vegetables grown in the UK, as well as within the soil where these vegetables originated, and highlights biosecurity and zoonotic risks in community gardens. This study establishes a method for assessment of Toxocara spp. eggs on vegetable produce and paves the way for larger-scale investigations of Toxocara spp. egg contamination on field-grown vegetables. •First report of Toxocara eggs on vegetables grown in community gardens in Europe.•Toxocara also detected in the soil where these vegetables originated.•Definitive hosts for Toxocara canis and T. cati frequently visit community gardens.•Sedimentation method recovered the most Toxocara eggs from spiked lettuce samples.

    SARA REBECCA HEALY, Eric R Morgan, JOAQUIN PRADA, MARTHA ELIZABETH BETSON (2022)Brain food: rethinking food-borne toxocariasis, In: Parasitology149(1)pp. 1-9 Cambridge Univ Press

    Human toxocariasis is a neglected tropical disease, which is actually global in distribution and has a significant impact on global public health. The infection can lead to several serious conditions in humans, including allergic, ophthalmic and neurological disorders such as epilepsy. It is caused by the common roundworm species Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, with humans becoming accidentally infected via the ingestion of eggs or larvae. Toxocara eggs are deposited on the ground when infected dogs, cats and foxes defecate, with the eggs contaminating crops, grazing pastures, and subsequently food animals. However, transmission of Toxocara to humans via food consumption has received relatively little attention in the literature. To establish the risks that contaminated food poses to the public, a renewed research focus is required. This review discusses what is currently known about food-borne Toxocara transmission, highlighting the gaps in our understanding that require further attention, and outlining some potential preventative strategies which could be employed to safeguard consumer health.

    OLUMAYOWA KAJERO, EVA JANOUSKOVA, Emmanuel A Bakare, Vicente Belizario, Billy P Divina, Allen Jethro I Alonte, Sheina Macy P Manalo, Vachel Gay V Paller, MARTHA ELIZABETH BETSON, JOAQUIN PRADA (2022)Co-infection of intestinal helminths in humans and animals in the Philippines, In: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene116(8)pp. 727-735 OUP

    Abstract Background A large number of studies have assessed risk factors for infection with soil-transmitted helminths (STH), but few have investigated the interactions between the different parasites or compared these between host species across hosts. Here, we assessed the associations between Ascaris, Trichuris, hookworm, strongyle and Toxocara infections in the Philippines in human and animal hosts. Methods Faecal samples were collected from humans and animals (dogs, cats and pigs) in 252 households from four villages in southern Philippines and intestinal helminth infections were assessed by microscopy. Associations between worm species were assessed using multiple logistic regression. Results Ascaris infections showed a similar prevalence in humans (13.9%) and pigs (13.7%). Hookworm was the most prevalent infection in dogs (48%); the most prevalent infection in pigs was strongyles (42%). The prevalences of hookworm and Toxocara in cats were similar (41%). Statistically significant associations were observed between Ascaris and Trichuris and between Ascaris and hookworm infections in humans, and also between Ascaris and Trichuris infections in pigs. Dual and triple infections were observed, which were more common in dogs, cats and pigs than in humans. Conclusions Associations are likely to exist between STH species in humans and animals, possibly due to shared exposures and transmission routes. Individual factors and behaviours will play a key role in the occurrence of co-infections, which will have effects on disease severity. Moreover, the implications of co-infection for the emergence of zoonoses need to be explored further.

    Corrado Minetti, Edward J Tettevi, Frank Mechan, JOAQUIN PRADA, Bright Idun, Nana-Kwadwo Biritwum, Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana, Lisa J Reimer (2019)Elimination within reach: A cross-sectional study highlighting the factors that contribute to persistent lymphatic filariasis in eight communities in rural Ghana, In: PLoS neglected tropical diseases13(1) Public Library of Science
    Martha Betson, Allen Jethro I Alonte, Rico C Ancog, Angelou Marie O Aquino, Vicente Y Belizario, Jr, Anna Monica D Bordado, Jessica Clark, Ma Christina G Corales, Mary Grace Dacuma, Billy P Divina, Matthew A Dixon, Stephen A Gourley, Jasmine Renette D Jimenez, Ben P Jones, Sheina Macy P Manalo, Joaquin M Prada, Arnoud H M van Vliet, Kezia C L Whatley, Vachel Gay V Paller (2021)Zoonotic transmission of intestinal helminths in southeast Asia: Implications for control and elimination, In: Advances in Parasitology108pp. 47-131

    Intestinal helminths are extremely widespread and highly prevalent infections of humans, particularly in rural and poor urban areas of low and middle-income countries. These parasites have chronic and often insidious effects on human health and child development including abdominal problems, anaemia, stunting and wasting. Certain animals play a fundamental role in the transmission of many intestinal helminths to humans. However, the contribution of zoonotic transmission to the overall burden of human intestinal helminth infection and the relative importance of different animal reservoirs remains incomplete. Moreover, control programmes and transmission models for intestinal helminths often do not consider the role of zoonotic reservoirs of infection. Such reservoirs will become increasingly important as control is scaled up and there is a move towards interruption and even elimination of parasite transmission. With a focus on southeast Asia, and the Philippines in particular, this review summarises the major zoonotic intestinal helminths, risk factors for infection and highlights knowledge gaps related to their epidemiology and transmission. Various methodologies are discussed, including parasite genomics, mathematical modelling and socio-economic analysis, that could be employed to improve understanding of intestinal helminth spread, reservoir attribution and the burden associated with infection, as well as assess effectiveness of interventions. For sustainable control and ultimately elimination of intestinal helminths, there is a need to move beyond scheduled mass deworming and to consider animal and environmental reservoirs. A One Health approach to control of intestinal helminths is proposed, integrating interventions targeting humans, animals and the environment, including improved access to water, hygiene and sanitation. This will require coordination and collaboration across different sectors to achieve best health outcomes for all.

    Sara Rebecca Healy, Eric R Morgan, Joaquin Prada, Martha Elizabeth Betson (2023)From fox to fork? Toxocara contamination of spinach grown in the south of England, UK, In: Parasites & vectors1649 BioMed Central

    Background Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are intestinal parasites of dogs, cats and foxes, with infected animals shedding eggs of the parasite in their faeces. If humans accidentally ingest embryonated Toxocara spp. eggs from the environment, severe clinical consequences, including blindness and brain damage, can occur. Previous work has demonstrated the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs on vegetable produce grown in the UK, but only in small-scale community gardens. The aim of this study was to determine whether Toxocara spp. eggs are also present on vegetables grown on commercial farms in the UK, which supply produce to a greater number of people. Methods A total of 120 samples (300 g each) of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) were collected across four farms in the south of England, UK. The samples were processed using a sieving approach followed by multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results Overall, 23.0% of samples were positive for T. canis (28/120; 95% confidence interval 16.7–31.7%) and 1.7% for T. cati (2/120; 95% confidence interval 0.5–5.9%). There was a statistically significant difference in the number of positive samples between farms (P = 0.0064). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of Toxocara spp. from vegetables grown on commercial farms in the UK. Conclusions The results of this study highlight the requirement for the thorough washing of vegetables prior to their consumption, especially those such as spinach which may be eaten without first peeling or cooking, and effective farm biosecurity measures to minimise access to farmland by definitive host species of Toxocara spp.

    Abagael L Sykes, Edmundo Larrieu, Thelma Verónica Poggio, M Graciela Céspedes, Guillermo B Mujica, Maria-Gloria Basáñez, JOAQUIN PRADA (2022)Modelling diagnostics for Echinococcus granulosus surveillance in sheep using Latent Class Analysis: Argentina as a case study, In: One Health14 Elsevier
    Emma Taylor, Victor Del Rio Vilas, Terence Scott, Andre Coetzer, Joaquin M Prada, Gholami Alireza, Nasr A Alqadi, Atika Berry, Bassel Bazzal, Abdelaziz Barkia, Firuzjon Davlyatov, Firoozeh Farahtaj, Khaouther Harabech, Paata Imnadze, Fazia Mahiout, Mohammed Ismael Majeed, Vitalii Nedosekov, Louis Nel, Hassan Rich, Abderazak Soufi, Radovan Vodopija, Nenad Vranjes, Valentina Sanchez Picot, Daniel Horton (2021)Rabies in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, North Africa: Building, In: Journal of Infection and Public Health14(6)pp. 787-794 Elsevier Ltd

    The Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa Rabies Control Network (MERACON), is built upon the achievements of the Middle East and Eastern Europe Rabies Expert Bureau (MEEREB). MERACON aims to foster collaboration among Member States (MS) and develop shared regional objectives, building momentum towards dog-mediated rabies control and elimination. Here we assess the epidemiology of rabies and preparedness in twelve participating MS, using case and rabies capacity data for 2017, and compare our findings with previous published reports and a predictive burden model. Across MS, the number of reported cases of dog rabies per 100,000 dog population and the number of reported human deaths per 100,000 population as a result of dog-mediated rabies appeared weakly associated. Compared to 2014 there has been a decrease in the number of reported human cases in five of the twelve MS, three MS reported an increase, two MS continued to report zero cases, and the remaining two MS were not listed in the 2014 study and therefore no comparison could be drawn. Vaccination coverage in dogs has increased since 2014 in half (4/8) of the MS where data are available. Most importantly, it is evident that there is a need for improved data collection, sharing and reporting at both the national and international levels. With the formation of the MERACON network, MS will be able to align with international best practices, while also fostering international support with other MS and international organisations.

    Joaquin Prada, Louise Matthews, Colette Mair, Thorsten Stefan, Michael J Stear (2019)The transfer of IgA from mucus to plasma and the implications for diagnosis and control of nematode infections, In: Parasitology141(7)pp. 875-879 Cambridge University Press
    Emma Davis, Joaquin Prada, Indeewarie Gunaratna, Deirdre Hollingsworth (2018)POST-ELIMINATION SURVEILLANCE OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS IN SRI LANKA: CAN SEX-AND AGE-STRATIFIED CASE DATA BE USED TO DEMONSTRATE TRANSMISSION INTERRUPTION?, In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE99(4)pp. 610-611 AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE 8000 WESTPARK DR, STE 130, MCLEAN, VA 22101 USA
    Colette Mair, Michael Stear, Paul Johnson, Matthew Denwood, Joaquin Prada, Thorsten Stefan, Louise Matthews (2019)A Bayesian generalized random regression model for estimating heritability using overdispersed count data, In: Genetics Selection Evolution47(1) BioMed Central
    Joaquin Prada, Michael J Stear, Colette Mair, Darran Singleton, Thorsten Stefan, Abigail Stear, Glenn Marion, Louise Matthews (2019)An explicit immunogenetic model of gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep, In: Journal of The Royal Society Interface11(99) The Royal Society
    Miguel Pinheiro, Ricardo Pais, Joana Isidro, Miguel Pinto, Carlijn Bogaardt, Joaquin Prada, Daniel Horton, João Gomes, Vítor Borges (2021)INSaFLU-TELE-Vir: an open web-based bioinformatics suite for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 genome-based surveillance, In: ARPHA Conference Abstracts4 Pensoft Publishers
    Joaquin M Prada, Poppy H Lamberton, Moses Adriko, Moses Arinaitwe, David W Oguttu, Panayiota Touloupou, Deirdre Hollingsworth (2017)TREATMENT EFFECTS ON EGG AND ANTIGEN DIAGNOSTICS OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI INFECTIONS, In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE97(5)pp. 233-234 AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE 8000 WESTPARK DR, STE 130, MCLEAN, VA 22101 USA
    Daniel Balaz, Christina A Cobbold, Michael J Stear, Rodney Beard, Louise Matthews, JOAQUIN PRADA (2014)Do sheep cheat themselves by mounting weak immune responses: an adaptive dynamics approach, In: 9th European Conference on Mathematical and Theoretical Biology
    Jon Pey, Luis Tobalina, Francisco J Planes, JOAQUIN PRADA (2013)A network-based approach for predicting key enzymes explaining metabolite abundance alterations in a disease phenotype, In: BMC systems biology7(1)pp. 1-12 BioMed Central
    Joaquin M Prada, Lisa J Reimer, Deirdre Hollingsworth (2017)ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL: ACROSS BORDER LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS TRANSMISSION CAN COMPROMISE NATIONAL ELIMINATION PROGRAMS IN SOME SETTINGS, In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE97(5)pp. 562-562 AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE 8000 WESTPARK DR, STE 130, MCLEAN, VA 22101 USA
    Michael J Stear, Colette Mair, Darran Singleton, Thorsten Stefan, Abigail Stear, Glenn Marion, Louise Matthews, JOAQUIN PRADA (2014)An explicit immunogenetic model of gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep, In: Journal of the Royal Society Interface11(99) The Royal Society
    Khalil Abudahab, Joaquín M Prada, Zhirong Yang, Stephen D Bentley, Nicholas J Croucher, Jukka Corander, David M Aanensen (2017)PANINI: Pangenome Neighbor Identification for Bacterial Populations, In: bioRxiv Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    NN Jonsson, MRS Fortes, EK Piper, DM Vankan, Joaquin Prada, T Wittek (2019)Comparison of metabolic, hematological, and peripheral blood leukocyte cytokine profiles of dairy cows and heifers during the periparturient period, In: Journal of Dairy Science Elsevier
    Jon Pey, Joaquín Prada, John E Beasley, Francisco J Planes (2011)Path finding methods accounting for stoichiometry in metabolic networks, In: Genome biology12(5)pp. 1-14 BioMed Central
    JPJ de Cisneros, L Matthews, C Mair, S Thorsten, M J Stear, JOAQUIN PRADA (2013)Modelling parasite control in grazing animals, In: Annals of Parasitology59 -
    Jon Pey, Luis Tobalina, Joaquin Prada, Francisco J Planes (2019)A network-based approach for predicting key enzymes explaining metabolite abundance alterations in a disease phenotype, In: BMC systems biology7(1) BioMed Central
    Colette Mair, Louise Matthews, Joaquin Prada, Thorsten Stefan, Michael J Stear (2019)Multitrait indices to predict worm length and number in sheep with natural, mixed predominantly Teladorsagia circumcincta infection, In: Parasitology142(6)pp. 773-782 Cambridge University Press
    Jon Pey, Joaquin Prada, John E Beasley, Francisco J Planes (2019)Path finding methods accounting for stoichiometry in metabolic networks, In: Genome biology12(5) BioMed Central
    Khalil Abudahab, Joaquin Prada, Zhirong Yang, Stephen D Bentley, Nicholas J Croucher, Jukka Corander, David M Aanensen (2019)PANINI: Pangenome Neighbor Identification for Bacterial Populations, In: bioRxiv Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    N N Jonsson, MRS Fortes, E K Piper, D M Vankan, T Wittek, JOAQUIN PRADA (2013)Comparison of metabolic, hematological, and peripheral blood leukocyte cytokine profiles of dairy cows and heifers during the periparturient period, In: Journal of Dairy Science Elsevier
    M Atlija, J M Prada, Beatriz Gutiérrez-Gil, Francisco Antonio Rojo-Vázquez, M J Stear, Juan José Arranz, María Martínez-Valladares (2016)Implementation of an extended ZINB model in the study of low levels of natural gastrointestinal nematode infections in adult sheep, In: BMC veterinary research12(1)pp. 1-9 BioMed Central
    Colette Mair, Michael Stear, Paul Johnson, Matthew Denwood, Thorsten Stefan, Louise Matthews, JOAQUIN PRADA (2015)A Bayesian generalized random regression model for estimating heritability using overdispersed count data, In: Genetics Selection Evolution47(1)pp. 1-13 BioMed Central