Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modelling
Abstract In France, bovine brucellosis is subject to stringent surveillance to ensure early detection of re-emergence and maintain the country's disease-free status. However, the cost-efficiency of such surveillance systems has rarely been assessed. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the detecti...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01549-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849329477142708224 |
|---|---|
| author | Sofia Mlala Sébastien Picault Carole Sala Pierre Villard Jean-Luc Vinard Viviane Hénaux |
| author_facet | Sofia Mlala Sébastien Picault Carole Sala Pierre Villard Jean-Luc Vinard Viviane Hénaux |
| author_sort | Sofia Mlala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In France, bovine brucellosis is subject to stringent surveillance to ensure early detection of re-emergence and maintain the country's disease-free status. However, the cost-efficiency of such surveillance systems has rarely been assessed. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the detection delay of bovine brucellosis for current and alternative surveillance systems following its reintroduction; and (2) estimate the associated surveillance and control costs. A mechanistic, stochastic, agent-based simulation model was developed to represent the spread of bovine brucellosis within and between cattle farms in mainland France after the introduction of an infected animal. The results showed: (1) improved efficiency (considering both effectiveness and cost) when suspending testing at introduction; (2) reduced efficiency when annually screening all adults in one-third of suckler herds compared to 20% of adults in all suckler herds; and (3) slightly improved efficiency when reporting abortion series instead of all individual cases. The current surveillance system detected infection within a median delay of 49–51 weeks, with a median of one infected farm at confirmation, regardless of the epidemiological context. For alternative systems, detection occurred within a median of 40–99 weeks, with one to three infected farms. These findings suggest that, under model assumptions, all surveillance systems maintained a relatively low number of infected herds. Our study provides cost-effectiveness information that will help stakeholders compare the efficiency of alternative scenarios, improve the current surveillance system and make relevant decisions about the allocations of resources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c99e1e70690406c90a201d51cd3abdd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1297-9716 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c99e1e70690406c90a201d51cd3abdd2025-08-20T03:47:16ZengBMCVeterinary Research1297-97162025-06-0156111810.1186/s13567-025-01549-1Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modellingSofia Mlala0Sébastien Picault1Carole Sala2Pierre Villard3Jean-Luc Vinard4Viviane Hénaux5University of Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Laboratory of LyonINRAE, Oniris, BIOEPARUniversity of Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Laboratory of LyonUniversity of Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Laboratory of LyonUniversity of Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Laboratory of LyonUniversity of Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Laboratory of LyonAbstract In France, bovine brucellosis is subject to stringent surveillance to ensure early detection of re-emergence and maintain the country's disease-free status. However, the cost-efficiency of such surveillance systems has rarely been assessed. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the detection delay of bovine brucellosis for current and alternative surveillance systems following its reintroduction; and (2) estimate the associated surveillance and control costs. A mechanistic, stochastic, agent-based simulation model was developed to represent the spread of bovine brucellosis within and between cattle farms in mainland France after the introduction of an infected animal. The results showed: (1) improved efficiency (considering both effectiveness and cost) when suspending testing at introduction; (2) reduced efficiency when annually screening all adults in one-third of suckler herds compared to 20% of adults in all suckler herds; and (3) slightly improved efficiency when reporting abortion series instead of all individual cases. The current surveillance system detected infection within a median delay of 49–51 weeks, with a median of one infected farm at confirmation, regardless of the epidemiological context. For alternative systems, detection occurred within a median of 40–99 weeks, with one to three infected farms. These findings suggest that, under model assumptions, all surveillance systems maintained a relatively low number of infected herds. Our study provides cost-effectiveness information that will help stakeholders compare the efficiency of alternative scenarios, improve the current surveillance system and make relevant decisions about the allocations of resources.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01549-1Cattleabortionsurveillancebrucellosismodellingepidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Sofia Mlala Sébastien Picault Carole Sala Pierre Villard Jean-Luc Vinard Viviane Hénaux Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modelling Veterinary Research Cattle abortion surveillance brucellosis modelling epidemiology |
| title | Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modelling |
| title_full | Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modelling |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modelling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modelling |
| title_short | Assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance-control system in a disease-free context through agent-based modelling |
| title_sort | assessing the efficiency of the bovine brucellosis surveillance control system in a disease free context through agent based modelling |
| topic | Cattle abortion surveillance brucellosis modelling epidemiology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01549-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sofiamlala assessingtheefficiencyofthebovinebrucellosissurveillancecontrolsysteminadiseasefreecontextthroughagentbasedmodelling AT sebastienpicault assessingtheefficiencyofthebovinebrucellosissurveillancecontrolsysteminadiseasefreecontextthroughagentbasedmodelling AT carolesala assessingtheefficiencyofthebovinebrucellosissurveillancecontrolsysteminadiseasefreecontextthroughagentbasedmodelling AT pierrevillard assessingtheefficiencyofthebovinebrucellosissurveillancecontrolsysteminadiseasefreecontextthroughagentbasedmodelling AT jeanlucvinard assessingtheefficiencyofthebovinebrucellosissurveillancecontrolsysteminadiseasefreecontextthroughagentbasedmodelling AT vivianehenaux assessingtheefficiencyofthebovinebrucellosissurveillancecontrolsysteminadiseasefreecontextthroughagentbasedmodelling |