About Us
Enteric Zoonotic Disease
Zoonosis is "any infectious disease that may be transmitted from animals, both wild and domestic, to humans." Enteric is "of, relating to, or being within the intestine."
Research co-ordination in New Zealand
Co-ordination of research on enteric zoonoses is challenging because it cuts across responsibilities of several government agencies. Research from a variety of scientific disciplines also needs to be integrated.
Background
In May 2000 a joint interagency programme was developed as a result of a Ministry of Health initiative. The programme, ‘Enhanced co-ordination and development of enteric disease research in New Zealand’ has been implemented. It involves people from primary industries, researchers, research funding agencies, and policy advisors and regulators of food/water quality from central and local government. The programme focused initially on Campylobacter spp. but also covers co-ordination of research on other disease-causing organisms, including E. coli,Salmonella, Listeria, Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Programme
The programme’s mission is to reduce the burden of enteric zoonoses in New Zealand.
The quality and relevance of enteric disease research is being enhanced through collaboration between researchers in Crown Research Institutes and universities, and improved co-ordination of research funders who include central and local government, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, and primary industries.
Contact has been established internationally with research groups in USA, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Iceland.
This national and international co-ordination has been facilitated by the Enteric Zoonotic Disease Research Steering Committee and its two expert technical sub-committees: the Methodology Group and the Risk Management Group.
Results
Research commissioned and co-ordinated by the Steering Committee has led to:
- better understanding of the ecology and transmission of Campylobacter in various reservoirs
- improved knowledge of amplification factors in these reservoirs, transmission pathways between reservoirs, and possible means of control of the disease in New Zealand
- development of quantitative risk assessment models for Campylobacter in New Zealand
- assessment of the effectiveness of interventions and remedial actions and how they may be improved to prevent water- and food-borne disease
- development of guidelines for more effective interventions to prevent water- and food-borne disease, including possible measures for implementation by local government
New Zealand Environment
Zoonoses are diseases, some severe, caused by micro-organisms that are transmitted from animals and birds to humans. In New Zealand and other developed countries, enteric zoonotic diseases are major contributors to water- and food-borne disease, including gastroenteritis. We have a shared interest in developing strategies for their control.
In New Zealand the most significant micro-organisms causing zoonotic diseases are the bacteria Campylobacter spp., some strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and the protozoa Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
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