Reviewed 2001
FELLLOWSHIP GUIDELINES
VETERINARY EPIDEMIOLOGY
ELIGIBILITY
1. The candidate shall meet the eligibility prerequisites for Fellowship outlined in the
Blue Book.
2. Membership of the College must be achieved prior to the Fellowship examination.
3. Membership may be in any discipline.
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate that the candidate has sufficient training, experience, knowledge and
accomplishment in Epidemiology to be recognised as an authority in this field by his/her
colleagues in the veterinary profession.
DESCRIPTION (LEARNING OUTCOMES)
The examination will in all cases cover the defined core components. Each candidate
will in addition identify in advance one of the elective subject areas for special emphasis,
and will be examined in more depth in this area.
It is expected that candidates for the award of Fellowship in Veterinary Epidemiology
will have a thorough understanding of each of the core areas of veterinary epidemiology
and an in-depth understanding in their chosen elective.
Items listed in the core component are intended to be illustrative of the kind of expertise
expected rather than either exhaustive or compulsory, and candidates should focus their
study and experience on gaining the ability to handle epidemiological tasks in each of the
broad areas described, and hence to be able to demonstrate to examiners the capacity to
evaluate an epidemiological issue, apply appropriate techniques, and achieve a logical
and thoughtful solution.
The examination is a test of expertise, not of knowledge per se.
Core components
1. General concepts and principles of veterinary epidemiology.
History, definitions, determinants of disease (intrinsic, extrinsic); concepts of
causation (scientific method; inductive; deductive inference; Evan’s postulates;
causal web; necessary, sufficient and component causes).
2. Design and implementation of epidemiologic investigations
Study designs and investigational approaches used (observational studies,
intervention studies, other methods); matching and stratification, sampling of
populations; outbreak investigation.
3. Descriptive epidemiology
Measurement of disease occurrence (prevalence, cumulative incidence, incidence
density; attack, case fatality, mortality and morbidity rates); survival (survival and
hazard function); standardisation of risk (indirect and direct).
4. Basic concepts in analytical epidemiology
Comparison of risks (relative risk, odds ration, attributable risk, attributable
fraction); interaction and confounding; systematic error (measurement error,
selection error), random error (alpha and beta errors, power); statistical hypothesis
testing and interval estimation.
5. Interpretation of diagnostic tests
General issues (disease, diagnosis, uncertainty, gold standard); diagnostic test
performance; comparison of diagnostic tests; interpretation of diagnostic test
results and definition of cut-off points; strategies for diagnostic testing (parallel,
series, screening, herd sensitivity/specificity, panels of diagnostic tests).
6. Data collection, organisation and management
Uses and limitations of the range of methods of data collection used by
epidemiologists to obtain information on animals, their environment, owners and
other factors which influence animal performance and the occurrence of disease,
skills required in the application of computers to epidemiological tasks; data
management including quality control; software for database management,
presentation and analysis; use of specialised software for complex types of data
sets (e.g. geographical data); methods for ensuring that data gathered can be
effectively used to achieve proposed objectives.
7. Methods for epidemiological analysis
Overview of methods, including both parametric and non-parametric forms of
analysis, selection of appropriate methods, assessment of suitability of method
and of model fit to data. Candidates will be expected to be able to identify an
analytical approach suited to a specific problem presented to them. Hence
candidates will need to understand the virtues and limitations of each of the major
analytical approaches in widespread use in epidemiology, without necessarily
being experienced in applying more than a proportion of them. Examples include
exploratory data analysis (descriptive statistics, visualisation); categorical data
analysis, two-sample comparisons; analysis of variance and its derivative
techniques; regression analysis using various outcome variables; path analysis and
related techniques; survival analysis and proportional hazards regression analysis;
graphical methods of analysis; spatial analysis, time series analysis; spatiotemporal analysis.
8. Principles of animal health economics
Basic concepts in micro and macro economics; methods of economic evaluation
of animal health and production projects at individual farm and national levels;
optimization techniques; decision analysis; economic modelling. Data gathering
for economic analyses.
9. Data synthesis and interpretation
The use of tools such as models and expert systems to assist in drawing out the
implications of study findings, or to evaluate alternative courses of action.
Methods for the development of such tools.
10. Epidemiological design of animal disease control programs
Ecological concepts underlying the control of animal disease. Principles for the
design of disease control strategies. Application to diseases of production,
performance, companion and wild animals. Problems likely to arise in carrying
out disease control or eradication programs, and methods of identifying and
overcoming these.
11. Epidemiological design of animal health and productivity programs
Principles of animal health and productivity programs concerned with the positive
maintenance and improvement of animal health at herd, regional and national
levels. Problems likely to arise and methods of overcoming them.
12. Development and Management of Veterinary Services
The design of forms of veterinary service to meet particular defined objectives.
The use of epidemiological approaches to support the management of animal
health care services, such as information management systems and decision
support systems. Design and operation of such systems.
13. Human health implications of animal disease
The relationship between disease in animals and its transfer to the human
population. Specific approaches to preventing this, including methods for
evaluating and reducing such risks.
14. International aspects of animal disease
The relationship of animal disease to international trade. Mechanisms of spread
of diseases through trade. Import/export policy considerations arising from this.
Risk analysis and its application in relation to trade. International disease
reporting and methods for preventing expanded distribution of animal diseases.
Evaluation of veterinary services.
15. Epidemiology of important diseases endemic or exotic to Australia and New
Zealand.
Candidates should be familiar with and have current knowledge of epidemiolgical
issues involved with a spectrum of example diseases which they can use to
illustrate their answers and demonstrate their level of practical experience in the
use of epidemiological methods (transmission mechanisms, infection reservoirs,
control methods, etc).
Elective components
The candidate should select one of the following topics and should be able to demonstrate
in-depth knowledge in the subjects chosen.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Design and implementation of epidemiological studies
Analytical epidemiology
Clinical epidemiology
Regional animal health programs
Livestock health and productivity programs
Animal health economics
Wildlife ecology
The elective must be chosen by the credentials date.
1. Design and implementation of epidemiological studies
Study design and investigational approaches used to measure disease frequency and
explore factors associated with disease in animal populations
Topics include:
 selection of appropriate study designs
 estimation of disease frequency
 identification of risk factors
 study design techniques to prevent bias (including confounding )
 sample size calculations, comparison of disease frequencies
 outbreak investigation
2.
Analytical epidemiology
Techniques and methods used to analyse data generated in epidemiological studies
Topics include:
 statistical techniques and methods
 predictive and simulation modelling
 analytical control of confounding
 spatial and temporal analytical techniques
 hypothesis testing and statistical inference
2.
Clinical epidemiology
The application of epidemiological principles in a clinical setting for the purpose of
decision-making
Topics include:
 estimation of test parameters (sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, receiveroperator curves, likelihood ratios) and test evaluation (McNemar’s test, kappa,
intraclass correlation)
 test selection and testing strategies
 decision-tree analysis
 neural networks and knowledge-based systems
2.
Regional animal health programs
Programs aimed at maintaining or improving the health status and productivity of
animal populations at the regional level
Topics include:
 sampling strategies
 surveillance and monitoring techniques
 disease control and eradication programs
 population ecology (disease transmission, herd immunity, epidemic theory,
population dynamics)
 risk analysis
 animal health information systems, including geographical information systems
 HACCP and quality assurance programs
2.
Livestock health and productivity programs
Programs aimed at measuring and improving the health status and/or production of
animal populations at the herd/flock level
Topics include:
 herd-level information systems (e.g. DAIRY Champ, PIG Champ)
 monitoring and setting targets
 herd disease and production profiling
 partial farm budgeting and gross margins analysis
2.
Animal health economics
Principles of animal health economics, methods and techniques applied to
epidemiological programs
Topics include:
 concepts in micro- and macro-economics
 methods of economic evaluation of animal health and production projects
 optimisation techniques
 benefit-cost analysis
 economic modelling
 designing studies to gather data for economic analyses
2.
Wildlife ecology
Epidemiological methods applied to the study of diseases in wild and feral animal
populations
Topics include:
 methods of sampling wild and feral animal populations
 ecological concepts, including distribution of populations, regulation of population
size, the niche, ecological interface, ecosystems and nidality
 zoonotic diseases
 planning and implementing disease control programs in wild and feral animal
populations
EXAMINATIONS
Refer to the Blue Book
The following guidelines are provided in addition to those provided in Section 6.4.2 of
the Blue Book on Formal Examinations.
Paper 1
Approximately two-thirds of Paper 1 will cover core components, and one third will
cover the candidate’s elective subject.
Paper 2
Approximately two-thirds of Paper 1 will cover core components, and one third will
cover the candidate’s elective subject.
Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 will involve essay type questions. The examinations will focus
on how the candidate would approach particular types of problems and tasks, using a
range of skills and knowledge of veterinary epidemiology.
Clinical and Practical
The candidate will be given a set of problems including design issues and
epidemiological data for analysis and interpretation. The candidate will be expected to
describe, analyse and report on one or more of the data sets provided. The examination
will be structured to take between 1-2 hours to complete, although candidates will be
allowed up to 3 hours maximum if requested. The candidate will be expected to provide
the following in the written report:
 Descriptive analysis
 Bivariate analysis
 Exploration of potential confounding
 A proposal for further in-depth analysis
The candidate will be provided with a personal computer (minimum Pentium, IBM
compatible), on which the following software programs will be loaded: Epi Info, Statistix
for Windows, Egret for Windows, Excel and Word/WordPerfect
The report should be produced using a word-processing program, but a handwritten report
will be acceptable. References may be made to graphs or tables saved on floppy disk. A
printer will be available to produce the report, if required, and to print results of statistical
analyses.
Oral
Duration 2-3 hours
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Refer to the Blue Book
TRAINING IN RELATED DISCIPLINES
Refer to the Blue Book
Candidates for Fellowship in Epidemiology must spend time as stipulated by the Blue
Book in any of the following related disciplines from which candidates may choose:
1. Statistics
2. Veterinary Public Health
3. Medical Epidemiology
4. Veterinary Pathobiology
5. Agricultural economics
EXTERNSHIPS
Refer to the Blue Book
ACTIVITY LOG CATEGORIES
Refer to the Blue Book
Candidates for Fellowship in Veterinary Epidemiology must classify activities undertaken
during the training period, as stipulated by the Blue Book, to prepare the Activity Log
Summary.
The objective of the activity log is to demonstrate diversity in the types of activities in
which candidates are involved. Due to the nature of epidemiological work it is expected
that candidates will only report on 10-15 activities during their training period, however
these activities should be classified by each of the following categories in the activity log
summary:
 Animal Species and Type (production animal, companion animal, wild animal)
 Study Type (for example, outbreak investigations, descriptive epidemiology,
observational studies, herd health programs)
 Techniques Used (for example, parametric/non parametric,
univariate/bivariate/multivariate, simulation modelling)
Use of all 3 classifications will provide the FTCC with a realistic appraisal of the
diversity of activities being undertaken by the candidate during the training period.
RECOMMENDED READING LIST
List of Suggested Information Sources and Software
The candidate is expected to research the depth and breadth of the knowledge of the
discipline. The list is intended to guide the candidate to some core references and source
material. The list is not comprehensive and is not intended as an indicator of the content
of the examination.
Texts Books and Proceedings
Martin SW, Meek AH, Willeberg P. 1987. Veterinary Epidemiology - Principles and
Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. 343 pp.
Noordhuizen JPTM, Frankena K, van der Hoofd CM, Graat EAM. 1997. Application of
Quantitative methods in Veterinary Epidemiology. Wageningen Pers, Wageningen.
445pp.
Proceedings of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics:
Ottawa, 1991; Nairobi, 1994; Paris, 1997; Breckenridge, 2000.
Smith RD. 1995. Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology 2nd Edition CRC Press, Boca
Raton, Florida 279 pp
Thrusfield M. 1995. Veterinary Epidemiology. 2nd Edition, Blackwell Science, 479pp.
Toma B, Vaillancourt J (eds), 1999 Dictionary of Veterinary Epidemiology. Iowa
University Press, Ames, Iowa 544 pp
Medical Epidemiology
Last JM. 1995; A dictionary of epidemiology. 3rd edition. Oxford University Press, New
York, 208pp.
Rothman KL, Greenland S 1998: Modern epidemiology. 2nd edition. Lippincott-Raven
Publishers, Philadelphia PA 751 pp
Sackett L, Haynes RB, Guyatt GH, Tugwell P. 1991; Clinical Epidemiology - a basic
science for clinical medicine. 2nd edition. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 441pp.
Animal Health Management
Radostits OM, Leslie KE, Fetrow J. 1994; Herd health - Food Animal Production
Medicine. 2nd edition. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 631pp.
Statistics /Biostatistics
Altman DG. 1991. Practical Statistics for Medical Research. Chapman and Hall, London.
Collett D. 1991. Modelling binary data. Chapman and Hall, London
Collett D. 1994. Modelling survival data in medical research. Chapman and Hall, London
Hosmer DW, Lemeshow S. 2000. Applied logistic regression, 2nd Edition. Wiley, New
York 373 pp.
Kahn, HA, Sempos CT. 1989. Statistical Methods in Epidemiology. Oxford University
Press, New York 310 pp
Kleinbaum DG, Kupper LL, Muller KE. 1988. Applied Regression Analysis and other
Multivariate methods. PWS-Kent Publishing Company, Boston 736 pp
Selvin S. 1995. Practical Biostatistical Methods. Wadsworth Publishing Company,
Belmont CA 520 pp
Recommended reading - journals
1.
2.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
National veterinary journals (such as the Australian Veterinary Journal, New
Zealand Veterinary Journal, Veterinary Record)
Other relevant journals
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
American Journal of Epidemiology
International Journal of Epidemiology
Epidemiology
Australian Journal of Public Health
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Statistics in Medicine
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Internet resources
Candidates should be aware of the vast amount of valuable information that is available
on the internet, including:
 Discussion groups and list servers such as Promed and EpiVet-L
 EpiVetNet (http://epiweb.massey.ac.nz)
 Government and related websites that are directly relevant to veterinary epidemiology
(for example, Animal Health Australia, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention)
Software useful for epidemiological research.
A wide range of software is available for data management, statistical and graphical
analysis report writing and presentation. These programs are very useful tools for
veterinary epidemiologists and candidates are expected to have skills in this area. While
software experience is important, candidates should note that they are also expected to
understand the key principles behind their use.
Candidates should have experience with the use of one or more major statistical software
programs (such as SAS, BMDP, SPSS, S-Plus and Strata).
An up-to-date list of public domain software is available on EpiVetNet.