Livestock Disease Transmission Parameters Database (PARAMETRA)

PARAMETRA curates parameter values for livestock disease transmission models, providing literature-informed data on infectious periods, transmission rates, and other epidemiological parameters for multiple livestock pathogens.

Key Features:

• Curated Parameter Collection: The database contains over 2000 individual parameter values covering transmission rates, diagnostic test efficacies, pathogen survival on surfaces, and farm and regional level prevalences of selected diseases.
• Disease Coverage: The database includes parameters for 20 livestock pathogens selected through a disease prioritisation exercise.
• Expert-Guided Parameter Selection: Parameters of interest were selected by experts with backgrounds in epidemiology and mathematical modelling.
• Metadata Inclusion: The database includes metadata on studies from which parameter values were derived.
• Open-Source Collaborative Framework: The database is structured as a collaborative resource for the research community to contribute to and utilise for future transmission model development.

Scientific Applications:

• Mathematical Model Parameterisation: The database provides literature-informed values to parameterise mathematical and simulation models of livestock disease transmission, particularly in data-sparse environments.
• Transmission Model Development: The database aids researchers in developing future transmission models of livestock pathogens without requiring time-consuming individual literature reviews.
• Research Gap Identification: Analysis of database contents enables identification of gaps in experimental and epidemiological data, supporting proactive research prioritisation for high-risk diseases.

Methodology:

Pathogens were selected using a disease prioritisation exercise. Parameters were selected by experts in epidemiology and mathematical modelling. Database contents were populated through literature review to identify suitable literature-informed values. An initial illustrative analysis of database contents and associated study metadata was performed.