Comparative epidemiology of parasitic and infectious diseases and general aspects of animal health

I graduated from Sheffield University in 1990 with a BSc in Zoology and Genetics, and completed my PhD in 1994 at the Zoology Department, Cambridge University on the distribution of macroparasites in naturally fluctuating populations. I spent 3½ years at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gent, Belgium and 18 months at the Centre for Research into the Epidemiology of Disasters at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. In 2000 moved up to Edinburgh University’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. In 2004 I took up a position in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology and am now a Reader in Comparative Epidemiology.

http://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/darren-shaw/

I am principally interested in the comparative epidemiology of parasitic and infectious diseases as part a long standing interest in analysing patterns of disease as well as general population dynamics. These diseases include wildlife disease (parasitic infections of wildlife, zoonoses and the role of carnivores as sentinels for disease, Dermocystid infections in palmate newts, Leprosy in red squirrels), and diseases of veterinary and medical importance (TB, FMD, influenza Camplyobacter, Escherichia coli, mastitis, production animal gastrointestinal infections). I also work closely with clinical colleagues on various aspects of animal health (e.g. equine grass sickness, recovery from surgery and cardiology, bovine energy inbalance, feline cardiology and neurology). Outwith disease I collaborate with medical colleagues looking at the relationship between sun exposure and lifespan, and am part of an adhoc multicentre project looking at how geology and genetics can inform each other with regard to understanding the geological and evolutionary changes on SE Asia islands. I also have PhD students using mixed method approaches to study perceptions of pain in animals and non-verbal patients by veterinary and medical students, and perceptions of animal welfare in zoo staff in Europe and China.

Principal Supervisor (PhD)

Anna Meredith, R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh – “Evaluation of carnivores and scavengers as sentinels for new and emerging diseases”. Awarded January 2012.
Samantha Ellis, Moredun / R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh - “Interactions of Teladorsagia circumcincta with the ovine immune system – mimicry and vaccine development”. Awarded February 2014.
Claire McArthur, Moredun / R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh - “Development of tools to detect the sensitivity of cattle nematodes to anthelmintics”. Awarded May 2015.
Charlotte Clarke, Institute of Zoology & University of Edinburgh – “Investigating the host-parasite dynamics of a novel amphibian Dermocystid disease in an isolated population of palmate newts in the UK”. NERC Case Studentship. Awarded November 2017.

Juliet Duncan,  R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh – “Influence of gender, background, previous pain experience, species observed and educational interventions on attitudes to animal pain in undergraduate veterinary and medicine students”. Current (part time) - started 2012.
Heather Bacon, Jeanne Marchig International  Centre for Animal Welfare Education, R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh –  “Assessing the effectiveness of cross-cultural animal welfare educational interventions incorporating a novel multimedia educational tool”. Current (part time) - started 2012.

Co-supervisor (PhD)

Paul Bessell, R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh – “The spatial epidemiology of Foot and Mouth Disease in Great Britain”. Awarded December 2008.
Kate Snedeker, Medical Statistics, University of Edinburgh –  “Analysing Escherichia coli O157 outbreaks in Scotland, Canada and the United States of America”. Awarded April 2008.

Co-supervisor (MSc)

Claire Wylie, University of Wales, Aberystwyth – “Can the geographical distribution of cases of equine grass sickness be explained by the distribution of various soil factors?”. Awarded 2008.
Kim Lee Tan, R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh – “Patterns of sizes of outbreaks of human infection caused by Campylobacter, Escherichia coli 0157 and Salmonella in England and Wales”. Awarded 2000.
Alessandro Seguino, R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh – “Epidemiological study of Campylobacter spp. colonisation of wild game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) processed in Approved Game Handling Establishments in Scotland and its relevance to public health” Awarded 2016.

UG

Year 3

Student Research Component

Year 4

Student Research Component

Year 5

Student Research Component

PG

MSc Conservation Medicine

Applied Epidemiology and Surveillance for Conservation Medicine

UG teaching staff

Epidemiology

R(D)SVS & The Roslin Institute

Committees

Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVetMed) (Exam Board Convenor)

MSc Global Food Security & Nutrition Exam Board (Exam Board Convenor)

Clinical Sciences Integrated PhD in Precision Medicine Exam Board (Exam Board Convenor)

BVM&S Integrated Clinical Course: Exotics Exam Board (Exam Board Convenor)

R(D)SVS Veterinary Ethical Review Committee (SRC rep)

R(D)SVS Human Ethical Review Committee (SRC rep)

Other administrative duties:

PhD Examinations – external examiner:

• December 2013: Rob Critchlow “Ecological patterns and predictors of parasite sharing among domestic and wild mammals” (University of Glasgow)
• June 2015: Hannah Lester “Anthelmintic resistance in equine parasites: an epidemiological approach to build a framework for sustainable parasite control” (University of Liverpool)

PhD Examinations – internal examiner:

• September 2008: Darryn Knobel “Aspects of dog ownership and canine rabies control in Africa and Asia”
• August 2015: Jessica Flood “Foot-and-mouth disease epidemiology in relation to the physical, social and demographic farming landscape”
• March 2016: Geoffrey Mainda “Molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial (AMR) and Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in dairy herds of central Zambia”