Peter Thompson

BVSc MMedVet(Med) PhD

[email protected]

Professor, Veterinary Epidemiology, Department of Production Animal Studies

https://bit.ly/2UQrVD2

Research Sub-theme

Infectious diseases at the interface between wildlife, domestic animals and humans

A large number of infectious agents are able to infect multiple species, including wildlife, domestic animals and/or humans; indeed, the majority of infectious diseases in humans originally come from wildlife. Currently, with increasing human population pressure and fragmentation of ecosystems, interfaces are becoming more complex and the potential for transmission of diseases between compartments is greater than ever. A better understanding of the occurrence, distribution and dynamics of such diseases is necessary in order to better control them and reduce their impact, thereby protecting the health of wildlife populations, domestic species and humans alike.

Research Projects

• Epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in livestock, humans and wildlife: several projects in the Free State, Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal
• Studies on mosquito populations in wildlife-livestock interface areas, with reference to transmission of arboviruses
• Rabies in black-backed jackals in the Cradle of Humankind: epidemiology and use of oral vaccination