Veterinary Epidemiology and Zoonosis

INTRODUCTION

• The disease is caused by multiple factors. The factors are determinants of disease.
• Determinant is any factor that when altered produces a change in the frequency or characteristics of disease.
• A determinant is any character that affects the health of the population.
• Example: Diet is a determinant of bovine hypomagnesaemia.
• Knowledge of determinants helps in the identification of categories of animal that are at particular risk of developing disease.
• It is therefore prerequisite for disease prevention and is an aid to differential diagnosis.