Livestock movement informs the risk of disease spread in traditional production systems in East Africa

Abstract In Africa, livestock are important to local and national economies, but their productivity is constrained by infectious diseases. Comprehensive information on movements contacts required devise appropriate disease control strategies; yet, understanding contact risk in systems where herds mix extensively, different pathogens can be transmitted at spatial temporal scales, remains a major challenge. We deployed Global Positioning System collars cattle 52 traditional agropastoral system western Serengeti, Tanzania, understand fine-scale between-herd contacts, identify locations of greatest interaction between herds. examined across spatiotemporal scales relevant transmission scenarios. Daily increased with herd size rainfall. Generally, was away from households, during periods low rainfall close dipping points. demonstrate how affect the spread. For example, relatively sensitive survival time environment, less distance, least over range definitions that we explored. times potential could targeted through tailored strategies.