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Department of Veterinary Medicine

Cambridge Veterinary School
 

Biography

I am a veterinarian particularly interested in zoonotic diseases and veterinary public health. I have previously worked in a range of environments, including clinical veterinary practice, the private animal health sector and intergovernmental agencies. In addition, I gained an MSc in Control of Infectious Disease in Animals from the Royal Veterinary College in 2010. My earlier academic research has focused on prevention and control of infectious diseases, such as bluetongue virus and avian influenza, aiming to evaluate current control strategies and how they can be optimised.

Research

I am especially interested in how infectious disease research can contribute to evidence-based decision making both at a clinical and policy level. My PhD research focuses on infectious disease dynamics at the human-animal interface, looking at control of bovine tuberculosis in endemic countries.

Publications

Key publications: 

Willgert K*, da Silva S*, Li R, Dandapat P, Veerasami M, Maity H, Papanna M, Srinivasan S, Wood JLN, Kapur V, Conlan AJK, 2023. Is bovine density and ownership associated with human tuberculosis in India? PLOS One, 18: e0283357.

Willgert K, Hardstaff J, Shadwell S, Bhattacharyia A, Blomquist P, Vivancos R, Simms I, 2023. Influence of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance outputs produced by the UK Health Security Agency Outbreak Surveillance Team on decision-making by local stakeholders. BMC Public Health, 23: 926.

Willgert K, Didelot X, Surendran-Nair M, Kuchipudi SV, Ruden RM, Yon M, Nissly RH, Vandegrift KJ, Nelli RK, Li L, Jayarao BM, Levine N, Olsen RJ, Davis JJ, Musser JM, Hudson PJ, Kapur V, Conlan AJK, 2022. Transmission history of SARS-CoV-2 in humans and white-tailed deer. Scientific Reports, 12: 12094.

Kuchipudi S V, Surendran-Nair M, Ruden RM, Yon M, Nissly RH, Vandegrift KJ, Nelli RK, Li L, Jayarao BM, Maranas CD, Levine N, Willgert K, Conlan AJK, Olsen RJ, Davis JJ, Musser JM, Hudson PJ, Kapur V, 2022. Multiple spillovers from humans and onward transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,  119: e2121644119.

Willgert K, Meyer A, Tung DX, Thu NV, Long PT, Newman S, Thuy NTT, Padungtod P, Fournie G, Pfeiffer DU, Vergne T, 2020. Transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the nomadic free-grazing duck production system in Viet Nam. Scientific Reports, 10: 8432.

Voorhees IEH, Glaser AL, Toohey-Kurth K, Newbury S, Dalziel BD, Dubovi EJ, Poulsen K, Leutenegger C, Willgert KJE, Brisbane-Cohen L, Richardson-Lopez J, Holmes EC, Parrish CR, 2017. Emergence, Spread and Disease Associated with the H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus in the USA. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23: 10.3201/eid2312.170246.

Willgert KJE, Webster V, Wright A, Nevel A, 2014. Risk factors of lameness in sows in England. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 113: 268-272.

Dhollander S, Belsham GJ, Lange M, Willgert K, Alexandrov T, Chondrokouki E, Depner K, Khomenko S, Özyöruk F, Salman M, Thulke H, Botner A, 2014. Assessing the potential spread and maintenance of foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in wild ungulates: general principles and application to a specific scenario in Thrace. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, doi:10.1111/tbed.12240.

Willgert KJE, Schroedle B, Schwermer H, 2011. Spatial analysis of bluetongue cases and vaccination of Swiss cattle in 2008 and 2009. Geospatial Health, 5: 227-237.

 

 

 Katriina  Willgert

Contact Details

Email address: 
Not available for consultancy

Affiliations

Classifications: 
Specialities: 
Person keywords: 
Epidemiology
Public health
Infectious Diseases
Zoonoses