INTEGRATING LIVESTOCK HEALTH, FARMER PRACTICES AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE FOR CHLAMYDIA PECORUM: A ONE HEALTH FRAMEWORK FOR DISEASE DETECTION AND PREVENTION

Abstract

Chlamydia pecorum is an important veterinary pathogen associated with infections in livestock and wildlife, with documented relevance to cattle, sheep, pigs and koalas. Its epidemiological significance is complicated by variation in clinical presentation, the occurrence of subclinical infection, limitations of some serological approaches, and substantial genetic diversity among strains. Molecular methods, particularly species-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), ompA characterization and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), have strengthened the capacity to detect and characterize C. pecorum. Nevertheless, laboratory surveillance alone does not constitute a complete disease-prevention system. Recognition of abnormal animal health by farmers, perceptions of disease risk, health literacy, veterinary-service utilisation, farmer–veterinarian communication and biosecurity practices influence the pathway through which suspected disease becomes formally investigated. The present article develops an integrated One Health framework connecting these social, veterinary and molecular dimensions of C. pecorum surveillance. The framework was reconstructed from the supplied research material and supported by verified literature on C. pecorum, livestock disease surveillance, molecular epidemiology, farmer biosecurity and One Health. The proposed system begins with farmer recognition and reporting, progresses through veterinary assessment and sample collection, and incorporates species-specific molecular detection followed, where appropriate, by molecular characterization. Surveillance information is then intended to inform targeted biosecurity and continued monitoring. Because the supplied source does not contain completed empirical observations, participant data, laboratory results or statistical analyses, the present article does not claim empirical effectiveness of the framework. Instead, it provides a publication-ready conceptual and methodological structure for future integrated research. The framework contributes a practical mechanism for connecting farm-level behaviour with laboratory and epidemiological surveillance within a One Health system.