Studentship: Understanding the role of sheep & goat in pestiviruses

Several newly emerged pestivirus species were introduced into cattle and pigs as well as wild ruminant populations during the last decades. These new pestiviruses are associated with abortion, still birth, health problems of offspring. Emerging pestivirus diseases frequently challenge prevention and control strategies in the swine and cattle industry. This PhD proposal will explore pestiviruses in sheep and goat in the UK and its transmission between different animal host species in a multispecies grazing farm system.