Added by Malcolm Bennett, last edited by Malcolm Bennett on 19 Jun, 2010  (view change)

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Malcolm Bennett

BVSc PhD MRCVS FRCPath FHEA    

  • Telephone +44 (0)151 794 795 6064
  • Mobile +44 (0)7973247971
  • Fax +44 (0)151 794 6005
  • Email: m.bennett@liverpool.ac.uk

School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool,
'Leahurst', Chester High Road, Neston,
South Wirral, CH64 7TE,
UK.

 Current post(s)

 Favorite links

Teaching

Research Interests

My research interests are in the ecology and evolution of infectious disease, especially infections that might be zoonotic or be models for human infections, emerging infectious diseases, and, following from that list, infectious diseases of wild animals. Much of my research has been undertaken in collaboration with colleagues in other disciplines within the University, particularly Professor Mike Begon and Professor Tony Hart.  I also have strong research interests in food security and conservation medicine - the three coming together in the 'one health' philosophy.

Examples of projects include:

Ecology of infection in wildlife populations

Past work included determination of the reservoir hosts of cowpox virus (a zoonotic virus, with domestic cats as the liaison host) and assessment of the risks associated with the use of recombinant vaccinia-rabies viruses in wildlife. More recently, in collaboration with Prof. Mike Begon (School of Biological Sciences), we have studied several microbial parasites, including cowpox virus, in rodents as 'model' systems for studying the interactions between endemic infection and host population dynamics. This included a Wellcome Trust-funded project on the epidemiology of plague in wild rodents, particularly great gerbils, in Kazakhstan.

Epidemiology zoonotic enteric pathogens - Liverpool VTRI Programme

I was Director of the Liverpool VTRI programme, a £4.2M multi-disciplinary programme that brings together the Universities of Liverpool and Lancaster, the Health Protection Agency and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, and other research institutions in a collaborative programme to understand the epidemiology and evolution of zoonotic enteric pathogens, in particular campylobacters, VTEC and salmonellas. Within this larger programme, I was PI of Research Programme 2 - a study of the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens. Although funding for this programme has now finished, data analysis and publication of results will continue for some time!

Epidemiology and ecology of antibiotic resistance

This work's focus is on the ecology of antibiotic resistance in commensal bacteria, the selection factors responsible for its maintenance, and the transfer of this resistance to pathogenic bacteria of domestic animals and man. We are particularly interested in the role of wildlife and companion animals in the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance genes. 

more info

Other past projects

  • Studies of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) as a model for human AIDS chemotherapy;
  • collaborator on projects concerned with the molecular biology of avian and feline herpesviruses; feline calicivirus and FCV vaccination; feline coronavirus immunopathogenesis and vaccination; and studies of Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in cats;
  • cryptosporidiosis in cats - my first paper, and my first experience at what is now a habit (if not hobby) - processing large amounts of smelly faeces.

Other activities

And at home...

  • Whenever I get the chance, I relax by:
    • Annoying my family by 'playing' various musical instruments.
    • Ignoring the garden under the pretence of making it more wildlife and bee friendly
    • Being an extraordinarily bad birdwatcher

  

Some publications

  • Hughes LA, Savage C, Naylor C, Bennett M, Chantrey J and Jones RC 2009 Genetically diverse coronaviruses in wild birds in Northern england.  Emerging Infectious Diseases 15 1091-1094.
  • Beldomenico PM, Telfer S, Lukomski L, Gebert S, Bennett M, Begon M. 2009  Host condition and individual risk of cowpox virus infection in natural animal populations: cause or effect? Epidemiology and Infection 137:1295-1301
  • Hughes LA, Bennett M, Coffey P, Elliott J, Jones TR, Jones RC, Lahuerta-Marin A, Leatherbarrow AH, McNiffe K, Norman D, Williams NJ and Chantrey J 2009  Risk factors for the occurrence of Escherichia coli virulence genes eae, stx1 and stx2 in wild bird populations in northern England. Epidemiology and Infection 137:1574-158
  • Hughes LA, Bennett M, Coffey P, Elliott J, Jones TR, Jones RC, Lahuerta-Marin A, Leatherbarrow AH, McNiffe K, Norman D, Williams NJ and Chantrey J 2009 Molecular epidemiology and characterisation of Campylobacter spp. isolated from wild bird populations in northern England. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 75 3007-3015
  • Bray DP, Bennett M, Stockley P, Hurst JL, Kipar A 2008 Composition and function of haemolymphatic tissues in the European common shrew. PLoS ONE 3(10): e3413. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003413
  • Telfer S, Birtles R, Bennett M, Lambin X, Paterson S and Begon M 2008 Parasite interactions in natural populations: insights from longitudinal data  Parasitology 135 767-781.
  •  Beldomenico PM, Telfer S, Gebert S, Lukomski L, Bennett M and Begon M 2008 Azurocytes in wild field voles: factors associated with their occurrence. EcoHealth 5:317-327 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-008-0186-9
  • Blasdell KR, Becker SD, Hurst J, Begon M, Bennett M. 2008 Host range and genetic diversity of arenaviruses in rodents, United Kingdom.  Emerging Infectious Diseases 14: 1455-1458 DOI: 10.3201/eid1409.080209
  • Beldomenico PM, Telfer S, Gebert S, Lukomski L, Bennett M and Begon M. 2008 The dynamics of health in wild field vole populations: a haematological perspective. Journal of Animal ecology. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01413.x
  • Beldomenico, P. M., S. Telfer, Gebert S, Lukomski L, Bennett M and Begon M. (2008). "Poor condition and infection: a vicious circle in natural populations." Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 275: 1753-1759.
  • Burthe S, Bennett M, Kipar A, Lambin X, Smith A, Telfer S, Begon M 2008 Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium microti) in wild field vole populations. Parasitology: 135 309-317 
  • Burthe S, Telfer S, Begon M, Bennett M, Smith A, Lambin X. 2008 Cowpox virus infection in natural field vole Microtus agrestis populations: significant negative impacts on survival Journal of Animal Ecology, 77: 110-119
  • Hughes L, Shopland S, Wigley P, Bradon H, Leatherbarrow H, Williams N, Bennett M, de Pinna E, Lawson B, Cunningham A and Chantrey J. 2008 Characterisation of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium isolates from wild birds in northern England from 2005 to 2006. BMC Veterinary Research. (online)
  • Bray D, Bown K, Stckley P, Hurst J, Bennett M, Birtles R.  2007 Haemoparasites of common shrews (Sorex araneus) in Northwest England.  Parasitology 134: 819-826
  • Telfer, S., Begon, M., Bennett, M., Bown, K., Burthe, S., Lambin, X., Telford, G. & Birtles, R. 2007 Contrasting Dynamics of Bartonella spp. in Cyclic Field Vole populations: the Impact of Vector and Host Dynamics. Parasitology 134 413-425.
  • Ehlers, B., Kuchler, J., Yasmum, N., Dural, G., Voigt, S., Schmidt-Chanasit, J., Jakel, T., Matuschka, FR., Richter, D., Essbauer, S., Hughes, DJ., Summers, C., Bennett, M., Stewart, JP., Ulrich, RG. 2007 Identification of novel rodent herpesviruses, including the first gammaherpesvirus of Mus musculus. Journal of Virology, 81:8091-8100
  • Telfer, S., Clough, HE., Birtles, RJ., Bennett, M., Carslake, D., Helyar, S., Begon, M. 2007 Ecological differences and coexistence in a guild of microparasites: Bartonella in wild rodents Ecology 88:1841-1849
  • Becker, SD., Bennett, M., Stewart, JP., Hurst, JL. 2007  Serological survey of virus infection among wild house mice (Mus domesticus) in the UK. Laboratory Animals, 41:229-238
  • Telfer, S., Bennett, M., Carslake, D., Helyar, S., Begon, M. 2007 The dynamics of Murid gammaherpesvirus 4 within wild, sympatric populations of bank voles and wood mice. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 43: 32-3
  • Davis S, Ageyev V, Suleimenov B,  Atshabar B, Klassakovskaya A, Bennett M, Leirs H, Begon M.  2007 Plague metapopulation dynamics in a natural reservoir: the burrow system as the unit of study.  Epidemiology and Infection. 135 740-748.
  • Bown KJ, Begon M, Bennett M, Birtles RJ, Burthe S, Lambin X, Telfer S, Woldehiwet Z, Ogden NH 2006 Sympatric Ixodes trianguliceps and Ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on field voles (Microtus agrestis): Potential for increased risk of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the United Kingdom? Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 6: 404-410
  •  Van Bressem MF, Van Waerebeek K, Bennett M. 2006  Orthopoxvirus neutralising antibodies in small cetaceans from the sourteast Pacific.  Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 5 49-54.
  •  Burthe S, Telfer S, Lambin X, Bennett M, Carslake D, Smith A, Begon M 2006 Cowpox virus infection in natural field vole Microtus agrestis populations: delayed density dependence and individual risk. Journal of Animal Ecology 75:1416-1425
  • Smith A, Burthe S, Telfer S, Bennett M, Begon M 2006 A role for vector-indeperident transmission in rodent trypanosome infection? International Journal for Parasitology 36: 1359-1366
  • Carslake D, Bennett M, Hazel S, Telferl S, Begon M 2006 Inference of cowpox virus transmission rates between wild rodent host classes using space-time interaction Proc Roy Soc. Lond B 273: 775-782
  • Bennett M 2006  Bats and emerging infectious diseases. Epidemiology and Infection.  134, 905-907.
  • Begon M, Klassovskiy N, Ageyev V, Suleimenov B, Atshabar B, Bennett M 2006  Epizzotiological parameters for plague (Yersinia pestis infection) in a natural reservoir in Kazakhstan.  Emerging Infectious Diseases 12 268-273.
  •  Smith A, Telfer S, Burthe S, Bennett M, Begon M 2005.  Trypanosomes, fleas and filed voles: ecological dynamics of a host-vector-parasite interaction.  Parasitology 131: 355-365.
  • Carslake D, Bennett M, Bown K, Hazle, S, Telfer S, Begon M 2005.  Space time clustering of cowpox virus infection in wild rodent populations. Journal of Animal Ecology 74: 647-655
  • Robinson SE, Brown PE, Wright EJ, Bennett M, Hart CA, French NP 2005. Heterogeneous distributions of Escherichia coli O157 within naturally infected bovine faecal pats. FEMMS Microbiology Letters 244 291-296.
  •  Telfer S, Bennett M, Bown K, Carslake D, Cavanagh R, Hazel S, Jones T, Begon M 2005 Infection with cowpox virus decreases female maturation rates in wild populations of woodland rodents. Oikos 109 317-322.
  • Robinson SE, Wright EJ, Hart CA, Bennett M, French NP 2004 Intermittent and persistent shedding of Escherichia coli O157  in cohorts of naturally infected calves Journal of Applied Microbiology 97 1047-1053  PubMed
  • Cavanagh RD, Lambin X, Ergon T, Bennett M, Graham IM, van Soolingen D, Begon M 2004 Disease dynamics in cyclic populations of field voles (Microtus agrestis): cowpox virus and vole tuberculosis (Mycobacterium microti). Proceedings of the Royal Society, B. 271 859-867.
  • Bown KJ, Bennett M, Begon M 2004 Flea-borne Bartonelia grahamii and Bartonelia taylorii in bank voles. Emerging Infectious Diseases 10 684-687.
  • Begon M, Hazel SM, Telfer S, Bown K, Carslake D, Cavanagh R, Chantrey J, Jones T, Bennett M 2003 Rodents, cowpox virus and islands: densities, numbers and thresholds. Animal Ecology 73 343-355.
  • Blasdell K, McCracken C, Morris A, Nash AA, Begon M, Bennett M, Stewart JP 2003 The wood mouse is a natural host for Murid herpesvirus 4 Journal of General Virology 84 111-113
  • K.J.Bown, M.Bennett, M.Begon, Z. Woldehiwet & N.H.Ogden. 2003 Seasonal dynamics of Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophila in a rodent - tick (Ixodes trianguliceps) system in the UK. Emerging Infectious Diseases  9 63-70.
  • Noyes HA, Ambrose P, Barker F, Begon M, Bennett M, Bown K, Kemp SJ. 2002 Host specificity of Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) species. Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from Cheshire, UK, carry only one T. (H.) evotomys 18S rRNA genotype but wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) carry at least two phylogenetically distinct parasites. Parasitology 124 185-190
  • Telfer S, Bennett M, Bown KJ, Cavanagh R, Crespin L, Hazel S, Jones T, Begon M 2002 The effects of cowpox on survival in natural rodent populations: increases and decreases. Journal of Animal Ecology 71 558-568.
  • Mallon DJP, Corkill JE, Hazel SM, Wilson JS, French NP, Bennett M and Hart CA. 2002 Excretion of vancomycin-resistant enterococci by wild mammals. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 8 636-638.
  • Begon M, Bennett M, Bowers R.G., French N.P., Hazel S.M. and Turner J. 2002 A clarification of transmission terms in host-microparasite models: numbers, densities and areas. Epidemiology and Infection 129 147-153.
  • Cavanagh R, Begon M, Bennett M, Ergon T, Graham I, de Haas PEW, Hart CA, Koedam M, Kremer K, Lambin X, Roholl P and van Soolingen D. 2002 Mycobacterium microti infection (vole tuberculosis) in wild rodent populations: a potential reservoir for punlmonary tuberculosis in humans. Journal of Clinical Microbiology.40 3281-3285
  • Bown KJ, Ellis BA, Birtles, RJ, Durden LA, Lello J, Bennett M 2002. New World origins for hemoparasites infecting United Kingdom grey squirrels (Scuirus carolensis) as revealed by phylogenetic analysis of Bartonella infecting squirrel populations in England and the United States. Epidemiology and Infection 129 647-653.
  • Birtles RJ, Hazel S, Bown K, Begon M, Raoult D and Bennett M. 2001 Longitudinal monitoring of bartonellosis in British wood mice and bank voles. Epidemiology and Infection 126 323-329.
  • Birtles RJ, Hazel S, Bown K, Begon M, Raoult D and Bennett M. 2000 Subtyping of uncultured bartonellae using sequence comparison of 16 S/23 S rRNA intergenic spacer regions amplified directly from infected blood Molecular and Cellular Probes. 14 79-87.
  • Hazel SM,, Baxby D, Bennett M, Bown K, Cavanagh R, Chantrey J, Jones TR & Begon M. 2000 A longitudinal study of endemic disease in its wildlife reservoir: cowpox and wild rodents. Epidemiology and Infection. 124 551-562. PubMed
  • Chantrey J, Meyer H, Baxby D, Begon M, Bown K, Feore S, Jones T, Montgomery WI and Bennett M. Cowpox: reservoir hosts and geographic range. 1999 Epidemiology and Infection. 122 455-460
  • Begon ME, Hazel SM, Baxby D, Bown K, Cavanagh R, Chantrey J, Jones T & Bennett M 1999. Transmission dynamics of a zoonotic pathogen within and between wildlife host species. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B. 266 1-7
  • Gilliver M, Bennett M, Begon M, Feore SM & Hart CA. 1999 Antibiotic resistance found in wild rodents. Nature 401 233-234.
  • Begon M, Feore S, Bown K, Chantrey J, Jones T and Bennett M. 1998 The population dynamics of cowpox virus infection in bank voles: testing fundamental assumptions. Ecology Letters 1 82-86.
  • Ogden, N.H., Bown, K., Horrocks, B.K., Woldehiwet, Z. & Bennett, M. 1998. Granulocytic Ehrlichia infection in ixodid ticks in UK habitats: The risk of human infection. Medical and Veterinary Entomology PubMed
  • Bennett M & Begon ME. 1997 Virus zoonoses: a long-term overview. Journal of Comparative Immunology and Infectious Diseases. 20101-109.
  • Feore SM, Bennett M, Chantry J, Jones T, Baxby D & Begon, M. 1997 The effect of cowpox virus infection on fecundity in bank voles and wood mice. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B. 264 1457-1461. PubMed
  • Boulanger D, Brochier B, Crouch A, Bennett M, Gaskell RM, Baxby D, & Pastoret PP. 1995  Comparison of the susceptibility of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) to vaccinia -rabies recombinant virus and cowpox virus.  Vaccine 13 215-219.
  • Crouch AC, Baxby D, McCracken CM, Gaskell RM & Bennett M.  1995  Serological evidence for the reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in British wildlife.  Epidemiology and Infection.  115 185-191.
  • Smyth NR, McCracken CM, Gaskell RM, Cameron JM, Coates JAV, Gaskell CJ, Hart CA & Bennett M. 1994  Susceptibility in cell culture of feline immunodeficiency virus to 18 antiviral compounds.  Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 34 589-594.
  • Baxby D, Bennett M & Getty B. 1994 Human cowpox; a review based on 54 cases, 1969-93. British Journal of Dermatology. 131 598-607.
  • Hunter JEB, Hart CA, Shelley JC, Walton JR & Bennett M.  1993 Human isolates of apramycin resistant E. coli which contain the genes for the AAC (3)iv enzyme. Epidemiology and Infection.  110 253-259
  • Carter MJ, Milton ID, Meanger J,  Bennett M, Gaskell RM & Turner PC.  1992  The complete nucleotide sequence of a feline calicivirus.  Virology.  190 443-448.
  • Hunter J, Shelley J, Hart CA, Walton, JR & Bennett M. 1992.  Apparent transmission of apramycin resistance from E. coli to Salmonella typhimurium in calves.  Epidemiology and Infection.  108  271-278.
  • Naidoo J, Baxby D, Bennett M, Gaskell RM & Gaskell CJ. 1992.  Characterisation of orthopoxviruses isolated from feline infections in Britain.  Archives of Virology  125 261-272.
  • Dawson S, Smyth NR, Bennett M, Gaskell RM, McCracken C, Brown A &  Gaskell CJ, 1991.  Effect of primary stage feline immunodeficiency virus infection on subsequent feline calicivirus vaccination and challenge in cats.  AIDS  5  747-750.
  • Bennett M, Lloyd G, Jones N, Brown A, Trees AJ, McCracken C, Smyth NR, Gaskell CJ & Gaskell RM, 1990.  The prevalence of antibody to Hantavirus in some cat populations in Britain. Veterinary Record   127  548-549.
  • Baxby D, Gaskell RM, Gaskell CJ, & Bennett M, 1986  Ecology of orthpoxviruses and use of recombinant vaccinia vaccines.  Lancet   ii  850-851
  • Bennett M, Gaskell  CJ, Gaskell RM, Baxby D, & Gruffydd-Jones TJ, 1986  Poxvirus infection in the domestic cat. Some clinical and epidemiological observations. Veterinary Record    118 387-390

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