College of Veterinary Medicine

Michael W. Sanderson

Professor, Epidemiology and Beef Production
Associate Director, Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology
W.S & E.C Jones Professor of Epidemiology

DVM (1988), Colorado State University
MS (1995), Washington State University
Diplomate (1995), American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (Epidemiology Specialty)

Kansas State University
Phone: 785-532-4264
E-mail: sandersn@vet.k-state.edu

Research

My research team is focused on the epidemiology of disease and decreased production in beef operations. We apply the tools of epidemiology and simulation modeling to identify risks and facilitate decision making. Our research includes modeling biosecurity practices for beef operations including the use of Risk Analysis to identify optimal Biosecurity and Management programs for diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, Bovine Viral Diarrhea and Tritrichomonas foetus.

We are also actively involved in researching livestock movement networks and the disease and economic effects of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the U.S. We collect data on livestock contact networks at the individual animal and herd level and are modeling the spread and impact of FMD within and between herds in the US. We have also worked on the Secure Beef Supply plan for FMD control and continuity of business for beef producers in the face of an FMD outbreak.

Our research efforts also include the efficient and safe production of beef. Specifically, our observational research is focused on cattle feedlot pen contact networks and modeling the shedding dynamics and transmission of generic E. coli through the feedlot pen environment as a model for shiga-toxin producing E. coli.

Teaching and Mentoring

I teach the Intermediate Epidemiology class for graduate and MPH students, an Introduction to Disease Modeling class and a Quantitative Risk Analysis section for graduate students. I also and mentor and advise MPH, MS and PhD graduate students.

Selected Publications (2010 to present)

PubMed search for Dr. Sanderson.

Wisnieski L, Sanderson MW, Renter DG, Bello NM. Inferential implications of normalizing binomial proportions in a structural equation model: A simulation study motivated by feedlot data. Prev Vet Med. 2023 Aug;217:105963. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105963.

Smith MR, Sanderson MW. Modeled impacts of rapid and accurate cattle tracing in a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the US. Prev Vet Med. 2023 Jun;215:105911. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105911.

Lewy K, Cernicchiaro N, Dixon AL, Beyene TJ, Shane D, George LA, Nagaraja TG, White BJ, Sanderson MW. Association between Tulathromycin Treatment for Bovine Respiratory Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles among Gut Commensals and Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens Isolated from Feces of Beef Steers. J Food Prot. 2022 Aug 1;85(8):1221-1231. doi: 10.4315/JFP-22-078.

Seger HL, Sanderson MW, Nagaraja TG. Nonpathogenic Escherichia coli strains as a surrogate for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli - fecal shedding dynamics and pen environmental contamination in weaned calves and feedlot steers. Applied Animal Science. 2022 Aug;38(4):305-316. doi: https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2021-02260.

Dewsbury DMA, Cernicchiaro N, Sanderson MW, Dixon AL, Ekong PS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature on prevalence of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) and virulence genes in feces, hides, and carcasses of pre- and peri-harvest cattle worldwide. Anim Health Res Rev. 2022 Jun;23(1):1-24. doi: 10.1017/S1466252321000153.

Hanthorn CJ, Sanderson MW, Dixon AL. Survey of emergency response plans for managing the movement of cattle during a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in North America. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2021 Nov 1;259(9):1047-1056. doi: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.259.9.1047.

Farthing TS, Dawson DE, Sanderson MW, Seger H, Lanzas C. Combining epidemiological and ecological methods to quantify social effects on Escherichia coli transmission. R Soc Open Sci. 2021 Oct 6;8(10):210328. doi: 10.1098/rsos.210328.

Coffman MS, Sanderson MW, Dodd CC, Arzt J, Renter DG. Estimation of foot-and-mouth disease windborne transmission risk from USA beef feedlots. Prev Vet Med. 2021 Oct;195:105453. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105453.

Wisnieski L, Amrine DE, Cernicchiaro N, Sanderson MW, Renter DG. Weather conditions associated with death attributed to bovine respiratory disease complex in high-risk auction market-sourced male beef calves. Am J Vet Res. 2021 Aug;82(8):644-652. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.82.8.644.

Cabezas AH, Sanderson MW, Lockhart CY, Riley KA, Hanthorn CJ. Spatial and network analysis of U.S. livestock movements based on Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection. Prev Vet Med. 2021 Aug;193:105391. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105391.

Cabezas AH, Sanderson MW, Volkova VV. Modeling Intervention Scenarios During Potential Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks Within U.S. Beef Feedlots. Front Vet Sci. 2021 Feb 16;8:559785. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.559785.

Cernicchiaro N, Oliveira ARS, Hoehn A, Noll LW, Shridhar PB, Nagaraja TG, Ives SE, Renter DG, Sanderson MW. Associations Between Season, Processing Plant, and Hide Cleanliness Scores with Prevalence and Concentration of Major Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli on Beef Cattle Hides. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2020 Oct;17(10):611-619. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2019.2778.

Cabezas AH, Sanderson MW, Volkova VV. A Meta-Population Model of Potential Foot-and-Mouth Disease Transmission, Clinical Manifestation, and Detection Within U.S. Beef Feedlots. Front Vet Sci. 2020 Sep 23;7:527558. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.527558.

Farthing TS, Dawson DE, Sanderson MW, Lanzas C. Accounting for space and uncertainty in real-time location system-derived contact networks. Ecol Evol. 2020 Apr 12;10(11):4702-4715. doi: 10.1002/ece3.6225.

Spare MR, Hanzlicek GA, Wootten KL, Anderson GA, Thomson DU, Sanderson MW, Ganta RR, Reif KE, Raghavan RK. Bovine anaplasmosis herd prevalence and management practices as risk-factors associated with herd disease status. Vet Parasitol. 2020;277S:100021. doi: 10.1016/j.vpoa.2019.100021.

Cernicchiaro N, Oliveira ARS, Hoehn A, Cull CA, Noll LW, Shridhar PB, Nagaraja TG, Ives SE, Renter DG, Sanderson MW. Quantification of Bacteria Indicative of Fecal and Environmental Contamination from Hides to Carcasses. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2019 Dec;16(12):844-855. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2019.2656.

Beyene TJ, Fitzpatrick MC, Galvani AP, Mourits MCM, Revie CW, Cernicchiaro N, Sanderson MW, Hogeveen H. Impact of One-Health framework on vaccination cost-effectiveness: A case study of rabies in Ethiopia. One Health. 2019 Aug 21;8:100103. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2019.100103.

Hanthorn CJ, Sanderson MW. Xylazine sedation and gunshot for depopulation of cattle. Bov Pract. 2019 Jun 1;53(2):166-168. doi: https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol53no2p166-168.

Dawson DE, Farthing TS, Sanderson MW, Lanzas C. Transmission on empirical dynamic contact networks is influenced by data processing decisions. Epidemics. 2019 Mar;26:32-42. doi: 10.1016/j.epidem.2018.08.003.

Amrine DE, McLellan JG, White BJ, Larson RL, Renter DG, Sanderson M. Evaluation of three classification models to predict risk class of cattle cohorts developing bovine respiratory disease within the first 14 days on feed using on-arrival and/or pre-arrival information. Comput Electron Agric. 2018 Dec 10;156:439-446. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2018.11.035.

Ekong PS, Sanderson MW, Shridhar PB, Cernicchiaro N, Renter DG, Bello NM, Bai J, Nagaraja TG. Bayesian estimation of sensitivity and specificity of culture- and PCR-based methods for detection of six major non-O157 Escherichia coli serogroups in cattle feces. Prev Vet Med. 2018 Dec 1;161:90-99. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.10.012.

Shane DD, McLellan JG, White BJ, Larson RL, Amrine DE, Sanderson MW, Apley MD. Evaluation of animal-to-animal and community contact structures determined by a real-time location system for correlation with and prediction of new bovine respiratory disease diagnoses in beef cattle during the first 28 days after feedlot entry. Am J Vet Res. 2018 Dec;79(12):1277-1286. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.79.12.1277.

Dawson DE, Keung JH, Napoles MG, Vella MR, Chen S, Sanderson MW, Lanzas C. Investigating behavioral drivers of seasonal Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia Coli (STEC) patterns in grazing cattle using an agent-based model. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 10;13(10):e0205418. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205418.

Cabezas AH, Sanderson MW, Jaberi-Douraki M, Volkova VV. Clinical and infection dynamics of foot-and-mouth disease in beef feedlot cattle: An expert survey. Prev Vet Med. 2018 Oct 1;158:160-168. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.08.007.

Chitakasempornkul K, Cha E, Renter DG, Sanderson M, Jager A, Bello NM. Accounting for data architecture in structural equation modeling of feedlot cattle performance. J Agric Biol Environ Stat. 2018 Sept 28;23(4):529-549. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13253-018-0336-7.

Ekong PS, Sanderson MW, Bello NM, Noll LW, Cernicchiaro N, Renter DG, Bai J, Nagaraja TG. Bayesian estimation of true prevalence, sensitivity and specificity of three diagnostic tests for detection of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle feces. Prev Vet Med. 2017 Dec 1;148:21-27. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.10.002.

Cha E, Sanderson M, Renter DG, Jager A, Cernicchiaro N, Bello NM. Implementing structural equation models to observational data from feedlot production systems. Prev Vet Med. 2017 Nov 1;147:163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.09.002.

Shane DD, Larson RL, Sanderson MW, Miesner M, White BJ. A deterministic, dynamic systems model of cow-calf production: The effects of breeding replacement heifers before mature cows over a 10-year horizon. J Anim Sci. 2017 Oct;95(10):4533-4532. doi: 10.2527/jas2017.1653.

Shane DD, Larson RL, Sanderson MW, Miesner M, White BJ. A deterministic, dynamic systems model of cow-calf production: The effects of the duration of postpartum anestrus on production parameters over a 10-year horizon. J Anim Sci. 2017 Apr;95(4):1680-1695. doi: 10.2527/jas.2016.0972.

Chen S, Sanderson MW, Lee C, Cernicchiaro N, Renter DG, Lanzas C. Basic Reproduction Number and Transmission Dynamics of Common Serogroups of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2016 Aug 30;82(18):5612-20. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00815-16.

Nair AD, Cheng C, Ganta CK, Sanderson MW, Alleman AR, Munderloh UG, Ganta RR. Comparative Experimental Infection Study in Dogs with Ehrlichia canis, E. chaffeensis, Anaplasma platys and A. phagocytophilum. PLoS One. 2016 Feb 3;11(2):e0148239. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148239.

Ekong PS, Sanderson MW, Cernicchiaro N. Prevalence and concentration of Escherichia coli O157 in different seasons and cattle types processed in North America: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published research. Prev Vet Med. 2015 Sep 1;121(1-2):74-85. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.06.019.

Chen S, Ilany A, White BJ, Sanderson MW, Lanzas C. Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of High-Resolution Animal Networks: What Can We Learn from Domestic Animals? PLoS One. 2015 Jun 24;10(6):e0129253. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129253.

Schroeder TC, Pendell DL, Sanderson MW, McReynolds S. Economic Impact of Alternative FMD Emergency Vaccination Strategies in the Midwestern United States. J Agric Appl Econ Assoc. 2015 Jan 26;47(1):47-76. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2014.5.

McReynolds SW, Sanderson MW, Reeves A, Hill AE. Modeling the impact of vaccination control strategies on a foot and mouth disease outbreak in the Central United States. Prev Vet Med. 2014 Dec 1;117(3-4):487-504. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.10.005.

Nair AD, Cheng C, Jaworski DC, Willard LH, Sanderson MW, Ganta RR. Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in the reservoir host (white-tailed deer) and in an incidental host (dog) is impacted by its prior growth in macrophage and tick cell environments. PLoS One. 2014 Oct 10;9(10):e109056. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109056.

Smith RL, Tauer LW, Sanderson MW, Gröhn YT. Minimum cost to control bovine tuberculosis in cow-calf herds. Prev Vet Med. 2014 Jul 1;115(1-2):18-28. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.03.014.

McReynolds SW, Sanderson MW, Reeves A, Sinclair M, Hill AE, Salman MD. Direct and indirect contact rates among livestock operations in Colorado and Kansas. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 May 1;244(9):1066-74. doi: 10.2460/javma.244.9.1066.

Chen S, White BJ, Sanderson MW, Amrine DE, Ilany A, Lanzas C. Highly dynamic animal contact network and implications on disease transmission. Sci Rep. 2014 Mar 26;4:4472. doi: 10.1038/srep04472.

Smith RL, Sanderson MW, Jones R, N’Guessan Y, Renter DG, Larson R, White BJ. Economic risk analysis model for bovine viral diarrhea virus biosecurity in cow-calf herds. Prev Vet Med. 2014 Mar 1;113(4):492-503. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.11.013.

McReynolds SW, Sanderson MW. Feasibility of depopulation of a large feedlot during a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 Feb 1;244(3):291-8. doi: 10.2460/javma.244.3.291.

Chen S, Sanderson MW, White BJ, Amrine DE, Lanzas C. Temporal-spatial heterogeneity in animal-environment contact: implications for the exposure and transmission of pathogens. Sci Rep. 2013 Nov 1;3:3112. doi: 10.1038/srep03112.

Jacob ME, Foster DM, Rogers AT, Balcomb CC, Sanderson MW. Prevalence and relatedness of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains in the feces and on the hides and carcasses of U.S. meat goats at slaughter. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2013 Jul;79(13):4154-8. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00772-13.

Hanzlicek GA, Renter DG, White BJ, Wagner BA, Dargatz DA, Sanderson MW, Scott HM, Larson RE. Management practices associated with the rate of respiratory tract disease among preweaned beef calves in cow-calf operations in the United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013 May 1;242(9):1271-8. doi: 10.2460/javma.242.9.1271.

Chen S, Sanderson M, Lanzas C. Investigating effects of between- and within-host variability on Escherichia coli O157 shedding pattern and transmission. Prev Vet Med. 2013 Apr 1;109(1-2):47-57. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.09.012.

Barbur L, Shuman C, Sanderson MW, Grauer GF. Factors that influence the decision to pursue an internship: the importance of mentoring. J Vet Med Educ. 2011 Fall;38(3):278-87. doi: 10.3138/jvme.38.3.278.

Dodd CC, Sanderson MW, Jacob ME, Renter DG. Modeling preharvest and harvest interventions for Escherichia coli O157 contamination on beef cattle carcasses. J Food Prot. 2011 Sep;74(9):1422-33. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-10-516.

Dodd CC, Renter DG, Shi X, Alam MJ, Nagaraja TG, Sanderson MW. Prevalence and persistence of Salmonella in cohorts of feedlot cattle. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2011 Jul;8(7):781-9. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2010.0777.

Nickell JS, White BJ, Larson RL, Renter DG, Sanderson MW. A simulation model to quantify the value of implementing whole-herd bovine viral diarrhea virus testing strategies in beef cow-calf herds. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2011 Mar;23(2):194-205. doi: 10.1177/104063871102300202.

Nickell JS, White BJ, Larson RL, Renter DG, Sanderson MW, Peck C. Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) status in cow-calf herds and associations with biosecurity and production practices among Montana beef producers. Bov Pract. 2010 Dec 31;45(1):14-22. doi: https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol45no1p14-22.

White BJ, Hanzlicek G, Sanderson MW, Anderson DE, Larson RL. Mollicutes species and Mycoplasma bovis prevalence and association with health outcomes in beef feeder calves at arrival and initial treatment for bovine respiratory disease. Can Vet J. 2010 Sep;51(9):1016-8.

Smith RL, Sanderson MW, Renter DG, Larson R, White B. A stochastic risk-analysis model for the spread of bovine viral diarrhea virus after introduction to naïve cow-calf herds. Prev Vet Med. 2010 Jun 1;95(1-2):86-98. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.02.009.

Dodd CC, Renter DG, Fox JT, Shi X, Sanderson MW, Nagaraja TG. Genetic relatedness of Escherichia coli O157 isolates from cattle feces and preintervention beef carcasses. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2010 Apr;7(4):357-65. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2009.0415.