An Ontology to Improve Transparency in Case Definition and Increase Case Finding of Infectious Intestinal Disease:  Database Study in English General Practice

Simon de Lusignan ^{1, 2

*} , BSc, MBBS, MSc, MD(Res), DRCOG, FHEA, FBCS CITP, FRCGP ;   Stacy Shinneman ^{2

*} , BSc, MSc ;   Ivelina Yonova ^{1, 2

*} , MA ;   Jeremy van Vlymen ^{2

*} , MSc ;   Alex J Elliot ^{3

*} , PhD ;   Frederick Bolton ^{4

*} , PhD ;   Gillian E Smith ^{3

*} , PhD ;   Sarah O'Brien ^{5

*} , MBBS, FRCP, FFPHM, DTM&H

¹ Royal College of General Practitioners , Research and Surveillance Centre , London , GB

² Section of Clinical Medicine and Ageing , Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Surrey , Guildford , GB

³ Real-Time Syndromic Surveillance Team , Field Service, National Infection Service , Public Health England , Birmingham , GB

⁴ Epidemiology and Population Health , University of Liverpool , Liverpool , GB

⁵ Institute of Psychology Health and Society , University of Liverpool , Liverpool , GB

*all authors contributed equally

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