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   ^{1 *} , BSc, MSc ;   Ivelina Yonova   ^{1, 2 *} , MA ;   Jeremy van Vlymen   ^{1 *} , 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 Section of Clinical Medicine and Ageing, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

² Royal College of General Practitioners, Research and Surveillance Centre, London, United Kingdom

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

⁴ Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

⁵ Institute of Psychology Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

*all authors contributed equally