1. Stochastic processes play an important role in the infectious disease dynamics of wildlife, especially in species subject to large population oscillations. 2. Here, we study the case of a free ranging population of yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) in northern Italy, where circulation of Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus (DOBV) has been detected intermittently since 2001, until an outbreak emerged in 2010. 3. We analysed the transmission dynamics of the recent outbreak using a computational model that accounts for seasonal changes of the host population and territorial behaviour. Model parameters were informed by capture-mark-recapture data collected over 14 years and longitudinal seroprevalence data from 2010 to 2013. 4. The intermittent observation of DOBV before 2010 can be interpreted as repeated stochastic fadeouts after multiple introductions of infectious rodents migrating from neighbouring areas. We estimated that only 20% of introductions in a na€ıve host population results in sustained transmission after 2 years, despite an effective reproduction number well above the epidemic threshold (mean 45, 95% credible intervals, CI: 065–158). Following the 2010 outbreak, DOBV has become endemic in the study area, but we predict a constant probability of about 47% per year that infection dies out, following large population drops in winter. In the absence of stochastic fadeout, viral prevalence is predicted to continue its growth to an oscillating equilibrium around a value of 24% (95% CI: 3–57). 5. We presented an example of invasion dynamics of a zoonotic virus where stochastic fadeout have played a major role and may induce future extinction of the endemic infection

Guzzetta, G.; Tagliapietra, V.; Perkins, S.E.; Hauffe, H.C.; Poletti, P.; Merler, S.; Rizzoli, A. (2017). Population dynamics of wild rodents induce stochastic fadeouts of a zoonotic pathogen. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, 86 (3): 451-459. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12653 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/37199

Population dynamics of wild rodents induce stochastic fadeouts of a zoonotic pathogen

Tagliapietra, Valentina;Perkins, Sarah Elizabeth;Hauffe, Heidi Christine;Poletti, Paolo;Rizzoli, Annapaola
Ultimo
2017-01-01

Abstract

1. Stochastic processes play an important role in the infectious disease dynamics of wildlife, especially in species subject to large population oscillations. 2. Here, we study the case of a free ranging population of yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) in northern Italy, where circulation of Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus (DOBV) has been detected intermittently since 2001, until an outbreak emerged in 2010. 3. We analysed the transmission dynamics of the recent outbreak using a computational model that accounts for seasonal changes of the host population and territorial behaviour. Model parameters were informed by capture-mark-recapture data collected over 14 years and longitudinal seroprevalence data from 2010 to 2013. 4. The intermittent observation of DOBV before 2010 can be interpreted as repeated stochastic fadeouts after multiple introductions of infectious rodents migrating from neighbouring areas. We estimated that only 20% of introductions in a na€ıve host population results in sustained transmission after 2 years, despite an effective reproduction number well above the epidemic threshold (mean 45, 95% credible intervals, CI: 065–158). Following the 2010 outbreak, DOBV has become endemic in the study area, but we predict a constant probability of about 47% per year that infection dies out, following large population drops in winter. In the absence of stochastic fadeout, viral prevalence is predicted to continue its growth to an oscillating equilibrium around a value of 24% (95% CI: 3–57). 5. We presented an example of invasion dynamics of a zoonotic virus where stochastic fadeout have played a major role and may induce future extinction of the endemic infection
Agent based model
Apodemus flavicollis
Dobrava-Belgrade virus
Stochastic fadeout
Zoonotic spillover
Settore VET/06 - PARASSITOLOGIA E MALATTIE PARASSITARIE DEGLI ANIMALI
2017
Guzzetta, G.; Tagliapietra, V.; Perkins, S.E.; Hauffe, H.C.; Poletti, P.; Merler, S.; Rizzoli, A. (2017). Population dynamics of wild rodents induce stochastic fadeouts of a zoonotic pathogen. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, 86 (3): 451-459. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12653 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/37199
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10449/37199
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