Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Partitioning Social and Spatial Drivers of Infection Risk. |
| Authors: |
Kirkpatrick, L.1,2 (AUTHOR) l.kirkpatrick@bangor.ac.uk, Mariën, J.2,3 (AUTHOR), Sabuni, C.4 (AUTHOR), Mwamundela, B.4 (AUTHOR), Leirs, H.2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: |
Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Nov2025, Vol. 15 Issue 11, p1-12. 12p. |
| Subject Terms: |
*Infectious disease transmission, *Rodent populations, *Animal ecology, Social factors |
| Geographic Terms: |
Morogoro (Tanzania) |
| Abstract (English): |
The rate at which individuals contact each other is central to the transmission of diseases through populations. Most simple models assume homogenous mixing, with all individuals equally likely to contact each other within a population, where contact can either scale with density (the more individuals the more likely contact will occur) or scale independently of density (where individuals maintain contacts regardless of density). However, there is growing evidence that contact rates are non‐homogenous, and both spatial and social structuring are likely to play an important role in producing and maintaining heterogeneous contact behaviour. Additionally, assuming homogenous mixing is a deliberate simplification, yet it can undermine a model's predictive power when spatial or social structure is important, as is often the case for many wildlife diseases. Here, we investigated the relationship between measures of social and spatial behaviour in a non‐territorial rodent species (Mastomys natalensis) which exhibits significant seasonal fluctuations in density and exposure to a mammarenavirus, Morogoro virus (MORV), using an extensive and unique capture‐mark‐recapture dataset. We followed this up with a study to investigate the extent to which spatial overlap may correlate meaningfully with contact rates using miniaturised proximity loggers developed in house. Exposure to MORV was strongly associated with the proportion of home range overlap with other exposed individuals, and negatively associated with the proportion of home range overlap with conspecifics regardless of exposure status. Including spatial autocorrelation suggested that consistent spatial structuring across the study area also played an important role in determining exposure to MORV. Finally, our proximity logger experiment demonstrated that home range overlap may overestimate direct contact behaviour in M. natalensis as individuals showed a high degree of spatial overlap, but most contacts were associated with a small number of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Swahili): |
MUHTASARI: Kiwango cha wanyama kuwasiliana ni muhimu kwa maambukizi ya magonjwa kupitia idadi ya wanyama. Miundo mingi rahisi hudhani mchanganyiko wa wanyama wa aina moja, huku wote wakiwa na uwezekano sawa wa kuwasiliana, ambapo kuwasiliana kunaweza kupimwa kutokana na msongamano (kadiri ya wanyama wengi zaidi uwezekano wa kuwasiliana hutokea) au ukubwa bila msongamano (ambapo wanyama hudumisha mawasiliano bila kujali msongamano). Hata hivyo, kuna ushahidi unaoongezeka kwamba viwango vya mawasiliano havilingani, na muundo wa anga na kijamii una uwezekano wa kuwa na jukumu muhimu katika kuzalisha na kudumisha tabia tofauti za mawasiliano. Zaidi ya hayo, kudhani kuwa mchanganyiko wa aina moja ni kurahisisha kimakusudi, lakini inaweza kudhoofisha uwezo wa utabiri wa mifano wakati muundo wa anga au kijamii ni muhimu kwa magonjwa mengi ya wanyamapori. Hapa, tulichunguza uhusiano kati ya hatua za tabia ya kijamii na anga katika jamii ya panya wasio wa eneo (panya shamba) ambayo huonyesha mabadiliko makubwa ya msimu kwa uwingi na kukabiliwa na virusi vya mammarena, virusi vya Morogoro (MORV), kwa kutumia mbinu kubwa na ya kipekee ya kunasa—kuweka alama—kunasa tena. Tulifuata hili na utafiti ili kuchunguza ni kwa kiasi gani mwingiliano wa anga unaweza kuwiana vyema na viwango vya mawasiliano kwa kutumia teknolojia ya vinasa mawasiliano (kiweka kumbukumbu za karibu). Kukaribiana kwa MORV kulihusishwa sana na uwiano wa masafa ya nyumbani na wanyama wengine walio wazi, na kuhusishwa vibaya na uwiano wa masafa ya nyumbani na vipimo maalum bila kujali hali ya kukaribia aliyeambukizwa. Ikiwa ni pamoja na urekebishaji wa anga ulipendekeza kuwa muundo thabiti wa anga katika eneo lote la utafiti pia ulichukua jukumu muhimu katika kubainisha kukaribiana kwa MORV. Hatimaye, jaribio letu la kiweka kumbukumbu za ukaribu lilionyesha kuwa mwingiliano wa masafa ya nyumba unaweza kukadiria kupita kiasi tabia ya mawasiliano ya moja kwa moja katika panya shamba kwani wanyama wengine walionyesha kiwango cha juu cha mwingiliano wa anga, lakini mawasiliano mengi yalihusishwa na idadi ndogo ya wanyama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
GreenFILE |
