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A temporal dilution effect: hantavirus infection in deer mice and the intermittent presence of voles in Montana
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 13:51 authored by Scott CarverScott Carver, Kuenzi, A, Bagamian, KH, Mills, JN, Rollin, PE, Zanto, SN, Douglass, RThe effect of intermittently occurring, nonreservoir host species on pathogen transmission and prevalence in a reservoir population is poorly understood. We investigated whether voles, Microtus spp., which occur intermittently, influenced estimated standing antibody prevalence (ESAP) to Sin Nombre hantavirus (SNV, Bunyaviridae: Hantavirus) among deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, whose populations are persistent. We used 14 years of data from central Montana to investigate whether ESAP among deer mice was related to vole presence or abundance while controlling for the relationship between deer mouse abundance and ESAP. We found a reduction in deer mouse ESAP associated with the presence of voles, independent of vole abundance. A number of studies have documented that geographic locations which support a higher host diversity can be associated with reductions in pathogen prevalence by a hypothesized dilution effect. We suggest a dilution effect may also occur in a temporal dimension at sites where host richness fluctuates. Preservation of host diversity and optimization of environmental conditions which promote occurrence of ephemeral species, such as voles, may result in a decreased ESAP to hantaviruses among reservoir hosts. Our results may extend to other zoonotic infectious diseases.
History
Publication title
Acta Oecologica: International Journal of EcologyVolume
166Pagination
713-721ISSN
1146-609XDepartment/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Gauthier-Villars/Editions ElsevierPlace of publication
23 Rue Linois, Paris, France, 75015Rights statement
Copyright 2010 Springer-VerlagRepository Status
- Restricted