High prevalence does not necessarily equal maintenance species: Avoiding biased claims of disease reservoirs when using surveillance data

Wilber, M.; Demarchi, J; Fefferman, Nina H.; Silk, Matthew J.

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13774

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Vertebrate host species integral to the persistence of JEV – whereby their absence would lead to a reduction or elimination of JEV within the community – are considered maintenance hosts. In contrast, vertebrate species that contribute to JEV transmission, but only for short periods of time or with repeated introduction are considered spillover hosts 41 . Those species which cannot infect susceptible vectors are considered dead-end hosts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Australian vertebrate hosts of Japanese encephalitis virus; a review of the evidence

Moore,

Mangan,

Linnegar

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) transmission in temperate Australia has underscored a critical need to characterise transmission pathways and identify probable hosts of infection within the country. This systematic review consolidates existing research on the vertebrate hosts of JEV that are known to exist in Australia. Specifically, we aim to identify probable species for JEV transmission, their potential role as either a spillover or maintenance host and identify critical knowledge gaps. Data were extracted from studies involving experimental infection, seroprevalence, and virus isolation and were available for 22 vertebrate species known to reside in Australia. A host competence score was calculated to assess the potential for a given species to infect JEV vectors and to quantity their possible role in JEV transmission. Based on the host competence score and ecology of each species, we find ardeid birds, feral pigs, and flying foxes have potential as maintenance hosts for JEV in the Australian context. We also note that brushtail possums and domestic pigs have potential as spillover hosts under certain outbreak conditions. However, evidence to confirm these roles in localized transmission or outbreaks is sparse, emphasizing the need for further targeted research. This review provides a foundation for future investigations into JEV transmission in Australia, advocating for enhanced surveillance and standardized research methodologies to better understand and mitigate the virus's impact.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Australian vertebrate hosts of Japanese encephalitis virus; a review of the evidence

Moore,

Mangan,

Linnegar

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…As recently reviewed by others (e.g. [84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95]), identifying and studying reservoir hosts is not straightforward and 'target', 'source' and 'maintenance' populations may vary. Layered on top of other types of evidence, experimental challenge trials provide the strongest indication that a particular species is a confirmed reservoir host.…”

Section: (D) Virus Detection Methods and Associated Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Robust evidence for bats as reservoir hosts is lacking in most African virus studies: a review and call to optimize sampling and conserve bats

Weber,

Nagy,

Markotter

et al. 2023

Biol. Lett.

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Africa experiences frequent emerging disease outbreaks among humans, with bats often proposed as zoonotic pathogen hosts. We comprehensively reviewed virus–bat findings from papers published between 1978 and 2020 to evaluate the evidence that African bats are reservoir and/or bridging hosts for viruses that cause human disease. We present data from 162 papers (of 1322) with original findings on (1) numbers and species of bats sampled across bat families and the continent, (2) how bats were selected for study inclusion, (3) if bats were terminally sampled, (4) what types of ecological data, if any, were recorded and (5) which viruses were detected and with what methodology. We propose a scheme for evaluating presumed virus–host relationships by evidence type and quality, using the contrasting available evidence for Orthoebolavirus versus Orthomarburgvirus as an example. We review the wording in abstracts and discussions of all 162 papers, identifying key framing terms, how these refer to findings, and how they might contribute to people's beliefs about bats. We discuss the impact of scientific research communication on public perception and emphasize the need for strategies that minimize human–bat conflict and support bat conservation. Finally, we make recommendations for best practices that will improve virological study metadata.

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“…This can be challenging, as establishing a host infection is different from establishing host competence (Wilber et al, 2022). In addition, different levels of within-and between-species transmissions arise from an incomplete niche overlap and different contact networks (Barroso et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Determining host competence (or susceptibility) is key to determining the host range and the level to which a given pathogen is actually a true multihost generalist (Becker et al, 2020). This can be challenging, as establishing a host infection is different from establishing host competence (Wilber et al, 2022). In addition, different levels of within‐ and between‐species transmissions arise from an incomplete niche overlap and different contact networks (Barroso et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An epidemiological framework for chronic wasting disease in multihost communities

Mysterud

2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Many pathogens can infect several host species, which complicates the management of wildlife diseases. Even for generalist pathogens, hosts are not equally competent, and variable niche overlap between hosts leads to different exposure levels within hosts when compared with that between hosts. Hence, the processes determining spillover risk and the subsequent transmission dynamics within and between species differ. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious prion disease of the cervids detected across expanded geographic ranges over the last few decades. Multihost management has become topical with CWD detection among reindeer Rangifer tarandus in Europe, with an immediate spillover risk to sympatric species. Here, I argue for the use of a community epidemiological framework that distinguishes between‐ and within‐host dynamics arising from host competence and exposure processes. In CWD, host competence is mainly determined by how variants of the prion protein gene (PRNP) affect susceptibility. The exposure level is not only linked to the density of infected and susceptible hosts both within and between species but also to the spatiotemporal niche overlap between species and social organization within species. Mule deer Odocoileus hemionus and white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus are highly susceptible and expected to show true multihost dynamics; however, mule deer have a higher CWD prevalence in sympatric areas, indicating only partially linked dynamics. Moose Alces alces are highly susceptible, but cases of CWD‐infected moose are few and appear to be spillover events with subsequent epidemic die outs. Elk Cervus canadensis have less susceptible PRNP variants and low levels of prion shedding in lymphoid tissues, indicating lower contagiousness. CWD prevalence in elk is lower and appears to result from spillover and subsequent within‐species emergence, which is partially independent of sympatric deer. Synthesis and applications. Stronger awareness of the different expected CWD dynamics within and between species may facilitate effective surveillance and management. Surveillance should consider the potential lack of linked dynamics between species when designing sampling. Multihost management can target niche overlap at different scales to limit spillover risk: (1) geographic distribution ranges, (2) density reductions in overlap zones and (3) co‐use of transmission hot spots.

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High prevalence does not necessarily equal maintenance species: Avoiding biased claims of disease reservoirs when using surveillance data

Cited by 4 publications

References 40 publications

Australian vertebrate hosts of Japanese encephalitis virus; a review of the evidence

Australian vertebrate hosts of Japanese encephalitis virus; a review of the evidence

Robust evidence for bats as reservoir hosts is lacking in most African virus studies: a review and call to optimize sampling and conserve bats

An epidemiological framework for chronic wasting disease in multihost communities

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