Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) social interactions and their implications for bovine tuberculosis epidemiology
In: BehaviourDepartamento de Zoología, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
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AgResearch, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Abstract
The brushtail possum is the main reservoir of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand. Disease prevalence is generally higher in males than in females. This has conventionally been assumed due to greater infection rates of males, but recent work has raised the hypothesis that it may instead be driven by survival differences. With bovine tuberculosis transmission among possums most likely occurring between individuals in close proximity, here we analyse social networks built on data from wild possums collared with contact loggers inhabiting a native New Zealand forest, to investigate whether there is mechanistic support for higher male infection rates. Our results revealed that adult female possums were generally just as connected with adult male possums as other adult males are, with male–female connection patterns not being significantly different. This result suggest that the new ‘survivorship’ hypothesis for the sex bias is more likely than the conventional ‘infection rate’ hypothesis.
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Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) social interactions and their implications for bovine tuberculosis epidemiology
In: BehaviourDepartamento de Zoología, Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Search for other papers by C. Rouco in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by C. Jewell in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
AgResearch, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Search for other papers by K.S. Richardson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by N.P. French in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by B.M. Buddle in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by D.M. Tompkins in
Current site
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PubMed
Abstract
The brushtail possum is the main reservoir of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand. Disease prevalence is generally higher in males than in females. This has conventionally been assumed due to greater infection rates of males, but recent work has raised the hypothesis that it may instead be driven by survival differences. With bovine tuberculosis transmission among possums most likely occurring between individuals in close proximity, here we analyse social networks built on data from wild possums collared with contact loggers inhabiting a native New Zealand forest, to investigate whether there is mechanistic support for higher male infection rates. Our results revealed that adult female possums were generally just as connected with adult male possums as other adult males are, with male–female connection patterns not being significantly different. This result suggest that the new ‘survivorship’ hypothesis for the sex bias is more likely than the conventional ‘infection rate’ hypothesis.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 702 | 81 | 10 |
| Full Text Views | 181 | 7 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 93 | 14 | 0 |