Inferring the Ecological Niche of Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. in Wild Felids

Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Luis E EscobarMeggan E Craft

Abstract

Traditional epidemiological studies of disease in animal populations often focus on directly transmitted pathogens. One reason pathogens with complex lifecycles are understudied could be due to challenges associated with detection in vectors and the environment. Ecological niche modeling (ENM) is a methodological approach that overcomes some of the detection challenges often seen with vector or environmentally dependent pathogens. We test this approach using a unique dataset of two pathogens in wild felids across North America: Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. in bobcats (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor). We found three main patterns. First, T. gondii showed a broader use of environmental conditions than did Bartonella spp. Also, ecological niche models, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index satellite imagery, were useful even when applied to wide-ranging hosts. Finally, ENM results from one region could be applied to other regions, thus transferring information across different landscapes. With this research, we detail the uncertainty of epidemiological risk models across novel environments, thereby advancing tools available for epidemiological decision-making. We propose that ENM could be a valuable tool for ena...Continue Reading

References

Oct 1, 1995·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·P JamesonR Greene
Aug 24, 1999·Science·A T PetersonV Sanchez-Cordero
May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Nathalie PettorelliNils Chr Stenseth
Nov 23, 2006·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Bruno B ChomelSophie Molia
Feb 26, 2008·Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology·Edward B Breitschwerdt
Mar 6, 2008·Die Naturwissenschaften·A Townsend Peterson
May 30, 2008·International Journal for Parasitology·J P Dubey, J L Jones
Oct 7, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Robert K Colwell, Thiago F Rangel
Aug 6, 2010·Theoretical Population Biology·M LéluE Gilot-Fromont
Oct 5, 2010·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·Sean P MaherA Townsend Peterson
Apr 30, 2011·Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases·Meggan E Craft, Damien Caillaud
May 14, 2011·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Dan L Warren, Stephanie N Seifert
Jun 22, 2012·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Scott CarverMichael R Lappin
Jul 4, 2012·Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology·T E Carpenter
Dec 12, 2012·Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·Elizabeth VanWormerPatricia A Conrad
Jun 20, 2013·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Danielle M LaganaSue VandeWoude
Dec 19, 2013·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Luis E EscobarGonzalo Medina-Vogel
Feb 18, 2014·International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife·Stephanie S Godfrey
Jan 30, 2015·Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases·Tawisa JiyipongJean-Marc Rolain
May 24, 2016·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Scott CarverSue Vandewoude
Aug 23, 2016·Frontiers in Microbiology·Luis E Escobar, Meggan E Craft

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 22, 2018·Evolutionary Applications·Christopher P KozakiewiczScott Carver

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR
PCA

Software Mentioned

ENM
ArcGIS
ENMTools
NicheA
Maxent

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bartonellosis

Bartonellosis is an infection caused by bacteria in the genus Bartonella and can present as a variety of diseases depending on the organism involved. While asymptomatic infection has been reported, immunocompromised individuals are more susceptible to severe infection. Find the latest research on bartonellosis here.