Abstract:
:Understanding the relationship between disease transmission and host density is essential for predicting disease spread and control. Using long-term data on sarcoptic mange in a red fox Vulpes vulpes population, we tested long-held assumptions of density- and frequency-dependent direct disease transmission. We also assessed the role of indirect transmission. Contrary to assumptions typical of epidemiological models, mange dynamics are better explained by frequency-dependent disease transmission than by density-dependent transmission in this canid. We found no support for indirect transmission. We present the first estimates of R0 and age-specific transmission coefficients for mange in foxes. These parameters are important for managing this poorly understood but highly contagious and economically damaging disease.
journal_name
Biol Lettjournal_title
Biology lettersauthors
Devenish-Nelson ES,Richards SA,Harris S,Soulsbury C,Stephens PAdoi
10.1098/rsbl.2014.0524subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2014-10-01 00:00:00pages
20140524issue
10eissn
1744-9561issn
1744-957Xpii
rsbl.2014.0524journal_volume
10pub_type
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