Demonstrating frequency-dependent transmission of sarcoptic mange in red foxes

Devenish-Nelson, E.S.; Richards, S.A.; Harris, S.; Soulsbury, C.D.; Stephens, P.A.

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2014.0524

Demonstrating frequency-dependent transmission of sarcoptic mange in red foxes

Devenish-Nelson, E.S.; Richards, S.A.; Harris, S.; Soulsbury, C.D.; Stephens, P.A.

Authors

E.S. Devenish-Nelson

S.A. Richards

S. Harris

C.D. Soulsbury

Professor Philip Stephens philip.stephens@durham.ac.uk
Professor

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.

Citation

Devenish-Nelson, E., Richards, S., Harris, S., Soulsbury, C., & Stephens, P. (2014). Demonstrating frequency-dependent transmission of sarcoptic mange in red foxes. Biology Letters, 10(10), Article 20140524. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0524

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Oct 8, 2014
Deposit Date	Oct 9, 2014
Publicly Available Date	Oct 9, 2014
Journal	Biology Letters
Print ISSN	1744-9561
Electronic ISSN	1744-957X
Publisher	The Royal Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	10
Issue	10
Article Number	20140524
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0524
Keywords	Age-specific infection, Basic reproductive number, frequency-dependent transmission, Indirect transmission, Susceptible–exposed–infected (SEI) model.
Related Public URLs	http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0524