A5042367962- Microbial infections and disease research
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
Virginia Tech
2014-2018
Individual heterogeneity can influence the dynamics of infectious diseases in wildlife and humans alike. Thus, recent work has sought to identify behavioural characteristics that contribute disproportionately individual variation pathogen acquisition (super-receiving) or transmission (super-spreading). However, it remains unknown whether same behaviours enhance both transmission, a scenario likely result explosive epidemics. Here, we examined this possibility an ecologically relevant...
Anthropogenic food provisioning of wildlife can alter the frequency contacts among hosts and between environmental sources pathogens. Despite popularity garden bird feeding, few studies have addressed how feeders influence host contact rates disease dynamics. We experimentally manipulated feeder density in replicate aviaries containing captive, pathogen-naive, groups house finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ) continuously tracked behaviours at using radio-frequency identification devices. then...
In social organisms, immune-mediated behavioural changes (sickness behaviours) can both influence and respond to dynamics. We tested whether status in house finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ) modulates the acute phase response or aggressive interactions with flockmates. treated subordinate dominant within captive flocks lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulate an (APR), quantified mass loss, activity, foraging behaviours, agonistic interactions. Subordinate lost more than dominants LPS, but did not...
House finches in much of the continental United States experience annual epidemics mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, caused by bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). Although evidence suggests that natural infections typically begin unilaterally, experimental inoculations songbirds with MG to date have all been administered bilaterally. Furthermore, studies free-living find more severe clinical signs conjunctivitis left versus right eyes, but mechanisms underlying this side bias remain...