Context-dependent survival, fecundity and predicted population-level consequences of brucellosis in African buffalo
June 24, 2015
- Chronic infections may have negative impacts on wildlife populations, yet their effects are difficult to detect in the absence of long-term population monitoring. Brucella abortus, the bacteria responsible for bovine brucellosis, causes chronic infections and abortions in wild and domestic ungulates, but its impact on population dynamics is not well understood.
- We report infection patterns and fitness correlates of bovine brucellosis in African buffalo based on (1) 7 years of cross-sectional disease surveys and (2) a 4-year longitudinal study in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. We then used a matrix population model to translate these observed patterns into predicted population-level effects.
- Annual brucellosis seroprevalence ranged from 8·7% (95% CI = 1·8–15·6) to 47·6% (95% CI = 35·1–60·1) increased with age until adulthood (>6) and varied by location within KNP. Animals were on average in worse condition after testing positive for brucellosis (F = −5·074, P
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Title | Context-dependent survival, fecundity and predicted population-level consequences of brucellosis in African buffalo |
| DOI | 10.1111/1365-2656.12356 |
| Authors | Erin Gorsich, Vanessa Ezenwa, Paul Cross, Roy Bengis, Anna Jolles |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Journal of Animal Ecology |
| Index ID | 70150405 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center; Contaminant Biology Program |