In the study of environmentally transmitted diseases, taking an ecological approach can dramatically increase our understanding of the dynamics of such diseases (e.g. cholera""""""""). In this proposal, we develop a modeling framework for the environmentally transmitted pathogen, Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, a deadly disease that affects mammals worldwide. We will explore this pathogen's survival in the environment, test hypothesized factors that may affect disease dynamics and integrate this knowledge using statistical and dynamical modeling techniques through the following Research Components (RC). RC 1. Spores in the environment. We will study carcasses as a source of spores in the environment and determine the role of scavengers in spreading or removing spores by experimentally excluding scavengers from carcasses. At scavenger latrines and control sites, we will use microarrays to determine the structure of the soil microbial community, including B. anthracis and characterize any changes that may contribute to the seasonality of anthrax epizootics. We will determine whether a native grass promotes replication of B, anthracis in the soil in a manipulative field experiment. RC 2. Pathogen genetics. We will study how pathogen strain type contributes to disease dynamics by strain typing anthrax-positive carcasses of any host species that were collected in the past 28 years. Using archival samples, we will determine whether different strains contribute to differences in the timing of anthrax outbreaks in Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellf) and elephant (Loxodonta africana). RC 3. Heterogeneity in host susceptibility. We will determine whether the primary host in our system, zebra, exhibit variation in genes that may influence susceptibility to B. anthracis. We will examine intra- and interannual changes in host condition and immunity in relation to potential stressors including nutrition, reproduction and lactation cycles and gastrointestinal (GI) parasite infections to determine if seasonal nadirs in host condition correlate with timing of anthrax outbreaks. RC 4. Host-pathogen dynamics and management interventions. We will integrate data arising from RC 1-3 into models describing the spatiotemporal dynamics of host populations and of B. anthracis in the environment and combine these factors in a predictive model of host susceptibility and anthrax occurrence. We will perform model fitting and selection and explore the theoretical efficacy of commonly enacted control measures.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM083863-04
Application #
8035986
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDA-K (50))
Program Officer
Eckstrand, Irene A
Project Start
2008-03-01
Project End
2013-02-28
Budget Start
2011-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$396,255
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Getz, Wayne M; Dougherty, Eric R (2018) Discrete stochastic analogs of Erlang epidemic models. J Biol Dyn 12:16-38
Dougherty, Eric R; de Valpine, Perry; Carlson, Colin J et al. (2018) Commentary to: a cross-validation-based approach for delimiting reliable home range estimates. Mov Ecol 6:10
Turner, Wendy C; Küsters, Martina; Versfeld, Wilferd et al. (2017) Ixodid tick diversity on wild mammals, birds, and reptiles in and around Etosha National Park, Namibia. Afr J Ecol 55:714-721
Zidon, Royi; Garti, Shimon; Getz, Wayne M et al. (2017) Zebra migration strategies and anthrax in Etosha National Park, Namibia. Ecosphere 8:
Dougherty, Eric R; Carlson, Colin J; Blackburn, Jason K et al. (2017) A cross-validation-based approach for delimiting reliable home range estimates. Mov Ecol 5:19
Turner, Wendy C; Kausrud, Kyrre L; Beyer, Wolfgang et al. (2016) Lethal exposure: An integrated approach to pathogen transmission via environmental reservoirs. Sci Rep 6:27311
Cizauskas, Carrie A; Turner, Wendy C; Pitts, Neville et al. (2015) Seasonal patterns of hormones, macroparasites, and microparasites in wild African ungulates: the interplay among stress, reproduction, and disease. PLoS One 10:e0120800
Melián, Carlos J; K?ivan, Vlastimil; Altermatt, Florian et al. (2015) Dispersal dynamics in food webs. Am Nat 185:157-68
Ganz, Holly H; Turner, Wendy C; Brodie, Eoin L et al. (2014) Interactions between Bacillus anthracis and plants may promote anthrax transmission. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8:e2903
Kamath, Pauline L; Turner, Wendy C; Küsters, Martina et al. (2014) Parasite-mediated selection drives an immunogenetic trade-off in plains zebras (Equus quagga). Proc Biol Sci 281:20140077

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