Modeling anthrax-rabies interactions in zebra-jackal cycles. (21st February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mackey, Crystal; Kribs, Christopher
• Is Part Of: Journal of theoretical biology. Volume 511(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02-21
• Subjects: Bifurcation -- Limit cycle -- Conspecific encounter rate -- Disease ecology; Biology -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biologie -- Périodiques; Theoretische biologie; Biology; Periodicals; 571.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5193

Abstract

Highlights: Shared resources help to propagate disease transmission under certain conditions. Jackals interacting at a shared zebra carcass connects anthrax to rabies. Rabies helps anthrax persist in the environment. High enough anthrax prevalence eliminates rabies from the jackal population. Abstract: Etosha National Park (ENP) is located in Namibia, where an annual anthrax outbreak (caused by Bacillus anthracis ) occurs among grazing animals such as zebras. This increases the number of carcasses in ENP, allowing for scavengers such as jackals to feed off these carcasses. Carcasses provide a location of conspecific interaction between jackals and may be a means of disease transmission among the jackals. We are interested in studying how a disease in the zebra population may help to propagate a different disease (rabies) in the jackal population since the carcasses are providing a location of interaction between the jackals. We aim to answer the following research question: how do anthrax and rabies affect each other's ability to spread? Standard qualitative analysis techniques distinguished outcomes (stable equilibria) using reproduction numbers as threshold quantities. We found that rabies helps anthrax, and a little anthrax helps rabies invade, but a lot of anthrax prevents rabies by reducing the jackal population through its food source.