Pathogen priming alters host transmission potential and predictors of transmissibility in a wild songbird species.

ABSTRACT: Pathogen reinfections occur widely, but the extent to which reinfected hosts contribute to ongoing transmission is often unknown despite its implications for host-pathogen dynamics. House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) acquire partial protection from initial exposure to the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), with hosts readily reinfected with homologous or heterologous strains on short timescales. However, the extent to which reinfected hosts contribute to MG transmission has not been tested. We used three pathogen priming treatments- none, intermediate (repeated low-dose priming), or high (single high-dose priming)-to test how prior pathogen priming alters the likelihood of transmission to a cagemate during index bird reinfection with a homologous or heterolog

SUBMITTER: Leon AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11526880 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature