A general framework for modeling pathogen transmission in co-roosting host communities.

ABSTRACT: Cross-species transmission of pathogens can be facilitated by frequent contact among wildlife. Cross-species transmission is often driven by phylogenetic similarity between host species, but the role this plays when multiple host species co-roost is unknown. We developed a generalizable framework for understanding how cross-species transmission is driven by contact among co-roosting species spanning evolutionary similarities and the net impact on roost-level infection prevalence. We developed ordinary differential equation models describing population and infection dynamics between two and three co-roosting species. We derived conditions for pathogen invasion and parameterized models using co-roosting Neotropical bat systems, with interspecific transmission exponentially declining with phy

SUBMITTER: Simonis MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12921667 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature