Relative abundance of Mycobacterium bovis molecular types in cattle: a simulation study of potential epidemiological drivers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The patterns of relative species abundance are commonly studied in ecology and epidemiology to provide insights into underlying dynamical processes. Molecular types (MVLA-types) of Mycobacterium bovis, the causal agent of bovine tuberculosis, are now routinely recorded in culture-confirmed bovine tuberculosis cases in Northern Ireland. In this study, we use ecological approaches and simulation modelling to investigate the distribution of relative abundances of MVLA-types and its potential drivers. We explore four biologically plausible hypotheses regarding the processes driving molecular type relative abundances: sampling and speciation; structuring of the pathogen population; historical changes in population size; and transmission heterogeneity (superspreading).

Resu

SUBMITTER: Trewby H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5567634 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature