Genetic differences in host infectivity affect disease spread and survival in epidemics.

ABSTRACT: Survival during an epidemic is partly determined by host genetics. While quantitative genetic studies typically consider survival as an indicator for disease resistance (an individual's propensity to avoid becoming infected or diseased), mortality rates of populations undergoing an epidemic are also affected by endurance (the propensity of diseased individual to survive the infection) and infectivity (i.e. the propensity of an infected individual to transmit disease). Few studies have demonstrated genetic variation in disease endurance, and no study has demonstrated genetic variation in host infectivity, despite strong evidence for considerable phenotypic variation in this trait. Here we propose an experimental design and statistical models for estimating genetic diversity in all three hos

SUBMITTER: Anacleto O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6426847 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature