Using host traits to predict reservoir host species of rabies virus.

ABSTRACT: Wildlife are important reservoirs for many pathogens, yet the role that different species play in pathogen maintenance frequently remains unknown. This is the case for rabies, a viral disease of mammals. While Carnivora (carnivores) and Chiroptera (bats) are the canonical mammalian orders known to be responsible for the maintenance and onward transmission of rabies Lyssavirus (RABV), the role of most species within these orders remains unknown and is continually changing as a result of contemporary host shifting. We combined a trait-based analytical approach with gradient boosting machine learning models to identify physiological and ecological host features associated with being a reservoir for RABV. We then used a cooperative game theory approach to determine species-specific traits asso

SUBMITTER: Worsley-Tonks KEL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7748407 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature