title: TB-infected deer are more closely related than non-infected deer.
abstract: Identifying mechanisms of pathogen transmission is critical to controlling disease. Social organization should influence contacts among individuals and thus the distribution and spread of disease within a population. Molecular genetic markers can be used to elucidate mechanisms of disease transmission in wildlife populations without undertaking detailed observational studies to determine probable contact rates. Estimates of genealogical relationships within a bovine tuberculosis-infected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population indicated that infected deer were significantly more closely related than non-infected deer suggesting that contact within family groups was a significant mechanism of disease transmission. Results demonstrate that epidemiological models should incorporate aspects of host ecology likely to affect the probability of disease transmission.
authors: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 13 Natural Resources Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. jablanchong@wisc.edu
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Blanchong
authors: Kim T
authors: KT
authors: Scribner
authors: Alexandra N
authors: AN
authors: Kravchenko
authors: Scott R
authors: SR
authors: Winterstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*