Inter- and intra-specific exposure to parasites and pathogens via the faecal-oral route: a consequence of behaviour in a patchy environment.
Livestock herbivores are at risk of inter- and intra-specific exposure to parasites/pathogens via the faecal-oral route during grazing. Each contact between livestock and faeces in the environment is a potential parasite/pathogen transmission event. Cattle grazing contact with faeces varies in relation to the species depositing the faeces and the distribution of the faeces. We used a foraging model to simulate the grazing behaviour of beef cattle in two grazing systems to compare the relative inter-specific and intra-specific exposure risks to parasites/pathogens. Overall, there is a greater level of intra- vs. inter-specific risk via the faecal-oral route. However, under certain conditions, particularly for microparasite infections, e.g. paratuberculosis in rabbits and bovine tuberculosis in badgers, wildlife may pose a significant exposure risk to parasites/pathogens. These risks can be enhanced when cattle are first turned out onto pasture and in situations where intra-specific variations in wildlife behaviour result in more dispersed defecation patterns.
Smith
L A
LA
Animal Health, Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, UK. l.a.smith@stir.ac.uk
Marion
G
G
Swain
D L
DL
White
P C L
PC
Hutchings
M R
MR
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000635:transmission*; D011817:Rabbits