title: Deciphering serology to understand the ecology of infectious diseases in wildlife.
abstract: The ecology of infectious disease in wildlife has become a pivotal theme in animal and public health. Studies of infectious disease ecology rely on robust surveillance of pathogens in reservoir hosts, often based on serology, which is the detection of specific antibodies in the blood and is used to infer infection history. However, serological data can be inaccurate for inference to infection history for a variety of reasons. Two major aspects in any serological test can substantially impact results and interpretation of antibody prevalence data: cross-reactivity and cut-off thresholds used to discriminate positive and negative reactions. Given the ubiquitous use of serology as a tool for surveillance and epidemiological modeling of wildlife diseases, it is imperative to consider the strengths and limitations of serological test methodologies and interpretation of results, particularly when using data that may affect management and policy for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in wildlife. Greater consideration of population age structure and cohort representation, serological test suitability and standardized sample collection protocols can ensure that reliable data are obtained for downstream modeling applications to characterize, and evaluate interventions for, wildlife disease systems.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA, Amy.T.Gilbert@aphis.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Amy T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fooks
authors.forename: D T S
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plowright
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: J L N
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004056:Differential Threshold; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004463:Ecology; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies
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