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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus
Published on: October 7, 2011
Dynamics of a feline virus with two transmission modes within exponentially growing host populations
K Berthier1, M Langlais, P Auger
1UMR CNRS 5558 Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France. berthier@biomserv.univ-lyonl.fr
Abstract:
Feline panleucopenia virus (FPLV) was introduced in 1977 on Marion Island (in the southern Indian Ocean) with the aim of eradicating the cat population and provoked a huge decrease in the host population within six years. The virus can be transmitted either directly through contacts between infected and healthy cats or indirectly between a healthy cat and the contaminated environment: a specific feature of the virus is its high rate of survival outside the host. In this paper, a model was designed in order to take these two modes of transmission into account. The results showed that a mass-action incidence assumption was more appropriate than a proportionate mixing one in describing the dynamics of direct transmission. Under certain conditions the virus was able to control the host population at a low density. The indirect transmission acted as a reservoir supplying the host population with a low but sufficient density of infected individuals which allowed the virus to persist. The dynamics of the infection were more affected by the demographic parameters of the healthy hosts than by the epidemiological ones. Thus, demographic parameters should be precisely measured in field studies in order to obtain accurate predictions. The predicted results of our model were in good agreement with observations.
Insights
Feline panleucopenia virus (FPLV) significantly impacted Marion Island
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Modeling
- Wildlife Ecology
Background:
- Feline panleucopenia virus (FPLV) was introduced to Marion Island in 1977.
- FPLV caused a significant decline in the island's cat population.
- The virus exhibits high environmental survival, enabling both direct and indirect transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the transmission dynamics of FPLV on Marion Island.
- To assess the impact of direct and indirect transmission routes on FPLV persistence.
- To identify key factors influencing FPLV-driven population dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Development of a mathematical model incorporating direct and indirect transmission.
- Comparison of mass-action versus proportionate mixing incidence assumptions for direct transmission.
- Analysis of model sensitivity to demographic and epidemiological parameters.
Main Results:
- Mass-action incidence was more appropriate for modeling direct FPLV transmission.
- Indirect transmission acts as a crucial reservoir, sustaining viral persistence.
- Host population density was effectively controlled by FPLV under specific conditions.
- Demographic parameters were found to be more influential than epidemiological parameters on infection dynamics.
Conclusions:
- FPLV can maintain persistence through a combination of direct and indirect transmission pathways.
- Accurate demographic data is essential for precise FPLV epidemiological predictions.
- The model's predictions align well with observed FPLV outbreak patterns on Marion Island.
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