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Related Experiment Videos

Arbovirus infection increases with group size.

C R Brown1, N Komar, S B Quick

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA. charles-brown@utulsa.edu

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|August 28, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Buggy Creek (BCR) virus prevalence increases with cliff swallow colony size, indicating larger populations support higher infection rates. This study reveals a key ecological relationship for arbovirus transmission dynamics.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Virology
  • Ornithology

Background:

  • Buggy Creek (BCR) virus is an arthropod-borne alphavirus transmitted between cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius).
  • Understanding arbovirus prevalence in relation to host and vector population size is crucial for predicting epidemic dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cliff swallow colony size and the prevalence of Buggy Creek virus in its vector, the swallow bug.
  • To determine if host group size influences arbovirus infection prevalence.

Main Methods:

  • Field study in southwestern Nebraska examining cliff swallow colonies and associated swallow bug populations.
  • Quantified the percentage of nests with infected bugs in relation to colony size across current and previous years.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzed temporal and spatial autocorrelation of infected bug prevalence in reused colony sites.

    • Main Results:

    • Infection prevalence of BCR virus in swallow bugs significantly increased with cliff swallow colony size.
    • This correlation persisted across current and previous years at colony sites.
    • Positive autocorrelation in infection prevalence was observed between consecutive years, but diminished by the third year.

    Conclusions:

    • Larger cliff swallow colonies support larger swallow bug populations, which may prevent local extinction of BCR virus and increase overall prevalence.
    • This is the first study demonstrating increased arbovirus infection with host group size.
    • Findings have implications for understanding the fitness costs of coloniality and arboviral epidemic patterns.