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Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field

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Spatial variation in an avian host community: implications for disease dynamics.

Sarah L States¹, Wesley M Hochachka, André A Dhondt

¹Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Corson Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. sls248@cornell.edu

|February 5, 2010

Summary

Community composition impacts wildlife disease. Higher prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in house finches correlated with more northern cardinals and American goldfinches, suggesting spatial variation in bird communities affects disease spread.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Wildlife disease
Disease ecology

Background:

Pathogens infecting multiple species can alter disease dynamics in focal hosts.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum is an emerging wildlife pathogen causing mortality in house finches.
Alternate hosts like American goldfinches and northern cardinals may influence disease spread.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how spatial variation in avian host community composition affects the prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum.
To determine the impact of American goldfinch and northern cardinal abundances on house finch disease prevalence.

Main Methods:

Analysis of winter bird and disease survey data from the northeastern United States.
Statistical examination of the relationship between house finch Mycoplasma gallisepticum prevalence and the abundance of associated bird species.

Main Results:

Higher Mycoplasma gallisepticum prevalence in house finches was associated with increased abundance of northern cardinals and American goldfinches.
The abundance of northern cardinals showed a statistically significant positive association with house finch disease prevalence.

Conclusions:

Spatial variation in avian host communities can lead to geographic differences in disease prevalence.
Community composition, specifically the abundance of alternate hosts, plays a role in the dynamics of wildlife diseases like Mycoplasma gallisepticum.