When to vaccinate a fluctuating wildlife population: Is timing everything?

Area of Science:

• Wildlife disease ecology
• Mathematical modeling in ecology
• Conservation immunology

Background:

• Wildlife vaccination is crucial for managing infectious diseases affecting humans, livestock, and wildlife.
• Current vaccine development for wildlife is advanced, but optimal vaccination timing relative to host demography remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of vaccination campaign timing on population protection using mathematical models.
• To determine the optimal timing for wildlife vaccination campaigns in relation to host demography and pathogen characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Development and utilization of a mathematical model.
• Computer simulations of annual vaccination campaigns.
• Analysis of vaccination outcomes based on host demography and pathogen traits.

Main Results:

• Vaccinating shortly after the annual birthing season provides the best protection for wildlife populations.
• The impact of vaccination timing is more significant for pathogens with high transmission rates and short recovery periods.
• Delayed vaccination post-birthing season can aid in pathogen elimination in endemic situations.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing wildlife vaccination timing based on host demography and pathogen traits significantly enhances campaign effectiveness.
• Vaccinating at or shortly after the end of the birthing season is recommended for protecting populations against novel pathogen invasion.
• Further research into predicting host demography is essential for successful wildlife vaccination strategies.