Identifying High-Risk Multi-Host Behaviors for Tuberculosis Transmission at the Wildlife-Cattle Interface

Abstract

Zoonoses are a global concern, with bovine tuberculosis (TB) posing major economic and social challenges in Europe. Tuberculosis transmission is facilitated by the shared use of space and contaminated resources among hosts. The study was conducted on 5 adjoining farms in Barrancos, Portugal, near the Spanish border… Barrancos is identified as one of the main risk areas for bovine tuberculosis in Portugal. In addition to analyzing occurrence patterns from camera trap photos, it is important to assess how species interact with their environment when evaluating pathogen transmission risk, as not all photos reflect the same behavior, and the associated risk varies accordingly. A fox appears… … It scent-marks the area with urine… A red deer appears… … It’s foraging on the ground, grazing on herbs… A wild boar appears… … it’s moving through… Cattle arrives… … foraging on the ground… 05/10/2024 19:03 05/10/2024 23:30 06/10/2024 02:25 06/10/2024 9:00 Water sites act as key focal points for foraging activity in wild species! OUR AIMS * Only conducted at sites where water was present 0 0.25 0.50 0.75 1 The barrancos montado is characterized by open woodlands dominated by holm oak. MOVERCULOSIS (2022.06014.PTDC) Combining animal behavior and movement to assess the influence of wildlife-livestock interactions on the spatio-temporal transmission risk of animal tuberculosis Ø Species’ Temporal overlap Despite limited overlap in activity, foraging in water sites and dense forests may increase transmission risk in these areas. Combining these findings with spatial data on habitat use can reveal key water sources and forest zones that act as transmission hotspots. This knowledge supports targeted management, such as restricting cattle access to high-risk zones, to limit disease spread. Cattle Badger Fox Red deer Wild boar In this study, we used 12 months of cameratrap photo data to investigate wildlife and cattle behavioral patterns in a southwest Iberian landscape:19 control sites 16 water sites.Despite limited overlap in activity, foraging in water sites and dense forests may increase transmission risk in these areas. Combining these findings with spatial data on habitat use can reveal key water sources and forest zones that act as transmission hotspots.This knowledge supports targeted management,such as restricting cattle access to high-risk zones,to limit disease spread.