Relationship between population density and viral infection: a role for personality?

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dc.contributor.authorBroecke, Bram Vanden
dc.contributor.authorMariën, Joachim
dc.contributor.authorSabuni, Christopher Andrew
dc.contributor.authorMnyone, Ladslaus
dc.contributor.authorMassawe, Apia W.
dc.contributor.authorMatthysen, Erik
dc.contributor.authorLeirs, Herwig
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-13T07:31:13Z
dc.date.available2026-05-13T07:31:13Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.descriptionOriginal Research
dc.description.abstractConspecific density and animal personality (consistent among‐individual differences in behavior) may both play an important role in disease ecology. Nevertheless, both factors have rarely been studied together but may provide insightful information in understanding pathogen transmission dynamics. In this study, we investigated how both personality and density affect viral infections both direct and indirectly, using the multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis) and Morogoro arenavirus (MORV) as a model system. Using a replicated semi‐natural experiment, we found a positive correlation between MORV antibody presence and density, suggesting that MORV infection is density‐dependent. Surprisingly, slower explorers were more likely to have antibodies against MORV compared to highly explorative individuals. However, exploration was positively correlated with density which may suggest a negative, indirect effect of density on MORV infection. We have shown here that in order to better understand disease ecology, both personality and density should be taken into account.
dc.description.sponsorshipFonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Grant/Award Number: 11A0817N
dc.identifier.citationDOI: 10.1002/ece3.5541
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7533
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley
dc.relation.ispartofseriesEcology and Evolution. 2019;9:10213–10224.
dc.subjectAnimal personality
dc.subjectArenavirus
dc.subjectDensity
dc.subjectDensity dependence
dc.subjectDisease ecology
dc.subjectExploration
dc.subjectMastomys natalensis
dc.subjectMorogoro virus
dc.subjectMultimammate mice
dc.subjectStress sensitivity
dc.titleRelationship between population density and viral infection: a role for personality?
dc.typeArticle

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