Fungal pathogen transmission dynamics in North American salamanders: Mathematical insights for disease management

Mohammad Mihrab Chowdhury, Matthew J. Gray, Edward Davis Carter, Douglas C. Woodhams, Julia A. McCartney, James G. Surles, K McKensie Nelms, Hao Gan and Angela Peace

Ecological Modelling, 2025, vol. 501, issue C

Abstract: The transmission dynamics of infectious diseases in amphibians, particularly those with multiple transmission routes, are complex and can rapidly evolve into epizootics. Here, we consider the eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) and the emerging fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) as a host for amphibians and a pathogen for infectious diseases, respectively. The susceptible population can become infected by Bsal in two ways: direct contact with infected newts or by environmental zoospores. To properly depict the impact of Bsal on amphibians, we categorized the host newt population into distinct life stages: larvae, eft, and adult. Each life stage represents unique traits and habitat preferences. Considering these, we employed an interdisciplinary approach by combining mathematical modeling and laboratory experiments to explore the deterministic transmission dynamics of Bsal in amphibians. We developed a compartmental model employing a system of ordinary differential equations comprising life cycle and disease dynamics.

Keywords: Amphibian; Life cycle dynamics; Transmission dynamics; Infectious disease; Fungal pathogen; Pathogen loads; Temperature; Laboratory experiment; Mathematical model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:501:y:2025:i:c:s0304380025000110

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2025.111028

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