Bison-Brucellosis Management: Simulation of Alternative Strategies
Peterson MJ, Grant WE, Davis DS. 1991. Bison-Brucellosis Management: Simulation of Alternative Strategies. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 55(2):205-213
We examined via simulation 3 representative types of bison (Bison bison)-brucellosis management schemes that have been proposed for the Grand Teton National Park (NP) bison herd: (1) vaccinating female calves, (2) vaccinating females of all ages, and (3) testing and removing seropositive animals, combined with vaccinating female calves or females of all ages. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that model predictions are relatively robust to likely errors in estimates of key parameters under assumptions representing Grand Teton NP. Simulations predict that, after 20 years, the proportion of the Grand Teton NP herd seropositive for Brucella could be reduced from 69% (current level) to, at best, 20% under any of the 3 management schemes evaluated. Our examination of the relationship among brucellosis transmission rate, vaccine efficacy, and vaccine delivery rate indicated that reducing the percentage of seropositive animals to <10%, a stated goal for this herd, would require reducing the B. abortus transmission rate to <5%, which is unlikely with currently available vaccines and without also limiting contact with B. abortus infected bison and/or elk (Cervus elaphus).
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Peterson, Markus; Grant, William; Davis, Donald
- Units
- GRTE , YELL
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Animals, Bacteria, Bison (Bison bison), Bison (Bos bison), Brucella, brucellosis (Brucella abortus), Elk (Cervus elaphus), Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Mammals, Modeling, Natural Resource Management, Parasites, Ungulates, Wildlife Health