Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Revision Process White Paper
When a population is exposed to a pathogen, depending on an interaction of factors involv- ing the host, agent, and environment, the population may be resistant to infection or may become a host. According to Rhyan and Spraker (2010), there are three types of hosts.
(a) A dead-end host is not able to maintain the infection/disease without an external source
(b) A spillover host is able to maintain the infection/disease for a time but requires peri- odic input from another source (c) A maintenance host is able to maintain infection without further transmission from another species. While dead-end and spillover hosts may become disease vectors, transmitting infection to other species, the most epidemiologically signifcant species are maintenance hosts capa- ble of interspecifc disease transmission. Scores are assigned based on whether a species is involved in the maintenance or transmission of pathogens to other wildlife species, domes- tic animals, or humans.
Does this species pose a threat as a disease vector toward other wildlife species, domestic animals, or humans?
(a) High threat, known to be a maintenance host and a source of pathogen transmis- sion that could have signifcant and negative impacts to other wildlife, domestic animals, or humans. Management actions may be required to control transmission of the pathogen. (b) May be a spill-over host, able to maintain the pathogen for a time but requiring periodic reexposure from another source. Impacts to domestic animals and humans may not be signifcant. Management may not be required if transmission is natu- rally controlled. (c) May be a dead-end host, not able to maintain the pathogen without an external source of reexposure. Management may not be required because transmission may be naturally controlled.
(d) Unknown at this time.
(e) Not a vector.
16. Invasive Concerns. Natural ecosystem functions refect the interrelationships of the native species that have evolved in that system; introduced species can change commu- nity composition in ways that alter ecosystem function (Gurevitch and Padilla 2004) . Often the
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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