A probabilistic model in cross-sectional studies for identifying interactions between two persistent vector-borne pathogens in reservoir populations

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 6; p. e66167
• Main Authors: Vaumourin, Elise, Gasqui, Patrick, Buffet, Jean-Philippe, Chapuis, Jean-Louis, Pisanu, Benoît, Ferquel, Elisabeth, Vayssier-Taussat, Muriel, Vourc'h, Gwenaël
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 20.06.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Analysis; Animals; Arvicolinae; Arvicolinae - microbiology; Arvicolinae - parasitology; Asymptomatic Infections; Bacteria; Bartonella; Bartonella - genetics; Bartonella Infections; Bartonella Infections - microbiology; Bartonella Infections - veterinary; Biology; Borrelia afzelii; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Borrelia burgdorferi Group - genetics; Chi-square test; Coinfection; Coinfection - microbiology; Coinfection - veterinary; Computer Simulation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Reservoirs; Ecology; Epidemiology; Health aspects; Health risks; Immune system; Infection; Infections; Insects; Life Sciences; Likelihood Functions; Lyme Disease; Lyme Disease - microbiology; Lyme Disease - veterinary; Mathematics; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine, Experimental; Microorganisms; Modelling; Models, Biological; Myodes glareolus; Natural populations; Parasitology; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; Populations; Probabilistic models; Rodent Diseases; Rodent Diseases - microbiology; Rodentia; Siphonaptera; Statistical analysis; Statistical tests; Studies; Vectors (Biology); Veterinary Science; Viruses; France; BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI; IXODES-RICINUS TICKS; COMMUNITY STRUCTURE; BURGDORFERI SENSU-LATO; RODENTS; BANK VOLES; DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMISSION; SPECIES COOCCURRENCE; BARTONELLA SPP; LYME BORRELIOSIS
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066167

In natural populations, individuals are infected more often by several pathogens than by just one. In such a context, pathogens can interact. This interaction could modify the probability of infection by subsequent pathogens. Identifying when pathogen associations correspond to biological interactions is a challenge in cross-sectional studies where the sequence of infection cannot be demonstrated. Here we modelled the probability of an individual being infected by one and then another pathogen, using a probabilistic model and maximum likelihood statistics. Our model was developed to apply to cross-sectional data, vector-borne and persistent pathogens, and to take into account confounding factors. Our modelling approach was more powerful than the commonly used Chi-square test of independence. Our model was applied to detect potential interaction between Borrelia afzelii and Bartonella spp. that infected a bank vole population at 11% and 57% respectively. No interaction was identified. The modelling approach we proposed is powerful and can identify the direction of potential interaction. Such an approach can be adapted to other types of pathogens, such as non-persistents. The model can be used to identify when co-occurrence patterns correspond to pathogen interactions, which will contribute to understanding how organism communities are assembled and structured. In the long term, the model's capacity to better identify pathogen interactions will improve understanding of infectious risk.