The impact of past vaccination coverage and immunity on pertussis resurgence

Corresponding Author: Pejman Rohani; Rohani@uga.edu After implementing routine vaccination in the 1940s, the United States witnessed a 100-fold reduction in pertussis cases, also known as whooping cough, leaving most to believe the disease to be essentially eliminated. However, this respiratory disease has made a surprising comeback, with a startling 48,277 reported […]

The description and number of undiscovered mammal species

Corresponding authors: John Vinson, vinsonje@uga.edu; John Drake, john@drakeresearchlab.com Accurate species counts, as well as estimates of the number of undescribed species for a given ecosystem, are important for implementing effective conservation strategies across the globe. Since it is impossible to get a direct, total count of all species on Earth, […]

Characterizing the Phylogenetic Specialism–Generalism Spectrum of Mammal Parasites

Corresponding Authors: Andrew Park, awpark@uga.edu; J. P. Schmidt, jps@uga.edu; John Drake, john@drakeresearchlab.com; Patrick Stephens, prsteph@uga.edu Generalist parasites are parasites that can infect many different hosts, allowing them to impact a wide range of animals and potentially facilitate disease emergence in new hosts. While this poses a threat for biodiversity conservation and public health, understanding […]

Migratory behavior predicts greater parasite diversity in ungulates

Corresponding authors: Claire S. Teitelbaum, cteitelbaum@uga.edu; Richard J. Hall, dr.richard.hall@gmail.com; Sonia Altizer, saltizer@uga.edu Summary Author: Clarissa Keisling, ceid@uga.edu Ungulates, or hoofed animals, are found all over the world and display a variety of movement behaviors, such as seasonal migration, nomadism, and range residency. Disease ecologists predict that these movements can either increase their exposure […]

Anthropogenic resource subsidies and host–parasite dynamics in wildlife

Corresponding Authors: Daniel J. Becker, daniel.becker88@gmail.com; Richard J. Hall, dr.richard.hall@gmail.com; Sonia Altizer, saltizer@uga.edu Summary Author: Clarissa Keisling Photo Credit: Richard Hall Ecological and environmental research frequently reports on the negative anthropogenic effects on wildlife, with habitat loss and destruction as a major focus. However, human activities including agriculture, urbanization, and supplemental feeding can alternatively […]

Comparative epidemiology of poliovirus transmission

Corresponding authors: Navideh Noori, nnoori@uga.edu; John M. Drake, john@drakeresearchlab.com; and Pejman Rohani, Rohani@uga.edu Since the widespread introduction of the polio vaccine in the mid 1900s, poliomyelitis, an acute viral disease, has been almost eradicated, with a decline of over 99% in the annual wild poliovirus (WPV) incidence. However, challenges including conflict, religious beliefs, and social […]

Core pertussis transmission groups in England and Wales: A tale of two eras

Corresponding authors: Ana Bento, anisabelbento@gmail.com; Pejman Rohani, Rohani@uga.edu Despite high vaccine coverage, a recent national resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) in England and Wales has researchers questioning the drivers behind the sudden surge of this highly contagious respiratory disease. Interestingly, researchers have noted a shift in the affected age-distribution of […]

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