WildLivesTB - The Wildlife-Livestock interface of bovine TuBerculosis: quantifying the role of each species in disease transmission in multi-host communities

The main goal of this project is to disentangle the contribution of each host species to bTB persistence in the multi-host systems of the Iberian Peninsula. This fundamental question will be addressed by estimating the basic reproduction number (R0) of bTB in each host species. It will be the first time such insight will be available for any system of morethan two bTB host species worldwide and will be made possible by the combination of state-of-the-art empirical and analytical approaches from the ecology and epidemiology disciplines.

This research plan embraces empirical frameworks and data analysis tools not previously applied to bTB, to unveil the fine epidemiological details of this multi-host zoonotic disease of major economic relevance. It will provide practical analytical tools and recommendations to improve the bTB eradication program, thus positively impacting the economy, society, and the environment.