Madzikanda, H. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

Using social network analysis and non-invasive antibody detection to explore pathogen exposure in wildlife communities

Understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases in ecosystems shared with wildlife is a priority for preventing future threats to human, animal health and conservation. However, the collection of ecological and epidemiological data on wild populations has relied on invasive and costly methods which limited the capacity of investigation. Recent technological developments have changed this trend. In Hwange national park and its surrounding area in Zimbabwe, we combined camera trap-based ecological monitoring over a period of 12 months, covering 14 water holes with a fecal-based antibody survey in 16 large herbivore species. A survey involving 52,829 pictures as well as 629 faecal samples collected every 15 days, has shown Through the modelling of multispecies contact networks, the risk of infection exposure at species-level is predicted. Coupled with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) antibody information, the role of each species in the dynamics of infectious diseases is explored. This study highlights how community networks can provide valuable insights into the functional epidemiological role of wildlife populations. Rather than establishing transmission routes, our aim is to propose a scalable and non-invasive surveillance framework that identifies priority species and areas for epidemiological monitoring in complex ecological systems. Significance StatementMonitoring disease circulation in wildlife is often hindered by the difficulty of collecting epidemiological data. We propose a novel non-invasive approach that combines species interaction networks derived from camera-trap data with non-invasive antibody detection to explore the exposure patterns of large herbivore communities to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). By linking the position of species in contact networks with their immunological status, we demonstrate the potential of using ecological centrality as a proxy for identifying key hosts in transmission or indicator species for pathogen circulation. Beyond FMDV, this framework can be adapted to other pathogens for which non-invasive immunological assays are currently being developed, making it broadly relevant for wildlife disease surveillance in remote or protected areas.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2017

Entering the era of conservation genomics: Cost-effective assembly of the African wild dog genome using linked long reads

A high-quality reference genome assembly is a valuable tool for the study of non- model organisms across disciplines. Genomic techniques can provide important insights about past population sizes, local adaptation, and even aid in the development of breeding management plans. This information can be particularly important for fields like conservation genetics, where endangered species require critical and immediate attention. However, funding for genomic-based methods can be sparse for conservation projects, as costs for general species management can consume budgets. Here we report the generation of high-quality reference genomes for the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) at a low cost, thereby facilitating future studies of this endangered canid. We generated assemblies for three individuals from whole blood samples using the linked-read 10x Genomics Chromium system. The most continuous assembly had a scaffold N50 of 21 Mb, a contig N50 of 83 Kb, and completely reconstructed 95% of conserved mammalian genes as reported by BUSCO v2, indicating a high assembly quality. Thus, we show that 10x Genomics Chromium data can be used to effectively generate high-quality genomes of mammal species from Illumina short-read data of intermediate coverage ([~]25-50x). Interestingly, the African wild dog shows a much higher heterozygosity than other species of conservation concern, possibly as a result of its behavioral ecology. The availability of reference genomes for non-model organisms will facilitate better genetic monitoring of threatened species such as the African wild dog. At the same time, they can help researchers and conservationists to better understand the ecology and adaptability of those species in a changing environment.

genomics↗