Table 1.
Parameters used in model and the results of sensitivity analysis in which the density of each species was increased by 20%
| Species | Body burden
|
Molting percentage*
|
Reservoir competence*
|
Density, no. per hectare | Density source | Sensitivity of NIP to increase in host density†, percent change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SE) | N | Mean % (SE) | N | Mean % (SE) | N | ||||
| White-footed mouse | 27.8 (3.3) | 28 | 41.5 (3.5) | 47 | 92.1 (2.9) | 15 | 0–100 | Original data | NA |
| Eastern chipmunk | 36.0 (11) | 57 | 41.2 (6.0) | 43 | 55.0 (6.4) | 20 | 0–50 | Original data | 0.41% |
| White-tailed deer | 239 (99) | 12 | 56.3 (9.0) | 5 | 4.6 (2.3) | 19 | 0.25 | Original data | −0.22% |
| Raccoon | 127 (30) | 12 | 36.5 (7.3) | 13 | 1.3 (0.6) | 12 | 0.2 | Literature | −0.07% |
| Virginia opossum | 254 (115) | 21 | 44.1 (5.3) | 19 | 2.6 (1.1) | 18 | 1 | Literature | −0.78% |
| Striped skunk | 66.8 (12.7) | 4 | 63.9 (11) | 4 | 9.7 (8.4) | 4 | 0.05 | Literature | −0.01% |
| Short-tailed shrew | 62.9 (17.3) | 42 | 46.8 (4.5) | 41 | 41.8 (6.7) | 33 | 25 | Literature | 0.31% |
| Birds‡ | 1.7 (0.4) | 74 | 33.9 (NA) | 34 | 11.7 (NA) | 1,133 | 31.6 | Original and literature | −0.14% |
| Sorex shrews | 55.5 (32) | 8 | 49.6 (11) | 7 | 51.2 (15) | 6 | 25 | Literature | 1.4% |
| Red and grey squirrel | 142 (58) | 10 | 59.3 (11) | 9 | 14.7 (5.1) | 8 | 8.1 | Literature | −3.1% |
NA, not applicable.
*
Mean percentages per host, with the exception of birds. Body burdens of birds were frequently <5; therefore, gross percentages were substituted for means across individuals.
†
Sensitivity analysis performed at the long-term average mouse density of ≈20 mice per hectare.
‡
Birds are American robin, ovenbird, veery, and wood thrush.