Data from: Differential impacts of vaccination on wildlife disease spread during epizootic and enzootic phases

1. Dissemination of oral vaccine baits is a cost-effective method to
contain and control infectious wildlife diseases. The effectiveness of
vaccine barriers in slowing or halting the disease spread depends on host
ecology and landscape variability. It is not clear, however, how the
success of vaccine barriers to manage disease may change from an epizootic
to an enzootic phase of a disease invasion, and if this depends on the
quality and configuration of host habitat. 2. We explore these questions
using the raccoon variant rabies virus (RRV) as a model system. This
zoonotic disease of high concern has been enzootic in eastern North
America for decades, pushing into new areas and re-emerging in previously
controlled zones. 3. We use a spatially-explicit individual-based model to
assess how levels of oral vaccination and habitat fragmentation affect RRV
spread across vaccine barriers during epizootic and enzootic phases.
Simulated outcomes are compared using space-time characteristics of
infection chains (individual-to-individual transmission of RRV). 4.
Results indicate that the impact of vaccine barriers on control of RRV is
strongest during the epizootic phase. Counterproductively, mid-levels of
immunisation during an enzootic phase lead to more rabies-induced
mortalities than lower or higher vaccination levels. Infection chains
spread faster during the epizootic phase. Landscape effects on chain
characteristics were more subtle than effects of invasion phase and
vaccination. 5. Synthesis and applications. Space-time patterns of
infection chains provide insight into mechanisms of wildlife disease
spread. Our results demonstrate the importance of detecting and
controlling outbreaks before they become enzootic. We discuss the
implications for moving vaccine barriers to push back and decrease the
size of enzootic areas.