Density matters: How population dynamics of house mice (Mus musculus) inform the epidemiology of Leptospira

Rodents are maintenance hosts of numerous pathogens, and both their density and the pathogen prevalence determine the risk they pose to other animals or humans. However, density is often overlooked. We investigated a capture-mark-recapture-sampling strategy to study introduced mice (Mus musculus) and Leptospira as a model and demonstrate the advantages of a combined approach. We estimated population density and Leptospira prevalence in mice in a replicated longitudinal survey conducted between 2016 and 2018. Capture-mark-recapture sessions were undertaken at two sites in Spring and Autumn and blood and kidney samples were collected at the end of each session. Mouse density and areas of activity were estimated using spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models and both were compared between Leptospira positive and negative mice. Leptospira exposure and shedding status were estimated using Microscopic Agglutination Test, and a combination of culture and lipL32 PCR on kidneys. Leptos..., This data was obtained using capture-mark recapture and bacteriology methods. Between Spring 2016 and Autumn 2018, four live-trapping sessions were conducted using two grids of 36 Longworth small mammal live-traps, and each session contained two phases. During the Capture-Mark Recapture (CMR) phase (first five nights), mice (Mus musculus) were captured, ear-tagged, sexed, weighed, and released. In the subsequent Removal phase, mice were also blood-sampled, euthanized, and their kidneys tested for Leptospira infection. Antibodies against Leptospira spp. and in particular L. borgpetersenii serovar Ballum were tested using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), and the presence of Leptospira spp. in the kidneys was determined via culture and real-time PCR., , # Density matters: How population dynamics of house mice (*Mus musculus*) inform the epidemiology of *Leptospira*

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x69p8czsq](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x69p8czsq)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset provides the raw data necessary to recreate the SECR models in the associated manuscript. It comprises the capture history of mice, their associated test results, trap coordinates (anonymized) and an R script to perform partially explicit capture recapture modelling.

### **CONTACTS**

Dr. Marie Moinet, [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

Prof. Jackie Benschop [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

Prof. James C. Russell, [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

### **DATE AND LOCATION OF DATA COLLECTION**:

10/2016 - 04/2018, Massey University, New Zealand

### **FILES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DATASET**:

**SECR_script.R -** annotated R code to rebuild the SECR mo...