The use of sentinel studies for assessing disease transmission in marine systems
Shields, J.D. (2026). The use of sentinel studies for assessing disease transmission in marine systems, in: Byers, J.E. et al. The ecology and evolution of marine parasites and disease. Ecology and evolution of infectious diseases series, : pp. 37-58. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/9780197790847.003.0004
In: Byers, J.E.; Blakeslee, A.M.H.; Wares, J.P. (Ed.) (2026). The ecology and evolution of marine parasites and disease. Ecology and evolution of infectious diseases series. Oxford University Press: New York. ISBN 9780197790809. 376 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/9780197790847.001.0001, more
In: Ecology and evolution of infectious diseases series. Oxford University Press: New York. , more
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| Author keywords |
marine pathogen, disease surveillance, parasite, fish disease, incidence, crab, lobster, snail, oyster |
| Abstract |
Sentinel studies have been used to study disease transmission for decades. There are several types of sentinel studies. The simplest assesses a marker species or environmental sample from a specific ecosystem to gauge the presence or abundance of contaminants or pathogens. Another type of sentinel study is the use of index cases, such as dead or dying animals or clinical cases, to make inferences about the spread of disease in a population due to a specific causality. Both types are considered “in situ” studies, and both are used extensively in disease surveillance, providing data for management actions to control disease outbreaks. However, one of the most informative types of sentinel studies is to place captive, uninfected animals in the field to examine patterns in pathogen transmission over specified time periods. These types are considered “placed,” or captive, sentinels; and they provide a wealth of data, such as more accurate estimates of incidence, data on short-term transmission dynamics, and environmental determinants of disease transmission. Such “placed” sentinels can greatly expand the understanding of disease ecology in marine ecosystems. They are the focus of this review. |
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