Reservoir host (Reservorio)

Contexto del término In epidemiologic terms, species may be defined as primary reservoir hosts of a zoonosis if they are able to maintain the endemic transmission of the pathogen in the absence of any other host species, i.e., maintain the basic reproduction number (Ro) above. Secondary reservoir hosts are those species whose presence significantly increases Ro, but who are unable to maintain Ro above 1 in the absence of other host species. Finally, accidental reservoir hosts play no role in the transmission cycle, and their presence has no impact on Ro. Thus, if dogs are primary reservoir hosts of ACL [American cutaneous leishmaniasis], it would be feasible to eradicate domestic transmission by targeting dogs; but if dogs are secondary reservoir hosts, targeting dogs would only reduce (i.e., control) ACL. Any dog control strategy would be ineffective were dogs accidental hosts of ACL.