Sentinel host

Pronunciation
/SEN-tin-el HOST/
Category
Ecology
Singular
Sentinel host
Plural
Sentinel hosts

Definition

An organism, typically an animal, that is deliberately exposed to potentially harmful agents in order to detect their presence and potential impact on its health. This allows researchers to monitor the spread of diseases or pests within an ecosystem.

Etymology

Example

Birds are often used as sentinel hosts to monitor the presence of avian influenza viruses in a given area.

Related Terms