Drivers of Echinococcus multilocularis transmission in China: small mammal diversity, landscape or climate?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human alveolar echinococcocosis (AE) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of the cestode E. multilocularis. Its life-cycle includes more than 40 species of small mammal intermediate hosts. Therefore, host biodiversity losses could be expected to alter transmission. Climate may also have possible impacts on E. multilocularis egg survival. We examined the distribution of human AE across two spatial scales, (i) for continental China and (ii) over the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. We tested the hypotheses that human disease distribution can be explained by either the biodiversity of small mammal intermediate host species, or by environmental factors such as climate or landscape characteristics.

Methodology/findings

The distribution

SUBMITTER: Giraudoux P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3591347 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature