Synanthropy of Wild Mammals as a Determinant of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Asian–Australasian Region

Abstract

Humans create ecologically simplified landscapes that favour some wildlife species, but not others.Here, we explore the possibility that those species that tolerate or do well in human-modified environments, or 'synanthropic' species, are predominantly the hosts of zoonotic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). We do this using global wildlife conservation data and wildlife host information extracted from systematically reviewed emerging infectious disease literature. The evidence for this relationship is examined with special emphasis on the Australasian, South East Asian and East Asian regions. We find that synanthropic wildlife hosts are approximately 15 times more likely than other wildlife in this region to be the source of emerging infectious diseases, and this association is essentially independent of the taxonomy of the species. A significant positive association with EIDs is also evident for those wildlife species of low conservation risk. Since the increase and spread of native and introduced species able to adapt to human-induced landscape change is at the expense of those species most vulnerable to habitat loss, our findings suggest a mechanism linking land conversion, global decline in biodiversity and a rise in EIDs of wildlife origin.

Parasite diversity of disease-bearing rodents of Southeast Asia: habitat determinants and effects on sexual size dimorphism and life-traits

“…Other species showed more generalist tendencies such as R. tanezumi, which was found in all types of habitat analyzed, including households. McFarlane et al (2012) used the terms "synanthropic species, " to refer to species ecologically associated with humans, and "generalist" species, to mean ubiquitous species that are able to live in peridomestic environments and/or are able to invade disturbed habitats. McFarlane et al (2012) showed that the rodent species known to be reservoirs of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases are most likely found in human-modified environments.…”

“…McFarlane et al (2012) used the terms "synanthropic species, " to refer to species ecologically associated with humans, and "generalist" species, to mean ubiquitous species that are able to live in peridomestic environments and/or are able to invade disturbed habitats. McFarlane et al (2012) showed that the rodent species known to be reservoirs of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases are most likely found in human-modified environments. In this study, the synanthropic species R. exulans showed high specialization to settlement habitat, whilst the other synanthropic species R. tanezumi showed low specialization.…”

Progress on research on rodents and rodent-borne zoonoses in South-east Asia

“…Recently, two concepts have emerged: (1) 'synanthropic species', namely species ecologically associated with humans; and (2) 'generalist' species, which are species living in peridomestic habitats or those that often invade disturbed habitats (McFarlane et al 2012). In a comparative study performed in the Asian-Australian region, McFarlane et al (2012) found that wild mammal hosts (primarily rodents and bats) of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases are 15-fold more likely to inhabit human-modified environments.…”

“…In a comparative study performed in the Asian-Australian region, McFarlane et al (2012) found that wild mammal hosts (primarily rodents and bats) of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases are 15-fold more likely to inhabit human-modified environments. That is, human-induced disturbances often increase the distribution and abundance of generalist rodent species, which are frequently important reservoirs of human pathogens.…”

Patterns of Ecological Change and Emerging Infectious Disease in the Australasian Region

“…To examine the hypothesis that ecological change accounts for a substantial component of the rise in zoonotic EIDs, a series of transdisciplinary studies based on the Australasian region were designed by the author under the doctoral supervision of Professors Tony McMichael and Adrian Sleigh and Dr Peter Black (McFarlane et al, , 2012(McFarlane et al, , 2013(McFarlane et al, , 2014. These studies reflected Tony's support for research that explored the awkward, important issues, and for epidemiology that -in an inventive and insightful way -sought to address these challenges.…”