Host preferences support the prominent role of Hyalomma ticks in the ecology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

摘要: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne zoonotic agent that maintained in nature an enzootic vertebrate-tick-vertebrate cycle. Hyalomma genus ticks have been implicated as the main CCHFV vector and are key maintaining silent endemic foci. However, what contributes to their central role ecology unclear. To assess significance of host preferences ecology, we performed comparative analyses hosts exploited by 133 species ticks; these represent 5 genera with reported geographical distribution over range CCHFV. We found composition vertebrate on which spp. feed different than for other tick genera. Immatures preferentially orders Rodentia, Lagomorpha, class Aves, while adults concentrate mainly family Bovidae. With exception include majority vertebrates consistently be viremic upon infection. While also hosts, almost completely populations them. less phylogenetically diverse any genus, implying this network has low resilience. Indeed, removing most prominent quickly collapsed parasitic interactions. These results support intermittent activity foci: likely, infected exceed threshold contact humans only when critical reach adequate population density, accounting sporadic occurence clinical tick-transmitted cases. Our data describe association foci, highlight importance host-tick dynamics pathogen ecology.