Centrality in primate–parasite networks reveals the potential for the transmission of emerging infectious diseases to humans

摘要: Most emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in humans have arisen from animals. Identifying high-risk hosts is therefore vital for the control and surveillance of these diseases. Viewing as connected through parasites they share, we use network tools to investigate predictors parasitism sources future EIDs. We generated host–parasite networks that link when share a parasite, using nonhuman primates model system because—owing their phylogenetic proximity ecological overlap with humans—they are an important source EIDs humans. then tested whether centrality host species—a measurement importance given node (i.e., species) network—is associated serving potential EID source. found covaries key parasitism, such population density geographic range size. Importantly, also primate species having higher values primate–parasite harbored more identified had parasite communities similar those These relationships were robust different metrics multiple ways controlling variation how well each has been studied sampling effort). Centrality may estimate role other multispecific networks.