Fast-lived Hosts and Zoonotic Risk.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Most emerging human pathogens originate in mammals.
• Studies link fast-lived mammal species (high fecundity, short lifespan) with higher zoonotic disease loads.
• The underlying ecological and evolutionary mechanisms driving this association are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the drivers behind the association between mammal life history traits and zoonotic disease prevalence.
• To integrate evolutionary ecology and wildlife-human interaction perspectives.
• To identify critical data gaps and propose frameworks for better zoonotic reservoir prediction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on host traits, life history, immunity, and zoonotic spillover.
• Discussion of potential immune and non-immune mechanisms.
• Identification of data requirements for mechanistic understanding.

Main Results:

• The association between fast life history and zoonotic potential is consistently observed but mechanistically debated.
• Both immune function and non-immune factors (e.g., behavior, contact rates) likely contribute.
• Significant data gaps exist in linking specific life history variations with detailed immunological data and pathogen characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the interplay between mammal life history, immunity, and pathogen dynamics is essential for predicting zoonotic risk.
• Future research must integrate diverse data types to disentangle the complex mechanisms involved.
• Developing robust sampling and analytical frameworks is critical for accurate zoonotic reservoir prediction and mitigating future pandemics.