Collaborative Modeling of the Tick-Borne Disease Social-Ecological System: A Conceptual Framework

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Public Health
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Hard-bodied ticks in temperate regions transmit significant pathogens, posing a major public health concern.
• Human exposure to tick-borne diseases (TBD) is influenced by complex interactions within social-ecological systems (SES).
• Forest ecosystems play a critical role in tick density, pathogen infection, and disease transmission dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for understanding integrated forest ecosystem processes influencing TBD.
• To advocate for collaborative modeling of the human-tick SES to inform policy and action.
• To explore the application of collaborative modeling in assessing forest management impacts on ticks and TBD.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing recent studies on stakeholder participation in zoonotic disease exposure.
• Proposing collaborative modeling as a framework for analyzing human-tick SES dynamics.
• Discussing the potential of collaborative modeling for engaging diverse stakeholders in tick management discussions.

Main Results:

• TBD presents an urgent public health threat requiring integrated ecological understanding.
• Collaborative modeling is essential for understanding system dynamics and bridging science-policy gaps.
• Stakeholder participation is vital for comprehending factors contributing to human exposure to zoonotic diseases.

Conclusions:

• Addressing TBD necessitates a holistic understanding of forest ecosystems and human interactions.
• Collaborative modeling offers a promising approach for managing forest ticks and mitigating TBD risks.
• Engaging diverse stakeholders through collaborative modeling can inform forest management decisions in the absence of broad control policies.