Using phylogeographic link-prediction in primates to prioritize human parasite screening

Area of Science:

• Zoonotic disease research
• Primate parasitology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Emerging infectious diseases necessitate understanding zoonoses origins.
• Non-human primates (NHPs) are significant sources of human infectious diseases due to phylogenetic and geographic overlap.
• NHPs host diverse parasites, some species-specific, others generalists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To predict undocumented parasite sharing between humans and NHPs.
• To identify potential future zoonotic disease threats.
• To inform monitoring strategies in NHP-diverse regions.

Main Methods:

• A novel link-prediction model was employed.
• Predictions based on phylogenetic distances and geographic overlap between NHPs and humans.
• Data analyzed for six high-diversity NHP countries.

Main Results:

• 12% of documented human parasites in the study area were shared with NHPs.
• The model predicted 54 additional parasites likely to infect humans, not previously reported.
• These newly identified parasites exhibited varied host generalism and phylogenetic breadth.

Conclusions:

• Increasing human encroachment on NHP habitats elevates zoonotic transmission risks.
• Identified parasites and risk factors provide crucial insights for disease surveillance.
• Specific infectious organisms and parasite types posing high zoonotic risk are highlighted.