Abstract
Identifying the key vector and host species driving transmission is notoriously difficult for vector-borne zoonoses, but critical for disease control. Here, we present a general approach for quantifying the role hosts and vectors play in transmission that integrates species’ physiological competence with their ecological traits. We apply this model to the medically important arbovirus Ross River virus (RRV), in Brisbane, Australia. We find that vertebrate species with high physiological competence weren’t the most important for community transmission. Instead we estimate that humans (previously overlooked as epidemiologically important hosts) are important spreaders of RRV, in part because they attract highly competent vectors. By contrast, vectors with high physiological competence were also important for community transmission. Finally, we uncovered two distinct but overlapping transmission cycles: an enzootic cycle involving birds and Coquillettidia linealis and an urban cycle involving humans and Aedes vigilax. Broadly, this approach can be applied to other zoonoses.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
