Zoonotic crossroads: the intersection of wildlife ecology and vector-borne pathogens

Abstract

Vector-borne zoonotic diseases represent one of the most significant threats to global public health, accounting for a substantial proportion of emerging infectious diseases worldwide. Wildlife hosts play a pivotal role in maintaining and disseminating pathogens through complex ecological interactions involving arthropod vectors, environmental conditions, and anthropogenic activities. The increasing frequency of zoonotic disease emergence is driven by habitat alteration, climate change, biodiversity loss, globalization, and expanding human–wildlife interfaces. Understanding the ecological mechanisms governing pathogen persistence and transmission is essential for predicting disease outbreaks and developing effective control strategies. This review examines the relationship between wildlife ecology and vector-borne pathogens, highlighting the roles of reservoir hosts, vector dynamics, environmental drivers, and One Health approaches in disease emergence and management. The synthesis of ecological and epidemiological perspectives provides critical insights into the prevention of future zoonotic threats.