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

Abstract

ObjectivesThe ongoing risk of emerging infectious disease has renewed calls for understanding the origins of zoonoses and identifying future zoonotic disease threats. Given their close phylogenetic relatedness and geographic overlap with humans, non‐human primates (NHPs) have been the source of many infectious diseases throughout human evolution. NHPs harbor diverse parasites, with some infecting only a single host species while others infect species from multiple families.Materials and MethodsWe applied a novel link‐prediction method to predict undocumented instances of parasite sharing between humans and NHPs. Our model makes predictions based on phylogenetic distances and geographic overlap among NHPs and humans in six countries with high NHP diversity: Columbia, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, China, and Indonesia.ResultsOf the 899 human parasites documented in the Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Network (GIDEON) database for these countries, 12% were shared with at least one other NHP species. The link prediction model identified an additional 54 parasites that are likely to infect humans but were not reported in GIDEON. These parasites were mostly host generalists, yet their phylogenetic host breadth varied substantially.DiscussionAs human activities and populations encroach on NHP habitats, opportunities for parasite sharing between human and NHPs will continue to increase. Our study identifies specific infectious organisms to monitor in countries with high NHP diversity, while the comparative analysis of host generalism, parasite taxonomy, and transmission mode provides insights to types of parasites that represent high zoonotic risk.

From ancient pathogens to modern pandemics: Integrating evolutionary, ecological, and sociopolitical dynamics of infectious disease and pandemics through biological anthropology

“…Radhakrishna's (2023) careful analysis suggests a more nuanced understanding is needed of the synergistic human-environment interactions that can create local ecologies or "anthromes" that lead to the emergence and spread of infectious disease. Werner et al (2023) also underscore the need for better understanding of the factors that leads to disease emergence in order to better predict future zoonotic outbreaks but point to the paucity of data to inform surveillance measures. The authors present a novel-link prediction method that incorporates both phylogenetic and geographic predictors to estimate nonhuman primate (NHP)-parasite interaction that could affect human health.…”

“…Werner et al (2023) also underscore the need for better understanding of the factors that leads to disease emergence in order to better predict future zoonotic outbreaks but point to the paucity of data to inform surveillance measures. The authors present a novel‐link prediction method that incorporates both phylogenetic and geographic predictors to estimate nonhuman primate (NHP)–parasite interaction that could affect human health.…”

Dispensing with reductionism and dualism: Biological anthropological perspectives towards understanding disease, epidemics, and pandemics

“…The trope that epidemics or pandemics are recent human phenomena created by new pathogens ignores insights offered by subfields of biological anthropology: primatology, paleopathology, and biomolecular anthropology. Werner et al (2023), for instance, in their assessment of undocumented zoonotic parasites in nonhuman primates, warn of parasitic spillover between non‐human and human populations and urge continued monitoring of high‐risk host populations (of all taxa). This message is reinforced by the contribution of Radhakrishna (2023), whose focus on emerging infectious diseases concludes that, “…there is an urgent need for more in‐depth studies on human‐primate interactions, for a comprehensive understanding of how human actions can drive disease outbreaks” (Radhakrishna, 2023: p. 8).…”

Biocultural and evolutionary approaches to the study of human diseases: Integrative perspectives from biological anthropology

“…Contributions by Radhakrishna (2023) and Werner et al (2023) articulate how research with non‐human primates can provide important insights into patterns of disease transmission and exposure. Radhakrishna uses the example of the Kyansaur Forest Disease (KFD), a tick‐borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to southwestern India, to develop a model that explores the social, biological, and ecological correlates of its spread.…”

“…Contributions by Radhakrishna (2023) and Werner et al (2023) articulate how research with non-human primates can provide important insights into patterns of disease transmission and exposure.…”